I’m currently 9 months postpartum. Before I got pregnant I had lost 60lbs and felt the most confident I have in my adult life(I’m 28). I’m currently 40lbs higher than my pre pregnancy weight. I’ve been struggling with postpartum depression and insomnia and I think I finally have the depression under control but still struggling with sleep. I started back at the gym 4-5 times a week and eating in a calorie deficit about a month ago which is how I lost weight last time and I can’t seem to lose the weight and it’s so discouraging. Also I had a c section so my lower tummy now folds over and I just feel so ugly. What helped yall?! Or maybe I just need some words of encouragement!
What helped you lose the weight?
- Thread starter olviersue
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- postpartum recovery
@olviersue Cutting alcohol way down and a combo of cardio and weights using my peloton bike. Another big game changer was setting a step goal and sticking to it almost every day. I got a walking pad to keep up my steps through winter. Now I am pregnant again but I’ve also gained less weight trying to keep up my steps and stay active!
@3346hope Yes agree! The sleep thing is rough for us moms I think but if you can at least work on healthy sleep hygiene it may improve your quality of sleep, even if you can’t increase the quantity. And I also strongly agree with focusing on protein and overall dietary balance. OP, around this time my daughter started eating more normal foods (or shortly thereafter), and it’s inspired me to meal plan and cook more, and keep meals well rounded. It’s been great for our whole family!
confusedstepdad
New member
@confusedstepdad I started at 8000 and worked up to 10000. I’m back down to 8000 currently as I am 28 weeks pregnant.
@olviersue Hi, I’m 8 months pp and actually a tad lower on the scale now than right before getting pregnant.
I track calories and measure everything with a food scale and liquids with measuring cups. To save my sanity, I meal prep on the weekend and pre portion everything so I don’t have to do that during the week. The less stress, the better.
I think the biggest thing is setting yourself up for success. It takes a bit of work planning meals and then preparing to stick to it, but it’s money in the bank in the long run.
I also avoid temptations in the home. This isn’t through depriving myself. Instead of buying family sized portions of things, we only bring in single servings of goodies. (Be aware that ultra processed foods are designed to make it hard to stop eating them and also designed to make you hungry again instantly, so I avoid them as much as I can.)
I reached my first goal weight at 7 months pp and then I switched to a high fat and high protein diet to improve my energy and body composition. This has taken things to the next level and I wish I had tried it sooner. Higher fat and protein keeps you feeling fuller longer and also preserves muscle better when in a deficit.
But honestly the thing that helped the most was making a game plan, meal preparation and weighing everything out for the week so all I have to do is grab it and enter it into an app.
I track calories and measure everything with a food scale and liquids with measuring cups. To save my sanity, I meal prep on the weekend and pre portion everything so I don’t have to do that during the week. The less stress, the better.
I think the biggest thing is setting yourself up for success. It takes a bit of work planning meals and then preparing to stick to it, but it’s money in the bank in the long run.
I also avoid temptations in the home. This isn’t through depriving myself. Instead of buying family sized portions of things, we only bring in single servings of goodies. (Be aware that ultra processed foods are designed to make it hard to stop eating them and also designed to make you hungry again instantly, so I avoid them as much as I can.)
I reached my first goal weight at 7 months pp and then I switched to a high fat and high protein diet to improve my energy and body composition. This has taken things to the next level and I wish I had tried it sooner. Higher fat and protein keeps you feeling fuller longer and also preserves muscle better when in a deficit.
But honestly the thing that helped the most was making a game plan, meal preparation and weighing everything out for the week so all I have to do is grab it and enter it into an app.
@olviersue Sleep, limiting carbs and walking my dog. Weights.
@olviersue I'm currently doing 75 Hard at 11 months PP. I don't do crazy workouts and I'm using Weight Watchers as my structured diet. I'm on day 45 and it's BECOME really manageable. I've lost almost 20lbs (starting weight 216 at 5'8"). I'll finish the day before my son's 1st birthday. I'll then transition into a soft version of the program. I need the structure and challenge to stay committed apparently. 
beautifullove
New member
@olviersue I'm also 9m pp and 40lbs overweight (I'm 36). I'm exclusively breastfeeding so my body is really holding onto everything. I tried renting a Peloton bike around 5m pp and biked every day for a month or two and there was literally no change. I can't do calorie counting bc I get obsessive and will have disordered eating. But the 2 things that seem to help so far: 1. Eating what my baby eats (mostly). We do baby led weaning mostly, so I try to cook healthy for her and then eat the same. So my sugar and sodium levels are down, my veggies intake is up. 2. Lifting weights. My husband and I have a routine that after the baby is in bed, we do a little workout. It's usually 3 exercises, 12 reps 3 sets, Monday-friday. Just dumbbells. More than that and we would probably quit lol, but it's just enough to feel like a workout. Unfortunately, I don't think I've lost any lbs, but I think it's because I've gained muscle. It's been about 5 weeks now and I think I can see a difference starting to happen. We are switching up the workouts every 4 weeks so it doesn't get stale. And I'm hoping that even though I'm not seeing the scale move now, when I'm done breastfeeding and when my period comes back and hormones regulate more ill see more results. And by then I'll have stronger muscles too. Idk if this is helpful but I hope you find something that works for you!
michael_92
New member
@beautifullove Random, but how did you rent your peloton?
