Postpartum moms wanting to lose weight...

Is there anyone else here that has had a baby recently.  My son is 4 months old (born in June 06) and I returned to work when he was 2 months old.  With 4 children total, I am very busy and have a hard time taking time for me.  I would like some other postpartum moms to keep in contact with so we can support each other as we try to trim off the excess weight, be healthy, while being so incredibly busy.

I am 36 yrs old, 5'1, weigh 185 lb and want to lose 50 lbs.  I want to eat nutriously, which is my main goal, but also really need to get back into shape. 

I think it is easier to stick to something like weight loss when you hold your self accountable with others...anyone want to join in?

Edit: 10/27/06  Any moms can join even though this thread has already been going and has a great group of moms so far!  Just post and we'll have an even larger group of us here supporting each other.  And even if you don't have a new baby, that's okay too!  We're a supportive group so feel free to join in!

Hi All! I am a new mom too! Had my first baby in July. I am 30 years old, 177 pounds at 5ft 8inches. My goal weight is 155. I gained 42 pounds while prego and am currently down 24.  I would like to get down to my pre-prego weight at least (160). I am eating healthy but my problem is, I am not eating enough. I have a trainer but only a few sessions left. I too have trouble getting to the gym with my husbands busy work schedule. I will be returning to work the end of November which I am afraid might make it harder to get there.  I just found this site recently and am having trouble knowing the exact grams or ounces to put in?? Any help would be great.

Hi summer.  I have the same problem about getting to the gym... hubby works long hard hours, and often he's out of town, so it's exercise videos and literally running around my house keeping my heart rate up.  I feel so silly, my goodness what my nieghbors must think, but we don't have a tred, and I can't leave the boys alone to workout.  My 3 year old loves chasing me though!

I also have a tough time eatting enough cals a day.  I push myself to eat 900, and at 1200 I feel overstuffed.  I've cut out the low cal foods and stick to the full cal, but that still isn't helping.  I've never been a big eater, we just eat out a lot.  I couldn't believe the amount of cals in just half a cheeseburger!

yes my baby is over a year lost like a good 20 pounds I am on right now with http://www.cinchplan.com/thehealthyway you can try it

Just had to say thanks for starting this thread....I haden't yet found the right area of these fourms to jump into and this is perfect for me! I can't believe how many of us are 27 with babies that were born in March and April of this year! Anyway, its nice to be joined up with you lovely ladies! :)

Beck & everyone else, I'm glad you found a place in this thread, that's why I started it so I'd have a place I felt I fit into.  It is really neat that many of you are 27, that was me around my second pregnancy :)  But I'm remarried and my husband is 23 and I've always felt younger anyway...so I don't feel 36...every birthday I'm 29 'again' and my family puts numbered candles on my birthday cake that are 29...

And for me, it's not so much my husband working too much (though he works 10-hr days), but my older kids that keep me busy...teenagers, once they are 16 and drive it will get easier but I'll have to wait for 1 1/2 years for that.  I do like the fact that they have positive activities in their lives so they stay out of trouble. And they do help with the baby too.

Ree, I'm 27 but holding at 25!  So some of us work, and some stay home?  I'd really love to stay home with my son, but I'm going to have to wait until my husband gets a side job.  Working out has been so difficult for me since I get home so late and then have to get my son ready for bed.  I'm thinking it'll be easier once I can stay home.  I'd really love to lose some more weight, but I'll be happy maintaining this weight.  Just as long as I don't gain! :)

_chick....age is just a number and you are only as old as you feel! I may still be 27, but I know I am going to continue to tell myself that as those candles keep adding up! With your kids I'm sure you keep very busy! And I'm sure you do just fine with your husband working those long days, but it is nice to have them around! I have to be careful though that I don't let myself only miss my husband when he's at work just becase I could use the help around the house, but rather I miss my husband becase he's my best friend! Its funny how fast your thinking can change like that though when you add kids into the mix! (I posted a comment in your journal and  I must not be fully awake yet becase after I posted it I noticed several mistakes...just ignor them! :)  )

I am lucky enough to stay home with both kids.  All day everyday. I did go back to work when my first was 3 months... loved working, but I had to work nights. I didn't want to pay for day care.  Late hours and then early moringings didn't work well for me.  FOrtunately my hubby changed jobs, and he earns enough that I can raise my kids, not someone else.  If you have to work, or you enjoy it, then more power to you.  I'm not knocking day care, it's just not my thing.  The biggest drawback to staying home is; I really miss adult interaction.  WHen I actually see my firends, I find myself saying that I need to go potty, or other silly toddler phrases.  I do need to get out more. 

