If there is one thing that unites all mothers it is the weight gain that occurs during pregnancy and then persists after birth.
On average a woman gains about 35 pounds during pregnancy, and in addition to the extra weight stomach muscles are weakened as a result of stretching, which leaves the tummy fat looking loose. Many mom’s never manage to get back into their old clothes, but if you are not breastfeeding there is really no reason why you cannot regain your pre-baby figure with a little bit of hard work and some dieting. Generally when someone claims to have “tried everything to lose weight” after giving birth this usually means they have tried to lose weight by:
- Going on a fad diet plan that leaves them feeling exhausted and hungry all the time
- Taking diet pills all of which fail to do anything without a proper diet and exercise regime
- Joining a commercial gym, then failing to workout on a regular basis due to family commitments
- Buying home cardio equipment but not using it frequently or intensively enough
- Joining aerobics classes and fitness clubs
- Try crazy fad diets that leave you feel tired and sick
- Doing pointless ab exercises for hours on end
So, if this sounds like you, then know that you are not alone. The real reason why many women fail to lose weight after giving birth is that none of the above methods, no “diets” or workout routines will ever help you lose weight on their own. Weight loss requires a complete system that takes into account nutrition, diet, exercise and other lifestyle factors.
As a mum you do not have as much time for yourself so you cannot spend 2 hours in the gym with an hour relaxing in the sauna like you used to. Children come first and need your attention. So, how do you get fit and slim again?
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Fast Intensive Workouts
Luckily the best way to lose weight is to workout quickly. Gentle, slow paced exercise, such as walking, jogging or cycling slowly are not as time efficient at burning fat as fast and intensive workouts. Follow these general rules:
- Exercise at least 3 times per week to a high intensity, ideally exercise daily
- Exercise for at least 45 minutes, ideally for 60 minutes a day
- Perform full body workouts, such as squats, lunges, push ups
- Use weight training methods such as shoulder press, curls, deadlift
- Perform intensive interval training with short sprints followed by recovery exercise
Sensible Eating Habits
The other factor to lose weight is to ensure that you are eating a healthy diet that will encourage weight loss. You may still think that fat is the problem, but it is not. The real problem is sugar and refined carbohydrate, processed food and junk food. Follow these dietary rules:
- Never skip breakfast
- Stop eating bread, cakes and cookies – no excuses
- Eat more eggs at breakfast
- Eat more protein for lunch and dinner – chicken, turkey, fish, lean meats
- No junk food, candy, sugar, soda, chocolate or fast food
- Only eat low GI vegetables and fruits
- Drink water when thirsty
- Drink coffee before exercise
Start Exercise as Soon As Possible
Exercise is vital as soon as possible after birth. Only by exercising the abdominal muscles be strengthened again, and more muscle helps to raise metabolism and burn fat too. Also exercising helps prepare the body for future pregnancies.
If you want to lose your mommy tummy then the answer is to follow our simply rules on how to lose belly fat. Only with a healthy diet and regular exercise can you regain control of your midsection. Pull those muscles in and burn that fat off with sensible eating and exercise, not creams.
The only way to lose weight quickly and keep the weight off is to follow a tried and tested routine. Buying expensive cardio equipment or diet pills will not help, but following a nutrition and exercise program will give good results. Learning how to do as many different healthy weight loss exercises as possible will help you to get in shape. Once you have learned how to exercise properly and intensively at home on your own you are in a much stronger position to get fit and lose weight.
It is certainly possible to lose all the baby fat quickly – just look at celebrities such as Katie Holmes, Heidi Klum or Kerry Katona. Just be prepared to sweat, a lot!
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Breast Feeding – Considerations for Health
From the editor.
For breastfeeding mom’s losing weight is still possible as although you need to take in additional nutrition to produce milk you can still burn fat if your stick to a healthy diet and start exercising. Exercise is not a problem once you have recovered from childbirth and daily workouts will get you back in shape.
As part of my ongoing education into human nutrition I have been reading about breastfeeding today. This is a subject that really surprises me. As a father of two boys that were breastfed for about 9 months, I find it really strange that so many women are today against breastfeeding. Why is this?
Even the language in my nutrition text book is odd. Mary Barasi writes in Human Nutrition that breastfeeding is “the most natural way of feeding the baby”. Maybe I am just being pedantic, but to say it is the most natural way to feed implies that there are other natural ways? But it is the ONLY natural way to feed a baby. All other methods are unnatural.
Some Health Benefits of Breastfeeding
- It can help you to lose weight
- Reduces risk of breast cancer
- Hormones released when breastfeeding help the uterus contract (reduces belly)
- Reduces risk of child becoming obese
- Less change of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)
- Research shown that breastfed babies are more intelligent
- Mothers suffer less depression and “baby blues” if they breastfeed
- Passes on anti-bodies to the child
- Better nutrition that formula milk, so makes bigger and stronger babies
- Less chance of baby developing allergies and intolerances to dairy
History of Baby Formula Milk
I had to find out more, so researched the history of formula milk. All I did was read the Wikipedia page, which was very informative; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infant_formula
Formula milk as we know it was only developed in the 1970s. Before that there were various home made types of formula that were often lacking in nutrients. Before the 20th century “dry nursing” was the only option if a mother could not breast feed and no wet nurse was available. This involved mixing milk with honey which usually resulted in ill health and death!
In 1867 the first formula milk was developed - Liebig’s Soluble Food for Babies. But these were still not very good, only slight improvements on the homemade recipes that mothers came up with.
In 1907 the “percentage method” was devised, which were recipes (also called formulas) of “cow’s milk, water, cream, and sugar or honey in specific ratios to achieve the nutritional balance believed to approximate human milk reformulated in such a way as to accommodate the believed digestive capability of the infant.”
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Still at the start of the 20th century most people breastfed though. Formula-fed babies still suffered more diet / medical problems, such as scurvy, rickets and bacterial infections. Although in the 1920′s the addition of orange juice and cod liver oil reduced scurvy and rickets.
It seems that only in the 1950′s were some real advancements made (Similac in 1951, Enfamil in 1959). By the early 1970s, over 75% of babies in the United States were fed on formulas, almost entirely commercially produced.
The biggest threat of formula continued to be poor sanitation, babies were still at great risk from this, still are in many countries with poor water supplies.
So, humans (or at least an ancestral species exceptionally similar) have been about for around 0.5 – 2 million years and the babies thrived for most of this time on breast milk alone, and every other mammal on the planet continues to manage with breastfeeding. Why are so many people against it? The reasons given just do not make any sense. If it were not for modern commercial formula milk, most babies would die if they were not breastfed. Has our society gone completely mad?
Reading all this also made me understand female social groups better. Women like being together in groups, but this would have been a huge evolutionary / survival advantage in the past, as if a woman gave birth and could not feed their baby, in a large enough group there would most likely be another women who was still breastfeeding their older child who could carry on.
However, a vast majority of women are perfectly capable of breastfeeding their babies for 6-12 months. Women struggle due to lack of care and advice from health professionals. As society becomes more fragmented women do not have close relationships with other mothers that they can learn from.
