help! I still look pregnant

[Anonymous]

My baby is 6 months old and I look like I'm having another one. But I'm not. How can I take off the weight and inches while I'm breastfeeding? I just started working out but afraid it might hurt my milk supply. I'm hungry all the time, especially with breastfeeding. A tummy tuck is out of the question. Help!

[Anonymous]

Sorry this doesn't answer your question, but this is the first I heard about exercising adversely affecting supply. Is that true? I am expecting my first in May and have all intentions of going back to the gym asap to get back into shape.

[Anonymous]

I gradually started to exercise and had no trouble with my supply...I started off with walking and Pilates, and then worked up to jogging. BF exclusively until 11 mos without trouble.

Also, for a short term solution, Spanx really helped me out!

Good luck

[Meconbear]

It affects supply if you totally overdo it, like, training for an ultramarathon, but regular exercise programs are fine.

[Anonymous]

I would just try to get in 30 minutes of activity a day. Whether its going on walks w/ your baby or yoga when your baby is napping. Also, try to keep high protein snacks around like: hard boiled eggs, almonds, low-fat string cheese. And also things like veggies and fruit. These snacks help you feel full, but they are good for you. These things worked for me after I had my son and the weight came off pretty quick.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I highly recommend Bikram yoga. It will do wonders for toning, weight loss, energy level, and reducing new-parent stress.
See website to find a studio near you. I've gone to both the Tenley and the Dupont studios and really like them both.

www.bikramyoga.com

[Anonymous]

I'm all about Pilates.

Don't worry about nursing. You can exercise with no problems.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

If you gained excessive weight during pregnancy, it may take a while. You have to eat healthy, you only need an extra 500 cal. for breastfeeding, and when your baby starts eating food, that number will go down. I would do interval training, it is the fastest way to blast fat. 30 mins 5 times per week. run for 2 mins, recover for 4. It works. If you can get to a gym, hit the tread mill. run at 5.5 for 2 mins, walk at 4 for 4 minutes. You will be shocked at how fast this stuff can come off. good luck

[Anonymous]

OP did you have a c-section by chance? Often this will keep the stomach muscles from coming back together properly, and you keep the pregnant look.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the tips. No c-section, just a lot of weight gain and I was a bit overweight to begin with. I know it takes time but it is horrible walking around with all this weight. Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

Spanks or other control-type undergarments are a godsend!

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to lose weight from baby #2 who is almost 5 months so I can empathize. I highly recommend The Firm exercise DVDs. I bought their "Total Body TransFIRMation" system after seeing it on an infomercial (yes, I watched a lot of TV while on maternity leave :oops and I can really see it making a difference. They combine aerobics (mainly in the form of kickboxing moves) with weight training moves and I find them very effective. I particularly like how they combine upperbody and lower body weights together, so the whole workout is efficient. I bought the set online but you can find various DVDs at Target, and I also bought one of their DVDs that came with weight resistance bands at Ulta.

Good luck! Many of us are in the same boat as you!

[Anonymous]

I gained around 30 lbs. when pregnant and it took until about 9 months out before I felt like myself again. I'm actually under my pre-pregnancy weight now at 10 months. I didn't breast feed, though, but from what I hear that would make it harder to lose the weight.

Just watch what you eat and you'll get back down to size. Maybe try Weight Watchers? The point system is awesome. I've been counting points for so many years now and I never even joined. I just got the formula for points from friends and family and now I can tell what is and is not good to eat. Not everyone bounces back. I was annoyed because I was so careful when I was pregnant and it took so long to get back. My Mom was back in her pre-pregnancy pants when she was leaving the hospital after a week (when they kept you there that long!). I figured my genetics would help but it didn't end up being the way it was. I will tell ya one thing though, my arms look better than ever from carrying around a baby all the time!

[Anonymous]

May I also suggest Sparkpeople. We have a small group that has stemmed off this board.

You can calculate the calories in and out, and are given a list of exercises, and meal plans.

http://www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/groups_individual.asp

[Anonymous]

I second weight watchers. I gained close to 50 pounds (!!!!) with each of my three pregnancies, and with the first two the weight easily came off. With #3 it was a totally different story. I joined WW when I was about 5 months post-partum and it was great. They have a program specifically for nursing moms (which I was), and I loved the support. I also went to the gym a couple of times a week - nothing extreme. Anyway, now I weigh less than I did before I got pregnant the first time! Good luck and don't get discouraged. Nine months up, nine months down - especially if you are BF.