Losing the Rest of the Baby Weight
I’d heard that it was relatively easy to lose weight after having a first child. In fact, thanks to nursing, I lost five pounds below my pre-pregnancy weight. It took about 3-4 months. 
With my second child, my weight plateaued when she was eight months old, and I just couldn’t shake the last seven pounds. It wasn’t until I did the South Beach diet for two weeks that I managed to kick-start my metabolism. I was completely back to my pre-pregnancy weight by the time she was nine months old.
I don’t think I was eating wrong, but I do think that something about childbirth messes with your ability to burn calories. Might have something to do with not exercising for nine months. Oh, they say you should keep up mild exercise while pregnant, but I was always one to embrace eating whatever I wanted while pregnant and forget the exercise. 
Yeah, I’m paying for that now. With child number three, I’m stuck on the last ten pounds (okay, maybe thirteen…). I can sort of fit into my clothes, but it’s not great. I tried cutting out the extras, like soda, but that didn’t work. I nursed my son, hoping that it would burn off more calories. And now, I’m faced with the same issue as before. Only there’s a new twist…I developed hypothyroidism during my last pregnancy. And your thyroid gland has a direct impact on your ability to metabolise food.
I know that the least amount of hormonal shifts can completely mess up your thyroid and that’s why I’m reluctant to try the low-carb diets. I worry that the ketosis (basically where your body doesn’t get enough carbohydrates and starts burning itself) could truly make things weird. And it suddenly struck me that I don’t want to live this way. I want to have my cake and eat it too. I want to be able to have an ice cream cone with my kids or the occasional Coke and pizza.
There’s only one way for it to happen. I have to exercise. 
On a regular basis. And the idea of going to an aerobics class where I’d flounder around trying to keep up with the choreography makes me really, really reluctant.
So my husband has been helping me out. Every night after supper, after things have been cleared away, he watches the kids for 15-20 minutes while I go out for a neighborhood bike ride. It’s actually been kind of fun. I get to see what’s happening in the neighborhood, see some scenery, and I force myself to keep up an even pace. I’m gradually working my way up, but last night I biked two miles. It actually felt good to get out of the house and have some time to myself. I borrowed my hubby’s iPod and listened to music, so the exercise was fun.
Somehow I thought I’d never use the words exercise and fun in the same sentence. 
In any case, I’m hoping I can keep this up. I’ve learned that my thirty-odd-year-old body truly isn’t the same as it was in my twenties. But maybe, just maybe, it’ll work. Life’s too short to give up the tasty goodies.
How about you? Any weight loss tips that worked for you?
Michelle posted in Writing @ 10:23 am | Viewed 1291 times
kacey Says:
No tips. I’m terrible about keeping to an exercise routine. I like to walk…but not when it’s cold or hot.
I know. I’m a wuss.
Good luck with the bike riding. The time alone sounds great too!
Tori Lennox Says:
I wish I could find a fun way to exercise that doesn’t require good coordination.
Missie Says:
I started taking a class at the gym called Body Pump, which is weight lifting and muscle confusion exercises. I really love it. I am the most uncoordinated wussy white girl ever, and even I am getting the hang of this class. Never thought in a million years that I would enjoy something like this, but I really am.
I have always had good success with Weight Watchers. The program is very much about letting you have what you want, but being accountable for it. You can do it online and/or attend meetings. I need to get back on track with WW…All my exercise profits me little if I allow a Big Mac to get in my way.
p.s. Can I totally hate you for only having such a small amount of weight to lose after three kids?
I need to lose the entire weight of my three year old, plus ten. 
Lynellen Says:
Good for you, Michelle!
#1 tip on exercise is that it HAS to be something that’s fun for YOU. If it’s not fun, you won’t do it. period.
What will you do this winter when its too dark/cold/dangerous to ride your bike outside? What will you replace that with?
Michelle Styles Says:
Remeber to add the book weight on as well. Unless you are very carefulm every book you have accepted adds pounds. It is called writer’s bum and sagging middle.
But bravo for you for doing something about it.
I have just started rowing and my book weight is finally starting to shift.
Kelly Boyce Says:
I generally enjoy exercising but after a day at work its hard to always be motivated to add one more thing to do. I have to do my workouts as soon as I get home because I know if I sit down, it’s game over. I’m not getting back up.
I think the key is finding something you like and finding the best time to fit it in and then just do it. Ignore the excuses which all sound very rational at the time and just do it. I’ve actually been rationalizing reasons not to workout while I’ve been changing into my workout clothes, even while I’m on my way down to the treadmill. I just ignore the argument and get on anyway, reminding myself about how great I feel when I’m at a lower weight.
Nikki Poppen Says:
Hey,
that whole battling the scale thing. AND, I do work out religiously every day nearly 7 days a week at the YMCA from 3-4:30 when I am done writing for the day or done teaching for the day depending on the day of the week.
that baby weight is a killer. I just want to empathize. I have three kids and I had them all within 6 years and all by c-section. The first kid, I lost all the weight within 20 days. the third kid I lost all the weight within 30 days. BUT the second kid totally messed me up. I was stuck with 20 pounds I still haven’t shaken and it’s been 7 years. You can imagine how I panicked with the third kid knowing that I was still toting 20 extra pounds around. But the third was no problem. I can’t figure out why I couldn’t lose it. I didn’t gain an enormous amount of weight with her. I worked out the entire pregnancy up until the day I had her, and I was back in gym 2 weeks afterwards. But I could not shake it. The scale just stopped moving. So, I hear yah. It’s so frustrating.
Melissa Marsh Says:
I went to Curves and LOVED it. 30 minutes and you’re done. I lost 30 pounds that way.
Unfortunately, when i got a new job in a different location, it was no longer convenient for me to go to Curves, so I’ve put back on 10 pounds.
Michelle Says:
Lynellen, I’m thinking a coat and an early bike ride will likely be in my future.
Nikki–thanks for the sympathy! Losing that weight can be such a royal pain. I’m hoping that it’ll come off sooner or later.
Michelle S.–ack, say it isn’t so! Must remember to get off my duff and exercise in order to avoid that.
shannon Says:
Buy smaller plates! Institute a dessert night! I am not kidding. We switched from regular sized 10″ dinner plates to smaller 7-1/2″ plates. I still cook whatever I feel like and eat what ever I feel like but I don’t do seconds so I only eat what will fit on the plate. I also offer fresh fruit for dessert every night, except Wednesday. Wednesday night is dessert night. Sometimes it is ice cream, sometimes I go all out and cook something fancy or stop at the bakery, but that is the only night I have dessert. I can usually hold out until Wednesday and I make exceptions if I get to out to eat.
My kids range from 3-16 so my husband and I go for a walk or bike ride after we put the little ones down to bed knowing the teen can handle any problems if someone gets up out of bed. I have done pilates in the past and loved it, but we just moved to Frankfurt and I haven’t had a chance to find a pilates studio yet. I have dropped over 25 pounds in the last 2 years.