Breastfeeding women do require a lot of assistance. They need more food, healthy food, more water, more rest. Breastfeeding women require around 600 Calories a day more than normal and these calories have to be healthy – lots of green, fresh fruits, vegetables, pulses, protein, plus a lot of water. Many women may dry up simply because they are not getting enough food and drink.
Another modern problem is that many women want to “get their bodies back” and so want to start a diet as soon as they have given birth. This makes breastfeeding impossible as hardly any milk can be made while on a calorie restrictive diet.
Maybe wet nursing is one of the reasons the human race has thrived over the 15 thousand years? Maybe the development of formula milk in the last century is partly responsible for the obesity epidemic?
Anyway, the choice is yours. But breastfeeding can help you to get back in shape quicker. This is not really the reason to choose to breastfeed, but certainly one worth adding to the list of “pros” when making a decision.
The Loneliness of Motherhood
Emotional eating is one of the major causes of weight gain, and new mothers are susceptible to loneliness and depression.
A survey carried out by Mother and Baby magazine, and reported in The Telegraph, interviewed 2000 women and concluded that just over 53% of mothers feel lonely and isolated and about two thirds of them feel disconnected from a normal life. While tiredness has always been part of early motherhood, isolation has recently started to become more common between new mums.
When a woman leaves work to have a baby, her life changes abruptly, it is like being in a different universe, as old friends without children tend to drift away, grandparents normally live far away, neighbors are not always available to help and other mums are not always your “cup of tea”. Also, as babies are very demanding, it is difficult to restore the old social life back.
On average first time mums spend 90 minutes a day with other adults, which involves going along to play groups, where mums can meet other mums. In most cases mums of newborn babies goes along a playgroup feeling very tired and the babies are too small to enjoy themselves. So, it ends up being a frustrating exercise. Although it is a good idea to go to play groups when you feel ready, as it is a great way to meet other mums and share your experiences. In this way you don’t feel alone and you realize other mums are going through similar experiences and you can learn from one another. It is great when you get to know other mums that you identify with, and a new friendship is formed.
Women that live in the countryside have even less social life than city mums, as they are more isolated and there may be no many activities available for mums with newborns, whereas city mums can go to shops more easily and meet up with other mums in town.
These days mums are left by themselves to look after their new arrival, as grandparents tend to live far away in most cases. Having to look after a newborn by oneself can be very hard for new mums and the taboo of postnatal depression make mums keep their frustrations and desolations for themselves. Pressures from society discourage mums to discuss solution for ‘baby blues’ and postnatal depression, so mums tend to put on a brave face in fear of being misunderstood by others.
People tend to assume that mums and babies bond straight away and mums are quite happy looking after their little bundle of joy. However, in reality mums feel physically and psychologically drained as new babies are very demanding, and sleep deprivation takes its toll, making it hard for mum to enjoy quality time with baby.
Luckily the maternal instinct kicks in, making mums pull it through and some how be capable of caring for their new arrival. Having said this, the more support the mum gets the smother is the adaptation to motherhood. There are many organizations that can help. See the links below for further help with coping with motherhood and guidance about postnatal depression.
Do Fat Burning Creams Work?
The weight loss industry has now turned to the insecurities of some new moms and created a weight loss cream that can be rubbed over your belly to help lose your “mommy tummy”. Exercise and healthy diet effectively removes this, but some people prefer to try an easier option.
Several celebrities have already said that they use the cream, that is sold by Boots and some other high street stores. Diana Vickers, Denise van Outen, Kimberley Walsh, Alexandra Burke and Ellie Goulding have all said that they have used the “miracle cream” to help flatten their tummies.
This new cream is really the result of the ever increasing influence of the celebrity on all people today. Whereas only 20 years ago it was expected that mothers would lose their figure, now celebrity culture worships the women that regain their pre-pregnancy figure in record time. Often celebrities make the news for losing weight quickly - Danielle Lloyd Loses Baby Belly Fat in 11 Weeks and Dannii Minogue and Jennifer Lopez also making the news for how they lost their mommy tummy after child birth.
However, is a cream the answer? No, as the cream does not address the real issue which is that many new moms continue to eat too much after birth. Although breastfeeding moms need to ensure that they are following a very healthy diet, many moms still take the approach of “eating for two” when really they do not need to. Besides, those creams are not cheap, and some may say that they are just exploiting women’s insecurities. Recent research showed that women who perform weight bearing exercise on a regular basis have greater self esteem. The answer to belly fat has to be healthy diet and exercise.
The hardest weight loss I know is after having a baby what can I do. I gained a lot of weight like fifty pounds. A year later its all still there.
Hi Montana, it is indeed hard to lose weight after having a baby, especially if you are breast feeding. The key is still diet though. You need to now start being more careful with what you eat and only eat healthy foods. Also start exercising, and make sure it is regular and intensive. One effective option is to learn Ashtanga yoga and then perform the sun salutation sequence everyday for 20 minutes. The yoga instructor here gave birth approximately 1 year before these photos were taken. The pre-natal yoga photos are also on the site!
If I follow a routine diet and cut out all nessasary bad foods, how long will it take to see a difference in my body?
Hi Gaynor, that really depends on where you are now. If you eat a healthy diet, ensure that you are consuming less each day than your body needs to maintain its current weight, and you exercise too, then you should see results within a few weeks. Exercise is really important, this will certainly help you to see a change quicker than just eating a healthy diet.
what happens when i can finish the 30 second sprint? I know I can probably do it with practice but should I slow to a jog then walk?
Hi Emily, that is up to you really, jog to recover or slow to a walk. Then repeat the sprint. Try 5 intervals (i.e. 5 sprints followed by recovery jog/walk). These cycles of high intensity and low intensity are effective at burning fat. Listen to your body though, go easy on the first workouts to determine how fit you are. 30 seconds may be too much to start with. Recovery should be about 60 seconds.
Hi I had a baby 5 months ago via c-sec and am not breastfeeding I’ve tried so much almost everything to get a flat belly my question is is it harder to lose the flabby belly when you had a c-section?
Hi Cindy, it may be a little harder to tone the abdominal muscles as they are damaged in a c-section. However, to losing fat should not be any more difficult. A healthy diet, calorie controlled and intensive exercise does burn off fat.
Hi I am classed as being obese my weight problems are my stomach, hips and bum. Can you tell me what time of day is best for doing exercises, and what sort of exercises to do and I also have an exersise bike and a wii fit board will any of these help me and when is the best time to stop eating e.g no food after 7.00pm or when? Hope you can advise me.
Hi Sarah – exercise is good any time. As for eating, best not to eat late, and if you do ensure it is easily digestible, i.e. not too much meat etc.
To work off your bum, hips and stomach you just need to work your whole body. Do intensive intervals on your bike (cycle as fast as possible for 30 seconds then slow to a recovery cycle for 60-90 seconds, repeat.
I have never used a Wii Fit board, so cannot say how good they are. If you are left tired, sweating and out of breath, then yes, they will help. Otherwise some good old fashioned circuit training exercises will probably be better.
Im really determine to lose weight but i have had two c-section. Im not pleased with how my body look its not just the belly but its my whole mid section. I need lots of body toning to do. Its depressing looking at my whole body in the mirror
Following a workout plan is just what you need then. If you are fully recovered from your surgery you can start exercising on a regular basis. Combine that with a healthy diet and you will start to tone up.
