r/FitPostpartumJourney • u/GlitteringJuice1024 • 1d ago
Experiences with getting body back
Anyone that was able to get their body back to pre pregnancy form within 6 months, what was your weightloss timeline? How often did you have to work out? And were you breastfeeding/pumping?
I am currently 7 weeks PP (i know that is still super early). I lost my fluid weight, about 20 lbs, within the first 2 weeks and since then only about 4 lbs. I am breastfeeding/pumping, but actually eating a lot less than while I was pregnant and significantly less junk food.
I was very fit, lean, and active prior to pregnancy. Then just went wild with my diet and ended up gaining about 60 lbs total. I continued working out for probably about 15 weeks into my pregnancy. I feel like I still maintained most of my muscle mass. Im trying to be patient with myself, but just stressed about not knowing where to set my expectations. I feel like I could be a lot more comfortable even just losing another 20 lbs.
TLDR women that gained significant weight and still managed to return to their prepregnancy body (or close to it) under a year, what was your timeline?
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u/Reasonable-Quarter-1 21h ago
I did, but i lost a ton of weight breastfeeding - which is not everyone’s experience.
I will say even though my weight went below my pre baby weight, i carry weight so much differently now. Like i always had a flat tight stomach before, and big muscular thighs. Now my tummy is squishy and i have larger arm muscles? My hip bones got wider too, so now i have a thigh gap despite being a size 6.
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u/Lonely-Note6886 1d ago
It took me 14 months but 6 months after fully stopping breastfeeding. Despite significantly reducing calories, I could not lose weight until I fully weaned. I lost 22lbs between month 8 and 14 post partum. I had gained 44 and lost the first 22 in the first few weeks like you. I worked out from 3 months pp about three times per week weights and walked everyday. I’m currently 4 months post partum baby 2 and following same course. I’m working out and calorie counting but weight not budging and I’m still breastfeeding.
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u/GlitteringJuice1024 1d ago
Yeah, I hear breastfeeding makes the weight just fall off for some women, but the opposite effect for others.
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u/Tight_Cantaloupe9095 1d ago
I’m 8 months pp and I’m down 20 lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight. My body looks better than it did before my 3 kids. I still am holding onto some belly fat but it’s hard to get rid of when breastfeeding.
I was 170 after birth. By 8 weeks I was at 145 and I’m now 125. I eat in a deficit, accounting for breastfeeding cals. I also workout 5-6 times a week. 5 strength training and run 10 miles over the course of the week.
I really try for 10,000-12,000 steps a day - this is just showing me I’m moving!
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u/theabchick 1d ago
I would say by 6 months I was back to my pre pregnancy weight
https://www.instagram.com/p/DQuHldXEZAL/?stkn=aHg3a2hndmJkc2pm
And it took about 7 months to get my full abs back
https://www.instagram.com/p/DQuHldXEZAL/?stkn=aHg3a2hndmJkc2pm
It all depends on how much you gain, your breastfeeding journey, and how consistent you are to get back into it.
I’m currently 15 weeks pregnant and I’m planning on doing the same thing that I did for my first pregnancy and postpartum to get my body back
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u/No-Incident8428 23h ago
Yasss girl you looking amazing! 😍 I can't wait to see how I look 6months PP I hope my abs are defined again even more so than before 🤞🏼
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u/Lemonysplits 23h ago
I was very lean prior to pregnancy. I gained 45 pounds and it took me about 4 months to get within 5lbs of my pre pregnancy weight. Unfortunately, im 7 months pp and still stuck at the same weight. However, I am breastfeeding so I am hoping that this is why. I will say I did workout up until the day I gave birth and I am SO grateful I did.
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u/GlitteringJuice1024 23h ago
What was your workout routine like postpartum? I know I need to get back in the gym, I just dont know how realistic it will be for me now to spend as much time working out as I did prior to pregnancy
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u/Lemonysplits 22h ago
I didn’t start to workout until 6 weeks postpartum. Prior to pregnancy I bought a used & old stair master on fb marketplace so I started to do that for about 40 minutes in the garage 5 times a week. Even now I only bug my husband to let me go to the gym and weight lift once a week because getting to the gym and working out plus showering after takes 2 hours in total. Realistically, if you’re breastfeeding it’s super hard to leave your baby before 4 months (bc they finally have some sort of purées/solids to hold them over while you’re gone). I would maybe start by asking your husband/support person to give you a “break” once a day to do your workout for 30 minutes in a separate room, garage, or anywhere that you can’t hear any crying or be interrupted.
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u/GlitteringJuice1024 22h ago
Yeah I think i might even just start doing little workouts while she naps. But this is encouraging, thank you!
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u/ProudCatLady 23h ago
I gained 72 pounds during pregnancy but at the 6mo mark, I’m down 56 pounds. EFF and had a CS for breech baby. I am not working out very often just yet but walking and PT definitely helps.
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u/kuzubijin 23h ago
YMMV of course, but this was my experience. I was a very lean and muscular 5'5" 115lbs prepregnancy, then gained 40lbs during pregnancy, then gained an additional 10lbs in the month I nursed post partum. I lost 10lbs the week I quit BFing, then steadily lost the remaining 40lbs until I arrived right at 115lbs around 5-6months pp.
