Losing Weight after Baby

[GaylaBassham]

I had my third (and probably final) child in November. The weight came off pretty easily after #2, but I am very frustrated with my progress this time around.

I thought it was because my eating habits had deteriorated and so I worked very hard on changing them. They are not yet perfect but I am eating SO much cleaner than I was a couple of months ago. But after a month of improved eating, I still wasn't seeing much progress on the weight front, so I decided to try pushing the intensity on the workouts. I've been doing interval workouts twice a week for about six weeks as well as an additional cardio workout (sometimes two), and I've been lifting heavily three times a week. I'm still not seeing any real progress. (In fact, last week I GAINED weight, but I think that might be PMS.)

I just want to wear my old clothes again! What can I do to speed this process up? Cathe, do you have any suggestions? A rotation that you could recommend?

Thanks,

Gayla

 

[Cathe Friedrich]

Hi Gayla! I understand your frustration but try to hang in there. I'm told that it gets a little harder and takes a little longer with each pregnancy. I still find my metabolism a bit altered since my second and have to keep coming up with different things to shock my metabolism. Here is what I did after my second....

http://www.cathe.com/2002_After_Baby2.htm

Also, really try to up the water intake and try to get quality sleep as much as possible. Since children have a way of keeping you from having your standard workouts, grab fitness in bites of time wherever you can. This will not only make it more doable but jolt your metabolism throughout the day. Some things you can do:

1) While the kids are in their high chairs eating, drop down and do 15 push ups and then grab an 8 ounce glass of water after your heart rate comes back down.

2) Play "sky time" with your child. My baby loves this and its a great shoulder workout. Simply raise your baby up in the air and lower back down saying "sky time" in a cutsie voice. The laughter they exude will prompt repetition, giving you quite a shoulder workout.

3) Stand with your legs about shoulder width apart and lift up a filled laundry basket to waist height. Rotate your torso slightly to the right and left, exhaling as you do this to each direction. Do this for about three minutes. Great ab workout.

4) While keeping an eye on the kids playing, stand in front of your staircase (if you have one), and do forward lunges onto the step that feels most comfortable to you. Do 16 reps per leg.

5) While finally getting a chance to sit down to your own lunch...DON'T hee hee. Do sit n stands or hover squats for two minutes straight.

Just some ideas to get the calories burning while your "on duty". Good Luck!

 

[Aquajock]

RE: Turn your child into your home gym

In addition to "sky time" with your new little munchkin, may I suggest the following:

Use your new little cutie as a weight vest for squats (standard and plie) and lunges (static, walking and side);

Plop Munchkin on your back and perform planks and push-ups;

Use your new little cutie in lieu of the laundry basket for the ab/oblique workout suggested in #3;

Play "Plane Landing" with Munchkin: lay face up on your step bench, get ahold of Munchin with both hands on his/her sides of the trunk, extend both arms straight up from the shoulder, and do sets of triceps extensions, overhead lat presses and close-grip bench presses;

Do some outdoor Strollercise routines for cardio;

Get a great pec workout by hugging Munchkin every chance you get.

Sorry - I know I'm not Cathe, but I saw some possibilities here . . .

Congratulations on your new little one!

A-jock


:7

 

[daisyheather]

WOW! Cathe, thanks for the great ideas. These are sure to get us new moms into great shape. You are a wealth of information! I liked everything, but the sit and stand idea Love, Heather (and her two little boys one of whom says "I can jump as high as Cathe")

 

[briee]

RE: Turn your child into your home gym

Are you sure you don't want children AJock? And if not, my kids would love for you to come babysit....you would be a really fun mom!!!!! Just a thought, take it or leave it ;-) ;-) ;-)

Briee

 

[Debra L]

That looks like the toughest version yet of sit & stands!

What's next? Low end static lunges while we have a cup of green tea?

Good luck Gayla! Looks like you received some great ideas.

Debra

 

[GaylaBassham]

I'm a little late in replying, but thank you, Cathe! I will try some of these suggestions (although frankly, making me do sit and stands before I can eat is just evil) I do need to up the water intake, too.

Anyway, thanks to Cathe and everyone for your suggestions!

Gayla