It is important to combine healthy eating with regular exercise. Do full body workouts, meaning perform many different exercises rather than just one. Bodyweight training is ideal.
Whether you follow a structured workout plan (such as an ebook) or just devise your own system based on the information available here is not important – what is important is that you make a plan and stick to it. These plans really are good for toning and weight loss: http://www.motleyhealth.com/tag/diet
Hi I had a baby 11 months ago and I still haven’t lost all of the weight but its because I just don’t know how to begin I’m 5’3 and weight 138 I used to weight 120 before the baby I want to weight 125 and be fit again I need advice
Hi Sonia, you need to now change your diet and start exercising. Read our article on healthy eating and follow the eating rules above. Also start working out. Do some home exercise routines or just go walking/jogging every day. Daily exercise is required to ensure that you keep burning more calories than you consume.
Hello I had my fourth c-section almost two months ago and I want to lose about 50 pounds. I want to lose the weight quickly as possible, because I’m just tired of being so big. I am almost back to my pre pregnancy size, but it doesnt matter because I was overweight before. The only issue is I do breastfeed right now and it makes turning food down much harder. I crave more than I did during my pregnancy.Although breastfeeding does burn calories, it also makes you eat more.So, how can I lose weight while breastfeeding?
Generally weight loss and breast feeding do not go together, but you can get started. To make most breast milk you need a healthy and balanced diet, plus plenty of milk. Do not get your energy from junk food and empty carbs (bread, pasta), instead eat more fruits and vegetables. Make vegetables stews and soups, eat healthy breakfasts with eggs (great protein and healthy fat source), eat big salads and keep drinking water, and nothing else. You may lose some fat, but you should still ensure that you are getting plenty of calories for the milk. This will make you much healthier and then when you start weaning your baby you will be in a much better position to start losing weight.
You can of course start exercising now (if a doctor says it is OK after your C-section) so do some home workouts to get in shape. This will burn some more calories and start to get you fitter, which again means that once you stop breast feeding you will already have a head start.
Hi there, I had a baby 9 months ago and think now is the right time for me to start losing weight i want to know what are the most effective exercises to losing belly fat?
many thanks
Hi Raman, you have to do full body workouts to build some muscle which raises metabolism. You also need to change your diet, eat a healthy and reduced calorie diet.
Hello,
I’m a mother of 1 year aarav. We stay at Mumbai. My height is 5 feet 10 inches and weight is 80kgs. I almost stop feeding aarav. My tummy and back has become bigger. I want to lose in those areas. I cant go to gym. No one is here to take care of aarav. Please suggest me to reduce my weight in possible ways.
Hi Archaha. Once you stop feeding you can reduce calories, until then you need the extra food for milk. Just start a healthy eating diet when you can, and get some exercise. Take a look at our fitness section, we have several options for home workouts that you can follow.
I am a mother of 3, and all 3 children were born with in 3.5yrs. I am 5’5″, and I have gone from 136lbs to 119.5 in 2months. I am having a super hard time losing the “flat tire” look in my belly. I eat pretty well, and exercise 25 min with Jillian Michaels dvd and 32min treadmill(5min run, 1min walk repeated for 32min) 5days a wk. I’m stuck! How do I get rid of the “flat tire” look please?!
Hi Jessica, I think you will lose that in time. Diet is important too, so make sure that you are eating healthier food and reducing calories. Just keep working at the fitness too, keep pushing yourself to work hard, so run a little faster etc. You could also start some bodyweight exercises to help burn more fat, squats and push ups are great fat burners.
Hi, I hear everyone talking about the post pregnancy baby fat and all the diet and exercise everyone is trying and doing to lose that weight. I am totally with you ladies. Because I am in the same boat. I had my first child about 6 mths ago and I weighed 125 before I was pregnant then totaled 170 when I gave birth and that was done by c-section. I am now 140 lb. I am exercising and trying everything out there to lose this weight. I am impatience and I am about fed up with trying to lose this weight. Does not mean though that I am going to quit trying but god does it take a lot of work and take forever to fall off. I mean there has to be something else that can work quicker and give you better results fast. I want to know though is the LEANSPA ACAI BERRY DIET PILLS work. I hear so much about that or how about the cinnamon pills any advice..thx
Generally the pills can only aid a little further weight loss. They may help you, but do think that they can replace healthy eating and exercise. They may increase metabolism a little, but not enough to mean that you do not need to carry on exercising and following a stricter diet.
I am 5’2″ I am curently at 119 lbs and don’t want to lose ne more waight but am having trouble getting rid of my belly. Wut can I do to get rid of it and maintain my curent weight.
That is simple Ebeny – exercise! You need to get fit and tone up. This will make your stomach slimmer while maintaining and improve shape in other areas. I suggest you take a look at the home workout articles first to see if there is anything that you want to try.
Hi i am 33y old 163cm tall and weigh 62 kilos my problem is my stomach after having 3 kids it still looks like im pregnant! I have started to work out recently i want to know how long i need to work out for in a day? Oh and i love my mini muffins like you would not believe although ive cut back on everything unhealthy what is the limit for some muffins????
Hi Nilufer. Ideally you should workout for about 30 minutes every day, however, the more exercise you do, to more energy you burn. As for how many muffins you can have and still lose weight – the answer is zero. You cannot have your cake and eat it! Or, you cannot have your muffin and lose your muffin top! If you really really love muffins, treat yourself to one on a Friday afternoon, but only if you have exercised every day and eaten a healthy diet every day too.
Hi i am 33y old have 3 kids weigh 62 and i am 166 cm tall i am clueless to what i have to do coz all i really want is a flat stomach do i need to go on a diet for this do i need to change the way i eat or just excersize to loose the belly fat i dont want to loose weight well not to much but do i need to be loosing weight to be able to get a flat stomach please some advice
To get a flat stomach you have to eat a healthy and calorie controlled diet and do regular exercise. Read this article on healthy eating and follow one of the many fitness workouts. Or buy and structured weight loss plan to follow at your leisure.
Hi firstly tanx4al ur advice n support ur great!
I am 5ft3,weigh 145pounds, n a size 12.I’m goin on holiday in2months. I have a son who iz 9mths. I excercise on treadmill 4/5times a week burning bout 400 cal.I eat fairly healthy if I carry on lyk dis wil I be a size 10in time4 holiday.I luk ok bt my stomach iz bad.I stil luk lyk am pregnant am I realy overweight accordn2height tanx sn much x
Impossible to say really Raman, depends on how much you are eating.The exercise sounds good, and good to eat healthy, but are you restricting calories?
Hi,
I dont eat alot alot…1st thing, i drink 8 ounces of water with a squeeze of half a lemon,after about an hour i eat bran flakes or wholegrain whears etc, or 1 brown bread toast with 2 eggs. for lunch i will have rice with curry, sandwich, vegetables with mash and gravy etc, then maybe a banana etc. for dinner i sometimes only have a salad with tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, onion, white and red cabbage or sometimes have soup with 1 slice of brown bread. i think im eating ok i use to over eat lyk not stop until i can physically feel really big n bloated or until my stomach cnt take no more but i dnt do dat ne more i stop eating a little before that sometimes not even finish off my plate. i eat about 3/4 hours before going to bed?? anything else i should do? or am not doing i need some motivation now…
many thanks
Well, again, it depends entirely on how much you are eating. How big are those portions of carry and rice, mash and gravy, soup and bread? It all adds up, and if you want to lose weight you need to consistently be eating fewer calories than you need, every day. Eat 1000 calories a day LESS than you need, and you should lose 1 pound of fat each week.
