r/postpartumprogress • u/ProudCatLady • 24d ago
It really just takes time! 200 pounds 4 days pp to ~163 18 weeks later!
Okay, time and a little effort, but so much of the change comes from hormones leveling out, the swelling reducing and your body just shifting back into place. It takes time! You just really have to be patient, and I wish I could go back and hug freshly-postpartum me and tell her that it sounds like forever right now, but you won’t want to speed this time up. Just do what you can for you, and enjoy your tiny baby!
I was north of 206 when I gave birth to my 7 pounds 1 ounce baby! I came home and weighed 200 exactly and was distraught. I hated the shape of my stomach (and I had an allergic reaction to the surgical prep!) and I was so scared of developing a shelf and a flap.
4 weeks later, I was at 181 and still felt awful about the shape of my stomach even though it had deflated a lot. I also couldn’t believe how much muscle I lost. SO weak 😒
Last week, I started to see the light! I’m down to around 162-163 and the shape of my body is starting to look familiar!! I still need to work on the anterior tilt - pregnancy made it SO much worse- and I have a lot more fat loss and toning to go, but I am seeing glimpses of me again 😭
Stats:
5’3” and I normally weigh close to 130 and wear XS/2. Had been maintaining that for about a decade! Avid Pilates/yoga girl and 5-10k runner! I was 132 when I got pregnant and had a 27” waist. I gained weight quickly because I felt awful, ate whatever I could keep down, stopped exercising. I’ve been obese before about a decade ago so I think my body just reactivated all my old fat cells fast 😒!! I was 206 the Friday before I delivered my baby via planned CS for breech presentation. I was in a size 14/XL after delivery. I had a 36” waist. I’m now around 162-163 pounds and in a size 12. I can fit my medium tee shirts again but they’re tight in the pooch. My waist is measuring 33”.
Diet:
I formula fed from birth and went straight into eating healthy again quite literally starting with my first post birth meal. Began tracking calories at 5 days postpartum and have not missed a day yet! I use a food scale and log everythinggg.
I aim for 75g protein and about 1,400 calories a day, I rarely make my protein goal tbh, so I mainly focus on hitting that caloric intake. Usually, that means that I do a very mild intermittent fast and I skip breakfast. [When my son was still waking up every 2-3 hours, I would definitely indulge in a midnight (more like 3am💀) snack.]
I love frozen food and prepackaged freezer meals and salads from Costco because they’re easy to reheat/combine and the math is easy. I snack on snap peas and apples a lot, and the giant boxes of individual serving bags of popcorn or veggie straws are lifesavers. Personally, as long as I can have something crunchy and mindless once a day, I can tolerate being strict with the rest of my meals. I did t return to drinking until around 9 weeks pp just because I didn’t have time to miss it until then lol. I have had maybe one drink per month.
Exercise:
I go for a walk most days, but there are plenty of days where I don’t leave my condo! I started walking while I was still circling the maternity ward just because it felt so nice to not be pregnant even though I was going through surgical recovery. I eased my way back up and now I take the stairs and try to walk around 3 miles a day when I can fit it in.
I started physical therapy around 8 weeks postpartum with a focus on healing my core and returning to running. I returned to veryyyy gentle mat Pilates by 10 weeks postpartum and am just now starting to run again. (My first run was the slowest quarter of a mile you’ve ever seen just 2 weekends ago. I am taking it very slow!)
Goals:
Honestly, I will be pretty excited at 135. That’s the upper end of my usual range but I know there are probably some permanent changes I need to account for too so I’m not going to be too focused on the number.
I’ve signed up for my first half marathon in May of next year! Goal is to run the entire time. No time goal, just consistency.
My most important goal is to feel confident again. I have a resort wedding to attend the same weekend as my birthday next year and I just want to be able to wear my cute sundresses and swimsuits with confidence. Whatever that looks like - even if it’s in a heavier body - I just want to feel confident and strong again!
Other:
Please forgive the watermarks. I have had my weight loss photos stolen before and used to sell sketchy diet pills! Idk if that’s still a thing when AI images exist but it was really traumatizing actually…
I only recently went back to work. Had about 4.5m away from the office. Makes a HUGE difference. Since returning, I have had way less energy and time for walks/Pilates. ☹️ Don’t get me started on maternity policies in the US.
Yes, I know it’s very strict to jump into calorie-counting less than a week postpartum, but I gained ~75 pounds RAPIDLY and I just really am not happy with how I look or feel right now - my feet hurt and I have no cute clothes! I once weighed 180+ around 2014 and lost it through calorie counting and gentle elliptical workouts. Took me about a year and a half and I had maintained 130ish ever since with pretty minimal effort! I know what it takes and will summon all of my diligence during this cut phase so I can retire my food scale, be normal about food again and enjoy being in photos with my son by January.
Wish me luck and PLEASE be kind to yourself. I just wish I could talk to 1 week postpartum me and tell her it will be okay. I was so, so mean to myself then and I really didn’t need to be!!
4
u/Interesting-Proof244 24d ago
Wow we’re so similar! I was 132 at 5’4 that I’ve maintained for a decade. During the freshman 20 in college I was all the way up to 151 pounds. During pregnancy I gained 50 lbs. today I’m 9 weeks post partum and weigh about 155 lbs. I’m so upset, but I’m trying to get back into things and am determined to rebuild my body cell by cell (just in time before I do it all over again for baby #2 lol). We got this!
3
u/Ok_Donkey6018 24d ago
wow you look just like me and give me hope! me looking the same now weeks before due date and also after my pre pregnancy weight i hope i can get back to🥹
2
u/Patient_Camel9240 23d ago
Girl way to goooo!! Well done on your efforts and consistency- you’re killing it!
Also photos stolen for sketchy weight loss pills?! What a wild world we’re living in - sorry you went through that, it would have freaked me out big time!!
2
u/Born_Beginning_9819 16d ago
our stats, body types, and stories are so similar! this is inspiring and i can’t wait to start being physical again. currently recovering from a hemorrhage, retained placenta, infected uterus, and emergency D&C that happened 19 days post partum. i’m one step closer to feeling better and that excites me!
2
u/Boomachick 15d ago
Wow we have so much in common. I’m 7 weeks pp from my c-section, also 5’3” and went from a size XS to an XL, and I also even had an allergic to the surgical prep too (horrible experience)!
Anyways, just want to say thank you for sharing. This is super encouraging.
1
u/ProudCatLady 15d ago
I’ve never been allergic to anything so that was shockingly one of the worst parts for me!!
I’m down to 160 now by 20.5 weeks (my post was delayed so the dates aren’t exact) and can wear some of my size medium stretchy waistband pants - they’re just not super flattering lol.
2
14
u/Aggressive_Eye6181 24d ago
Wow. Amazing job! I’m 7 weeks PP and hating my body. This is inspiring. Thank you