Realistically, will I ever be able to get the figure I want? (post-baby)

[Angelina77]

I had my little boy in July and, having suffered badly with SPD, which continued for 3-4 months after he was born, I put on nearly 4 stone from my pre-pregnancy weight (12st 7lb). Even then I was a stone overweight so I ended up really heavy.

Anyway, I dragged myself to Slimming World and I now down to 13st 3lb but I've got an awful saggy stomach (which is still quite fat) and I've developed a weird shape around my hips, kind of exaggerated muffin top/love handles and no waist (not that I've ever really had a well defined waist). I've also got pretty bad stretch marks. So despite having lost so much weight I still look awful.

Anyway, I've been happily pinning motivational pictures of stupidly thin/fit women onto my pinterest wall in the hope that I'll get there by summer but in reality, I probably won't ever look good again. Or at least, that's how it feels now.

Has anyone managed to go from a saggy blob to slim and sexy? I do a fair amount of cardio exercise but that's probably not enough.

Any advice/solidarity appreciated.

Hi, although I have never been pregnant, my mum has five children altogether. She has never gone back to pre pregnancy size but I consider her quite slim. If you're doing cardio, then I would suggest mixing it with HIIT ( high intensity interval training ) and a little strength training. Also, watching your diet may help. Do NOT eliminate carbs or any food group, apart from the high sugar, high fat and high salt content. People always recommend cutting out carbs, but there is no reason to do so. Carbs provide us with the energy our body needs to function, so if you do a lot of cardio, then do not eliminate any food groups.

I wouldn't recommend going on a specific diet either, as they are too strict. All you need to do is eat when you're hungry, stop when satisfied and eat healthier. Set yourself up a little treat every day so you don't feel deprived and end up bingeing. Eat breakfast EVERY SINGLE DAY. It kick starts your metabolism therefore burning more calories. Do not ever skip meals. Eat about 2-3 hours before sleep, so your body can digest it properly. Do not over eat. Stay hydrated. Try upping your fiber gradually.

Although being slim may sound appealing, I personally believe everyone is beautiful no matter what. You've had a baby! Its so magical and happy! Your skin was stretched so it wont go back to how it was. Appreciate yourself for how beautiful you really are, and in time that will make you happier than any amount of lost weight ever would.

My role model is Jo Wiley.

I wouldn't recommend going on a specific diet either, as they are too strict.
Hogwash
All you need to do is eat when you're hungry, stop when satisfied and eat healthier.
If that worked there would be no obesity crisis.
Set yourself up a little treat every day so you don't feel deprived and end up bingeing.
Piffle
Eat breakfast EVERY SINGLE DAY. It kick starts your metabolism therefore burning more calories.
Utter rubbish that has been comprehensively disproven by research
Do not ever skip meals.
More hogwash. Humans evolved with intermittent food supply. Our bodies work better with big gaps between food sometimes.
Eat about 2-3 hours before sleep, so your body can digest it properly
Bilge - the body burns calories highly effectively all night
Stay hydrated
at last, something that is true

Well I used all these tips and lost over 12 lbs in 9 weeks. I didn't even change my exercise.

I ignored them all and lost 3 stone.

In fact on the 5:2 threads are hundreds of people losing lots of weight - and keeping it off - by following what the science says.

How long did it take to lose the 3 stone? I was just looking up the 5:2 diet...

Honestly, the skipping meals thing has been debunked. Why do people think humans were designed to eat three meals a day? This is such a recent thing.

I regularly skip breakfast, and am slimmer now, post-DC than I was before. Back to my teenage shape.

I exercise as well.

Eating three meals is a recent phenomenon (that is); not thinking we should.

hsl
six months
then ten years to put one stone back on
then 12 weeks to lose that stone
now two years comfortably maintaining at happy weight while enjoying food

I would never diet either. I hate the idea of labelling food as good or bad or saying you must or you can't. I eat healthily and to appetite.

I work out lots and lots. I lift weights and I do plyometric interval training, plus running, climbing, hiking, cycling. I will never lose the slight overhang as my cs scars are stitched tight. I will never lose the stretch marks from boobs to knees. I will never lose the loose skin. And that's okay. I am slim, fit, healthy, have excellent definition, look pretty good in clothes and okay out of them. I enjoy the body I have, the babies it gave me and the things it is capable of. It cannot be what it was but what it is, I will take happily.

showy
what was your max BMI

mine was 29.6

its not safe to do pylometric with too much weight on the joints

eating sensibly is essential to bring BMI with in exercise limits

TalkinPeace what are the.rules now? Need to lose 1/2 stone but haven't found time to read Taubes etc

Thanks for the advice so far, to be honest, I'm finding losing the weight relatively easy (I know it'll get harder closer to my target) but it's what I'm left with that's the problem, my shape and saggy skin. I don't want to turn into a frumpy old woman, I'll be 40 in the not too distant future and I really want to feel and look better than I ever have.