One of my friend get pregnant and she really want to know that type of information what you have shared with us. I am sending this link to my friend now hope it will beneficial for my friend… I will came back soon with her feedback…
Hi Sharon, please tell your friend that it is dangerous for pregnant women to diet. She should focus on eating a healthy and balanced diet and keeping relatively active.
My 2nd baby was born 11 weeks old by c-section, and although I’m already back to my pre-pregnancy weight (58kg), I’m a lot softer than I was before. I don’t really want to loose weight but I would like to tone up and loose the wobbly bits (especially around my waist). What the best way to approach this without dropping too much weight??
Best way is by exercising, working the whole body and doing some core strengthening exercises.
Being a teenager I am too much obese. I used to dance and every sport till the age of 13 but now left everything. I dont have that heavy diet but still I am obese and want to lose before joining a new college in June so suggest.
Hi Surabhi. May I suggest that if you are obese then your diet is the problem. You need to learn what a healthy diet is, and also start exercising.
Read these two articles: How to Lose Weight With Only Diet and How To Get Fit At Home In 20 Minutes
Olá Boa Tarde!
Tenho 30 anos, meço 1.68, e peso actualmente 72.700 kg, pesava a uma semana e meia atrás 74.900 Kg, já perdi 2.200kg. Tenho um bebé de 6 meses. Não tenho tempo pra ir ao ginásio, nem paciência verdade seja dita, prefiro fazer exercícios em casa, tenho estado a fazer exercícios de um programa que abs cardio, e abs, faço o programa todo todos os dias, são pra ai 45 minutos, mas relativamente a dieta, tenho dificuldades, pois encontrei muitas, e muitas na internet. Tenho estado a comer pão e arroz integral, leite magro com cereais, ovos cozidos, peixe e carne só grelhada e muita salada. Quanto a fruta como tudo. Estou a tomar 3 litros/dia de uma bebida que é feita de 12 folhas de menta, 1 limão e 1 pepino fatiado, e gengibre ralado. Fora isso só bebo água.
A minha dúvida consiste em se a dieta que estou a seguir é a mais indicada, eu como mais á noite, porque durante o dia, estou sempre de um lado e doutro, normalmente não tomo o peq
Hi Ana.
Try reducing bread and increase low GI foods to replace that energy. Make sure you are restricting your diet (eating fewer calories). For exercise just aim to get fitter.
I had my second baby almost 8 weeks ago. With my first I nursed her for 1 year and trained for a 1/2 marathon and did a lot of hard core running. I ate very healthy but had a very hard time losing weight. With baby #2 it is going the same way, however, I am gaining weight while running and eating healthy and eating within my caloric needs. I am very frustrated. I am training for a 1/2 marathon right now, and I am very frustrated. I want to be lighter to increase my speed. I know my baby comes first, but I get really down on myself and depressed every time I look in the mirror or try to fit into my ‘fat clothes.’
Hi Trish, don’t worry. You know that you can get fit again, you have done it before. Keep on training, but look after yourself and your baby first, you need additional nutrition. So long as you maintain your fitness levels you can worry about the weight when you are weaning your baby.
I’ve had two kids – they are now 9 and 6. I’m here to tell you that you can regain your pre-pregnancy shape. I’m almost 40 and I’m thinner than I was before I had kids. The thing that worked for me was cardio. Lots and lots of cardio. You’ve got to sweat to lose the flab leftover from the pregnancy. Even though I didn’t gain much, 25 and 20 lbs. respectively, I was so flabby afterwards. I lost the weight quickly but wasn’t toned and my stomach looked like a deflated balloon for months afterwards particularly after the second birth. Don’t give up but it does take awhile for the muscle tone to return, at least for me it did. My sister-in-law had baby #2 recently and she was at the end of her rope until she started running and finally she lost the last of the baby weight. I say do what works for you and stick with it.
Good advice Toni. My wife lost all her weight after our first child with Ashtanga yoga. There is a photo of her here 18 months have birth: Yoga Mums. Lots of athletes have children and then lose all sign of baby fat, just look at Paula Radcliffe for example.
I had my first child 3 months ago today via c-section. I was @ 160 before getting pregnant, though I had considered myself overweight then. I got up to 200 at birth and am only back down to 180. I’m breastfeeding and crave food all the time. I put myself on a semi diet: no soda,tea or anything white such as bread and potatoes. I began working out once I got cleared at my 6 week checkup and only 2 weeks into it hurt my back and couldn’t move, walk or hardly pick my baby up. After visiting a chiropracter and nuerosurgeon I’m back to feeling normal but they said I have 4 buldging disk in my back. So what should I do to lose weight I’m scared if I hurt it again I will have to have surgery, but I’m sick of not being able to fit into any of my prepregnancy clothes..
Hi Stacy, sorry to hear about your back. Really your diet is very important while breastfeeding and especially to keep yourself strong. A healthy diet full of vegetables, fruits, dairy, fish, lean meats, pulses and nuts will really help to keep your strong and healthy while breastfeeding. Keep the high GI foods to minimum, eat soup and have that protein, as it all helps to reduce hunger while providing a rich and nutritious diet. Regarding exercise only your doctors can advise as they know your condition. Ask if swimming would be an option, otherwise make the most of the warm weather and go for long walks with the pram / buggy.
Wow, I went onto the link that you provided me – Yoga Mums – to sneak a peek of your wife and she looks amazing just 18 months later. I’m also thinking of the Olympic swimmer, Dara Torres, who has two children and is in peak condition too. I will say that it’s much easier to get back into shape after the first baby then with subsequent births. At least, that’s how it was for me. After my first child, my body bounced back within a few months. With the second child, it took me a whole year. But it can be done. With patience and perservance, the weight will be gone. I looked at it this way, it took nine months for me to gain all the pregnancy weight so it wasn’t exactly going to come off overnight. Sometimes I think new moms forget that. I was so naive with my first child that I thought that the day after delivery that my stomach would be flat and I’d be back in my regular clothing. Obviously, I was wrong.
That is a very good point Toni, if it takes 9 months to gain the weight you cannot expect to lose it all in 1 month! But you can certainly get started. My wife is taking longer to get back into shape after our 2nd, and that really is less time for yoga, but she has slimmed down still a lot more than most of her friends through sensible eating.
HI, i’ve just had my 2nd baby 5 weeks ago, i’ve lost my pregnancy weight but unfortunately i was still overweight from my first child. I’m aiming to lose 20lbs mainly from the top half of my body. Any ideas that can help? p.s i barely eat a thing but i’m a total cola junkie
Hi Joanna. First tip: swap cola for water and eat a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Second tip: exercise! Take up a regular activity such as walking, running, swimming, dance, a sport etc.
