Post Pregnancy weight vs "regular" gain

[Anonymous]

I have 3 kids and lost anywhere from 25-40 pounds (depending on how much I gained) post pregnancy FAIRLY easily. Meaning I had to try but if I ate right and worked out it came off in a few months. 2 years later I gained 8 pounds. Just had a fun summer, little too much drinking, a little too many Fridays off eating big lunches, etc. I think no big deal I know just what to do etc etc but I am shocked how slow it's going. I started Aug 1st so almost 2 months in and I have lost 2.5 pounds. And I have been tracking everything and going to gym 4 days one week and 5 the next religiously. I was chatting to a friend about it and she went "real weight gain is impossible to shed vs pregnancy gain, pregnancy gain is aching to come off and it's much easier, thats not REAL weight." I have never heard that before (in fact I feel like I hear the opposite all the time how hard pregnancy weight is to combat) but now I am thinking about it and this defiantly seems the case to me! Anyone else have any BTDT stories or advice? Im 34 now vs 28,30 and 32 so maybe age is creeping up now too.

[Anonymous]

Well, I'm 43, and had my last kid at 40. Once I stopped bf'ing, weight ballooned up to 163 (I'm 5'2). Pre-pregnancy, I was 145. Started really calorie counting via myfitnesspal winter 2017, added in 4+ days per week of cardio in March 2018. I took the slow and steady, lifestyle change not diet mindset on it. Today I still watch what I eat, try to do a couple days of cardio per week and I'm 132. I've been around this new weight for about nine months so the adjustment seems to be working for me.

are you using a calorie tracking app like myfitnesspal? It's free and I've found it to be accurate. For recipes, I really like skinnytaste.com

It really is a journey. For what it's worth, I see no difference in pregnancy gain and regular gain. I accept that I will probably never have a flat belly but I'm okay with it.

[Anonymous]

Where you breastfeeding? That can help with postpartum weight loss. I also think caring for younger kids take a lot more energy. I was definitely more naturally active when my kid were younger by doing things like chasing them around, caring for them/doing everything for them, taking walks, going to the playground.

But overall I don't think how you gain the weight matters. Losing it all comes down to energy balance/calories in and calories out.

That said, I have always had a hard time losing weight be it from pregnancy gain or just eating to much. I was not one to lose it quickly or easily just bu nursing like everyone told me.

[Anonymous]

I think there might be something to it. I lost all of my post-pregnancy weight without really adjusting my lifestyle that much (some calorie counting, some exercising, but not much).

Fast forward a few years and I've been trying for 6+ months to lost 15 pounds and the scale barely budges.

I'm not sure if it's because my lifestyle is worse now, with too much wine and 'let me finish that last nugget' mentality, and that's harder to change. Or I'm just older.

[Anonymous]

I think 34 is way too young for age-related weight gain, absent any thyroid issues. Get a physical to rule those out if you haven’t already. What workouts are you doing? I find I need to work out HARD to make a difference—but it definitely helps keep me fit at 43. Eight pounds in two months is a lot to gain, and sadly may require more dietary changes than you’d like. I go for the lowest-hanging fruit because it has to be sustainable, personally.

[Anonymous]

For a lot of people, pregnancy weight gain = fluid retention that you eventually pee/sweat out.

So probably not the same as fat or as hard to lose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think 34 is way too young for age-related weight gain, absent any thyroid issues. Get a physical to rule those out if you haven’t already. What workouts are you doing? I find I need to work out HARD to make a difference—but it definitely helps keep me fit at 43. Eight pounds in two months is a lot to gain, and sadly may require more dietary changes than you’d like. I go for the lowest-hanging fruit because it has to be sustainable, personally.

Literally one quick wknd trip with a few after dinner drinks and a good Sunday brunch will have me up 8 pounds. Not exaggerating.

[Anonymous]

I believe it. I lost all but 5 lbs fairly quickly after my son at 31. Then I had some life stressors and gained 15 more lbs over several months (so net +20). I went on a diet and lost 5 lbs of that but then I got stuck at +15 until I got pregnant again at 33.

[Anonymous]

Baby weight is totally easier to lose. But if you're only losing 2.5 lbs since August 1, you're either having a medical issue or you have not come to terms with how fanatical you must be to lose weight. Like when people say slow and steady? For someone trying to lose 8 lbs that is already a healthy weight, slow and steady is a loser. Losing weight when you don't have much to lose is mortal combat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think 34 is way too young for age-related weight gain, absent any thyroid issues. Get a physical to rule those out if you haven’t already. What workouts are you doing? I find I need to work out HARD to make a difference—but it definitely helps keep me fit at 43. Eight pounds in two months is a lot to gain, and sadly may require more dietary changes than you’d like. I go for the lowest-hanging fruit because it has to be sustainable, personally.

Literally one quick wknd trip with a few after dinner drinks and a good Sunday brunch will have me up 8 pounds. Not exaggerating.

And that’s water weight, which should come off quickly. This doesn’t sound like quite the same thing.

[Anonymous]

How are you sleeping? Are you eating or snacking more than you realize? What about stress? If you’re now a working mom of 3, sleep or stress might be more of a factor than it was before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Baby weight is totally easier to lose. But if you're only losing 2.5 lbs since August 1, you're either having a medical issue or you have not come to terms with how fanatical you must be to lose weight. Like when people say slow and steady? For someone trying to lose 8 lbs that is already a healthy weight, slow and steady is a loser. Losing weight when you don't have much to lose is mortal combat.

Yes this. If you are already in a healthy weight range/BMI for you height, but want to lose some pounds for vanity sake it is MUCH harder. Be super strict with your food at least 5 days per week and moderately strict on the weekends. Be a slightly hungry the majority of the day except for just after meal. Sad truth. And then to maintain that loss, stay moderately strict and slight hungry with an occasional splurge (not binge, splurge).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think 34 is way too young for age-related weight gain, absent any thyroid issues. Get a physical to rule those out if you haven’t already. What workouts are you doing? I find I need to work out HARD to make a difference—but it definitely helps keep me fit at 43. Eight pounds in two months is a lot to gain, and sadly may require more dietary changes than you’d like. I go for the lowest-hanging fruit because it has to be sustainable, personally.

Literally one quick wknd trip with a few after dinner drinks and a good Sunday brunch will have me up 8 pounds. Not exaggerating.

And that’s water weight, which should come off quickly. This doesn’t sound like quite the same thing.

Serioualy!! People need to stop thinking hey gained weight after a weekend or day or overeating. It doesn't work like that. Eating a big meal and weighting more the next day is not because you gained fat overnight. It's just bloat.

[Anonymous]

I'm six months post partum and having the opposite experience. I had a healthy BMI going into the pregnancy, my doctor forecasted I'd gain 35 lbs. I gained just over 40 (had exercise restrictions and, let's be honest, too much ice cream). Still 30 lbs over and this weight is clinging to me like nothing I've ever experienced! I don't recognize myself when I look in the mirror. Dropping vanity lbs was a pain before having a baby but it didnt feel so damn impossible. I didn't lose a single lb from BF'ing. Stopping didn't seem to make a difference either. FWIW, I'm in my mid-30s.

[Anonymous]

Are you really, REALLY being honest with yourself about what you are eating? When you say you are tracking what you eat, are you tracking every bite of food that goes into your mouth? Every bite counts. I always tell myself “No Sneak Eats!” – meaning no bites of my kids dinner that they don’t finish, no eating a few chocolates from the office candy bowl, no eating a spoonful of peanut butter or three while I am making my kids a sandwich. These little things add up quick and can easily derail your weight loss efforts.