rejisamuel
New member
I gained 50 lbs during pregnancy, lost maybe 15 lbs right after pregnancy, and then gained 5-7 lbs back in the 3 months of breastfeeding. So that brings my grand total of weight loss in pregnancy to.... ummm about 7-10 lbs depending on the day. Over 3 months. So for simplicity, I'm still holding onto 40 lbs of extra weight on my body. And its a brutal, brutal feeling.
I've lost weight a few times before. From my heaviest to my lightest was 80 lb weight loss. Intermittent fasting, caloric restriction, running fast, lifting heavy, 75 hard. I did a thing, and I had a result. I was so proud of my body pre-pregnancy because I put so much effort into being in the best shape of my life. I was strong, I was fast. I want to be that proud again
But that cause and effect doesn't seem to work for me in breastfeeding. In the past 3 months I've tried restricting calories to ~2000 (inconsistently, lets be honest, but rarely more than 2500 calories). I've tried intermittent fasting (its fine, doesnt seem to impact my supply). I started PT at 5 weeks, by 7/8 weeks I was lifting (with progressive increases-- now at 12 weeks I don't feel THAT far off from my strength pre pregnancy!). Around 10/11 weeks pp, cleared by my PT, I started couch to 5k (I've ran for years and I'm easing in). Oh, and I'm trying to get 5K+ steps a day.
And yet, the scale goes up. Bit by bit, until its 0.5 lbs heavier, 1 lb heavier, 2 lbs heavier....
Part of me is truly like, why the hell am I even doing this? I'm sitting here in my workout clothes, going to go into our basement gym to do full body, and I'm like why the hell am I bothering. The scale was the heaviest I've seen it today. I'm barely fitting in any of my clothes (and I've bought almost all new clothes post partum, so these clothes were bought in the last few months)
Why bother lifting? - I kind of understand this one. Strength and muscle are good.
But truly, WHY BOTHER with cardio? Why bother with running? Why bother with the peloton bike? Beyond getting basic steps in for some movement I dont even know. I feel like running with 40 lbs of extra weight on my frame is going to destroy my ankles, my knees. WHY BOTHER? It's a real question, i need a devil's advocate, im at a loss.
WHY BOTHER counting calories? The 500 calories of breastfeeding feels like bull. I count, and I gain anyways. Make it make sense!
I just don't think I'm going to be someone that loses weight until I wean. But I don't want to wean, because breastfeeding is one of my favorite things. I love being needed, I love the closeness with my baby, I love it. But yet its tethering me to this body, or at least thats how it feels.
But if I can use this time to gain a ton of strength so that I can cut and do the cardio in a few months- okay then. I'll do that. I just want a plan that makes sense. I can do things that make sense. But what i'm doign right now, it doesn't make sense.
I've lost weight a few times before. From my heaviest to my lightest was 80 lb weight loss. Intermittent fasting, caloric restriction, running fast, lifting heavy, 75 hard. I did a thing, and I had a result. I was so proud of my body pre-pregnancy because I put so much effort into being in the best shape of my life. I was strong, I was fast. I want to be that proud again
But that cause and effect doesn't seem to work for me in breastfeeding. In the past 3 months I've tried restricting calories to ~2000 (inconsistently, lets be honest, but rarely more than 2500 calories). I've tried intermittent fasting (its fine, doesnt seem to impact my supply). I started PT at 5 weeks, by 7/8 weeks I was lifting (with progressive increases-- now at 12 weeks I don't feel THAT far off from my strength pre pregnancy!). Around 10/11 weeks pp, cleared by my PT, I started couch to 5k (I've ran for years and I'm easing in). Oh, and I'm trying to get 5K+ steps a day.
And yet, the scale goes up. Bit by bit, until its 0.5 lbs heavier, 1 lb heavier, 2 lbs heavier....
Part of me is truly like, why the hell am I even doing this? I'm sitting here in my workout clothes, going to go into our basement gym to do full body, and I'm like why the hell am I bothering. The scale was the heaviest I've seen it today. I'm barely fitting in any of my clothes (and I've bought almost all new clothes post partum, so these clothes were bought in the last few months)
Why bother lifting? - I kind of understand this one. Strength and muscle are good.
But truly, WHY BOTHER with cardio? Why bother with running? Why bother with the peloton bike? Beyond getting basic steps in for some movement I dont even know. I feel like running with 40 lbs of extra weight on my frame is going to destroy my ankles, my knees. WHY BOTHER? It's a real question, i need a devil's advocate, im at a loss.
WHY BOTHER counting calories? The 500 calories of breastfeeding feels like bull. I count, and I gain anyways. Make it make sense!
I just don't think I'm going to be someone that loses weight until I wean. But I don't want to wean, because breastfeeding is one of my favorite things. I love being needed, I love the closeness with my baby, I love it. But yet its tethering me to this body, or at least thats how it feels.
But if I can use this time to gain a ton of strength so that I can cut and do the cardio in a few months- okay then. I'll do that. I just want a plan that makes sense. I can do things that make sense. But what i'm doign right now, it doesn't make sense.