Hi I am 21yrs, I weight 260, and its been a year after having my baby and now i want to lose weight i’ve been walking on a tredmill and now im starting my diet but my biggest issue is junk food …. can u plz give me tips on lossing the weight im not in a big rush to lose weight but i really want to get to about 150lbs coming in to a new year…where should i start with a diet and exercising??? im not a lazy person i love to exercise i just stop exercising when i got pregnant..
hi, i have had two kids and havent lost my baby weight yet. i need to lose 40 to 50 lbs. i have lost 10 lbs by working out 35 to 45 mins, 6 days a week, for the past month. i know i need to stick to it. i am about to start jogging also, try to at least. i am not on a diet. i have cut back on how much i eat and the amount of soda i drink. should i keep doing what i was doing, or am i doing good. what could help me lose more weight more quickly? thank you for your time.
Hi Beatrice. I suggest that you stick to the treadmill walking for now, make it a daily workout and keep increasing the speed by a little so that you work harder each time. As for diet – you must stop the junk food. Just do not buy it! Save your money and lose weight. What exercise did you used to do? Do the same again.
Hi Stacy, sounds like you are making good, steady progress. 10 pounds in a month is good, well done. Stopping soda is a great move. Now look to see if there is any other junk food you can stop. Think about “swaps”, e.g. swap a weekly hamburger meal for a healthy salad, swap full fat cream / milk for lighter, skimmed milk etc. Just focus on getting fitter and improving your diet.
Can’t having coffee before exercise hinder your performance because it contains caffeine, making you jittery and nervous? Also, you know what upsets the most about women who say they can’t lose the baby weight? When they moan and groan about having extra weight on them as they are busy chugging a large diet soda and a white bagel smeared with full-fat cream cheese in their hands as they are busy complaining. I say, just stop complaining and start doing something about it. To use your ten-year old as an excuse as to why you’re overweight is just plain silly, in my book. I never complained about my pooch, I just did something about it. Was it easy? No…but nothing worth having in life ever is.
Not heard about coffee being bad for performance, only ever seen reports of it boosting performance. e.g. one study concluded that “the ingestion of caffeinated coffee could enhance the performance of sustained high-intensity exercise.” Effect of caffeinated coffee on running speed, respiratory factors, blood lactate and perceived exertion during 1500-m treadmill running. by JD WIles, in Br J Sports Med 1992;26:116-120 doi:10.1136/bjsm.26.2.116
Hi,
I am 25 and am a mother of a 10, 8, and 5 year old. I havent worked out since I was in middle school. My problem is that all the fat in my body has accumulated to my stomach and it is extremely hard to lose it. Are there any suggestions?
Read through the advice in our weight loss section.
Hello,
I am currently 8 months pregnant!! I am surfing the web to find a good work out plan and diet for after i give birth. I am giving birth naturally, which gives me faster recovery time, meaning i can begin my weight loss plan sooner…I have gained about 50 pounds during this pregnancy (this is my first pregnancy) and it has all gone to my face, shoulders, and arms. Do you have any recommendations for me??? I am very motivated and dedicated about getting back into shape post pregnancy. :-)
Hi Carmen, are you planning to breastfeed? This will affect your dieting opportunities although will also help you to lose weight faster so long as you maintain a well balanced and healthy diet. For exercise, to start with you will probably benefit most from walking with the pram and then in time increase it to jogging or fitness classes. Really it depends on if you are happy to walk or run in your area and what other options are available to you.
I had my second child about 4 months ago, via c section… at 6 months pregnant I broke my ankle in four places and now have 9 screws and a plate in my ankle 2 screws of which are three inch screws. I have not been able to jump or jog much less walk in my surgery, what can i do to make up for those exercises that I can not perform due to my injury, P.S. before my second child, i was a size 0… i am not above a size 10… I am very worried about my weight and my health.
Hi Melanie, two options for exercising are swimming and using an elliptical machine. Both are low impact on your ankle so should not cause problems. I used an elliptical to help recover from an injured Achilles last year and still use it. Also walking a lot helps to build up strength again. Just take it easy and do as much as you feel is comfortable, but always do something.
Hi Melanie, you need to go swimming it helps trust me lool.
Hey, my son is 14months and i was 130 before i gave birth and 160 during pregnancy. after i gave birth i was 136 and i gained 36lbs since. i been working out now for 3 weeks and trying to eat well. i noticed everything is firming up but my abs. i do 45-60min of the cybx machine and every other day i do 60min of zumba or if not i do strength training i was eating at night b4 bed but i recently stopped and i weighed my self and i havent lost a pound yet. am i doing something wrong? can u please give me advice im 23yrs old and im 4’11 its really affecting my health thank you.
Hi Kimberly, give it time. Keep working on getting fitter and follow the healthier diet, and in time you will lose more fat. Still early days at 3 weeks. Are you feeling any different? Stronger, more agile, fitter?
hi, i am 23 years old,5.3 in height and i weight 75 kg. i don’t have a baby yet but i plan having one soon. my greatest fear is that i am already obese and with my up coming pregnancy i’m going to put on more weight. this is one of the main reasons why i haven’t had a baby yet. i want to lose at least 20 kg before i get pregnant. my mother weights 200 kg and has a lot of knee and spinal problems so you should understand where i am coming from. its amazing how when i went through the articles people have 3 children already and the weigh 60 and below. i already have a big stomach and i experience joint pains already. please help me with a diet plan and an exercise routine. and also i would like to ask does drinking water contribute to you becoming fat? because from where i come from it is believed that when you drink lots of water you become fat. PLEASE HELP ME.
Hi Linda. Firstly, no, water does not make you fat. The ONLY thing that makes anyone fat is TOO MUCH FOOD. My suggestion to you is to start walking. Aim to walk at least 2 hours every day – yes, 2 whole hours. Find the time and do it. Then look at your diet. Cut out all the junk, the snacks, the bread, the sodas and sugar. Eat only fresh produce (fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, eggs etc.). It is really important that you get in good shape. It is also a complete myth that you need to gain weight while pregnant (apart from baby weight +water). More harm comes to a developing baby if the mother is obese than a little underweight. A healthy mother should have very little additional fat and ideally no belly fat at all – any fat on the belly is taking up space where the baby needs to grow. So, get walking. Once you are a little fitter, start jogging. Twice a day, 1 hour each time.
Hi, I am 30 yrs old n weigh 65 kilos. Having a 3 yrs old son. I had a cesarean, my problem is “belly fat”. how can I get rid of it? I wont eat junk food then also I got this fat. my whole body is perfect. only this tummy hurting me. plzzzzzzzzz help.
Parvin, you need to start exercising, or exercise more. Ideally a combination of regular cardio (running, swimming, cycling etc.) with some full body workouts (circuit training, weight training, yoga etc).
Hey, I have a five month via c section… I weigh 175.. What can I do to loose 20pds?
Hi Lala, you need to get exercising, and if you are not breast feeding then you can reduce calories and eat healthier.
Hi, I had a baby a year ago. I am 18, 5ft 2″ and over weight. I used to weigh 45kilos and am now at 70kg. I used to feel good about myself, I was confident and felt good. Though now I hate my body, I am a single mum and don’t have time for constant exercise. I am going to get depressed if I can’t lose weight soon. I love my food and have zero motivation, but I am willing to do whatever it takes to get my weight down.
