Please come and cheer me up regarding my depressing lack of weight loss.

[HumphreyCobbler]

I have been trying to lose weight since the birth of my dd five months ago. To begin with it went very well and I went from 11 and a half stone to ten stone quickly. I knew that this fast loss would not continue but I didn't think that it would stop altogether. I have just weighed myself and for the third week in a row I have not lost any, in fact I have gained a pound.

I wouldn't feel so bad if I hadn't stuck to my diet! But I find it so depressing not to lose any when I have been trying so hard. I have even managed to exercise which is no mean feat when I have two children and no childcare.

I wonder if breastfeeding is making my body hang on to that last half a stone? I actually caught myself thinking that I should cut out that evening apple, which my sensible mind tells me is ridiculous as I need to eat a healthy amount at least. My dh is fed up with me and has hidden the scales!

i'm with your dp. with a 5 month old and another you have enough going on without worrying about half a stone. have you had body image/eating issues in the past?

trust your body, it knows what you need and right now it needs a few more pounds. when you stop feeding (in due time, please, don't make weight part of that decision) it will melt away i'm sure.

Thanks - I haven't had body image issues in the past but have hated the huge weight gain I have had when pregnant. I have issues now I suppose if I am honest. My breasts are massive, like comedy breasts. I hate them. I would never give up breastfeeding for weightloss, but that actually makes me feel quite trapped in a way.

believe me 2 stone during pg aint huge

does it help to think less about getting back to normal and more about how special the time you have now with dd is? i don't get broody (well, i haven't yet!) but i know women who would gnaw their right arm off to be able to have that time over again. it is such a short time and your body has done (and is still doing) a miraculous thing, try to be proud of it.

how are you finding coping with 2? is it difficult in general? are you using the weight loss as a way of feeling as though you're still in control?

I am VERY short though!

You are so right about enjoying this time, I mostly do I think. Coping with two is ok, better than coping with being pg with a two year old! I am tandem feeding too. Part of my problem could be that I am planning to feed dd for at least a year, and if I can't lose any weight during that time I will feel bad about that.

Still, I do feel better for talking about it, it has given me some much needed perspective. Thank you.

i do understand your frustration, really, i hope i haven't come across as dismissive. i gain weight ridiculously easily while i'm pg (4 stone w/dd1, 3 w/dd2) and find it very hard to lose during bf. i just stopped feeding at 18mo and only managed to lose a stone over that time, even when i was making a fair effort. but since then it's virtually melted away.

i used a calorie counting site after dd1 that worked a treat for me, got me eating well, exercising and in the best shape of my life, so i always knew that once i had finished feeding i could go back there and i would get back to (better than) normal. so it was just a question of living with it in the mean time. i love clothes and some of my frustration was not fitting into old clothes and not wanting to spend lots buying new plus i was a 16+ so couldn't buy in the shops i'd normally go to. but i discovered white stuff who do a very generous 16 and bought a load on ebay, should sell well now i no longer need them too. maybe splashing out on a (temporary) new wardrobe - or a few pieces if you can still fit into some - might help?

so much respect to you for tandem feeding, mine were far enough apart that wasn't an issue for me. seriously, you need to make sure you're eating well to keep your energy up for that. it doesn't all have to be in cake form, but restricting your diet is risking leaving yourself drained and tetchy (and the kids are already doing enough of that for you!).

Cheers to both of you. I am loving the idea that all this effort ISN'T going to waste after all.

I will but some new clothes now - I was waiting until that extra weight had gone.

I think I will stop weighing myself so often too.

If you get some little weights or do muscle building exercise you will burn calories a lot faster even at rest. I am not talking about becomgin muscle bound, just increasing your muscle mass a bit. It will make all the difference.