Losing the Mommy Weight
My weight has been going up (and up!) over the last couple of years. Here’s my history:
2009: Got engaged at my lowest adult weight ever
2010: Got married 10 pounds heavier
2011: Got pregnant 20 pounds heavier than that
2012: Delivered my son at 25 pounds heavier than that
After the birth of my son, I lost 22 of those pregnancy pounds very quickly — like in two weeks! I didn’t do anything specific; it certainly wasn’t my focus in those days. But the weight just fell off. Maybe it was the breastfeeding. Maybe it was because at the end of my pregnancy, I’d developed high blood pressure (and water weight to go right along with it), so I also lost a lot of weight when that water went away.
But after that, I started gaining again. And gaining. And gaining. I’ve always been a stress eater. And there were some stressful moments those first few months! I’ve also been a boredom eater. And there were some boring moments as well. (You can only stare at a sleeping baby for so long.)
So now, I’ve regained about 15 of those pounds. If I kept up this pace, I’ll be about 50 pounds heavier than I was in 2009 at my son’s first birthday. That’s not good! Part of me wanted to ignore the issue. Since we’re trying to conceive again, I thought it’s no big deal. I’ll just have a little more weight to lose after the next pregnancy. Part of me reasoned that I’m not as heavy as I once was (years ago), so it’s not time for panic yet.
But I came to realize that it isn’t something I can (or should!) ignore. Getting to a lower weight will probably make the next pregnancy easier. In fact, my last couple of menstrual cycles have been a little wonky and getting to a healthier weight may help with those, too. Plus, well, I don’t want to have to buy a bunch of new, bigger clothes! I am starting to ‘hide’ from the camera for fear of looking too heavy in pictures and I don’t want that either. I want to be in pictures with my baby, so that we can remember these moments.
So I’ve joined Weight Watchers. And so far, it’s been great for me. I didn’t realize the cost of each soda I sip. Or of the bag of chips I have while sitting at my desk. Or the extra portion of spaghetti at dinner. It all adds up. And it adds up rather quickly.
For me, it’s not so much the baby weight that I need to lose, but the mommy weight. And no, we won’t be putting our trying to conceive plans off until I’m at a goal weight. I think this will be good for me — and my fertility. You could say that I’m losing weight while I’m waiting. Waiting for those two pink lines, that is. Should I see them, I’ll have to give up the weight loss efforts, but I’ll still keep my healthy eating focus.
What have you done to lose the baby or mommy weight?
Photo: Public Domain Pictures
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The Nest Blog
I did Jenny Craig both times to shed my 65 lbs of being pregnant weight (yikes). Now I’m kind of stuck at 25 lbs above wedding weight while my husband has been doing p90x and getting super fit (ugh!) So I’m doing WW online and trying to walk every day, hopefully that will be all it will take to shed the rest!
In was on weight watchers pre pegeers. I am due Oct.11 and planning to get back on the diet! It worked for me pre preggers. Hopefully it will work after I deliver. Pre preggers weight 114 lbs. weight as of 39 weeks preggers 162lbs….. I hope I can lose it! Wish me luck!
I gained 70 pounds during my pregnancy and didn’t breastfeed, so I only lost 12 pounds once my daughter was out. To lose weight, I monitored my calories and took up running. It took me 21 months, but I got below my pre-pregnancy weight. I’d always had a weight problem, but for some reason losing the pregnancy weight and keeping it off has been easy for me. I think becoming aware of what I was eating was a big help.
I got pregnant with my first in 2008/9. I had (at that point) already gained a small amount of weight from my wedding, but nothing unhealthy. Then the pregnancy hit. I lost 30+ lbs before my first appointment and was immediately hospitalized when I went for my first check up. Needless to say they did not care how much weight I gained after that point. So I ate, and gained significantly. I did not try to lose my weight after having my first, just let my body do whatever. I breast feed exclusively until solid foods and supplemented my daughter until her first birthday. I had planned on trying to conceive as soon as I could after I had her to keep my children close in age. I did not want to “rubberband” my weight up and down. Needless to say I conceived the moment I stopped breastfeeding (quiet litterally). My two are 21 months apart. Once again on the second pregnancy I had trouble and ate as I felt. Continued to do so through my second year of breastfeeding. I did the math, it was about 3500 to 4000 cal a day while breastfeeding o.O and I still lost weight. I was, needless to say, still over ideal weight when I finished, but just cutting down portions (eating on smaller plate, removing snacks) I got rid of it in only 4 months. By the end of my second pregnancy I was 60 lbs over where I started. I was able to lose all that (and 20 lbs more) in less than a 18 months after the second child was delivered. The point is, dont sweat it. you will lose as you will lose. As long as you are determined to correct your eating when you are done carrying (and if you choose) breastfeeding. take the calories in as needed when you need them, if you dont need to eat dont and if you do…do! Try not to stress your body out to badly with excessive gain and loss and you will feel better overall.