How can I get rid of post pregnancy weight?

BEAUCHAMP4 · 27-Jul-04, 08:53 AM

I gained 40lbs with my little boy. I have always been really athletic and exercised religiously, if I'm not working on toning other parts of my body, I'm doing cardio. Since he has been born I have got back into the a good routine.
But, I am having trouble with my lower ab region. My back is not great so I'm unable to do leg lifts, which is what I did to keep my stomach tight and firm.
Any suggestions?

**cursor** · 28-Jul-04, 10:52 AM

The first thing to do is to understand that the 40-lbs that you added during the previous 9-month period resulted from excessive food intake. Make some adjustments there.

Secondly, if a particular exercise pains you (like the leg-lifts that you mentioned), then figure out a work-around. For example, try leg lifts with your legs bent (to whatever degree doesn't cause pain). By bringing your feet closer to your butt, you'll reduce the load on your back.

**Lady C** · 28-Jul-04, 10:54 AM

Also, realize the lower abs area is the LAST and HARDEST place to lose bodyfat. To successfully do this you must lower OVERALL bodyfat. To lose bodyfat means looking at the diet and workout routine closely.

BEAUCHAMP4 · 28-Jul-04, 04:59 PM

What is so weird is I ate the same as I do now when I was pregnant. I worked out up tp my 8th month of pregnancy. I took fit mama areobics & walked 4-5 times a week. My weight before was pregnant was 115lbs.
I am about 120-125 now. All my jeans and stuff fit me great, but in a bathing suit I see baby fat still in my lower abs. Everybody in my family and my husband tell me what fat? I have always had low self esteem, staying in shape and fit made me feel great, physically and mentally. After having my little boy my weight depressed me. Everybody kept saying baby weight takes time to go away. My opinion was and still remains I'm not going to sit on excess weight if I can do something about it. I was very lucky to keep my legs looking great. Walking sure didn't hurt my lower body, but my lower abs bother me bad. Both of my hips are subluxed (doublejointed) I can dislocate them and not realize it until unbearable pain starts, my shoulders are the same way. So I have to be really careful. Cortizone shots don't help they just alleviate contact pain. Any other suggestions as far as my abs go now that I have provided some medical info? I would appreciate all the help I can get? Fitness has been apart of my life forever and I am determined not to give up, because of a few minor medical reasons.

MrsRiley · 28-Jul-04, 05:31 PM

You are right you shouldn't just sit around waiting for it to come off..the harder you work the faster it will come off. I'm wondering if the fat you are talking about is actually skin? Since that area gets so stretched out during pregnancy the skin needs to shrink back down afterwards and lots of time that takes longer than losing the fat underneath..you just hafta keep working at it and give it more time to get back to normal.

sillyme · 29-Jul-04, 06:33 PM

Breast Feed! That will suck that fat right off of your body.

ajarvis · 30-Jul-04, 10:16 AM

Breast feeding helps get rid of baby fat? Hows that?

BEAUCHAMP4 · 30-Jul-04, 12:49 PM

My son is 11 months old and on whole milk. I wish he was still little and that I could have. I've heard alot of people say that you can lose most of the baby fat that way. Somehow they say it boosts your metabolism back up and gives you energy. Breastfeeding was not an option for me. My Doc recommended that I go with formula. My breasts swelled up to an E and it was causing me extreme pain with my shoulders, so I had to get rid of the milk quickly. Which turned out to be plus, the pain easd up and my son had reflux and wouldn't have been able to drink expressed milk anywayz.

sillyme · 31-Jul-04, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Breast feeding helps get rid of baby fat? Hows that?

I don't know the medical explanation. But, practical experience has shown this to be the case. I imagine that it boosts your metabolism. After all your body is manufacturing milk 24/7 and that milk is constantly being removed and replenished.

Quote:

my son had reflux and wouldn't have been able to drink expressed milk

I thought that breast milk was always better than other types of milk. Why is formula better for a baby with acid reflux?

Hmmm... If you can't breast feed maybe, in addition to lifting, you can get a baby jogger and take your baby out for jogs. Are you a member of a gym - do you have time to go to the gym? If not maybe you can get some home workout tapes. I used to do "buns of steel" and cory everson weight lifting tapes. They really worked well. Cory everson is a cheese ball, but the workout is good for someone who has little equipment and can't make it to the gym.

BEAUCHAMP4 · 06-Aug-04, 02:27 PM

My son's pediatrician told me there are only certain types of formula baby's with acid reflux can eat, I'm really not sure what is in some fromulas, but I do know they make a certain kind for baby's with reflux. The nutrients and vitamins in expressed milk can burn there throat and could lead to surgery.