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 everyone!

KJ, great to hear such a positive attitude.  I too have given myself a year to lose 50 lbs, I'm being realistic and that's the best way to be.  And slowly taking steps to a healthier lifestyle.  I've been keeping in my calorie range, but last week I began working on adding more fiber to my diet.  Small steps.  (ps. I added you to my friends list). 

Hope everyone had a good weekend, I never eat as well over the weekend, but did okay and kept my calories in the right range.  Very tempted last night to eat something bad when I couldn't sleep, but had some herbal tea instead.

I'm pretty late to the party - but mind a newbie?? I'm 31 [32 in a few weeks], am 5'2" and weigh 161lbs (ouch, that hurts to type!)  I have a 16 month old son - gained 40lbs with him...and lost it all right away. But I was about 20lbs overweight before getting pregnant and since going back to work, etc. I'm up another 15 or so. We're also trying to have another baby - so my goal is to be the healthiest I can be - for my son and future children.

I'd love to add everyone as "friends" [what does that mean?] - y'all OK with that?

Thanks!!

d_kiss,

I just replied on your other question...but of course, you an join us!  You can add people to your friends list by - Click on my name which brings up my profile, click on 'add to friends'.  From that you can keep in contact via journals.  Some of my journal postings I have as 'friends only' so not everyone can read them.  I will add you to my list!

Since you are new to this site, (I'm pretty new too), use the tools to determine how much you should be eating, Allowance tool.  This site is very helpful.  It is a good attitude to get healthy habits before the pregnancy.  From your other post, I thought maybe you had never been pregnant before, but seeing you have, you know what will happen with your body.  Once you get pregnant, this site will still be useful to help you keep the correct amount of calories you need which will be your expenditures +500 (I think that's the recommendation to add 500 calories when you're pregnant...can't remember now).

Anyways, welcome!

Hi everyone!

I've got a quick question... do you gain weight while you're sick?  the scale says I've gained 7 pounds in less than a week.  What?!? I'll admit that I haven't been eatting the healthy choices, but I know I haven't had 24,500 calories above my normal weekly intake.  I know I can blame a couple of those pounds on water retention, but not all 7.  I'm so discouraged and sick, so everything seems so much worse....yea I'm a baby when I am sick. 

I hope everyone else is well... and welcome d_kiss! 

Hey all, new to this also. 

I have a 15 month old (born in July 2005) and a 4 1/2 year old.  I gained 55 pounds with my first baby and only lost 20 when i had him which left me at 185 pounds (I'm 26 year old and 5'9").  Not fun.  I looked in the mirror and broke down and cried.  I dedided to walk every night, even if was only for 20 minutes and I ended up losing all of the weight.  i was amazed by how walking helps so much, plus just eating a little less than I used to.  Then i got pregnant with my second and only gained 20 pounds.  Being fit and at a good wieght before having another child really helped too.  After he was born I got into running.  It's a goal to work towards. Which is a great motivator.  I have now run 6 5k's and am working on the 7th one which is this weekend.  I have toned and lost even more weight and it has been great.  I'd like to keep up with all of you, that ok?

justin072005

Hi Justin!  Welcome. Way to go on all your running success! I'd love to be back in that great of shape.  Hopefully by next spring!Feel free to add me, and I'm pretty sure anyone else in here, to your friend's list!

Hi Justin!
Is that your son's name?  We were so close to naming ours Justin, but my husband has a friend with that name, so we chose not to use it.  At the time, we spent a lot of time around him and felt it would be confusing.  I've loved that name forever, though. :)

Hey Cecily and sinderella-  thanks!!
 i can tell you that running is a quick way to lose weight.  I lost that weight in 4 months and it was 20 pounds i lost after my second son was born.  i am at the best weight I've been at since I can remember.  I would recommend it to everyone. 
Cecily- yep my sons name is Justin- he's my youngest.  He's named after my husbands grandfather. Our oldest's name is Austin.  It's hard not to get them mixed up sometimes. It is easy to spell. :-)

Oh, you're kidding me!!  I wanted to name my first born Austin!!!  I had that name picked out since I was in high school.  Unfortunately, my husband didn't like it as much as I did, so we decided on Justin.  And you know how that turned out.  We ended up with a Cole. :D

Great job Justin,  I'm not very good at running at all, tried it in high school but it is excellent exercise.  Before kids I used to workout a lot and didn't mind running on a treadmill, but that was many moons ago.

