I just had a baby 4 months ago. I have lost 13 pounds since having him (I was 185 right after giving birth, now I am 172). I am excercising like crazy. I go to the gym 5 days a week and do 45 minutes of cardio (35 on elliptical, 10 on either a treadmill, bike, or rowing machine), and I do weight lifting too. I work my abs as well. The weight is comming off, but my belly is not shrinking at all. My mom says that she notices my butt getting smaller. Now I don't want to restrict my calories too much because I am breastfeeding and don't want to jeopardize my milk supply. I think part of the problem is extra skin from when I had my huge belly. But there is deffinately fat too, like a man with a "beer belly". Any suggestions?
First, you are not going to "jeopardize your milk supply" by cutting calories, as long as you are eating healthy and meeting your RDI's, the baby will get what he needs. Unfortunately, you cannot decide where your body will lose fat. Fat (weight) loss only happens 2 ways- reducing calorie intake and burning more calories. Breast feeding can help in the weight loss efforts because the consistent breast feeding will account for about 500 cals per day.
A 13# wt loss in 4 mths is great. Just keep counting calories and try to incorporate more exercise to increase your burn. Losing that baby weight will take time just like losing any weight does. As far as the sagging skin on your belly, it may never go back to exactly the way it was before you had the baby, but you can certainly lose the excess weight and get fit.
Be patient and keep at it. You can do it.
Congratulations on losing 13lbs already! Keep doing what you are doing l agree with gddrdld, you will not jeopardize your milk supply by cutting calories, as a breastfeeding mom they advise you to increase your intake by 200cals more than you were getting during your last trimester of pregnancy if you are exclusively breastfeeding. And at 4months l doubt that you are exclusively breastfeeding.
What was your prepregnancy weight? and how much different does your body look now than before you were pregnant? Give it time but you are definitely on the right track.
Actually, I am still exclusively breastfeeding. Baby wont take a bottle and he is not eating solids yet. I was 205 just before giving birth. I lost 20lbs when I gave birth, and my baby was only 6lbs even! Want to loose 20lbs in 1 day? Give birth, it works!!!
From Trainer Bob from the Biggest Loser:
LOSING BABY WEIGHT
Bob, I have had two kids and have that pregnancy pouch. What is the best way to work that off, and will it ever be flat? – Sarah Joan, Midland City, Ala.
I get so many people asking me about the "pregnancy pouch." Unfortunately, there is not a lot you can do with that since the skin has been stretched out. But with that said, I recommend that you really increase your cardio to burn any excess fat around the mid-section, 20 to 45 minutes, 5 to 6 days a week – and clean up your diet. This will get your stomach looking strong and flat.
lol! I'm in the exact same boat as you. I think i'm at 190 lbs right now. I was 209 the day I gave birth to my son, lost 20lbs immediatley. Then I got back down to 170 lbs and got pregnant again (6 months after my son was born). Now my daughter is seven months old and I was back down to 170, but when I quit smoking I gained 25 ilbs. sigh. I did quit while I was pregnant, but started again right away. I was not really a heavy smoker, about a pack a week. I breast fed both children and did not notice my milk supply suffer from any calorie restriction. I am not breastfeeding my daughter any more and i am trying to lose the weight now, calorie counting and exercise! I hope I can get my belly flat, we'll see!
guys - check out t-tapp. For postpartum it was AMAZING; I dropped a size an a half in 6 weeks (one full size in two weeks). www.t-tapp.com
Just gonna tell you guys to wait. It takes at least 6-8 months for your tummy to catch up. Ok, I'm fat, but my stomach did tighten "back up" to it's "original" size 8 months after giving birth. And my friend who's NOT fat, and dropped down to pre-pregnancy weight VERY fast, still had her belly until last week, which is 7 months after she gave birth. So don't get discouraged, just wait! It's nothing to do with calories or not working out, it's skin that needs time to go back to where it was. 9 months to stretch it out=9 months to get it back in, ok ladies??? Congrats, by the way, wait until they're two!
I also still have the pouch of skin at the bottom because of two different surgeries down there. A C-section and a removal of an ovary. They said the pooch won't go away without a tummy tuck because they cut the muscle.
Be patient - i totally agree with ofeliajones. I found my body knew what to do and when. I jeopardized my milk supply trying to lose weight rapidly. BTW... caloric intake has EVERYTHING to do with milk supply (and energy,etc)!!!-as does hydration, nutrition, etc. -- no success. I was VERY active prior to pregnancy and thru the pregnancy. My body wouldn't lose an inch despite all my effort and then literally it seemed I awaken and lots had fallen off. This happened in several stages, gradually. Daily outdoor walks/activity are important, but looking back, I really needed a reality check and taken it easy focused on nursing and the baby and enjoying the awesomeness of our bodies! Your body is still producing preg hormone (b/c nursing) and will continue until lactation is completely stopped. As u begin to wean, you can start getting more serious and seeing more controlled results once the hormone has stopped altogether. Hang in there - keep eating healthy, resting, getting outdoors daily and just moderate activity - this will pass soon
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