In the past I have been blessed with a very fast metabolism that meant that I really didn't have to workout or watch what I ate in order to stay in a size 2 (yes you can hate me, you wouldn't be the first) so I figured I would drop the baby weight no problem and be fitting back into my skinny jeans again no time. When I got pregnant I weighed around 105 pounds (give or take a few pounds depending on how big my lunch was) and three days before I gave birth I clocked in at 142 pounds...yes I gained 37 pounds, which may not sound that bad but on a 5 foot nothing inch person that's quite a bit. I was basically the size of a house (okay maybe a duplex). I'm still not quite sure how I gained all that weight considering that for most of my pregnancy I had little to no appetite and my baby was an average 7lbs 12 ozs at birth.
Three months post partum I now weigh around 114 pounds (give or take depending on the day) which means I'm still 9 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight (though I would be happy to just get back under 110). I know that may not seem so bad and I'm really not so much unhappy with the number on the scale but more so how my body looks, specifically my belly which is still sporting the pooch of a 4 month pregnant chick. I'm constantly sucking in when I'm out for fear that someone is going to ask me when I'm due and I'll be mortified. Unfortunately due to my Csection and having my abs cut and pieced back together getting a flat belly is not quite so easy. My OB assured me that with work I could have a flat tummy again, he insisted he did a stellar job piecing me back together.
Breastfeeding has been a bit of a double edge sword for me. Yes it helped me lose most of the weight within the first month however it also makes me hungry ALL. THE. TIME. Seriously it's like I'm starving every 3 hours (similar to Mr. Hunter's feeding schedule). And not only am I hungry but I can house a HUGE meal. Meals that I would normally need a doggie bag for at restaurants I can now eat no problem. It also doesn't help that all the food aversions I had when I was pregnant (i.e. chicken, Chinese food, Chipotle(!) etc) are now gone and I actually enjoy food again.
So now I'm having to make an actual effort to watch what I'm eating, which is a new experience for me and I'm doing the best I can to get some kind of exercise daily, which is tough working full time. I try to take Hunter on 2 mile stroller walks 3-4 times a week and I'll lay down and do crunches next to him when he's on his playmat. I also have a post baby workout DVD that I try to do once or twice a week.
Overall it's helping and I've noticed more weight coming off but I still have that damn pooch which I fear is never going to go away. Bikini season is less than two months away and I may have to splurge for a one piece or something with a bit more coverage this year (let's not even discuss my once cute belly button, that's now all stretched out and weird looking).
On a good note, my boobs are bigger thanks to breastfeeding so that's been fun (more so for Kristian than me), it would be more fun for me if they didn't hurt every 3-4 hours.
I know I shouldn't complain, after all I spent 9 months growing a human (a damn cute human) and he's worth every extra pound, pooch, funny looking belly button and large ass that I've acquired. In fact I'm still amazed and grateful every day that my body was able to create such a perfect (in my eyes at least) specimen. But it's an adjustment, one that any woman who gives birth goes through I'm sure, and even if I never look the same again ultimately I'm okay with that and my husband still thinks I'm damn sexy and that's all that really matters.
Here's how I look today. I should say this shirt can be a bit deceiving since it's pretty loose but I'm not posting a nakey picture on the Internet.
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10 comments:
I think you look absolutely amazing! But I know how you feel. Even nearly 2 years later I am not satisfied with the way I have come back from having a baby. I totally get it.
You look great! Our bodies change. I was the same - thought I would bounce right back too, but it's taking much more work than I ever imagined to get where I want to be. All the hard work is rewarding though!
You look adorable, but I understand.
I weighed 93 pounds or so before being pregnant and went up to 112. I think my weight came back down to 95 at 6 weeks. At 6 weeks, I could fit into my prepregnancy clothes. But then I stopped breastfeeding and then I turned 35. So, my metabolism isn't what it used to be. I just broke 100 for the first time as a non-pregnant person and it freaked me out.
Because I was diabetic during pregnancy, I had a pretty rigid diet so I'm hoping that'll help me lose a bit of weight next round and then I could continue to go carb free a little longer instead of doing what I do now and eat as many carbs as a person can possibly consume. If I could eat unrestricted through pregnancy, I would have been done for.
I still hate the tummy. I can handle the weight other places, but I am more sensitive about the tummy. *sigh*
Gah! I was lucky to lose all the weight pretty quickly BUT I agree about the C-section tummy. I feel like I will never have the flat tummy I had before. I have been doing cruches and 6 week 6 pack, but it doesen't seem to help (I need to be more consistent though!)
My boobs...well they are a whole other beast. I think a little (surgical) lift is the only thing that will help at this point. But I will wait until I am done having kids before I go there!
I think you look great but can definitely understand that the way others see our bodies doesn't always match up with the way we see them or feel, especially when it comes to gaining weight. My metabolism used to be a lot faster and has definitely started to slow and lead to weight gain, even though I haven't had kids. This is another things that worries me about how my body's going to react to having them someday, but I know that in the end, it's worth it.
I know it does no good to be told that you look good when you don't feel that way, but seriously. You look amazing.
I have to admit, I've always been really tiny and my husband loves that about me, and it has been hard to adjust to the rise and fall of a belly that has been first-trimester-pregnant/not-pregnant/first-trimester-pregnant/not-pregnant... I imagine it'll be much harder after birth. But, you do look really good. Your face is so skinny and that's where a lot of my friends retained weight!
Oh honey you still look good. I guess it is hard to be thankful that you lost most of it when you have never had to struggle before. Hopefully it will get easier to get the last of it off so you can feel better again!
Ah I have the same problem. I actually weigh about 20 pounds less than I did before I got pregnant but my stomach looks bloated. I started doing push-ups and planks and I think it is starting to help. It makes my whole core feel sore, way better than crunches does. I've never had a flat stomach, just a little pooch under my belly button, but now that pooch seems to end about 3 inches above my belly button :( I didn't have a C-section either. Let us know if you find a way to get rid of the flab!
You are one hot mama! They say expect it to take the same amount of time to lose as it did to gain...but everybody is different. Just yesterday I read many woman will hold onto the last 10 pounds until they stop nursing bc your body holds onto it just in case...either way, I understand what you mean about wanting to rid yourself of the pooch! Good luck but just FYI, I think you look gorgeous already! :)
I am a new follower!! Thanks for coming by my blog! I completely understand this post. I am the same way. I am almost at my prepreg weight, but things aren't like they used to be. As if we don't have enough to deal with. Hunter is adorable and a big boy! We do have some healthy babes!
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