Welcome to our group, great to have you!

And sinderella, I'm not sure about the weight thing but since you're sick, I wouldn't depend on the scale 100 percent.  When you get to feeling better, get right back on track and I bet it will even out.

Cecily- small, small world!!  We could have had kids named the same.  Wierd. 
I never used to run either, especially long distance.  And it took a while to work up to it. I used to gauge the distance by telephone poles on my road.  It helped. :-)
Sinderella- gaining weight while sick, that's weird.  I agree with Christianrock-chick.  You may find that you have lost weight after you feel better! 

Hey - thanks for the welcome! It's nice to know others are in the same boat...

I'm a corporate finance gal - so I don't get a chance to post that often...but will def. be checking in here! 

Hi dkiss02!  I'll add you as a friend, too!  Welcome to the group!  I see you're trying to have another baby?

I had a new baby August 1.  She is my third beautiful baby.  I am 5'10 and I weigh 182 pounds.  prior to getting pregnant I weighed 155lbs.  I obviously want to get back there.  I was told if I breast fed it would happen quicker but that is not the case.  I am very disappointed.  I would love to hear about any tricks that other nursing mothers have. 

hey abrandau

not that you want to hear this but I was also always told if I breastfed the weight would melt off, for me this was so untrue. I had the metabolism of champions while pregnant ( I ate anything and everything and only gained 15 lbs with my first and 17 lbs with my second) but as soon as they cut the chord it became slower then ever and no amount of breastfeeding would speed it up. I struggled to lose every pound while breastfeeding, harder then usual actually as my breasts swelled to a 40F. After my second I accepted the facts and learned to stay the course and after I stopped breastfeeding my good habits paid off and only then did I drop the weight.

Ps to those with funky periods if you are breastfeeding it does affect them. My period did not return till 9 months after the birth of each of my girls and it took 6 or 7 months after that to become regular.

I was told the same thing about breastfeeding... I'd like to find whoever started that rumor and tell them to stop lying to everyone!  The only thing nursing did for me was insure my son's health, and cause my boobs to sag sag sag.  The only way I've lost any of my weight was diet and exercise...and no more fast food...even if I have the calories to spare.

Feeling a little better here...still trying to figure out where all this weight came from. I've been so sick that plain water made me feel worse. I've been drinking a lot of water today... hopefully over the next couple days I'll see a smaller number of the scale (fingers crossed)!

Yes, who did start that rumor...this is my third pregnancy and there's no way breastfeeding has ever helped me to lose weight, maybe some are just lucky.  But I do it for the health of my baby and hopefully to help with food allergies (since I have a ton and don't wish that on my children).  So, I don't think I have any tricks except I'm using this site and eating really good. 

jenesch -

when did you stop breastfeeding? what did your dr say about dieting/excercise and breastfeeding?  

Hello all,

 I've read your post and was so happy to read something I could relate to. I'm new to this site and was looking for other Moms. I have a beautiful 4 month old daughter (June 3 of 2006) and a  wonderful 2 year old son ( Sept of 2006).

I have never dieted in my life. Not that I didn't need to but just that I didn't. I ate well in my pregancies and didn't gain much weight. I gained more after I had my son. I am breastfeeding so I'm not sure what calories I'm suppose to have. Everything I read is different. I agree with a post that no loses weight with breastfeeding, in fact I gain more than being pregnant!!!! I'm 5'3'' and 186 pounds and I'm 23 years old. Wow, it hurts to say that out loud but then the truth hurts!

I've thought of joining a gym but I know I can't because I don't have anyone to watch the kids. I live in a very rural area so finding a gym with daycare is out of the question.  I need to do everything at home.  My bf works 3rd shift so there's really no way for him to watch the kids in the day.

What had worked for you? What can I do at home? Please any support will be greatly apperciated. I hope to make some good friends here.

wow! so many new moms! This is great to see! I stepped away from the journal for a few days and it seems like I have alreayd missed so much! I love being a part of a great group of moms...especially so many with babies around the same age! Please feel free to add me as a friend and I will do the same! Welcome newbies and hey out there to the other moms as well!