Weight Gain During Pregnancy

[Jennifer]

How much weight did you guys gain with your pregnancy? And are there any success stories as to how in the world you lost the weight?

I gained 35 pounds with Brayden and lost all but the stubborn 12 pounds remaining before getting back to pre-pregnancy weight. It's been quite the battle since I'm still breastfeeding and I know that one cannot go on a "diet" while doing so. Now that the 3 month mark is past me and he's sleeping through the night (which was sheer hell and no one can prepare you for it) I'm getting back into walking with him and trying to go to the gym 2 times a week (while hubby watches baby).

I feel like I'm in limbo with wearing maternity pants and my regular clothes. I refused to buy in between clothes because I felt like I would lose the weight sooner. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has struggled with this.

Any thoughts or advice? Thanks!

[Anci]

I gained 30 pounds and lost almost all of it..I think I have 5 pounds or so left , but that doesn't bother me at all, I was way to skinny before getting pregnant. But they say that it took 9 months to put all that weight on so it'll take 9 months to 1 year to lose it.
Try to eat lean meats such as boneless chicken and the leanest cuts of beef. Eat whole grains (breads, cereals, pastas) instead of the "white" versions .Don't be fooled by foods that are labeled as nonfat. Some are loaded with calories and can have hydrogenated vegetable oils and/or high fructose corn syrup, neither of which are healthy. Read your labels!
Resist the urge to indulge in a fast food meal. Or if you do, order the salad and not the fat-filled burgers and fries.
Find easy ways to increase your exercise like parking farther away or using stairs instead of elevators.
Oh, and as far as I know breastfeeding uses up your fat stores! Breastfeeding burns about 500 calories per day so the longer you breastfeed, the more calories you burn.
Just remember it took 9 months to gain the weight; give yourself at least that long to take it off. I am not a fan of completely avoiding or drastically reducing food groups such as the popular diets of limiting carbs or sugars. I believe the more you deprive yourself of an occasional treat, the more you will crave it.
and one last thing that comes to mind right now...Replace your high sugar beverages such as sodas and juices with some water and a squeeze of fresh lemon. You could also try flavored seltzer water which has no calories. You can cut out hundreds of calories a day this way.
that's how I did it....now I just have to make myself go to the gym..get myself in shape,,,hahaha Good luck!

[Jennifer]

Great advice! Especially with finding ways to get exercise in such as parking farther, etc. I don't eat fast food (haven't for at least 5 years) and I don't drink soda. My weakness I'd say is the Friday night pizza that my hubby and I eat to start off the weekend. And the empty carbs I munch on (like Cheez-It's or Baked Doritos). When I cook I use the leanest of meats. I LOVE Seltzer water. In fact my fridge is always stocked with it. ;-) It was a craving of mine while I was pregnant to mix it with OJ.
What I might do is set goals like not eating past 7pm, and if I do, eat fruit only or controlling m portions. Thanks again!

[Zicea Becks]

My non-baby-tote weight is about 105

i gained no more than like 30 lbs with all my pregnancies (6 kids).

with my youngest (now 2), i went from 135 lbs to 115 in the first week after having her. I lost the last 10 in a month.

I was active during the pregnancy, so i kinda kept to business as usual once i had her. I was also breastfeeding.

I think the key is getting the body to work. Hubby is just gonna have to babysit a little bit more so mommy can get fit! : )

put on one of those mylar sweat suits, get some ankle weights, throw baby-love in the stroller, turn up the iPod, and head out.

[SAEBausch]

Wow do I feel fat. Throughout my twenties I lost 100 pounds bringing me to a too skinny for me 130, went up to 150 when I got married (still happy with the way I looked though) and gained 70ish with my pregnancy. Three months later and I'm still hanging on to thirty of them, and honestly it sucks. I'll admit I don't get time at the gym and haven't been dieting hard, I guess I was hoping it would come of once I stopped pregnant eating and was breastfeeding. It's depressing really but at this point I dont have the energy to work out all the time. I walk near every day and see ladies like you and get bummed. Seeing a super thin lady pushing the stroller of a baby younger than mine is a kick in the pants. Did no one gain more than the 30 pound average here? Hopefully Ill get back down and next time I really need to make sure it doesn't go up so high. I feel like I look ok now but look at old pictures and trying to get into my old clothes is just a bummer.

[Jennifer]

I think it's safe to say that gaining 30 pounds or less is not common. It also astonishes me that someone can lose 20 pounds in one week. I'm sorry you fell that way SAEBausch. My post was not intended to guilt anyone out for what they are or aren't doing. Trust me, although you might fee like you wish you only gained 30 during your pregnancy, I too envy people who are back to a size 2 a few months after giving birth.
When I was pregnant, I ate healthy but let me tell you that when I had a craving, I never denied it! I felt like it was the only time I could actually get away with eating what I craved. When I was about 7 months pregnant, I stopped going to the gym. It was too much for me. I had sharp pains going up and down my back and legs, I had to go to a chiropractor once a week and I was bloated. Not fun.
Now that I'm going back to the gym slowly, it's been hard work. First to even get motivated to go after spending all day with the little guy, but then to put on my gym clothes and huff and puff on a machine cause I'm out of shape. I guess I just wanted to know that there were women who battled with what I have, but got back to exercising again and making it a goal to lose the weight in a healthy way. That it IS possible to get your body back.

[Anci]

well, girls, I just started exercising again...I have an elliptical at home and I was using it on and off, but I started going to the gym again with my neighbor...yay!!

[Milena]

My weight pre-baby was always in between 112-118. I went to about 160 before I gave birth. I look at pictures from my baby shower and I am horrified! LOL. I ask my friends why they never said anything??? What I wish I had done, was exercised and curbed the junk food while I was pregnant. I am 5'1, so even though I was pregnant, my face, arms, thighs, and all those areas that a lady gains weight at were blown up. Now I am back at 115. I think that it took me exactly 2 years for my pre-baby weight to get back on it's own with no exercise. As for size, I never went back to that pant size 2. I am now in between a 4 and a 6 but that's because of my child rearing hips, right? I am happy to say that I am now hitting the gym 3 times a week doing a power sculpting class and I am eating much more healthy than ever before. I always made the excuse that I didn't have to time to exercise because I work full-time and then had the baby at home, but I found a gym in my office building and I go during my lunch hour. SO no more excuses for me. Besides I want to be a good example to my daughter fitness-wise and by eating healthy too.

[Oz]

Hey Jennifer

I gained about 30 pounds. Eleven months out, I've still got about 5 of them left. I fit into my old clothes now, but some of them fit me differently. I've got a killer sweet tooth, and that's why I haven't lost the last five. And, while it's not a good idea to crash diet while breastfeeding, I did use the breastfeeding excuse a little too often as a reason to eat a cookie. For me, most of the weight was off by 7-8 months, and I just need to buckle down and lose the rest of it!

You're not the only one, and you can do it!

[Anci]

Sometimes the carpets don't get vacuumed or the dishes are still in the dishwasher, but at least I feel great about my body, the dishes can wait!

Amen to that!!!

[Jennifer]

Truly inspiring! Thanks for posting and giving me perspective on taking care of myself. Dishes CAN wait. I'll tell hubby that ;-)