Myth busting - Having children doesn’t make you gain weight

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah of course … why would child bearing in itself cause you to gain weight?

I have no idea but people post this here all the time. “Oh you’re a mom, you shouldn’t expect to go back to your pre pregnancy weight?” And it’s like…why not?

I say this as a mom to a five year old who has been at pre baby weight and measurements since my kid was 1.5.

See this is where we differ. By the time my oldest was 5 I had three more kids.

Sure if I had one kid my body would look great. But instead I have an amazing body that produces children easily which I don't take for granted. I weigh now a bit more than before all 4 of my kids but my body doesn't look the same or carry weight in the same areas as it did before having kids. I love my body as does my DH and my kids. You should probably spend more time embracing bodies of all shapes and sizes instead of pushing your goals on others.

Yes, my body can also produce children. Go us, I guess?

Amazing how this thread has struck a nerve with some women. If you want to be the weight you are, and you feel good, that’s great! This is more about offering hope to the moms that want to lose weight.

NP - I did read the original post as "offering hope". It still felt like the judgment of moms and post partum bodies.

- average weight, mom

[Anonymous]

I lost my baby weight easily, but my body definitely looked different after two kids. Pre-preganancies I was a 32A and now I'm a 36C (and this is nine years after I had my last baby). My other measurements were all the same.

[Anonymous]

I lost all my baby weight in less than a year however the shape of my body has permanently changed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was 5’4’’ 125 lbs when I got pregnant. I gained 30 lbs during my pregnancy and lost it all by the time DD was 6 months old. I’m now 5’4’’ 122 lbs.

So?

How old were you and how many kids do you have?

? Do you think this is a contest? Why is this a topic of conversation for you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was 5’4’’ 125 lbs when I got pregnant. I gained 30 lbs during my pregnancy and lost it all by the time DD was 6 months old. I’m now 5’4’’ 122 lbs.

So?

How old were you and how many kids do you have?

? Do you think this is a contest? Why is this a topic of conversation for you?

The PP shared her specific story, so I'm asking about her specific age and number of kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The thinnest women I know have 4 or 5 kids. It's often made me think I should have more for that very reason

Are they stay at home moms?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah of course … why would child bearing in itself cause you to gain weight?

I have no idea but people post this here all the time. “Oh you’re a mom, you shouldn’t expect to go back to your pre pregnancy weight?” And it’s like…why not?

I say this as a mom to a five year old who has been at pre baby weight and measurements since my kid was 1.5.

People say that because they are being kind to a woman who feels bad about herself! Women, especially moms, have a lot more important things to do than worry about being 10 lbs overweight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah of course … why would child bearing in itself cause you to gain weight?

I have no idea but people post this here all the time. “Oh you’re a mom, you shouldn’t expect to go back to your pre pregnancy weight?” And it’s like…why not?

I say this as a mom to a five year old who has been at pre baby weight and measurements since my kid was 1.5.

People say that because they are being kind to a woman who feels bad about herself! Women, especially moms, have a lot more important things to do than worry about being 10 lbs overweight.

And as other people have noted, bodies change. It's more difficult to lose as you age, and with subsequent pregnancies. Having an experience of one kid isn't much to base an entire opinion on the ease or difficulty of post partum weight loss

[Anonymous]

I think it is more of an issue for addictive personalities and excuses.
But, I do recall that I was not gaining weight with my second, and it turned out that I had little amnio fluid and all kind of contractions and issues.
She is 20 and still has remnant health problems, her reflux was off the charts and she will never have a normal digestive system.
So, not gaining enough weight in pregnancy is certainly a huge issue too.
Also, you sound judgy and I dislike your tone.
Plus for many of us it doesn't take even exercising to lose pregnancy weight, we lose it when we give birth within a couple of weeks. I would rather be in a company of an overweight and a happy woman than in your company.
Judgy Judy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:About the conclusion of the article: no shit.

About your commentary that “you have the time and energy to do it”: shut up. You don’t know my life. Just mind your own business.

Actually the commentary was IF. “If you have the time to do it, it is possible.” I feel like this should give people some hope to know that it is possible. There is no reason that after having children you have to accept being at a weight you aren’t comfortable with.

