@morirach It’s sooo different after a kid. Pre-kid I kept myself on the low end of the BMI normal spectrum with not that much effort. Post kid all those things have barely made a dent. I suspect a combo of stress hormones, less sleep, slightly less ideal diet (because of time constraints), and muscle mass lost during pregnancy and postpartum play a role.
I’m making progress now my running/walking/ or jogging 4 miles as many days of the week I can (ideally 7) and doing a combo of Pilates and weight training. Really tightened up the diet, it’s a struggle because the default foods are not the healthiest when out & about.
What hasn’t worked for me, in spite of trying over & over again is eating very high protein. This advice is everywhere, but I never lose any weight doing this. I instead focus on high fiber, as many bright colored fruits & veg I can squeeze in, and minimal processed food.
@morirach It’s really hard, i do a lot of strength training.
I don’t count calories but I do try to really limit the amount of sugar and carbs that I eat. Supplements can be helpful here, for reducing your desire for these kinds of foods - I take one called Sugarless that has been a godsend for reducing cravings and appetite. Caffeine helps too
@morirach I was seriously considering writing this post today, as well. Just about to hit the 2 year postpartum mark and still nearly 20lbs above my pre-pregnancy weight (which is 20 additional pounds over my pre-COVID weight). I think that stress (cortisol + bad eating habits) and sleeplessness have been my two main sources of weight maintenance. However, I have my annual coming up and am going to explore more about why I'm not dropping.
My current focus is to build muscle now instead of just focusing on cardio and strength (Barre/Pilates) to see if that helps me move more fat off of me.
I'm sending hope, positivity, and solidarity to you to help you along the journey! IMO, you're in a stage of life where it may be more survival focus and more toddler-centric. Soon you will find time where you can prioritize yourself even more!
@morirach I lost the weight after my twins were born, but over the years it came back. By my second pregnancy I weighed almost as much at the beginning as I had at the end of my first. I would lose 15 and gain back 20 until I finally said enough. Got with a therapist who helped me embrace body neutrality, and a dietician who introduced me to intuitive eating. I stayed fat, but I was happier. However, when I hit 40, it was affecting my health. There are people who can be fat and healthy, but I am not one of them.
I’m on Ozempic now and probably will be for the rest of my life. I’m one of the lucky ones with basically no side effects. I’m steadily losing 1-3 pounds a month, nothing spectacular, but 15 months later I’m down 40 pounds, and I didn’t have to change my lifestyle. I’m still doing the same low impact exercise 5-7 days a week, eating a balanced and varied diet, aiming for 8 hours of sleep. But now my appetite is “normal,” and “eat less, move more,” actually works.
@morirach I’m in the same boat too. Old have had one kid but I’m about 25 pounds heavier than my normal weight. I really started gaining weight after I stopped nursing, I was eating the same amount but not burning the same number of calories. I am trying for a second now though so I’m treating this just as a temporary thing. Plan to get back into shape after the second!
@morirach Yup! Up 40lbs in the 4 years since having my daughter. Part of its the antidepressant and part of it is probably just being a woman.. it sucks. I feel like I've completely lost myself physically and mentally
@morirach For what it's worth, I didn't give birth to my child (he was born via gestational carrier) and I have gained more weight in the past 1.5 years than ever probably in my life (my kid is almost 3). I'm pretty confident age is the major factor here, and probably my metabolism not being what it used to be (I haven't really changed any major habits at all - I don't work out, nor do I diet but I don't before either).
@morirach I’m short and was in a simile boat. I went to a medical weight loss clinic and started taking a medication called Phentermine. It’s probably not for everyone but I have been so happy I tried it. It’s basically a low dose stimulant that increases energy and decreases appetite. I’ve had so much more energy and lost 15 pounds. Side effects have been minimal for me. It’s a good short term option for getting rid of the weight.
@morirach I keep trying to remind myself my top priority should be my strength. Strength training is important for our bodies especially as we age. I e made sure to have some weights at home now and try to fit in some calisthenics. I’m not very consistent but I’m trying. It’s very frustrating to not be able to lose those pounds after the second kid, but my life is so different now. It’s very very hard.
@morirach I’m 40 lbs above my pre-pregnancy weight from my last baby (up 85 lbs since before my 1st pregnancy). I lost it all after she was born and then slowly gained it back (she’s 3.5). I have PCOS and insulin resistance. I hate dieting and I try to practice health at every size. I’d rather be fat and happy than skinny and miserable.
However, lately I’ve been tempted by the GLP-1 drugs. I’d like to give them a try, but I know that most people who lose a significant amount of weight regain it over time (sometimes plus some) and I don’t want to go through that again.
@morirach I had my twins at 22 (24 now) and everyone told me I’d bounce back because I’m young! Definitely did not happen. I gained about 50lbs but honestly the weight is fixable, is anyone else struggling with the changes to their stomach? The loose skin is insane and when I bent over I have a fatty pouch that hangs so low and it’s all so jiggly. I don’t feel like a 24 year old. I feel like an old lady and I’m so ashamed of my body
@morirach I had two babies back-to-back and pre-eclampsia twice. I ballooned from 140 to 204 (at delivery with my second). I was 179 after my youngest was born.
I’m currently 161 ten months post-partum. Honestly, I’ve just had to let myself be hungry. I skip meals, avoid foods that are high in fat and sugar, and try not to snack. Also, I was finally diagnosed with ADHD after my second, so getting an Adderall prescription has helped a bit. It does suppress my appetite for the first couple of hours and it’s helpful.
@morirach Your post is flaired as vent but there are questions so I’ll answer but feel free to ignore!
I’ve been using “Best Body” by Rachel Paul and really like it. She’s a mom of two and currently working on losing the weight from her second pregnancy (40lbs). It’s very realistic and the whole premise is that you should eat the same way you lose weight as you will when you’re in maintenance so you don’t gain it back.
You can use her meal plans or not, but her meals are very simple, taste good and toddler approved. They’re also easy to increase calories by adding a carb or a little extra protein for my daughter or husband if needed.
There’s also coaching calls (live or recorded) as part of the program that are so helpful and imo what sets it apart.
I promise I’m not affiliated with her in any way it’s just been helpful for me and I think it will help sustainable in the long run.
@morirach Just want to say I feel this so hard. I used to be able to make small tweaks and see bigger changes. Now after 3 pregnancies and I'm still breastfeeding, it's so much harder. Those small tweaks do NOTHING. I just had my 39.5 birthday and I'm resolved to not still look/feel like this when I turn 40. I'm veering into ED territory to just see any changes, but this is worth it to me. Like if I can just white knuckle my way to a shape I'm comfortable at again (I just want to be able to fit into my own clothes again!!), I'll figure out maintenance from there.
