Really struggling - postpartum weight gain

[Snickers94]

I had a beautiful baby girl in June and put on no weight in pregnancy, and after I gave birth I noticed I had lost a stone compared to my pre-pregnancy weight.

Since then, however, I have put on 2 stone. In 5 months!! I feel so awful and disgusting. My BMI is about 37 now but even though I'm the biggest I've ever been I am finding it so hard to stop eating chocolate and takeaway and 2 bowls of cereal in the morning. I haven't even got the energy to cook after looking after my baby, so DH does the cooking and I just can't find the motivation to lose weight. Since childhood I've never eaten healthy so it's hard to stick to a diet but I have managed to lose weight in the past, im just struggling to even want to eat healthy now.

I'm not suffering from post partum depression, I just don't feel full despite eating massive portions and think my stomach has expanded.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? I don't even know where to start.

I feel for you. I’ve got an 18 month old I’m the heaviest I’ve ever been. Lost the baby weight after DC1. Piled on the weight with DC2 as it was the only way not feel constantly sick. Lost weight immediately after giving birth but now I’m the same weight as when I was 9 months pregnant! I’m trying to be good but the weight never seems to go down, but whenever I have a treat scales go up!

It's so tough! I'm always focusing on caring for my baby and my husband works full time from home but often has meetings, just feels harder to do the same levels of exercise and calorie deficit that I used to do before

I could've written this except I had my daughter in October. I can't bear the way I look or feel, I've never been as big! I know it's not the right mindset but I've just completely parked it until the new year. I know what I'm doing wrong, I just don't stop eating chocolate/snacks! Have you thought about WW or slimming world? That's my plan in the new year just to get me back into the zone. What part of the country are you in? We could maybe motivate each other! Im in Cheshire

Thank fuck for this post - I’ve finally found my people!!

I had my DD in March, really watched my weight during pregnancy - weighed the same as I did the day after I gave birth as before being pregnant. I was so proud of myself and felt great. And then 8 months of raising a baby happened and I’ve put on 2 stones and I just cannot stop eating. I’ve never struggled with losing weight before and have always had something of an iron will when it came to what I ate - this let me maintain myself at a weight I was very happy with. But now, I can’t stop. And I’m desperate. I hate how I look but despite trying, come the afternoon, I’m starving hungry again. Are you breastfeeding? I like to kid myself that that’s to blame for my lack of self control, but now my DD is weaning, I’m not sure and suspect I’ve just turned into a weak willed elephant!

What are we going to do? Because I need to get this shit under control.

So glad I'm not the only one feeling this way! Taking care of myself seems to have taken a backseat to taking care of my DD, understandably!

@mrshadders I'm all the way down in London! We are moving across the city to our own property in a January hopefully so I was actually thinking about joining slimming world from then - maybe the accountability would help. Are you thinking of joining?

I would say since you've only had your baby last month, its quite normal to feel upset at our bodies so soon after birth, baby is still so small and you are still recovering from the birth so go easy on yourself

@canyoutoleratethis I breastfed for only 9 weeks but during those 9 weeks my appetite went crazy and I think that's when all the cravings and eating actually started. But I've since switched to formula and my appetite has remained, as has my massively expanded stomach apparently

I could have written this myself, I had my 3rd in august and I hate myself at the moment. I’ve started saxenda injections a week ago and debating doing slim fast too 🥴 I do have at least 6 stone to loose. Lost 6lb last week. I can’t help but obsess over every calorie though!

Well done @Momto3smalls!! That’s a great weight loss. I’m far too scared to step onto the scales at the moment as the number is only going in the wrong direction. But, I’m very relieved to have found others in the same situation and would love to help us all to motivate each other! Have decided to try my absolute best to get my shit in order, starting tomorrow! (Full disclosure - I have been saying this to myself everyday for about 3 months )

@Snickers94 I’m definitely blaming the breastfeeding for my outrageous appetite and my inability to stop eating cheese! What part of London are you moving from/to? I’m in south London

I can't even blame a breastfeeding appetite, I literally have no excuse! It's so hard to find the time. We have a toddler as well by the time they are both settled we need a quick dinner and I'm asleep by 9 haha.
@Snickers94 I'm tempted to join WW because it is quite restrictive and gets me in the zone but it's not a long term solution! I literally can't stop eating chocolate like even Nutella on 2 pieces of toast is my standard breakfast atm!

It's all the carbs you're eating - they make you feel full initially, but then send your hormones (insulin/grehlin/leptin especially) out of whack and that's what makes you hungry and crave more food.

Can you look at replacing your cereal with something more protein-based? Full fat Greek yoghurt with seeds/nuts/fruit would be better?

Do fast 800. I watched ‘lose a stone in 3 weeks’ with Michael mosley. I gave myself 3 weeks, took about 24 days to lose the stone. I felt 3 weeks was manageable I went into to lose another 2 over the next 5 months. I’ve put on a bit since but I know what to do now. It really reset my body.

I think “breastfeeding aids weight loss” is crap. I am always hungry.

@canyoutoleratethis BFing definitely does cause a huge appetite for some of us!
I live in East London but moving all the way to West in the new year fingers crossed! I've started watching my snacking/portion sizes and not eating anything else after dinner since yesterday, so hopefully this will help.