Beck, I completely understand about wanting hubby around to help.  It is ok to feel that way.  SOmetimes mommys need a little help.  We are human.  I talked to my mom about this yesterday when I was feel like the end of my rope was near.  She told me that the perfect mom doesn't exsist, and that we all have bad days.  I shouldn't feel totally guilty for a break down once in awhile.  Her telling me this makes her the perfect mom in my eyes! I do miss my hub when when i have to go to bed alone, or when I see a show that he wouldv'e loved, but I know I can share it with him on the phone or when he returns.  Plus, absence makes the heart grow fonder.  Sometimes he and I need a break from each other.

I am grateful for this thread, too.It is wacky that so many of us are the same age with babies the same age.  Christianrock, you aren't that old!  Beck is right age is just a number, it's how you FEEL.  My MIL is approaching 50 and she acts like she's 21, maybe that's a little inappropriate, but atleast she's not complaining about how old she really is!

I went back to work when my son was 6 weeks old.  It still kills me to leave the house every morning.  My mom watches him on the days my husband and I both work.  My husband is in paramedic school and will graduate next month.  After that he'll probably get a side job so I can stay home.  My parents were both against day care, so that's why they're watching him for me.  I still pay my mom, though.  They were worried Cole would be sick all the time if he went to day care.  I'm not really concerned with interacting with anyone.  Several of my neighbors stay at home, so I'd have some company.  I'm just concerned I'd get bored with the day to day routine, even though I'd much rather be at home with my baby than working.  I like my job enough, but it breaks my heart that I only see my son for about 3 hours a day.  I see him for about 30 minutes in the morning, and I'm only home for 2 hours before he goes to bed.  That's not enough for me. 

I'm not a new mom... my baby's 23 yrs old...LOL... but I wanted to give all of you a wonderful exercise to do with your babies.  Lie on your backs and put your legs up and your baby on your shins with your baby facing you.  Then do leg lifts with them... Your baby will love it and you'll get great exercise.  I started doing this with my daughter when she was around 3 months or so - when her head stabilized.

And most of all - enjoy the living daylights out of them... they grow so darn fast!

Hi everyone! I'm so excited to see this thread! I am 32 years old 5'5. I have a total of 4 daughters...two of them are 10 one is 8 and the baby just turned 6 months. I had my daughter in April...I gained about 75-80 pounds during my pregnancy. It didn't bother me while i was pregnant but as soon as I gave birth I ended up with post-pardum and my weight seemed to trigger it the most....I refused to take the med's they tried putting me on and than found this wonderful site! I am down to 177 and i have been taking pilates twice a week and cardio and weight training every other day. I still get very depressed but thanks to encouraging words here at CC and my husband being so understanding and loving i have been able to lose weight. I like to talk to people that can relate to me though sometimes. which this is why im excited about this thread

Hi Gert, I tried that last weekend, and my son absolutely loved it.  My legs were killing me though.  Maybe I should've tried it before he was 20lbs? I like to take him for walks in his Snugli.  It's amazing how hard it is to walk with an extra 20lbs strapped to you.  Funny thing is, that's about how much I've lost so far and I don't remember it being that hard to walk. 

cecily, I couldn't imagine seeing my little guys only a few hours a day.  The positive side to your situation is that your mom watches your precious one... not some teacher with many other kids.  Most people don't get that kind of support from the grandparents!

I tried that with my son the other day... it is a work out even if he's only 13 pounds (he's a little guy!). Next time i'll do it before lunch, not after.  Had a little mess to clean off my legs! EWW!