beautifullove
New member
@michael_92 I just went through the Peloton website, it was super easy. But not as easy to return lol
@olviersue I turned 43 before delivering my first baby. I only gained about 45 lbs, but my body really didn't like it. My blood pressure was elevated into 150s, triglycerides borderline, and my heart was at risk. There was no time to waste for me giving diets and exercise the "old college try" for a year or more while my heart strained. Especially with no local family support for babysitting. What I am going to say I did is not for everyone but it was right for me. I did a deep-dive looking into GLP1 weight loss medications and decided with my PCP's support to take tirzepatide. 7 weeks in I'm down 17 lbs, bp is consistently normal, triglycerides better, and I have no interest in the guilt or fear some people try to pile on me for my choice. The health risks of being overweight for some people far outweigh the risks of trying a weight loss drug, so I went for it. I wasn't breastfeeding (I wish I could have) so that was key. But I'll never be made to regret my choice.
I made a very popular post helping other people find affordable sources since there's a national shortage -- ended up hearing so many stories like mine. Moms aren't being shamed for this in those circles. Also, they are being approved for use in treating heart issues, so my intuition was 100% spot on. Trust your gut and your PCP, if anybody is considering this route too, but I am so grateful the option to repair our metabolic function with the help of a doctor exists. Not for everyone, but feel blessed to have had the option.
OP I'm cheering you on like everyone here too.
I made a very popular post helping other people find affordable sources since there's a national shortage -- ended up hearing so many stories like mine. Moms aren't being shamed for this in those circles. Also, they are being approved for use in treating heart issues, so my intuition was 100% spot on. Trust your gut and your PCP, if anybody is considering this route too, but I am so grateful the option to repair our metabolic function with the help of a doctor exists. Not for everyone, but feel blessed to have had the option.
OP I'm cheering you on like everyone here too.
@sashang Thank you for sharing! I’m not going to lie I’ve thought about bringing that up to my doctor. I hate diets. I didn’t even diet when I lost 60lbs I just meal prepped and worked out. Now that I’ve had my baby it’s like that isn’t enough. I know I’m not over eating so I’m shocked I’m not losing weight! However I’m not having any real health issues other than mental health. I do get heart palpitations but I’m sure that anxiety. No shame in doing what works for you! We know ourselves better than anyone. Thank you!
adelewhite321
New member
@olviersue You’re doing great! I had faced similar issue in the last and the only thing which helped was limiting sugar intake. I like my morning tea/coffee with milk and sugar in it, so I completely stopped having that and within 15 days, I lost weight without any exercise.
mickijoe76
New member
@olviersue Also 9 months postpartum and looking to lose weight. Just here to say this is my second baby and it took about a year the first time to lose all the weight, and I was doing the peloton 4-5 times a week. This time I had a more challenging recovery and a dislocated tailbone.
Trying to stick to 30 minutes of exercise a day, no alcohol or sweets, and stop eating after 7pm. Another thing is really trying to get more protein. I've tried tracking it using apps, just so I'm aware.
Trying to stick to 30 minutes of exercise a day, no alcohol or sweets, and stop eating after 7pm. Another thing is really trying to get more protein. I've tried tracking it using apps, just so I'm aware.
@olviersue Everyone saying sleep when you said you have insomnia lol worst thing you can say to an insomniac!
Fellow post partum insomniac. Is yours caused by anxiety?
Fellow post partum insomniac. Is yours caused by anxiety?
@olviersue I really struggled to lose weight while breastfeeding and actually gained 10 additional lbs when I started pumping to increase my supply (during the formula shortage). What ultimately worked for me (while still breastfeeding my 18 month old once a day) was internment fasting and keto in combination. I lost 20 lbs in just over 2 months. That method really simplified things for me to where I could still lose without having to weigh and track everything.
Those results were so motivating and got me to where I at least had clothes that fit and I recognized myself again. Then I added in Peloton (which had been gathering dust since it arrived a week after I delivered) and I got addicted, in a good way, to the Peloton challenges and blue dot. I was very active and in the best shape of my adult life pre pregnancy but then got so overwhelmed and discouraged postpartum that I was doing no intentional exercise. I did the Discover Your Power Zones program in Peloton and now I'm spinning 3-5x/week, doing 5 min ab classes almost every day and doing yoga and/or light weights on the Peloton app 2-3x/week.
Those results were so motivating and got me to where I at least had clothes that fit and I recognized myself again. Then I added in Peloton (which had been gathering dust since it arrived a week after I delivered) and I got addicted, in a good way, to the Peloton challenges and blue dot. I was very active and in the best shape of my adult life pre pregnancy but then got so overwhelmed and discouraged postpartum that I was doing no intentional exercise. I did the Discover Your Power Zones program in Peloton and now I'm spinning 3-5x/week, doing 5 min ab classes almost every day and doing yoga and/or light weights on the Peloton app 2-3x/week.
@robbie99 I was 255 the day before I had my son and by 3 weeks pp I was down to 220 but I was dropping the weight so fast because I basically wasn’t eating. My ppd set in so fast and I was trying to pump and get my supply up and it wasn’t working so eating was my lowest priority. Once I got my appetite back I was still depressed so I then turned to food then I got up to 238ish. I’ve begged my husband for a peloton there is a lot of ones for sale on FB marketplace for like $600. I’m so glad you found something that worked! I’m going to try the intermitted fasting!
pacificjordan
New member
@olviersue Pilates and my babies first birthday! After a year, it all just fell off!