Losing the baby weight?
I’m posting about this for accountability and for info. Any mamas have some good tips on how to lose the baby weight?
I got pregnant with Porter when I still had about 10 pounds to lose to get to my pre-pregnancy weight. With both pregnancies I gained about 25-30 lbs (high end of normal), which is quite a lot for my 5′2″ frame. Thankfully the weight is nearly off already with this one because 1) I’m chasing after a toddler and so don’t have time to leisurely snack or rest and 2) I’m nursing both a toddler and an infant and so get at least 500 extra calories a day to consume. In fact I’m just about back to my pre-pregnancy weight which means I have that 10 pounds to go still (or 15 in an ideal world).
Most of the excess weight is concentrated in my stomach, hips and upper thighs. Please tell me my hip circumference will shrink again because my shorts are still too tight. I’m thinking that really I need to 1) limit my portion sizes and 2) actually exercise. I plan to swim this month when I have access to a pool and childcare while staying with my folks. Not sure what I’ll do in SLC.
June 5th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
How old is Porter? It took me at least a year to shift the weight the first time. Can you go to the Y or something when you move? Ours here gives a discount for pastors families, but it’s still cheap and they have childcare at a reasonable.
As for what to eat, you need to read “In defence of food” by Michael Pollan. Try and stick to unrefined carbs and whole foods such as brown rice and wholewheat pasta. I find the bread here is pretty terrible and mostof it has high fructose corn syrup high on the ingredients list.
I read somewhere that your portion of rice/pasta/potatoes should be no bigger than the size of your fist, or about a cup I guess.
I have a rice cooker (from amazon) which makes cooking brown rice a breeze. I cook 10 cups at a time and then freeze the leftovers in ziplocks, defrost in the microwave, then add a spoonful of water and warm it up.
It’s hard in a car culture to get excercise, you have to be really intentional about it….says me who is still not getting enough!
June 5th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Sheena, thanks for the recommendations. I do think a bit of exercise will really make a difference. After Ezra it took me quite a while to get off the weight and I got pregnant when he was 10 months old and still had 10 lbs to go. With Porter — who now is 11 weeks on Sunday — I’ve lost it much more quickly. I’ll have to check out the Y in SLC. Good thinking.
June 8th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
I 2nd the reading of In Defense of Food. It is a great, short read that offers a helpful food philosophy. In fact all of Pollan’s books are great but In Defense of Food is the quickest read.
June 9th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
I was thinking the Y too, but I’m not sure if there actually is one in SLC. There is also the Jewish Community Center, they have childcare and I believe membership is pretty reasonably priced. You can always walk with the kids too, but it is so so hot in the summer you’d want to get out early in the morning!
My other advice is something I’m thinking about doing – find a workout buddy.
June 12th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
You’re doing great! It’s a good thing I was super thin before my first of three pregnancies, because each child left me with 10 extra pounds that I haven’t been able to shed in the 2.5 years since my third was born. Of course I haven’t really tried either
P.S. I added you to my blogroll in the “You & Others” category