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Original poster

Has anyone 'let themselves go' during pregnancy then successfully got their figure back.

36 replies

cuppaneeded · 06/05/2012 21:57

I'm currently in my 2nd trimester of my 2nd pg. I am not feeling glossy and full of beans at all but just very sluggish, grey and crepey. After DS1, I worked out with DVDs and successfully shed all the wight and toned up nicely. Now, as I look at my spreading thighs (now with cellulite :( ) I am wondering how many of you have managed to get into really good shape after your baby's birth? I mean slim and toned not just fitting into an old pair of jeans.

OP posts:
lurkingaround · 06/05/2012 22:16

Well, I can't say toned exactly, but after fairly porking out on both my pregnancies, I am now thinner than before I was pregnant, thanks to breastfeeding and only a little discipline. (Breastfeeding was incredible for me in losing weight.) I'm told I look better now. The 'toned' business is my own fault, I need to move it move it.....

lurkingaround · 06/05/2012 22:18

My sister did and does move it move it, and post pregnancies, she looks incredible!! So I think it is do-able.

Enjoy your pregnancy!

dingdong3 · 06/05/2012 22:18

Second pregnancy definitely changes the muscle tone. I lost all the weight second time round but my stomach/thighs will never be the same. But spanx and pilates help. Just try to keep up some small level of activity this pregnancy if medically you can - I walked a lot. Even a small amount of exercise will make it easier post delivery to shift the weight. Also, you need the stamina for two kids.
I found it harder to find time (and the money) to exercise after the second so had to change my definition of a work-out. The gym was not an option so I treated the kids like my personal trainers - pushing a double buggy for an hour every day was great for burning calories :)
Try not to worry about it too much now - you've more important things going on in your life right now. If you're driven enough about getting back into shape, you'll do it when the time is right. Enjoy your pregnancy :)

lurkingaround · 06/05/2012 22:26

Sorry, I tell a lie. I forgot .I do Pilates. How did I forget that, but because I'm not running or sweating about in a gym, I forget. I'm not good for cardio at all. I'm a lazy-ass. I agree with dingdong, my waist isn't bad, but not what it used to be, and tummy is a bit jelly-ish, but really, as they say in France, 'pas mal' indeed.

Fret not, it'll be fine. 2 kids use a lot of calories!

Original poster
cuppaneeded · 06/05/2012 22:46

Thanks everyone! Lurking..do you go to a Pilates class or do you use DVDs?

OP posts:
cybbo · 06/05/2012 23:02

I ballooned to a size 18 when expecting my first becasue my Mum had drummed into me that everyone gets fat when they have a baby, and stays fat afterwards. Because that's what happened to her

it was only through mixing with other friends who had had baby's before me that i relised it wasnt set in stone that this would happen, and it was a revelation that I had a choice in the matter!

So joined a gym. Takes ages though

lurkingaround · 06/05/2012 23:08

Classes, I'm useless for exercising alone. But because it's classes for me, it was difficult to go when the kids were babies. Once I had it organised, I was fairly committed. I'd race to a class, and race home again. I did the classes in the evening, when the kids were in bed and DH was home. I know women who can manage day-time classes, I never could. But it took time to get it organised.

I'm quite gentle (lazy?) on myself with babies, while I didn't like the extra weight, I didn't put pressure on myself to lose it. I was knackered and overwhlmed with the busy-ness of it all and I knew I'd do it when I was ready. It's such a short time. Kids are 6 and 4 now, and weight is but a distant memory!

blueshoes · 06/05/2012 23:10

I put on 3 stone on my 7 stone size 6 frame. I lost it after 1 year with dd and then after 3 months (!) with ds. People can never believe I have even had babies.

My secret - difficult babies that don't sleep!

akaemmafrost · 06/05/2012 23:24

I was size 12/14 pre dc. I put on four stone respectively with each pregnancy, ate whatever I wanted throughout. Lost the weight each time and I am now a size 8/10.

Sleepwhenidie · 06/05/2012 23:25

Definitely possible. After 3 babies who were bf for 9m, 10m and 1yr respectively, I am smaller and fitter than I have been in my life.