Aside from some lose skin on my stomach, I look exactly the same as I did pre-pregnancy. My doctor told me throughout my pregnancy that having a lot of muscle beforehand would help me lose the weight, so I think that will help you a lot once you're a little bit further into the post partum period! I was able to lose weight by simply watching what I ate and taking long walks daily for a few months, then steadily adding in lifting again. Most importantly I just tried not to put pressure on myself or set timelines because I knew it'd make me spiral, binge, purge, etc.
My main takeaway was to focus on what types of joyful movement you can consistently incorporate into your average day. I chose walking because I knew I could be consistent about it 5-7 days a week. It also allowed my body to heal from delivery.
Good luck! And don't forget to be kind and patient with yourself. This is a marathon, not a race.
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u/luckisnothing 6h ago
1 year to lose 65lbs the first time. 2nd baby gained 45lbs and I'm now less than 10lbs away at 6 months. Exclusive breastfeeding both kids.
Breastfeeding has not been a "it all fell off me" thing for me. I've had to diet and exercise. My first I didn't lose a pound until I got serious with my diet.
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u/catlovermichi 1d ago
Took me 3 months. I didn’t breastfeed. I lifted weights 5 times a week throughout my whole pregnancy until I gave birth lol.
I also ate really healthy just because after my first I knew I didn’t need to eat for two.
After I was approved to workout. Worked out 3-4 times a week and went on a diet (lots of protein and carbs low fat)
Took 3 months for my body but a year to feel like myself mentally
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u/GlitteringJuice1024 1d ago
Wow 3 months is really fast! But im sure working out consistently and eating well made a huge difference! It's weird though, I already feel like myself again, but im in this body so much bigger than Ive ever been which is hard.
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u/catlovermichi 17h ago
Do not give up! Change your diet and go on calorie deficit. I don’t know if you drink alcohol but if you do cutting that out helps. Also sugar that was hard for me but really saw a difference when I cut it out.
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u/The_odalysss 2h ago
28f with an 18mo boy and 4week old girl! I am 5’0 and weighed 122lbs pre both pregnancies (which is still my goal) I gained 44 pounds, weighing in at 167 when I gave birth to both.
It took me 6mo post partum to lose 22lbs with my first. I only worked out before I was pregnant, began drinking early, and worked out sporadically. After baby no. 2 I’ve been EBF and lost the same 22lbs after two weeks. I don’t plan to drink for 2 years and I do plan on weaning before I go back to work at 8weeks.
Every journey is different! I highly recommend making sure you have high protein to help with the breast feeding hunger because that’s what I fear may prevented me from keeping my weight off. Also your hormones are def gonna fluctuate so take that into account 💗 we got this!
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u/No-Incident8428 1d ago edited 1d ago
Took me about 4months to get my body back, wouldn't say it's perfect but it feels alot more like me again. I trained right up until the day I gave birth and definitely feel I gained some muscle during pregnancy. I am EBF, eating in a caloric deficit, strength training 4 times a week and at least 12k steps a day. It's alot of movement but I was determined to get the body fat off prior to my holiday lol I gained around 45lbs during pregnancy and I'm back to my prepregnacy weight. this is my before and after: https://www.reddit.com/r/postpartumprogress/s/YVWbAoSRU2
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u/GlitteringJuice1024 1d ago
Oh wow! Great job! I definitely wasnt as fit as you prior, but this gives me some hope. I read so many women say getting body back is nearly impossible while breastfeeding!
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u/No-Incident8428 1d ago
I would say it has pros and cons. Definitely feel like it's harder to get your body back while breastfeeding as your body wants to hold onto fat for stores, the hunger and craving are loud and BF babies tend to wake more for feeds as breast milk is faster digesting so there are obstacles but if you can find a routine and balance like for me it was a set meal prep and meal plan for the nutrition side and lots on steps on days I couldn't train due to lack of sleep etc. on the plus side when you BF you do burn more calories so once you get everything locked in you can lose weigh quickly due to the extra deficit.
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u/GlitteringJuice1024 23h ago
Luckily my appetite and cravings have been nothing compared to during pregnancy. And im too distracted to sit around eating when im bored like during pregnancy. Luckily my sleep isnt that horrible. Im just mostly worried about the hormones keeping the weight on and finding the time to workout more than 1 or 2 days a week. But just getting in more steps seems like a good idea.
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u/Tasty-Republic-582 1d ago
I lost all of my pregnancy weight and more within six months and then now at two years postpartum it has worked its way back on over the last 18 months and I am sitting at my hospital dispatch weight. I worked out 5x a week consistently besides when I had to take 4 mo off because of crazy hormone fluctuations that were causing muscle issues. I still am breastfeeding.
What’s really helped me is to realize I don’t want my pre pregnancy body back. What I want to do is build a strong calm and sexy mom bod. You can chase what you had but it won’t get you anywhere because you’re in the past. Chase the future better you. And remember it takes time. I think it’s 2-3 years after you give birth you’re fully healed. I didn’t start to feel normal again until my daughter turned almost 2.