Please help me! I am so desperate. I want to feel good about myself again.
Hi Brodie-Rain, you say you have zero motivation but you have written here – you must be a little motivated, you can work on this. You do not need constant exercise to get fit, and to lose fat you need to reduce calories and eat healthier. Start getting more active in general, walk to shops if possible with your push chair – this is a good workout, I have done it myself many times. Also, you must have time for exercise at home in the evenings once baby is asleep. Healthy diet and regular activity / exercise is the key.
Hi,
It’s been around 8.5 months since my son was born this year and I’ve still got 4kgs to loose to get to my pre pregnancy weight of 65kgs. I used to be a happy size 10 but am now a size 12 UK.
It’s tough getting/making time to excercise with the little one wanting attention/feeds etc and I sometime haven’t got the strength to run after a long day. I just feel miserable sometimes and feel like this extra pouch and weight is never going to go away. :((
My husband is so supportive and appreciates the way I look now and keeps telling me I look great for where I am now after 8 months. But, there’s this feeling inside me that says I need to loose the flab.
I feel sad when I have days like today :(( I’m so happy having our son and nothing can change that but i wish that my body was like some women I know who seem to have snapped back into their old clothes.
I am aiming to run 3 days a week doing cardio and am eating healthy. I also bf my son once a day as I want to make the best use of my bfeeding.
How long do you reckon it will take to shed the last 4kgs if I run 3 days a week for 45-50 mins per day??
Please please help! I can’t see the end of the tunnel :((
Hi, it should help. Breast feeding takes a lot of energy, but if you focus on eating very nutritious meals and drinking plenty of water then this will really help and you should in theory be able to reduce body fat OK. Just focus on running 3 days a week for now and build up your stamina so that you can do longer runs. Maybe also go for some longer walks with your baby. My wife often walks into town with our youngest, which is about 40 minutes each way. This is great exercise and you can get your shopping in the push chair too!
Hi I had my baby 18 months ago he was 9 ponds 14 onz I had him naturly and I still weigh the same as I did when I was pregnet I have tried eating right and training and only lost 4_5 kg in 2 months or so and I am still at least 20kg over weight it feels like it is never going to come off what can I do to get rid of the rest and because he was such a big baby is that the reason it has been so hard to lose
Hi Anne, if you can lose 4.5 kg then you can lose more. Just keep working at it. You were pregnant for 9 months and have lost around 20% of the extra weight in just 2 months – give it more time. Exercise daily, eat healthy.
hi, i had my baby in october 2010, i had a c secction done,. i used to work out and be on a diet also took some diet pills but nothing seems to help. i used to have that flat belly and tight now after my baby i got big and flabby on my belly. i am looking for an advice as to how to lose the baby weight after 1 year later of my c section. and the right exercise for me any tips plz let me know. i want to go back to my size again. i weigh 160 now and its hard to the weight after my c section i intend that its very hard to do. my husban tells me i look great but the extra pouch on my belly that i never had bothers and i hate my belly. any advice plz let me know.
Hi Jos, you need to just start exercising and eat a healthier diet. There are lots of exercise and diet plans available. Really if you can do 45 minutes of cardio every day and eat a healthy diet you will lose weight in time.
What are some good diets to follow its hard for me to follow one because my family around me loves to eat mainly at night and its so temping. what the best thing for me to do to lose the weight with a good diet. also should i do running also with cardio to help me lose my belly from my pregnancy also, i hear it harder to lose weight after a c sections wht can i also do to tighten my belly
I also have one more question is it good to use a belly tightener while you work out. or also to just be around the house while you move and clean etc..
Running is cardio, so that should be enough. To tighten the belly you need to work your core, so do crunches, leg raises, side bends, back extensions, squats and mountain climbers. See the fitness section > bodyweight and circuit training advice for more on this. Good diet – read the basics of healthy eating or follow the guidelines in our Low Gi Diet ebook.
hi, my name is jojo i was wondering when you doing work out to lose your baby belly fat should u use a belly belt tightener to help out with ypur work out or just work out with nothing on your belly
Just workout with Jojo, I am not convinced that a belly belt tightener will do anything to help burn the fat. Cardio workouts and healthy diet really are the keys to losing fat.
Hello there,
I had my baby 4months ago and i feel like am ready to get back to shape. I have lost almost all of my pregnancy weight except for a few pounds, but my problem is the mid-section. I have a nasty flab. I just want to get rid of it. Please advice. also i used to work out with Gilad’s quick fit DVD’s and those were really making me sweat..do you think i can use the same to get back in shape now??Please advice.
Hi Fami, definitely do the Gilad’s quick fit DVD’s again. I do not know what they are, but if they make you sweat then they will help you to get fit and burn calories!
Hi, I had my baby 6 mths ago via c-section and it seems that I have lost almost no weight at all. At my 9th month of pregnancy I weighed 157lbs and after birth till now I weight 150lbs. before my pregnancy i was only 120lbs…I would really like to lose this weight..Please help!!!
Hi Lee, have you been doing anything to try to lose weight so far? Exercise or dieting?
Hi, No. I actually am now looking into trying to lose weight and exercise…but I completely lost…can you help??
Start by reading up on healthy eating (the first article in our Diet and Nutrition section) and exercise daily. Have you exercised before? Did you enjoy it? If you are unsure what to do, or have never done anything, then you could start with jogging, or attend a fitness class, martial arts class or do some home workouts. This may be a good place for you to start: How To Get Fit At Home In 20 Minutes
Hey, I have a three year old child but find it hard to exercise the way I would enjoy as I have no support from my family, they won’t baby sit for me so I can go out, I love running but can’t go running with my child, ( he is too slow at running!), I would love to go to a class of some sort but he can’t go there with me either and find it hard to motivate my self to work out in my home. I am only a size 12 but I am about 2.5 stone above my pre baby weight, I just don’t know what to do!
Hi Joanne, you should teach yourself how to perform bodyweight exercises and workout at home. Take a look at these articles for ideas:
A Calisthenics Workout For a Fitter and Leaner Body
Circuit Training Workouts
Do you have free time to walk? Long walks with the buggy / pushchair is a good way to burn calories. You burn more or less as many calories with 60 minutes of walking as you do with 30 minutes of jogging. Go out whenever you can, every day.
Hi i had twins in june
I am not happy with my body at all i breastfeed and ive recently got the IMPLANON birth control i believe its made me hungrier then i was without it any tips were to began ive been so out of shape for so long nd hve no idea were to start
Hi Wendi, start with increased daily activity, such as walking more. If you rely a lot on a car (for instance) take the push chair and walk instead whenever you can. If that means you shop every day instead once a week for food, this is ever better!
Then add some structured exercise to your day. Running is an excellent option simply because it is easy and you can do it just about anywhere. Also teach yourself how to exercise at home by performing bodyweight workouts. Performing a circuit of jumping jacks, squats, mountain climbers, plus a few others, and repeating over and over is an excellent way to exercise your body.
Finally, start examining your diet – every part of it – and look for weak points. Maybe you tend to snack at the same time each day, often when your defences are down (tired, stressed etc.) – look for patterns and tackle them. If you tend to snack at around 9pm then this is a good time to instead do your home workouts – babies in bed asleep (hopefully!), time for yourself. 30 minutes intensive exercise, shower, then rest.
