How long does it normally take to loose the weight after having a baby?

Question

My baby is over 3 months old now and I'm struggling to loose the last 8lbs, did anyone else have this problem? Does anyone have any tips on how to get it off?

Some good answers!

I did breast feed for 4 weeks and the weight dropped off, but as soon as I stopped, I put a stone on. I exercise on average 40 mins a day, 4 times a week. I follow a good eating plan, but I like to indulge myself a little at the weekends.

What's frustrating is my clothes. My maternity clothes are too big, and my normal clothes are too small, and until I go back to work I haven't got the extra cash to splash out on new clothes. Then there is a wedding I have to attend in 4 weeks and I really want to wear a dress I've only worn once in the past, with it being a dress it's fine round my bum and thighs (this is where I have put on the majority of the weight), I've been very lucky with my stomach this went back to normal, but my chest is having none of the dress! I've always had a large chest, but now I look ridiciulous!

Answer 1

It's so frustrating isn't it? I'm with you, I've got 9lbs to go, and my kid is 14 wks old. I've gone back to work and can only fit into some of my pre-pregnancy skirts, and none of the pants. I broke down and bought 2 pairs of work pants and one pair of jeans b/c I knew I had to stop wearing anything with an elastic waist on it (i.e. maternity clothes)! What I try to do is not focus on losing the 9lbs, but instead tell myself I only have to lose, say, 2lbs. Then when I hit that weight, I'll think about losing the next 2.

Honestly, you don't have far to go. Make a goal to have it off by Halloween or some other holiday.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Well how long it takes depends on how much you put on and what you're doing to get it off...

It sounds like you have a good plan, with exercising and eating healthy and all that. If you're not breastfeeding at all, your baby isn't influenced by your diet and then you could try a fast weight loss solution like the South Beach Diet (it's healthy and worked wonders for me in the past - at least the first 2 weeks you should lose quite a bit).

Unfortunately the bad news is that your breasts may never go back to the way they were before you were pregnant, and dieting is not going to change that. If you only stopped breastfeeding very recently there may still be some milk causing them to be larger than in the past, but if you're not producing milk anymore that's probably not it.

Answer 3

Losing weight can be difficult if there is too much weight gain. During pregnancy, fat deposits may increase by more than a third of the total amount a woman had before she became pregnant. If the weight gain was normal, most women lose this extra weight in the birth process and in the weeks and months after birth. Breast-feeding helps to deplete the fat deposited during pregnancy. A woman who breast-feeds expends at least 500 more calories than one who doesn't. The woman who nurses her baby also has increased needs for specific nutrients, and should not be on a weight loss diet

i also suggest that you take long walks with your baby....eat healthier, fresh fruit and veg each day, red and white meats (eg) chicken...pork...turkey drink lots of water every day and take your vits...they are very important...if you have a bike...go for a ride somewhere, try 3 miles per day is enough...good luck

Answer 4

I weighed 10st before being pregnant. I have quite small frame but have always been heavy as i've been quite muscly due to having, riding and competing lots of horses.

When i was due i weighed 13st. My son was born by ceserean weighing 9lb 9oz so that shifted quite a bit. The day after i had him i was down to 12st. The within a week i was down to 11st and back into most of my my size 10 clothes..

I didn't breastfeed through personal choice.

Then i hit a spot where i haven't really lost anything. Because i had a C-sec i was out of action i.e riding for a while but even when i returned to riding i couldn't shift the weight. The worst bit being my saddlebags and chubby hips. My son is now 3mths old and i am getting married in 5days so i am really desperate to lose that extra bit of weight.

I've been really careful what i eat, usually have dry cereal for brekkie, a hea;lth sandwich or some salad or cooked veg for lunch and then a normal, but healthy doinner. I mainly drink water and have almost completely cut out alcohol. We have cut out take-aways, fizzy drinks, choc, crisps and junk food.

If anything i've been exercising less due to arranging wedding but do about 1hrs exercise every other day either waling the dog, walking shopping, fitness video, dancing etc.

Within 1 1/2 weeks i had lost 1/2 a stone and am now (with 5days to go) almost down to 10st again with everyone complimenting how slim i look.

Answer 5

it can take anywhere between 2 to 12 months. Even longer if you are not trying. Breastfeeding will do the trick much, much faster! You may have just hit a plateau. try and intensify your workout if your doctor says that it is OK. Change a few things in your diet so that your body is digesting something different. a change is what your body is looking for. you seem to have gotten healthier with the efforts that you made...just change it a little and you can be able to see more progress. congrats by the way. it is not easy loosing that nasty stuff. one more thing....you body takes about 7 years to get back to the normal chemistry that it had before. even if you loose the weights, your hip bones did spread further apart. so don't be hard on yourself.

mother of 2 with one on the way!

Answer 6

Your chest will probably always stay a bit larger, and so will your hips (sometimes the change is hardly notable, but it's there) because they expand during pregnancy.
Your metabolism may have slowed down because of the lack of sleep (that comes with the territory), so in addition to working out and eating healthy, try, if possible, to squeeze a short nap or two, while the kiddo is sleeping.
Getting enough sleep reduces your cravings so you're less likely to snack on junk food.

Answer 7

did somebody say it takes the average person 9 months? Seems to me the average american woman never loses her baby weight. Anyways though, I lost the weight in 6 months, but it took a couple of years for all my measurements to go back to normal. I heard about a study recently that said it takes at least two years for your body to completely recover. There's alot more involved than just weight.
If you've lost most of it in 3 months already then just keep doing what you're doing. Don't be too hard on yourself, your body's been through alot and it needs time to heal.

Answer 8

some human beings lose it immediately and others do no longer. I weighed 11 stone earlier I fell pregnant - somewhat narrow as i'm tall. I gained around 4 stone and nevertheless 3 stone heavier than i used to be earlier I had my infant boy. he's now 6 months and that i've got lost not often any weight. while some anybody is very narrow immediately after having a infant. in simple terms think of to your self it took 9 months to earnings it, so 9 months or greater to lose it.

Answer 9

It take 9 months to put it on, so give yourself 9 months to shift it. You also need to be really careful with what you are eating as you need to get you body back into balance. I would recommend taking a multi-vitamin, but if you are breastfeeding, then talk to your doctor first. The better balance your body is in the quicker it will replenish your stores and allow you to lose that last little bit. Also do lots of walking, fresh air for you and baby and works your arm and leg muscles. It also puts less strain on pelvic muscles than jogging or running, and its free cos you can do it anywhere!

Answer 10

They say that it takes 9months to put the weight on so you should allow 9 months for it to come off. Sometimes you just don't loose the last little bit. I was lucky with breastfeeding - absolutely convinced that's what lost my weight. Don't concentrate on it too much, all that running around your doing will get it off and I'm sure you look great anyway. Good luck.