I have never calculated bmi, nor am I recommending anything. Not my job. Was just saying what I do and what that means for my post children physique. My point was I work very hard. I eat well, am teetotal and extremely active. No I will never look the way I used to but I look just fine.

After dd was a year old I was lighter than before having her. Stick to it, sounds like you're doing well. Xx

Hey Angelina, I was in a similar situation to you and thought my shape had completely changed forever.. I had C- sections and had this weird overhang all the way around my belly and going towards my back! But I persevered and the more weight I loss, the more my old figure revealed itself! Don't lose heart, just keep going! You are doing so well. Most of your skin will ping back as you weren't that big. Yes you may have some saggy skin but it can't be seen under clothes.. I don't care about mine, just that I can wear my nice clothes again

angelina
my next birthday is 50
my kids are teenagers
I'm a size 8, 5'5"
come and join 5:2
it works

Angelina - of course you can get the figure you want, post-baby. I'm currently 9st 7 and 5ft 6ins. DS is two and I haven't been this slim since I was 19.
I've done it through hard exercise, eating well (no gimmicky diet foods) and MFP set to 1200 cals a day.

angelina I'm similar to you except DS is 1 this week. I'm down to 12st10 and starting to "see" a difference especially in the definition on my waist (been doing Jillian Michaels 30 day shred on and off. Not much dieting). I just look a bit overweight now and less baby-ravaged. I think time is a great healer.

I have just had a baby same time as you. I am 8 stone 4. I also agree always eat breakfast as it is most important meal for slim people, drink water, exercise wbe. you can. I also wore a girdle first couple of months. I have multiple children, and completely flat tummy now.

I eat whatever I want, but just in moderation. I don't skip meals either as believe you should eat at proper meal times.

Just seen your post on toning. I have no stretch marks, loose skin, cellulite, any fat except boobs/bum, or any other signs of having any children. I do believe it is from exercise. You can eat whatever foods you want if you exercise imo.

Start with steps. Then on top do fitness you tube/videos. Then once you have chance start going to classes, if you can't get a babysitter then there are so many workouts online now there is such a wide range on there.

I would never have believed it but I am 18lb lighter now than I was before I had my first dc (dc 2 is coming up for 1). I was overweight to start with despite being pretty active and exercising a lot but my diet really wasn't as good as I thought it was.

Now I joined a well known weight loss group - mainly because I knew I needed the weigh in aspect to keep me on track (I've tried various things on line and by myself and they didn't work for me because I would cheat.) I'm not a huge advocate for groups but i am a big believer in finding what works for you and despite my initial misgivings this has helped me and I'm still losing and aiming for a healthy weight. I'll cross the how to maintain bridge when I get there :)

My expensive gym membership has long gone but I walk loads and I run with a group of friends through out the week. However the exercise that has boosted my confidence the most is yoga and pilates. I'm noticing real changes in my stomach and legs and generally I feel more content and happier in myself - even than before dc.

I am now 68lbs lighter than when I fell pregnant with DC1. I didn't lose the weight in one go - it took me lots of time to know myself and find what works for me.

I have no "stop" button. I never, ever feel uncomfortably full (a consequence of years of horrendous binge eating), so I have to count calories to stay on track. I used to do it on an Excel spreadsheet until I discovered MFP.

As for "toning", I am a big believer in strength training. Cardio will burn calories but not transform your body. I love my Jillian Michaels DVDs. I also bought "Body by You" by Mark Lauren (book, not DVD). The workouts are short but extremely effective and you don't need to buy weights (you use your own bodyweight).

I still have a bit of loose skin on my stomach and stretchmarks everywhere, but I look much better than I did 9 years ago.

Op, I think getting a good shape is down to a lot of commitment and a good bit of luck.

I look alright in clothes although a bit chubby at the moment. I hate that bit of my tummy underneath my bellybutton. It's the fattest bit by far with stretched skin. I can see that the blubber does go when I'm thinner but the stretched skin doesn't.

I do think that it matters more to me than anyone else and I would still get my loose skin out on the beach. I also try to be grateful of the body that nurtured my ds. He is worth a bit of loose skin.

The stretch marks fade to nothing too

Low carb - so loads of vegetables, protein and exercise works. Go on BIWI's threads, many are losing weight that way too.

Core training probably a good idea if you're worried about your midsection. How's your plank?