I have lost all of my baby weight, maybe 5lbs. left. I had a baby in May. But, I feel flabby and out of shape. Plus, my mood and well being need to exercise! It is way too cold to go jogging for me. My main problem is, I can’t find the time or the energy to workout. I am sleep-deprived because my 6-month old still doesn’t sleep through the night. I work fulltime and the gym is 35 minutes away. Before giving birth, I went almost every day. Significant other is working overtime so I can’t leave her with him, but I am afraid of the daycare affiliated with the gym! They scare me for some reason. Do I suck it up and send her there or do I beg my sig. other to babysit during his rare “free time” so I can workout? I feel like it would be a luxury, but it was once part of my lifestyle. I feel guilty like it is asking too much. Do other moms have this problem? I feel helpless and alone.
Hi CC, why not exercise at home? Get some dance DVD’s, or other workout routines, and exercise in the comfort of your home.
hi, I’m che i had a baby 1 yr and 1 month old. My question is how to lose my weight? My menstruation is irregular, is this ok if I taking diet pills or slimming tea while breastfeeding?
Hi Che, you should start exercising but if you are breastfeeding then you should not go on a restrictive diet or take any unnecessary medication of any kind. Work on getting fit now with daily exercises and then when you have stopped breastfeeding you can look to reduce calorie intake again. Diet pills, in my opinion, are a waste of money.
I workout 3 times a week in classes and it really helps! Granted, I haven’t started to diet, but I eat what I want in moderation. My baby is 10 months old and I am now 5lbs less than when I found out I was pregnant. (125)
My question is for my sister-in-law…. She and I got into an argument about me losing all of my weight and then some. She says it’s harder for her because she is diabetic. Is that true? I believe exercise is a main role in weight-loss. I know her levels have to be maintained, but I don’t think because someone is diabetic that it’s more difficult for them to lose weight. Am I wrong? Or is that just a diabetic’s excuse????
Being diabetic can make exercise harder when insulin is not managed. However, a healthy diet and regular exercise combined with good insulin management allows people to live normal and relatively healthy lifestyles. That is not to say that it is easy to manage the insulin / blood sugar levels well, as it does require a good understanding of the task at hand and regular monitoring, plus strict diet and exercise.
Type 1 diabetes is sometimes actually easier to manage than type 2 diabetes, because the complete lack of naturally produced insulin means that it is all from injections and therefore easier to manage the levels. Many people have gone on to great athletic success with diabetes, Sir Steven Redgrave is diabetic and won a rowing gold medal in the Olympics.
Losing weight actually helps people to manage diabetes much better too, and also reduce insulin resistance. She should consult a dietician with diabetes experience and learn how to exercise safely with diabetes. It really is just an excuse for some people, although as sufferers get older mobility can become an issue.
Before i got pregnant, i was about 135 pretty thin if you ask me. Went in to the doctor for my first appointment and went all the way to 149 in about a month. Went into labor weighing 220lbs, no joke. Gave birth, went down to 188, got on birth control went all the way up to 215. Started dieting and now im stuck at 188 ;[ FML. I’m only 19, btw.
Hi Mojo, just start working on your fitness, exercise daily and eat healthy. How long since you gave birth now?
Almost 2 years already.
Well, in that case you really need to be focussed on regular daily exercise and a healthy diet.
Hey i have been despretely want to lose weight i have two babys one that 2 yr old and 2 mnths old and i want to know which is the best diet u can recommend me to loose a good 50 pnds my weight right know is 185 i have never been this weight my whole life and am 4″11 which i know am way over weight for my hieght my goal is 135 and i really wanna make it to feel good about my self my problem is my stomach big time pls pls help me could u advice me i be wait for ur answer send it to my email thnks hhhheeelllppp!!!!! I need it!!! (including excersice)
Hi Brianda, the best diet is to eat a well balanced but calorie restricted diet. Look at our Diet and Nutrition section and you will see an article on healthy eating. If you are breastfeeding you will need extra calories though, and lots of water. Daily exercise is very, very important, even if it is just a 45 minute walk with the baby buggy.
Hi! I had my baby almost 7 months ago with C-section. I was 125 pounds before pregnancy and got to 166 at the end of pregnancy. I resumed my regular exercise routine 3 month after delivery, with gym, running and playing volleyball. I am happy about the weight I lost (back to 130 pounds) but my belly still looks very bad. Still very big, despite going to the gym. why is not going away even if I exercise? any advice?
thank you!
You need to do you cardio workouts and also exercise the core muscles to help tighten the whole area up. Do not just do crunches, do a whole range of core exercises, including leg raises, front squats, side bends, back extensions and also do your pelvic floor exercises too. Everyone is different so there is no way to say how long it will take, but if you maintain the healthy diet and regular (daily) exercise you should get results.
Hi! I had a baby about 7 months ago with a c-section. Recovery was tuff and I was home 14 weeks so didn’t start dieting and/or exercising when I should have. I am back at work, but between a full time job, baby, and house work I am beat and don’t know when to exercise. My gruling schedule doesn’t allow me to eat healthy dinners. I eat healthy choice or lean cuisine for lunch with a small salad but that’s extent to my healthy. I am 5’2 and weigh 146lbs. I have always struggled with weight loss since college years and now I just want to be healthy n fit so I can move n run around with my baby. I am sick n tired of being fat, almost on the verge of depressed. I have recently started using the treadmil or eliptical for an hour. No matter how hard I can’t run/jog I can walk for hours at a time but running/jogging seems impossible. Sad but I don’t know how to jog/run. Any advice on how to get started correctly? Another bad part I like to see results fast or I think it’s not working n quickly give up.
Hi Shruti, regarding the treadmill, just keep trying. Jog slow for 30 seconds if need be, then walk again. Just keep practising a little at a time. Jogging on a treadmills is harder than jogging outside (I personally do not enjoy treadmills!). Start slow, start at a speed that is a little more than walking, so that you have to lean forward a little and push off with your rear foot toes rather than stepping forward. Start by holding on and if you have one of those emergency stop wrist lines, use it! The only way you are going to combat your weight problems is really through exercise, and this is definitely the only way you will get fit to run around after your child. As they get bigger they move faster too, believe me, I have 2 young boys!
Hi!i’m a single mom who is beginning to get frustrated and really sad about the way i look now.i had my baby 8 months ago.before i became pregnant i used to exercise daily,jogging,dancing,skipping rope wit crunches.i weighed 58kg&in pretty good shape except for some little flab in my abdominal section from my 1st baby who is now 6 years old.i had to stop exercising as soon as i was pregnant(doctor’s advice)except for 10 mins walk.i maintained a good weight by eating healthy until i was 7 months pregnant when the doctor said my baby wasnt growing well.by then i was 67kg.i got scared and began to really eat.by the time i gave birth,i was 79kg.up til date,i have only managed to lose 9kg.i’ve got excess tummy fat,i look like i’m 6months pregnant,very big thighs and hips&fat on my back.pls is there any hope for me?i’m ready to lose this weight.pls,i need u to give me a diet plan and an excercise routine that can help me get back to 58kg and a size 8 before my son’s 1st birthday in may.i just stopped breastfeeding
It is always best to do what you know, so start the daily exercises that you used to do, the jogging, dancing, skipping rope. Aim for a minimum of 45 minutes of exercise each day. Cut out all the junk food, eat only what your body needs.
