Strategy to loose baby weight

[Anonymous]

3rd kid here. With my first kid I gained a ton. I didn’t lose weight until I weaned at 19 months and then had an illness and then took up running but the illness did a lot to help. And I ended up in a good place BMI was 21. Second kid gained way less but never lost the baby weight at all and ended up with BMI 24.5. I’m on #3 and I’m in my 40’s now. I really need a strategy. I want to breast feed and while I did with two kids, I never had an over supply and struggled to keep up a bit. I also know that my most successful time will be when I’m on maternity leave. For those who were successful with losing weight and breastfeeding, what did you do? I know the first step is not to gain too much weight and so far I’ve been doing ok. I’m walking and doing the Beachbody prenatal barre 2x per week. Another note - I can’t run anymore (post pregnancy) due to foot and hip injuries. Would love some advice because I feel like I’m on a trajectory to be overweight after this.

[Anonymous]

the Atkins diet (similar to keto but works better for me). Couldn’t do it while breastfeeding however because of supply. Plan to atleast try it again this time though.

[Anonymous]

The Sweat app by Kayla Itsines on the Apple store has a couple post-natal 12 week programs- the one I tried after DS was born was suitable for diastisis recti. Tracy Anderson also has a more advanced postpartum workout if you were relatively fit before (abs-heavy). I always look for indoor stuff during winter so I don't have excuses.

[Anonymous]

I got a Peloton when my second was 8 months old and it changed everything for me. I lost all the weight and then some, and I'm in better shape now than I was before kids.

[Anonymous]

I lost 70lbs BFing on weight watchers. I had more points than my husband while I was exclusively breastfeeding. Get wheels for the baby and kids, a jogging stroller or something. Arranging childcare makes exercise dramatically less likely.

[Anonymous]

There is no strategy. It is the same as it has always been. Eat less, exercise more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no strategy. It is the same as it has always been. Eat less, exercise more.

No kidding but how much less can you eat and keep up milk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lost 70lbs BFing on weight watchers. I had more points than my husband while I was exclusively breastfeeding. Get wheels for the baby and kids, a jogging stroller or something. Arranging childcare makes exercise dramatically less likely.

How long did it take?

[Anonymous]

I did Noom at 9 mos when I was still 15lbs up from my pre-baby weight. I put on the lowest "speed" level (in terms of how quickly you are trying to lose) and I was able to lose ten pounds without hurting my milk supply. I still have 5ish to go (my weight bounces around - I did briefly hit pre-baby weight during a bout of norovirus), but I'm also still nursing, so I'm hoping it will come off after I wean.

[Anonymous]

I just had my 3rd kid. Gained 30lbs, lost 20 the first month. The last 10 was HARD. I had to eat smaller portions at each meal and then didn't eat after 6pm. I only ate lunch at 2pm and dinner at 6pm. When your body is saying it's hungry, it's just trying to maintain the weight that you have. I just ignored hunger cues, while still eating enough calories to support breastfeeding. I used weight watchers to make sure I ate enough.

The last 10lbs took 2 months to lose. No exercise other than long stroller walks and mowing the grass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did Noom at 9 mos when I was still 15lbs up from my pre-baby weight. I put on the lowest "speed" level (in terms of how quickly you are trying to lose) and I was able to lose ten pounds without hurting my milk supply. I still have 5ish to go (my weight bounces around - I did briefly hit pre-baby weight during a bout of norovirus), but I'm also still nursing, so I'm hoping it will come off after I wean.

Your breasts themselves likely have 5lbs in them. But I had to go under my prebaby weight to still look the same.

[Anonymous]

What does "gained a ton" mean to you, OP? And if you really did "gain a ton," why did that happen?

BMI is pretty meaningless on a personal level. You could have a BMI over 25 and still be a healthy person - lots of trim, muscular people have a BMI over 25. Nobody here knows what your body looks like or what your body composition is. A BMI of 21 is getting close to being underweight.

If you have to constantly restrict calories to maintain a particular weight, then it's not the right weight for you. If you're overeating (like, past the point of fullness on a daily basis) and not exercising, then yea, you need to change your habits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:3rd kid here. With my first kid I gained a ton. I didn’t lose weight until I weaned at 19 months and then had an illness and then took up running but the illness did a lot to help. And I ended up in a good place BMI was 21. Second kid gained way less but never lost the baby weight at all and ended up with BMI 24.5. I’m on #3 and I’m in my 40’s now. I really need a strategy. I want to breast feed and while I did with two kids, I never had an over supply and struggled to keep up a bit. I also know that my most successful time will be when I’m on maternity leave. For those who were successful with losing weight and breastfeeding, what did you do? I know the first step is not to gain too much weight and so far I’ve been doing ok. I’m walking and doing the Beachbody prenatal barre 2x per week. Another note - I can’t run anymore (post pregnancy) due to foot and hip injuries. Would love some advice because I feel like I’m on a trajectory to be overweight after this.

How old is your baby now? Honestly, I would take it easy on yourself. Give yourself time to heal and deal with 3 kids before trying to lose weight. There is a time for everything and this isn't the time if your baby is a newborn.

[Anonymous]

You can't loose anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3rd kid here. With my first kid I gained a ton. I didn’t lose weight until I weaned at 19 months and then had an illness and then took up running but the illness did a lot to help. And I ended up in a good place BMI was 21. Second kid gained way less but never lost the baby weight at all and ended up with BMI 24.5. I’m on #3 and I’m in my 40’s now. I really need a strategy. I want to breast feed and while I did with two kids, I never had an over supply and struggled to keep up a bit. I also know that my most successful time will be when I’m on maternity leave. For those who were successful with losing weight and breastfeeding, what did you do? I know the first step is not to gain too much weight and so far I’ve been doing ok. I’m walking and doing the Beachbody prenatal barre 2x per week. Another note - I can’t run anymore (post pregnancy) due to foot and hip injuries. Would love some advice because I feel like I’m on a trajectory to be overweight after this.

How old is your baby now? Honestly, I would take it easy on yourself. Give yourself time to heal and deal with 3 kids before trying to lose weight. There is a time for everything and this isn't the time if your baby is a newborn.

Not to be mean, but I disagree. You want to do it quickly. Otherwise your body resets at the higher weight level and it's harder to lose. I know clearly how hard it is since my 3rd is still a newborn.