I can't say I put on loads of weight during pg, maybe 2- 2.5st, but probably gained the weight of the baby back post birth during bf each time. None of mine slept well and I couldn't contemplate dieting or exercising properly while sleep deprived and bf....so I was also gentle with myself ate constantly and took the view that it is such a short, precious time in the scheme of things.

Then after ds1 was 1 I hit the gym and got slim and fit, started same when DD was 10m but immediately fell pg again, but when ds2 was 1 I got back to it again, lost two stone in about 7 months and a year or so later continue to get stronger and fitter/smaller. I train very hard 4-6 times a week, but don't really watch what I eat/drink.

akaemmafrost · 06/05/2012 23:25

I run 50 km a week or thereabouts, but with ds I lost it all with diet and a cross trainer at home.

AberdeenAgnes · 06/05/2012 23:28

Yes. But it's only happened recently.

I am incapable of doing anything just for me in the first 12 months of my babies lives. I got pregnant with DD2 when DD1 was 13 months old so it took me until 3.5 years after becoming pregnant with DD1 to sort myself out.

But now I go to the gym 3 or 4 times a week, eat well, don't drink too much. Am fitter and more toned than I was pre DD1 and intend to get more so.

The key, for me, is to put going to the gym before every other thing in my life - fancying a drink/wanting to slump on the sofa MNing/watching something on telly etc etc. All come second after going to the gym.

Bloody love going to the gym now though, and I can tell you that up until 12 months ago I was a total slob, so it can be done.

suntodayplease · 07/05/2012 07:19

As said by others, it is possible and takes a while. But, whilst my figure is smaller, it's def a different shape!

I joined a gym once my DD went to nursery and all of a sudden I got my figure and fitness back (after 16 months)

4aminsomniac · 07/05/2012 07:29

I am the same weight and vital statistics as I was at 18, an now late 40s with 2 DC of 22 and 19.

I think breastfeeding is past of the answer, I got back to normal weight within about 4 months, and the only specific exercises I did were for my stomach muscles.

A big part of the solution is to not accept the common misconception that babies change your figure for the worse; I don't think they have to if you keep active and eat healthily

Poppolino · 07/05/2012 08:16

Yes you can get your figure back but I don't think it will be quite the same. I put on 4 stone, lost it all and exercised like mad at home. am fairly toned but boobs are VERY saggy now Sad

mrsebojones · 07/05/2012 08:21

Agree with others. Try not to think too much about it now. Enjoy your pregnancy and survey the work to be done afterwards!
I pretty much pinged back into shape after DS was born - breast feeding really worked and he was a springtime baby so I was out in lovely weather pushing a buggy.
After DD was born, I struggled to get back to my pre pregnancy weight of 7stone 10. Money and time were an issue, so I joined a Rosemary Conley class that I went to weekly. The fear of standing on those scales and being 'outed' as not having stuck to the eating plan was very motivating for me! The class also had an exercise bit attached to it. I went for 3 months and got down to 8 stone. The last few pounds I lost through cutting my portion sizes and not snacking.
DD is 7 now and I run to keep in shape. My legs are pretty toned at the moment but my stomach is still a bit wobbly to my eye. However, I think that may simply be some loss of elasticity to the skin after 2 pregnancies close together.

SkiBumMum · 07/05/2012 08:25

Interested in this thread. DD1(3.3) and DD2(8m). We went skiing in March and I had a PT and lost loads. Tummy wasn't too bad but different. Since being back I have no motivation, baby doesn't sleep well, I am knackered and the dark moods are creeping back...so is the flab Sad. DD1 stroked my tummy with an odd look on her face yesterday. I'm sure she thinks there is another baby in there. Inspire me!!

Chandon · 07/05/2012 08:30

I did after baby 2, having gained 4 stone, and with a 10 pound baby in my tummy, I managed to get a flat tummy and a slim figure again, with help of a personal trainer and by eating less (less carbs, less fat, no sugar).... PT made me do 1 hour of exercise twice a week which did the trick (20 minutes running, then push ups, tummy exercises etc.). I kept this up for 2 years.