Hi, I had my daughter 13 weeks ago and started exercising properly straight after my 6 week check up as I’m running a 10k in two weeks tine. I exercise 4 times a week; 2 high intensity interval training, one long run of 50-60 min area and 1 cross training session. Every workout day I also do weight training. I should also mention I’m breast-feeding and a vegetarian. After four weeks of exercise I had lost nothing, not one gram.
I realised I was eating a lot of nuts and decided to cut this out. I’ve now had the worst week of my life binging on carbs and sugar. Why is that? I’m desperate to lose some weight (not all of it as I am breastfeeding) but now I can’t seem to control my eating? Were the nuts providing me with the protein I need and now I’m not eating enough and therefore crave sugar? I’m desperate as I was so careful during my pregnancy and I may just pile even more on.
Hi Samantha, you need those nuts. If you are training a lot your also need additional protein, so pulses, eggs, soy protein, whey protein. You should not reduce calories due to the breastfeeding, and make sure that you are taking in a lot of fluids too. Just keep exercising and eating healthy. You really cannot diet while breastfeeding as this will reduce the amount of milk you can produce.
Hi I am 19 years old and had a baby 16 months ago I had a c-section. I am not happy with the way i look at all i am 5’1 and i weigh approx. 190 pnds. I have been struggling with weight issues since I was 13. Ive always got made fun of and i am a depressed and self-cautious. I am engaged to a wonderful man and i feel like he doesnt like my body he says he does but its just my self-cautiousness talking. I need to loose this weight not only for myself but for my family i want to be a helathier mother for my child. What would you suggest I do?
Hi Teya – simple suggestion: exercise for at least 45 minutes every day and eat only healthy, low GI, lean protein and healthy fat foods. Think salads, fish, chicken, pulses, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables. Avoid baked foods, processed, junk and anything with added sugar.
Hi how long will i have to do this for to see results and how long will i have.to be on this for the rest of my life or how long i dont know anything about diets and healthy living thats why i am struggling with my weight
Hi Teya, how long is impossible to say, there are too many variables – your weight, your diet, your exercise. Making permanent lifestyle changes, that include more healthy food, much less junk food and regular exercise is the key to health, fitness and happiness. Go for it – making the change for the rest of your life is a good plan.
Hi,
Just had my delivery 4 months ago. Am I allowed to do fun run? How many kilometer should I take? This gonna be my first exercise ever after giving birth.
Thanks!
Hi Mayette, if it was a natural birth with no complications then you are certainly good to run. If a C-section, then 4 months should be time for recory, but check with your doctor.
hi there,im 18 years old and i just had a baby two months ago.(natural birth) im overweight im like 90 kilos and im exclusively breastfeeding.i really want to lose weight. but i get so hungry.i dont know what to eat is there a menue plan where they tell me what i can eat
Hi, when breastfeeding is important to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables and also to consume plenty of water. Really, a normal healthy and balanced diet is perfect. Just avoid snacking on “empty calories” when hungry as both you and baby need the best nutrition you can get – so less bread and junk food, more nutritious vegetables, pulses, fruits, lean meats and other proteins.
Hi it’s Shruti!! Thanks everyone for all your posts, reading them makes me realize I’m not the only one in this boat. So I started walking and slowly jogging for the past two weeks. I had started the couch to 5k and so far it has been great. When I started I wasnt even able to jog for 30secs without being out of breath. For the first time today I jogged continuously for 5 mins without getting out of breath..it feels so great!! Hopefully I get all the way through successfully.. My goal is to be able to run a 5k this summer!! :-)
Hi Shruti, great to hear, and hope you do that 5 km run!
Hi,
i had my second bby 3 months ago,i was 81kilos pre-pregnancy,i added just 3kilos thruout my pregnancy and i’m presently 85kilos.a month after having my baby,i had some health issues and was told i had a urethral prolapse;since then i’ve been taking it easy but want to get back to shape,most especially my tummy.can a healthy diet and swimming alone do it?i’m 36yrs old and need your candid advice.Thanks.
If the diet is healthy every day, and that also means not consuming too many calories, and swimming is also every day, then yes.
A quick question, when I am running/jogging I start to sweat but after a while my hands get really really cold. Why does that happen?
hi,
i had my first baby 13months before.till now my tummy had not reduced.is it possible to get tummy flat? my weight now is 83kg before pregnecy i was 61kg my age is 25.Please advice me
Hi Shruti, many people suffer cold hands when running in colder weather. Try gloves or mittens to start with and see if that helps.
It is possible Neeharika, but you will need to exercise daily and eat healthy.
When you say eating healthy and eating more fish is 2 peices of fish considered a lot?
Well, depends on the size of the pieces, but 2 pieces does not sound too much.
I have had 3 babies including one miscarriage and am pregnant with our 4th. I found that breastfeeding helped me lose weight the fastest. I don’t appreciate the initial statements in your article that say that you have a harder time losing weight if you are breastfeeding. Women were made to breastfeed and it’s best for the baby. If they can do it they should. Don’t give women a reason to not breastfeed, please. After having 3 children I do not weight any more than I did before having children. I did find that having a second floor and basement, that I constantly was traveling stairs to get to helped keep me in shape. If you want to stay in shape and breastfeed you can do both just drink LOTS of water, TONS! Every time you go to the bathroom or enter a certain room or change the baby’s diaper or while you are sitting and nursing, get another glass. Be constantly drinking water and eating veggies. Most of the problem with afterbirth weight is that they don’t take time to eat and drink good things. Keep good stuff in the fridge for those snack cravings. You can do it. You’ll be a better wife and mom if you feel good about how you look.
You are right, I shall get that edited right away. Great advice on the diet.
Hi. I had my baby 8 months ago by c-section and I’ve been exercising about an hour a day an not eating sweets or drinking soda avoiding bad food an I can’t seem to lose any I weighed 110 now I weigh 155 I want to lose it b4 may any suggestions? Please help I’ve tried everything!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Tasha, how long has you been exercising an hour a day for? You probably need to review your diet again and cut out more than just sweets and soda. Also, while 60 minutes of exercise a day is good, you also need to ensure that you are pushing yourself to get fitter and not just doing the same workout each day.
I asked for advice from motley about a year ago…I was 70 kgs after giving birth to my son. I started excercising and eating healthy foods after the advice you gave me. I am now down to 57 kg my goal would be a nice 54/55 kg so not to far away.. i excercise 6times a week, i do 1 hour on treadmill and do star jumps, squats etc..i am finding it really hard to shift the last few pounds not only that even though i have lost alot of weight my stomach is still flabby and needs toning..it has gone down considerably but really needs to be toned..what can i do extra to really get rid of that belly fat? thanks for all your advice so far
Hi Raman, so good to hear from you again, and well done on losing the weight. The last bit is always the hardest bit. You need to increase your fitness even more, aim to run faster, and reassess your diet. Maybe look to cut out some more sugar, bread or other high GI foods. Bodyweight workouts will help to tone the stomach too.