Gave birth 5 weeks ago - is it too soon to diet?

[BettyButterknife]

That's it, really. I've been eating what I want since the birth (and throughout the pregnancy if I'm honest). Maternity clothes are too big but normal clothes are too small. My tummy is still pretty pronounced, and I'm dreading someone asking when my baby's due :(

So is it too soon to start a gentle diet? I had planned to give myself three months before joining Slimming World, but I'm terrified of what that 3 months might do!

I'm 5'6" and probably weigh around 13 stone (haven't dared actually weigh myself - could quite easily be more). I'm not breastfeeding.

Go for it if you want to.

I went on a diet after about a month, and I was breastfeeding.

Only if you feel you want to though, I hate this pressure to get back to normal so soon after having a baby.

Thanks for your advice, I did weigh myself this morning and it's worse than I thought - 13 stone 6 so am in the obese bracket for the first time in my life, having put on 3 and a half stone in the 4 years since becoming pregnant first time. Sob!

I started SW when dd3 was about 12 weeks then again when ds was 8 weeks, I was breastfeeding though.

I don't think SW will let you sign up until after you've had your 6 week check though.

Please don't be too hard on yourself though. Your baby is really very, very new and tiny. Don't stress too much about your weight :)

I've started WW this week, 3 weeks post birth (breastfeeding is well established though and I have recovered from the birth) as I have 2 stone to shift and know it will just stick around for ever more if I don't get pro-active! Am just following the plan at home though as it's to early to start officially.

You can join a group from 6 weeks so can't see any problem with you starting now as long as you are well. I would suggest being careful on the exercise front though especially if you are still bleeding at all.

Good luck

I have always had a rule that I don't diet until the baby has started sleeping through. Once you've got a bit more energy the challenges of dieting will seem much easier. I admire you for your enthusiasm but don't give yourself a hard time just yet. (I put on 4 stone first time round and it took a year to loose it)

if I'd had that rule yesway I'd not have started until ds was 16 months old! I'd lost 2.5 stone and reached target by the time he was 10 months :)

Betty congratulations! Ah, 5 weeks, enjoy these early stages... they're so lovely when they're newborn :)

having said that, despite being lovely, newborns can be bloody hard work. Plus you've just gave birth to a baby, you're recovering still.

I don't see a problem on going on a diet if it's something you feel you can do happily / easily, but if it's something that'll stress you out, I would delay to be honest for a few more months. With the sleep deprivation etc you surely don't need added stress in your life.

But then again going on a diet may actually reduce your stress, and if that's the case, then fair enough :).