However. I now have no personal trainer as am back in the UK where that is too expensive. So, 5 years on I am a bit flabbier again. But I don't care so much, somehow. I still do sport, but now I do sport I enjoy, rather than specific toning exercises. I think I look "fine" and that's good enough...

It IS possible though to get a flat tum again, in theory.

DinahMoHum · 07/05/2012 08:35

ive got my figure back "in clothes" but i wont ever look the same naked again. I have more stretchmarks than id like and my boobs were pretty damaged (although i got them repaired)
I put on at least 4 stone in all my pregnancies and probably about 5 or 6 in my first (went up to a size 18/20) although im not sure because i couldnt bear to weigh myself.
I think my thighs will never be firm again even though i am now a size 8/10
could be a lot worse though considering how i ballooned and shrank 3 times

shushpenfold · 07/05/2012 08:36

Yup - have 3 dc and didn't bother with anything through the pg's. Put on 2 stone, 3 stone, 3 stone in each pg, bf for between 9 and 11 mths with each one. The one thing I did do though is I was exercising before each pg and went back to it after the 6 week post birth check. On my sis advice I made sure that I got my weight down to normal again before getting pg again and this worked - she didn't and has struggled ever since. Through bf, sensible diet and some exercise I was back to within 4 lbs of pre-birth weight at 6 months post birth....the last bit came off after stopping bf. I found that my body was less 'perfect' after each one and since hitting 41/42 I've had to work incredibly hard to keep the weight off....that's more to do with my age than my kids though as they're 11, 9 and 7 now!

I have a damn good figure now, but my boobs are not what they were (although better with press ups!) and my tummy is never going to be the same, despite pilates and loads of work....it's the stretched skin and unless I plum for plastic surgery, it's going to stay that way! The only way I have that figure now though is through serious calorie restriction and 4x exercise a week - gym/cardio and pilates. Not much fun though!!!

Original poster
cuppaneeded · 07/05/2012 08:49

Thanks everyone! Inspiring and sensible advice!

OP posts:
MadAboutHotChoc · 07/05/2012 09:16

I think it depends on your age - younger women seem to get their figures back more quickly. Also it depends on how slim and fit you are to begin with.

Before getting pregnant I used to work out a lot. I ate pretty much what I liked while pregnant and stopped working out. Put on 2 stones and after giving birth, I breastfed for a year. Did no formal exercise but walked lots with baby/toddler. I got back into my clothes after a few weeks but wasn't toned for a few more months. I was in my late 20s though.

Now I am in my early 40s, I am having to watch what I eat and drink and make sure I get enough exercise...

Fizzybee · 07/05/2012 09:19

Ds is now 13 months and I've started on this journey 3 weeks ago - I'm 9 pounds down 3 stone to go to get back to a figure I'm happy with

With ds 1 I was 8.5 stone 6 weeks after birth he was formula fed

Then I maintained that for 4 yrs then got pg and miscarried at 4 months I gained about 1.5 stone then and then tried for a baby for a few months and decided to not care what I ate Sad I never weight myself till after ds was born so at about 5 months post birth I was 13.5 stone (not my heaviest either Blush) I lost about a stone up to his 1st bday naturally

Though u was breast feeding It didnt have any effect on my weight I stopped on his first bday and now am in the long road back to feeling less crap

I'm excisising and eating well but it's going to take time

In now 11st 11 and want to get at least under 9 stone

Fizzybee · 07/05/2012 09:20

Oh and I'm 25 so age hasn't helped me Wink

Hopefully · 07/05/2012 09:28

I'm in better shape after DS2 than I have been in the past 8 years or so.

I was a little more careful not to gain during the pregnancy (went up to 12 stone with DS1, only about 11st 5lb with DS2), but not remotely obsessive, but didn't rush to get back in shape after giving birth either time (apart from brief wedding-related crash diet!) DS2 is now 13 months and I am down to 10st and pretty toned and fit, thanks to lots of exercise DVDs and a little bit of careful eating. Am not perfect naked, but have flat, largely stretch mark free tummy despite big babies and CS with DS2.

It's been hard work though - if I have a DC3 I will be even more careful not to gain too much. I regretted listening to everyone telling me to eat what I wanted and worry about it afterwards (especially first time round).