QuestionHi Sarah,
I weighed about 105-108 before getting pregnant, then gained about 35 pounds during pregnancy. I had my son 6 months ago and have been breastfeeding him since. I have heard all the stories about how breastfeeding helps get the weight off but that hasnt happened for me yet.
I ate well and exercised regularly throughout my pregnancy and continue to. For the past 2 months I have tried to focus on eating whole grains and more protein. I ride my exercise bike about 3-4 times a week for 35-45 minutes each time. But, no matter what I do, I have 20+lbs still to lose. I'm beginning to lose hope. Still wearing maternity clothes is so depressing!
I have been aware of this for a while and was told a few months back that I didnt seem to be taking in enough calories/day so I've stopped worrying so much about that. I try to have a healthy snack every few hours to keep my metabolism up but still no changes! Do you have any advice for me?
Thanks!
Kristen*
AnswerHi Kristen,
Every woman's body is different after pregnancy. Some women slide right back in to those pre-pregnancy clothes in no time, while others can take a long time to get the weight off, even when they do everything right. Pregnancy is a big change for the body and everyone reacts differently. But take heart, it WILL come off!
Can you add another session on the exercise bike each week? That, with a little strength work (if your doctor approves it) might help. You can do body weight exercises right at home, like push ups, lunges, squats, etc. They will give your metabolism a nice boost.
Not eating enough may have slowed down your metabolism a bit. It wouldn't be a bad idea to get an estimate of how many calories you are eating a day and see if it's enough. Calorie intake needs are higher for women while breastfeeding, and sometimes we underestimate how much we are actually eating. So do give it time. I know it's hard to be patient.
Please let me know if you have any more questions.
Sarah
www.sarahpersonaltraining.com