NP. Sure, but you also understand that your anecdotal evidence may not apply to everyone? Genetics, health after pregnancy, hormones, etc are all at play and perhaps you were just lucky those didn't affect you.

[Anonymous]

I remember telling my kindergarten teacher that my mom was fat because of me. It was something that used to bother me as a kid because that's what she'd tell me. K teacher told me that it wasn't true at all. So I'm careful to not blame my kids.

I will say that I have friends who gained weight during pregnancy and never could lose it again. Weight doesn't just magically fall off when the baby comes out unless you're super lucky. I had to starve and burn off each pound and it was rough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah of course … why would child bearing in itself cause you to gain weight?

I have no idea but people post this here all the time. “Oh you’re a mom, you shouldn’t expect to go back to your pre pregnancy weight?” And it’s like…why not?

I say this as a mom to a five year old who has been at pre baby weight and measurements since my kid was 1.5.

People say that because they are being kind to a woman who feels bad about herself! Women, especially moms, have a lot more important things to do than worry about being 10 lbs overweight.

And as other people have noted, bodies change. It's more difficult to lose as you age, and with subsequent pregnancies. Having an experience of one kid isn't much to base an entire opinion on the ease or difficulty of post partum weight loss

I linked to a study in my original post…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it is more of an issue for addictive personalities and excuses.
But, I do recall that I was not gaining weight with my second, and it turned out that I had little amnio fluid and all kind of contractions and issues.
She is 20 and still has remnant health problems, her reflux was off the charts and she will never have a normal digestive system.
So, not gaining enough weight in pregnancy is certainly a huge issue too.
Also, you sound judgy and I dislike your tone.
Plus for many of us it doesn't take even exercising to lose pregnancy weight, we lose it when we give birth within a couple of weeks. I would rather be in a company of an overweight and a happy woman than in your company.
Judgy Judy.

No one is saying don’t gain weight during pregnancy. The point is that simply having been pregnant and giving birth has nothing to do with being able to maintain your preferred weight.

I am very happy for you that you were able to lose the baby weight right away. I gained 40 pounds when I was pregnant and I had to die and exercise to get rid of the last 10 and I still put it in some “work” in the form of healthy diet and semi regular exercise to maintain my preferred weight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it is more of an issue for addictive personalities and excuses.
But, I do recall that I was not gaining weight with my second, and it turned out that I had little amnio fluid and all kind of contractions and issues.
She is 20 and still has remnant health problems, her reflux was off the charts and she will never have a normal digestive system.
So, not gaining enough weight in pregnancy is certainly a huge issue too.
Also, you sound judgy and I dislike your tone.
Plus for many of us it doesn't take even exercising to lose pregnancy weight, we lose it when we give birth within a couple of weeks. I would rather be in a company of an overweight and a happy woman than in your company.
Judgy Judy.

No one is saying don’t gain weight during pregnancy. The point is that simply having been pregnant and giving birth has nothing to do with being able to maintain your preferred weight.

I am very happy for you that you were able to lose the baby weight right away. I gained 40 pounds when I was pregnant and I had to die and exercise to get rid of the last 10 and I still put it in some “work” in the form of healthy diet and semi regular exercise to maintain my preferred weight.

Diet not die!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah of course … why would child bearing in itself cause you to gain weight?

I have no idea but people post this here all the time. “Oh you’re a mom, you shouldn’t expect to go back to your pre pregnancy weight?” And it’s like…why not?

I say this as a mom to a five year old who has been at pre baby weight and measurements since my kid was 1.5.

See this is where we differ. By the time my oldest was 5 I had three more kids.

Sure if I had one kid my body would look great. But instead I have an amazing body that produces children easily which I don't take for granted. I weigh now a bit more than before all 4 of my kids but my body doesn't look the same or carry weight in the same areas as it did before having kids. I love my body as does my DH and my kids. You should probably spend more time embracing bodies of all shapes and sizes instead of pushing your goals on others.

Yes, my body can also produce children. Go us, I guess?

Amazing how this thread has struck a nerve with some women. If you want to be the weight you are, and you feel good, that’s great! This is more about offering hope to the moms that want to lose weight.

Ha right. Yes, very supportive.