How soon after birth did you intentionally begin trying to lose weight?

[Anonymous]

I exclusively pumped until 6 months- not sure if that counts as breastfeeding but I will share my experience anyway.

I started trying to lose weight pretty much immediately. Healthy eating, as much walking as I could get in. I had an awful tear which didn’t really feel “normal” until almost a year.

I got to about 5 pounds over pre pregnancy weight by about 12 months, by 18 months I was at pre pregnancy weight. However it’s been hard! The weight definitely didn’t just melt off and my body is shaped differently and many clothes don’t fit.

[Anonymous]

Don’t try to force it because that is a recipe for injury. Breastfeeding is really good for weight loss but there’s a lot of hormones still in your body that make it harder to lose weight. I would suggest that you eat “real” aka not processed food as a first step, and take walks. I was back to my prebaby weight 18-24 months post birth with this strategy for 2 kids, but didn’t start exercising till about 10 months after birth, which was 2 months after stopping breastfeeding.

[Anonymous]

I lost a bunch of weight right after birth. I was back in my regular jeans by week number three PP. Then, I went up gaining about 15 to 20 pounds back over the next year. I think it was just from the lack of sleep, eating whatever was around, and not being very active outside of keeping the baby alive. Watch out for that trap. I was not able to breast-feed, so did not have the typical weight retention and loss that can come from that.

[Anonymous]

I think I was at or below my pre-pregnancy weight when I left the hospital. I was on the GD diet, only gained 12 lbs, and had a 8.5 lb baby (add in placenta plus fluids...) Then I preceded to put on about 5-10 lbs trying to make breast feeding work, and just having a crap diet while adjusting to being a working mom. I got pregnant again at 15 months PP before I could drop those pounds. Plus I was on Progesterone to help get pregnant, which also clings to any weight it can get a hold of.

[Anonymous]

I gained around 30 pounds (didn’t weigh myself the last week or two so I’m not sure) but lost 18 in the hospital. The next 13 came off over the next few months and I was back in pre-pregnancy clothes about a month or so after delivery but certainly not comfortable yet

[Anonymous]

I haven’t been trying to lose weight specifically but I did want to feel like my body way my own again. I started going for walks 1-2 weeks after birth, fit into my normal clothes at 4-5 weeks after birth, and started normal intensity exercise around 6 weeks. Currently about 4 months out, my non-pregnancy clothes fit, although I can tell I’m still a bit chunkier than I used to be.

With breastfeeding I really can’t reduce what I eat; if I try and skip even one snack I start getting lightheaded, so I’m trying to focus on exercise and getting my muscles (especially pelvic floor and abs) back under control.

This is my first kid; I understand it’s harder on subsequent deliveries.

[Anonymous]

Around 6 months both times. Breastfed both, the 1st time much more successfully.

I will say that although I didn’t worry about losing weight for 6 months, I did quickly start getting back into running as soon as I was cleared to exercise. I had to stop running due to high risk pregnancies, and was chomping at the bit to start back up again as soon as I was able, albeit much slower and much more jiggly haha

[Anonymous]

Honestly? I think I started "trying" the day after the birth. I was "lucky" that it all fell off with nursing. But I kept very active while on maternity leave. Kids slept best in the stroller anyhow

[Anonymous]

2 days. I’m not kidding.

It took me 14 months to lose the baby weight with my first, and I wasn’t going down that road again. I let myself eat anything I wanted for the first two days after my second, then after that, I started paying attention. I did not EBF either child.

[Anonymous]

1st pregnancy: got pregnant at 140, delivered at 175, was down to 140 at 12 months with no trying. Weaned and Did weight watchers to get to 130, which is a much better weight for me.

2nd: got pregnant at 130, delivered at 185(!!!!!! ), but weight fell off even faster. Never had to try to lose weight, just breastfed all the time but still ate a lot. Lost 35 lbs the first month and was back at 130 by 12 months. Continued breastfeeding.

It’s a mystery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1st pregnancy: got pregnant at 140, delivered at 175, was down to 140 at 12 months with no trying. Weaned and Did weight watchers to get to 130, which is a much better weight for me.

2nd: got pregnant at 130, delivered at 185(!!!!!! ), but weight fell off even faster. Never had to try to lose weight, just breastfed all the time but still ate a lot. Lost 35 lbs the first month and was back at 130 by 12 months. Continued breastfeeding.

It’s a mystery.

But I will add: I did try to eat healthy nutritious food. Wasn’t dieting but also wasn’t eating junk. Is that trying?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have had 3 kids and lost almost all of the pregnancy weight with each kid but had an extremely hard time doing so while breastfeeding. I was constantly starving while BFing and couldn’t lose anything until after I weaned each time.

This is my twin. 3 kids, lost it each time but not until each totally weaned.

[Anonymous]

Lost it all in like 10 days but then would gain some back thanks to breastfeeding and a raging appetite as baby ate more. Last few pounds all fell off after finally weaning by 9 months. Only 2 months postpartum right now and like 15 lbs left to lose and not giving an eff (too tired, too quarantined).