As much as I would have loved to get my pre-pregnancy body back with the snap of my fingers, I had to be realistic. I’m still being realistic and my son is now almost 3 months old. I keep telling myself that it took me 9 months to put the weight on, and it’s going to take at least that to get it back off.
In fact, most moms take up to a year or more to lose their baby weight. But with hard work and a lot of self-discipline, it’s absolutely possible to lose weight and feel like you have your body back again.
The most important thing to remember is you won’t lose all the weight overnight. Whether you’ve just had a baby or you’ve been trying to lose weight for years, it takes time. You shouldn’t aim to lose more than 2 pounds each week. Any more than that could be dangerous to your health and your baby’s health if you’re breastfeeding. In some cases it is alright to lose more than that in the first stages of weight loss, but only if you have a lot of weight to lose.
Before even starting an exercise routine or becoming quite physically active after pregnancy, you need to get the OK from your doctor first. For some women, they can start as early as 2 weeks. For others, especially women who have had a cesearean section, it can be at least 6 weeks before they can do regular activities again. It’s been almost 12 weeks since my cesearean and I still feel discomfort if I workout too hard.
Once you do get into a routine, start with a moderate amount and duration and gradually add to it. And remember to stick to it. By remaining consistent, you should start to see results right away.
If you can’t find the time to set aside for a complete workout, break it up into smaller increments throughout the day. You’ll get the same benefits as if you had done it all in one shot. Be creative and use activities you can do with your baby as exercise. Walking, swimming, and biking are just a few.
Pick fun activities and vary them to break up the monotony. Make dates with other moms to get out into the fresh air and play with the kids. If you have to, keep pictures of yourself pre-pregnancy on the refridgerator door for motivation and as a reminder.
By getting active and staying active, you’re not only losing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but you’re setting a great example for your kids as well.
My son is almost 4 months now and i’m still about 15 lbs overweight. Its nice to hear that it takes time to lose it. So many ppl think that i should have lost it already and they say i’m just lazy. But its hard with a 2 yr old and a 4 mon old. I stay active around the house but I cant go walk, or swim, or anything else to help out now. I live in the sticks!
I hear ya! My daughter just turned 2 and my son is 3 months old. It’s tough to find time for yourself while being a busy mom.
Shame on anybody who say’s you’re lazy. Just keep hanging in there and don’t give up. There’s lots of things to do around the house to burn a few extra calories. Sometimes you just have to get creative, like using your baby as weights!
Take care,
Cassie
is it ever possible to regain your torso after 2 c sections i have a pouch and it is really getting me down. ive lost 3 and a half stone since i had my son and still have another 12 i want to get off any ideas? i eat a very good diet and exercise well but nothing is shifting htis pouch
12 pound that is not stone lol
Hi Karen,
I also had a c-section and I find that pouch extremely difficult as do the majority of women post-surgery. In my experience, the best remedy for that is to get LOTS of cardio to burn any extra fat in your abdomen, and also eat a very healthy low-fat diet. If you’re already doing these things, maybe it’s time to re-examine your workout routine and diet. Chances are there may still be room for improvement.
It sounds like you have the body type where you aren’t allowed any cheat days in your diet or days off from your workouts. I feel for you. I’m the same way.
In reality though, you have to accept yourself the way you are and love yourself. Even though that sounds a bit corny, it’s true and it will change your life if you can manage it. Nobody’s perfect and a little c-section pouch never killed anyone. I’ve still got a bit of a pouch going on and I’ve learned to accept it. I’m much happier for it too.
Good luck!
Cassie