Weight Loss After Pregnancy

If you are a new mom or recently just had a baby you are probably familiar with the want to get back to your pre-pregnancy weight and lifestyle.

It is completely NORMAL to want your pre-pregnancy body and lifestyle back, but it also completely NORMAL for things to be far from what they used to be.

So many women (myself included), want to know what the best way is to lose pregnancy weight. The best answer that I have come to find for myself and others is that patience is key. Weight gain during pregnancy is gradual and spread out over the span of several months. SO why should we expect postpartum weight loss to be anything but gradual. It takes nine months (give or take) to gain the weight and it can definitely take that long or longer to lose it.

Maybe you are one of those gals who just kind of magically shrunk back down to their pre-pregnancy size right away. Great for you! In reality, most women continue to wear maternity clothing for several months after giving birth.

The results that pop up when you google things about pregnancy weight loss are scary and can be extremely detrimental to healing and the health of mom and baby. Waist trainers, fat-loss pills, belly bands, appetite suppressants, crazy diets and workout plans, etc.

There are are several reasons that the body gains weight during pregnancy. Aside from nourishing the baby, pregnancy weight gain also helps the body maintain during the postpartum period. Stores of energy aid in healing process after birth, and make sure that the body and baby have what they need after birth. Many women (it’s okay if you are not one of them, I myself was unable to breastfeed), plan to nourish their little one with breast milk. Breast milk production takes energy and energy comes from calories. It can be hard to eat an adequate amount of calories right away after giving birth so the body needs something to go off of.

A lot of the changes that the body goes through during pregnancy can continue into the postpartum period or cause issues during the postpartum period. I personally been dealing with diastasis recti (DR) (ab separation). It is very common for women to have DR following pregnancy. DR is the partial or complete separation of the abdominal muscles (rectus abdominis to be specific) and is often a result uterus growth in response to the growing fetus. As the brain and muscle connection is reestablished and the muscles regain strength, the separation typically lessens and the issue is on its way to resolution. (FYI: I HIGHLY recommend working with a postpartum/pelvic floor physical therapist). It is also important to highlight that DR may never be fully “fixed”. The main goal is to get to a point where you are able to do what you need to do and lead the life that you wish to live as far as resolution and strength go. Many women also suffer from other issues related to pelvic floor health (prolapse, incontinence, weakness, painful sex, etc.) The point that I am trying to make here is that during the postpartum period the female body is not always ready to just dive back into physical activity. There may be issues that need to be assessed and resolved in order to efficiently and safely get back into physical activity.

Another HUGE component of postpartum is exhaustion. Physically, mentally, emotionally, etc. While movement can positively affect the before mentioned aspects of life, it can also worsen the situation if we are not ready to get back to it. If a new mom is running on 4 hours of sleep it probably is not the best idea for her to hit the gym and break her body down further. That being said, movement during the postpartum period is great and should be done with clearance from from your medical team when YOU feel ready for it, not when the diet industry tells you that you should be doing it.

After having a baby it is totally okay to give yourself and your body a break! In fact, you should. I mean to each their own, but I strongly suggest taking at least the couple first weeks postpartum to just chill and not over exert yourself.

Like always, when it comes to weight loss the best and most effective route is the one that is going to be sustainable and best for YOU. A healthful diet and movement are of course going to be great for weight loss at any point, but don’t force it. The best thing that you can do when it comes to postpartum weight loss (if you have been advised or instructed by health professionals to follow a certain path then of course do that) is to enjoy the journey. Look back on the journey that you, your body, and your baby were just on. Accept and embrace the journey that is postpartum. Enjoy the moments with your new family and don’t stress about the skinny jeans that you wore a year ago. Stressing out about weight and what USED TO BE are only going to rob you of the here and now.

Rather than spending so much energy on trying to get back into your pre-pregnancy clothing, buy some new bigger clothing that makes you feel great! Spend more time in your maternity clothing. There is absolutely nothing wrong with embracing the body that you have. The body that just grew a PERSON!

While postpartum weight loss may take time, it will happen if you want it to. Embracing what is, setting goals, staying dedicated, and practicing patience will get you there.