My baby is due imminently. I put on over 3 stone, what are the best/easiest/most effective ways to lose it?

Question

Obviously giving birth to the baby will result in some weight loss, but surely that can't account for over 3 stone. I have always been able to eat everything in sight and not put an ounce of weight on. I'm concerned restricting my diet after baby's birth will depress me (I really like my food!). Are there any tried and tested ways of shifting this weight without too much cutting back on eating? I seem to be carrying most of the extra weight on my bum and thighs, though my upper arms feel fat too. Thanks!

Answer 1

Hi,

My son is 9 months old now and i am still battling to lose the weight, i put on 3stone & 3 lbs i felt like a whale my arms to got much bigger and funnily enough are the hardest part i am finding to lose it from ! i got very depressed about my weight and actually then suffered from post natal depression - did my weight have anything to do with that, im not sure but it didnt help. Problem is since he has been born i have tried loads of diff diets, the cambridge diet then i tried taking xenical, and all i actually did was make myself ill, i am still not right now and the docs think its from all the fad diets ive done since i gave birth, i got a right telling off as you need to give your body time. Anyway i will get to the point i personally think that the best thing to do is eat sensibly and after your 6 week check start doing gentle excersice, take the baby for walks anything will help it will come of but i think slowly is much healthier, i am finding it so much harder than before i had children but its perfectly natural to look mumsy for a while. you have something so much more important in your life anyway.
p.s after my son was born i lost 1stone & 1lb in the first couple of days but he did only weigh 6lb. hope this has helped.

i know many people swear that breastfeeding helps and for some im sure it does but personally for me it did nothing nor many other women i know. i think that it truly depends on the individual and your own body.

Answer 2

Agree with most of the answers here.
Definitely breastfeeding is a massive help.
Get yourself a baby bjorn or sling and carry the baby around with you. It will lay down calcium (prevent osteoporosis) AND help you with weight loss. Plus the baby will be happier. Go for a walk when things get tough - with the baby in the baby bjorn ! Pushchairs won't help you lose the weight.
I put on 25 kilos (about half my bodyweight) when pregnant, and lost about 20 kilos within the first 9 months just by doing the above. No dieting please ! You need a balanced diet !

Answer 3

Breastfeed! If you breastfeed, you will use up about 500 calories a day! With a little bit of common sense in your food choices (Don't overdo the sweets obviously) and some strength building exercises, you will be back in shape in no time. Going to a very lowfat diet isn't recommended while breastfeeding because your baby NEEDS fat and cholesterol in the breastmilk to help his brain finish developing. I'm not saying you should gorge yourself on bacon and eggs, but switching to only nonfat foods and eating mostly salads isn't necessary ;-)

Answer 4

I don't know what a stone is, but pregnancy causes your body to store extra fat. It's normal. It's hard to say how long it will take you to lose it. It depends on if you breastfeed, how much exercise you get and what your diet is like.

I'm due in Dec. with my third child. I plan on losing all my weight and then some within two months, but I'll have to work hard to do it. If you're not willing to modify your diet, it will take you longer.

Answer 5

My sister has two kids and she swore by breast-feeding ... she says it's nature's own little lyposuction unit and she breast fed her son until he was 3 and her daughter until she was 2.

As regards her eating while pregnant, well, let me give you the picture: She was ginormous at 5 months because she would eat her own bodyweight every day. Starting in the morning with a big feed of cereals and eggs and sometimes bacon and sausage; an hour later she'd be announcing that she was hungry and hoover up toast with butter and jam; an hour later she'd be demanding chocolate; then an hour later it was lunchtime and she'd have two helpings of everything; an hour after that she'd announce that she needed ice cream and would have two big bowls of the stuff; an hour after than she'd be looking for more chocolate; an hour later she'd want a 'snack' and an hour after than it was dinner time, during which she'd have two helpings of everything, and afterwards fruit, and an hour later would be demanding ice cream again; and then she'd sometimes go out for chips ... I mean she was HUGE. But lost it all through breastfeeding.

Hope this helps ... and I am NOT exaggerating, by the way.

Answer 6

Surely your mind should be concentrated on the joys of being a new mum and your baby at this time? There's plenty of time to worry about getting your figure back once you and your little one have settled into a routine.

Being a mother must surely be the most precious thing in the world?. After several failed IVF attempts, I would give anything to be able to have that gift - and I'm pretty sure losing the post baby weight would be the least of my concerns.

Congratulations - please, please enjoy this time...as long as you and baby are happy and healthy, everything else can wait!

Answer 7

i put on 5 stone when having my first child and like you i was looking for ways of loosing it, my friend introduced me to a brilliant way of exercising without losing out on time with my baby.
All you have to do is use your baby as your tool! carry them up and down stairs with you, lay on your back and hold your baby on your tummy then lift them up as high as you can and repeat.
As your baby grows their weight gain will act as a stronger weight for you to lift, i found this very effective and it meant i wasn't losing out on any precious time with my daughter, i also walked everywhere, pushing the pram, this is great for your bum and tummy muscles and good exercise for your heart. Remember to eat a healthy balanced diet and drink water throughout the day.

Answer 8

breast feeding contracts the stomach muscles. and most iv your weight will be water fluid. unless you have been eating for 2 the whole time. eat a varied healthy diet lots ov veg, no snacing on junk.DO take a pilates class. and walk. but most ov all. enjoy the experience. it will come off. just give it time. 9 mts it took me to be the way i wanted. but we are all very different. and looking after a baby then toddler then aaaagh hahhhaha you will see thats excersise in itself.

Answer 9

Breastfeeding!
If you breastfeed you'll burn extra calories and you'll lose weight faster.

Be realistic about weight loss goals. It took 9 mos to put it on and it's normal to take 9 mos to take it off for many women.

I did lose all mine quickly through breastfeeding alone. I was within approx 5 lbs of my pre-pregnancy weight by my 6 weeks checkup each time.

Answer 10

Breast feeding helped me, but it's not for everyone. Don't diet - Smaller balanced meals often throughout the day - loadsa fruit and veg, and this is a laugh - exercise. Like you need to find time to do it. There are a couple of books on the shelves about aerobics for you and baby - they really work - for example - Once baby's a wee bit bigger lie on your back and hold he/she under his/her arms, and lift and lower, lift and lower. Makin faces at the baby while ou do it - it makes them laugh. Don't do this after feeding them.......
My favourite was sitting on my armchair, legs straight, and lying my wee one on the lower half of my legs (knee to ankle), and slowly lifting and lowering my straight legs - does your calfs, thighs and tum all at once, and the bigger baby gets, the better for you.

regards