@mrshadders hahah I love Nutella on toast! I also eat that a lot  I literally eat like a 16 year old lol. I get what you mean about restriction, I also find being restrictive easier to lose weight.

@BIWI
Ahhh I am addicted to Weetos at the moment, literally addicted, it's been my breakfast since I was about 8 month pregnant and when I don't eat it I get Weetos withdrawal 😩

And @superram thank you for the suggestion! I'll look into it, that's an incredible amount you lost in such a short space of time

I'm almost 10 weeks pp, breastfeeding and found I've been ravenous! I started trying to track my calories on MFP and gave myself an extra 500cals to cover the breastfeeding but couldn't stick to it. I started WW 3 weeks ago and am finding that easier as I need someone else to weigh me each week for accountability. I was almost at goal using WW after my first baby then lockdown struck and it all went back on. I've lost 10 lbs so far and have another 29 to go. They've just changed plans and I'm really enjoying their new one.
When I finish breastfeeding if I'm still not at goal I plan on doing the fast 800. I started that just before getting pregnant so had to stop. The first few days are really tough then it's much easier after that but obviously not enough calories to cover breastfeeding.

I think it helps to think everything you eat in terms of the time it would take to burn it off. For example I look at a chocolate bar that’s 400 calories and know (from when I did go i a gym) that was equivalent to an hour busting my ass on an exercise bike. Get some healthy snacks in. Don’t buy chocolate. If it’s not in the house you can’t eat it.
I have weight to lose, I’m not perfect. But I’m mindful of the fact that weight loss requires good choices, consistently. Its really hard once you lose motivation. Can you join slimming world or similar? Or get a friend or your DH to join you on a health kick??

@BIWI

It's all the carbs you're eating - they make you feel full initially, but then send your hormones (insulin/grehlin/leptin especially) out of whack and that's what makes you hungry and crave more food.

Can you look at replacing your cereal with something more protein-based? Full fat Greek yoghurt with seeds/nuts/fruit would be better?

Nope, that’s not the case for me. I’ve been low carb and sugar free for over 5 years (including throughout pregnancy). No bread, rice, beans, pasta, carb-heavy vegetables, no cake, no chocolate, no biscuits, not even fruit (tastes too sweet after so many years without sugar and gives me a headache). The problem is I have a nuts and cheese addiction! Unfortunately I’m walking proof that you can gain weight very easily whilst not eating carbs or sugar.

Mines 2 and only really started trying (and failing to tackle it now). I think its the tiredness.

Well @canyoutoleratethis if you have a nut addiction, you'll be eating a lot of carbs there!!!

This is me! I'm glad it's not just me...sick of hearing about and seeing pics of people who 'snap back' after having their baby without an extra pound or stretch mark in sight .
I had my DD in August and initially lost a lot of weight whilst breastfeeding but stopped just before 4 weeks and have put nearly 2 stone on since then! I could honestly cry when I get on the scales, I'm over 2 stone heavier than I have ever been and weigh the same as I did 9 months pregnant!
I have joined this app called Nutracheck which is basically calorie counting but it's easy to use and I've lost 3lbs in my first week so it's a start.

Well done on those who’ve had some weight loss!! That’s fantastic as this shit is seriously hard. I’m happy to report though, that having been inspired by this thread to get my act together, my first day was a success! No pigging out, just sensible meals without snacks. It was hard, but I am going to give this my best shot. I know I would feel a lot better if I’ve made progress before Christmas.

@BIWI oh god, I know, and it’s horrendous. I can seriously eat whole packets of brazil nuts, or pecans, or walnuts. You were right to flag low carb in your first post, as it’s a very sustainable and healthy way to eat, but I just wanted to say that you can still overeat on even the ‘good’ stuff - nothing is safe!

I've been inspired too! So far I've not eaten quite as badly and am recording stuff on my fitness pal. Fingers crossed will see some progress week by week 🤞🏽

I initially lost weight after our twins and was back to pre pregnancy weight at 3mth (was still overweight). Problem was I had diastasis recti which cause constant back pain, my joints were painful (diagnosed with osteoarthritis 2 years later) and I was exhausted looking after 5 kids with dh working away a lot. I gained over 13kg and was at my heaviest. I was depressed and hit rock bottom, I decided I had to sort myself out so started on WW. 2 months and some weight loss later I started going in the gym, lots of injuries and doms but 18 months after I started I was 35kg lighter and my strength levels had improved massively. My joint problems became more manageable with lifting and being lighter. Now I've had another baby, trained throughout my pregnancy but gained some timber (I gained a bit with lockdown and a miscarriage before it too). Slowly rebuilding strength and losing fat by cutting back on treats. I do fasting which makes it easier to manage food without too much thinking, usually 1 meal and a snack in the evenings.
WW was good at the time but I was quite obsessive and restrictive on the food front, at my lightest I still felt bigger though looking back at photos that was madness. I'm happy to lose my excess slower this time, ideally need to lose around 19kg.

Just came on to say low carb.

BIWI does a boot camp over in the low carb section and I am eternally grateful to her because it's the reason I am finally at a healthy weight. Used to be 14 stone, I'm now 10 stone, due to low carbing.