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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Struggling to lose weight after baby

4 replies

Anoushka1986 · 08/10/2023 06:06

Hi all,

I'm feeling extremely disheartened with my weight loss attempts. I had a baby 4.5 months ago and have been trying to lose weight from 6 weeks post partum. I'm not breast feeding.

I was first trying to lose weight using IF as this has worked for me in the past. I was exercising regularly though perhaps not pushing myself hard enough. I didn't lose any weight.

About 3.5 weeks ago I started getting serious and am now doing strength training around 4/5 times a week, ensuring i also walk 10k steps and stick to a calorie deficit of 1700 (im currently 93kg so this is estimated to be a deficit for my weight). I'm also focusing a lot on meeting protein needs. I still haven't lost any weight and I have been measuring myself and haven't lost any cms.

I just don't understand what is going on and I feel stressed as I'm getting married next year and don't want to look like this. Could it be hormonal? I have always found it difficult to lose weight but have usually found that if I go really intense with exercise and focus on my diet I can make some small change. Last year I had two miscarriages and had the same issue of trying my very hardest to lose weight and it made no difference...

Apart from the initial fluid loss after baby was born I haven't lost any weight. I've lost 3cm from my waist and 3 cms from my hips in the first 2 months of trying but nothing else so far.

I know people will tell me 1700 is too high but I'm really trying hard to do the right thing and not starve myself/eat enough to maintain muscle. So confused.

Baby currently wakes approximately 3 times a night however he feeds for about 20 minutes and then goes straight back to sleep and I don't feel terribly sleep deprived.

Does anyone else have experience or advice they can offer?

OP posts:
Vegetus · 08/10/2023 08:23

If you're doing all that and only eating 1700 calories I'm inclined to say you're not tracking correctly.

Get a set of kitchen scales and start weighing things out if you're not already, the studies show when people guestimate calories they under report by as much as 2000 on the extreme end.

It's really quite depressing when you see what a portion of cooked pasta and rice is meant to be!

Anoushka1986 · 08/10/2023 08:31

@Vegetus thank you for your reply, that's good advice! I will buy some kitchen scales.

OP posts:
Anoushka1986 · 23/10/2023 01:50

@Vegetus just wanted to thank you again for your advice. Since starting to weigh out food I've noticed that there were a fair few items of food that I was underestimating calories/size. I've just weighed and measured myself and there's finally been a small shift!

OP posts:
cherrytomato1 · 21/11/2023 21:00

Just here to say I'm in the same boat.

Finding my metabolism has slowed down perhaps but my weight just doesn't seem to be budging.

I am having the same diet as before my pregnancy and about a stone heavier.

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