Welcome Ruthie!  Wow another April Baby! We've got lots of April/Marchbabies in here!  Sounds like you have a lot of energy working out so much every week!  I wish I had that.  30 minutes almost everyday is all I can seem to find.  If I could only get he boys to take thier naps at the same time, I'd have 2 hours to work on myself!

cecily, I am so sorry about how you feel. I truly understand. I had my daugher in April, (six months ago today!) and within the first two weeks she was born I spent every moment almost trying to figure out how to change my schedule to I wouldn't have to leave her. I thought I might actually die if I had to leave her. My mom still works part time as a college advisor and  she agreed to watch her for two days a week but at the time I worked four and didn't know what I would do for the  other two days. I just couldn't send her to someone I didn't love myself! I know it had a lot to do with all the crazy hormones. And after I got my schedule changed I was much happier. I work at a small office for advocacy for abused and neglected children, and I was able to go down to two days a week. So I cut our income, actually our savings, in half. But I feel very rich in my time with my daugher. I truly wish that there was something I could do to offer you a way of more time with your little honey. But as sinderella said, it is such a blessing that your mom watches them for you! In the end, it will make such a difference. You are a great mom, and no less of a loving mom because you are at work. I believe that you are providing for them in a wonderful way by financially providing for their future! I know this is how I feel about the days that I go to work....I am still taking care of my child, even if they aren't in my arms while I'm doing it. Hope that thought helps...

Welcome summerbaby & Ruthie (hope I didn't miss anyone). There are a lot of March/April babies here! If no one minds sharing, what are all your babies' names? My son is Benjamin Phillip.

I am a full time SAHM to my three boys and I can't imagine going back to work. I think it would be really hard and I admire those of you that can do it. My husband and I decided when we had kids that I wouldn't ever work, not even when they were in school (we are planning on homeschooling so it wouldn't work anyway). It's something our moms did for us and we want that for our kids too.

Anyways, I haven't worked out in a long time. I was learning how to salsa; I just recently bought the Crunch Cardio Salsa video. But right now I'm having all these problems with hormones and bleeding so I hardly have energy for anything. And as for eating, I am so turned off of food right now I don't know if I'm eating enough. So hopefully I get all of this fixed soon and can get back at it!

Thanks guys!  I'm sure it will be better after Christmas.  I think at that point my husband will be able to get a side job.  He has the potential to make a lot of money since paramedics are in such high demand here.  I think it will be better for us, too.  He really needs to work because he gets bored easily.  I, on the other hand, can't stand to be away from my son, so I know it would be better for me to be at home with him.  We talked about it last night some more.  I was really hoping to be able to quit my job as soon as he graduates, but I think it's going to be closer to the first of the year, if then.  Worst case scenario, I think I'd have to work until March or April, 2007.  That's not too much longer, so I'm trying to just stick it out. 

My daughters name is Danielle her grandpas name is dan and her middle name is Bonnie...her grandmas name....i go to school full time (trying to become a nurse) luckly i dont have to work....my daughter had torticollis so i have to give her PT too...im trying really hard not to let it get to me....i try to not think about the stress....exercise especially pilates has helped so much with destressing

Ruthie74, how do you like nursing school?  That's what I was thinking of going back to school for.  My husband thinks I'd enjoy it, but my cousin is a nurse and hates it.  She advised me not to do it.  I just feel really unfulfilled sitting behind a desk all day.  Plus, with a schedule like that, I could spend so much more time with my son and make a good income.  Do you want to work in a hospital or for a private practice? 

First, my little one's name is Jayson Drake...and welcome.  I have pics of my kids on my profile but am limiting those to my friends list...anyone joining this thread can add me to their friends list and I'll add you to mine!

But for me, going back to work was awful, while on maternity leave I kept trying to refigure my budget to make it work but it's not possible.  I was very depressed when I first went back.  My first pregnancy, I stayed home with them a year and a half, my second pregnancy, I worked full-time, but my ex-husband's schedule allowed it so we only needed daycare 2 days a week, but this time was really tough.  I drop him off by 8 am and my husband picks him up at 2:30...and we don't have family to watch him so we had to pick daycare.  We send him to the daycare at our church though and I love the girls that are in charge of the infants. 

This is my husbands first baby though and he gets a little more time with him than I do and I'm okay with that.  He takes his daddy role very seriously.  So sometimes our house is a disaster, but I don't care as much as long as my kids feel loved!

oh yes, and ruthie, I noticed you have twin daughters...what a blessing.  Mine truly are, though just this past year they became teenagers and I'm basically at a lose as to how to be the best parent sometimes...but I laid the groundwork when they were younger and tried to instill good values.  I love having twins and right now, they hate being twins which started about 7th grade.  That's when they wanted to start becoming individuals and everyone still calls them things that associate them together or people can't tell them apart (they are fraternal though they look close to identical).  It's been a wild ride raising them but would never have wanted it to be any different!