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.

Thanks for the support everyone, it's really helpful.

Unfortunately my plank is dreadful, and it hurts my pelvis. The best I can do is old school crunches.

for those who advocate exercise/toning, maybe I'll try and do a 10 min core/squat blast every day to supplement my cycling to work (4 days per week, 35 min round trip), spin classes (2 x 1hr) and step & tone class (1 per week). There are loads of those things on pinterest. Or do I need a more hardcore toning workout a couple of times per week? I'm not sure I could fit it in if that's the case.

I'm lighter now than before my DS was born... This is due to running around after him and reducing crap carbs like bread and pasta. I gained 50 pounds in total and thought it would never come off!

Eat more protein and veg, pulses and good dairy. Don't drink calories! Avoid wine, milky drinks, pop.

Just seen your question about exercise... I didn't go hard core but did loads if walking, usually an hour per day, fairly quickly.

Did the odd spin class Anna also the odd hour if bike riding. What makes the biggest difference is just moving more!

Well done on losing so much weight, by the way, I was a bit brusque above as I was just chucking out my first thought!

Sounds like maybe your SPD isn't totally better, then, if some moves still hurt your pelvis?

I think, maybe, if you don't feel you need the cardio to lose weight, you should swap some for strength training and/or Pilates - you'd have to find a good instructor to work around your pelvis issues though.

I have lost a bit of weight recently -currently around the same ballpark as you - but my fat distribution will always be such that I have a comically huge bum and thighs. Kinda depressing, but what has made me feel better about my body is the strength and core training I've been doing.
I still have a wobbly belly, but if I poke it I can now feel muscle underneath, and I can see it slowly getting less wobbly. Which is a confidence boost. Stuff like that.