Skinny fat after 2nd pregnancy

[Anonymous]

I had my second baby 20 months ago. I lost all but five pounds of the pregnancy weight but I don't look the same as I did after my first child was born (I was 31 then and am 36 now).

I exercise five days a week - a combination of weight training, running and yoga. But I'm so flabby. I'm not building muscle - I have very little definition, and my endurance is non existent.

I talked to my doctor and all she suggested was that I'm probably not getting enough protein. I don't think that's the problem.

Anyone else experience this post pregnancy? Did you ever bounce back?

[Anonymous]

Some of it is age. I suspect you need to increase the weight you life and modify your workouts to focus more on weightlifting (less running and yoga). I started doing this around age 37 after my first. I'm only 4 mos PP with my second, and I'm bouncing back much faster this time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of it is age. I suspect you need to increase the weight you life and modify your workouts to focus more on weightlifting (less running and yoga). I started doing this around age 37 after my first. I'm only 4 mos PP with my second, and I'm bouncing back much faster this time.

This.

I don't have kids, but I'm 36 and I've noticed that within the last two years I've had to really step up my workout intensity to see results. It's like cellulite cropped up overnight and the same old stuff doesn't work anymore. I don't know what your workouts are like but if you're just going through the motions with weights and not pushing yourself at all and working to increase the weight you're moving, you're just wasting your time. And 30 minutes on the elliptical isn't going to do much, either. It sucks but I feel like at this age I need to work twice as hard to get the same result I'd have gotten 5 years ago.

[Anonymous]

I really like Lindsey Brin's postnatal bootcamp DVD. Since you're already in decent shape, you could do the "advanced" program and probably see results quickly. It involves lots of weights and some cardio with a focus on the core. I started it right after my 2nd was born and did the workouts faithfully, 6x a week, for about 3 months, and noticed a huge difference in my flabbiness. Then I went back to work and am not able to work out as consistently, but I still try to fit in a few a week plus a couple runs. I'm down to just under my PP weight.

[Anonymous]

I've heard from other moms of 2-3 kids that the subsequent pregnancies are harder to come back from than the first. So that might be a factor.

Age is probably also likely a factor. I noticed metabolism shifts at 30, 35 and 39 - the one at 39 was a doozy. I lost all but 5 lbs of my baby weight at age 36, but then at 39, I gained 13 lbs in 4 months and started keeping weight around my midsection, which had never happened before. (typically I gain in my butt and thighs and my abs stay flat and defined.)

You probably don't need to work out more often, but you may need to crank up the intensity of your workouts. I do weekly speedwork at the track, and I definitely hit the weights harder now in my 40's than I did before. Every workout counts. I also have to be much more careful about my diet now. I don't deprive myself and I don't restrict calories too much, but I've had to watch my snacking, my desserts, my booze and my portion size.

[Anonymous]

You're getting good advice about workouts but try also tracking your protein for a couple of days. I did it about a year ago and was stunned to see that I generally was eating only 15-20 grams of protein a day. When I upped that to at least 40 grams a day (46 is my goal) it was almost like magic that I started to feel better and my endurance began to improve. And, oddly enough, I lost weight without even trying. Just a thought ...

[Anonymous]

I am in the same boat, same age, and with a second DC that just turned 2. I also now keep weight in my midsection where I never ever did before, like another PP i would gain in my thighs and butt. I have decided to add kettlebells to my workouts and see if that can help burn some of the fat. i also watch my diet, which is more important now than before. because of recently discovered allergies, i need to cut dairy and soy, and if I also watch sugar, i am hoping this will get me back.