Losing Weight After Baby

[GaylaBassham]

I posted this on the Ask Cathe forum but never had a reply, and it looks like this might be the more appropriate place for it.

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.)

One thing I am going to try is cutting out Diet Coke. (Wah! I really love my Diet Coke.) But now that the baby is sleeping through the night I shouldn't need the caffeine as badly.

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? (I have all of Cathe's tapes since Mega Step Blast.)

Thanks,

Gayla

 

[briee]

I'm not Cathe (and would be interested in seeing her response), but one thing I have to watch CLOSELY is my carbohydrate consumption. When I cut out breads, crackers, chips, pasta, everything, but veggies, I see weight loss really quick. I stick to salads at lunch with no dressing or no fat, and try to snack on carrot sticks, cuc's, and celery. I eat lean protein every few hours. And of course cut out those sweets. When I say lean protein, I am a vegan, but I drink veggie protein shakes, and I do eat fish. (No dairy or meat) So when I say add a good protein source that would not include cheeses and such, at least for myself. I would stick to the leanest form of meat you can find if you choose that. Throw a can of tuna on your salad (I'm eating that as I type). Just a few suggestions.

Briee

 

[letswork]

I've been there...

I had a baby boy in January (2002). I had gained over 50 pounds on my small 5'0" frame and I knew it would be a long road back to my former size.

In the beginning of July 2002, I decided to go on an all Cathe rotation. I never compromised or weaseled out of the tough stuff (which I had the tendency to do on occasion) and I gave every single workout everything I had. I cranked up the weights as high as I could muster and even managed to sneak in the occasional ab workout from the Ab Hits video at night after my son went to bed. I gave those infamous planks my all.

In January of this year I received the Intensity Series and did those workouts exclusively for 6 weeks (before I got pregnant again) and saw AMAZING results...especially in my abs.

Diet isn’t as easy for me, but once I had my son, I had less time to really THINK about food and everything fell right into place. The minute I stopped obsessing about every morsel, the more I WANTED to eat healthy...focusing on feeling good and having energy, instead of losing weight. Briee is right though, cutting out those starchy carbs does work!

Bottom line, if you stay focused and work out HARD, the results WILL come. It took me 9 months to get back in my clothes. And remember Cathe's quote..."you'll get so much more out of the exercise if you use mental assistance." I applied that to every single lunge, squat, curl, jump, kick and leap during those months and it made a WORLD of difference. By the time I got pregnant again, I was actually 7 pounds lighter than my prepregnancy weight.

I don't know if you've actually seen the "How Cathe got in shape after pregnancy" portion of the "Behind the Intensity Series", but it's very inspirational. She mentions her workouts and diet. You can find it from the home page. Every time I use an Intensity Series tape, I'm always in complete awe of her mid section.

I know this is more than you probably wanted to know...but maybe my story will help a little. Best of luck. Keep working!!!!

 

[cjbate]

WOW!

WOW! You are motivating and helping ME! I had my 3rd and last baby about 6 weeks ago. I just started back to working out with Cathe today with a CTX. It is hard to get back into the game. I gained 40 lbs, it was my 3rd kid in 5 years, and I really wasn't able to workout much during this pregnancy. I have got about 10 lbs left to lose, and then I'd like to lose another 10 to get to my goal weight. Abs need some major work!

How often did you workout? Lots of cardio or about even with weights? I have CTX and PS, SH, and MIS....so lots of weights. I am looking into buying more Cathe cardio. Plus some ab hits I think. What videos did you use besides Intensity Series? I am going to start with CTX and then go from there. Today was my first day back so I tried to take it easy. Plus a 4yr old and 2 yr old and newborn "interfering" Argh!

Thanks for your motivating story!
Jen

 

[letswork]

Hi Jen

Thanks for your feedback and congratulations on your newest addition. You should REALLY pat yourself on the back for getting back into the swing of things at 6 weeks...especially with the demands of caring for THREE little ones. Hoorah for you! Very impressive.

I think starting with the CTX series is the best decision you can make. I used it a lot when I started back because if I was short on time, I could always come back and do the weight work once I put the baby to bed.

Keep in mind that I didn't start working out intensely until 7 months after I had my son. It was a loooooong time until I felt truly recovered and my son was sleeping through the night.

At 7 months I worked out 6 days a week for an hour (but sometimes not all at once.) I alternated weight work with cardio, but really went a LOT heavier with the weights and pushed myself very hard during the cardio work. It made a big difference. I used ALL of Cathe's tapes but would have to say I used Power Hour, Leaner Legs and PS Legs & Abs more often than most. I switched it all the time. I got great results from using a short, intense cardio (CTX) after work and then doing one body part from the Slow and Heavy series and a section from Ab Hits at night. And once I got the Intensity Series, I made quite a few "deals" with my husband to get an entire hour of time after work to do a hardcore IS rotation...the results were downright INCREDIBLE (then I got pregnant again). Cathe's core work in that series is just outstanding.

I think the toughest thing about getting back in shape is finding the time, remaining flexible and being consistent. Before I became a mom, I had a pretty structured workout schedule and if something interfered, I got bent out of shape. Now I exercise whenever I can and try very hard to make every exercise moment count. Sometimes that means I'm still working out at 9pm, but I always find that it's worth it.

Now I'm 17 weeks pregnant with number two and trying very hard to keep the weight gain within reason and maintain my exercise. So far, I'm doing much better than the first time around but I'm already plotting my comeback.

Best of luck and keep us posted.

 

[cjbate]

RE: Hi Jen

Thanks for your kind words! Your information is really encouraging me. It is nice to know someone with so many demands on their time and interruptions still made it work, rather than made excuses.

YES I am a former gym rat too (pre kids) and it is throwing me not having a consistent time to workout. Plus the perpetual interruptions. I think with the 2 year old getting in my way during my w/o's (frequent requests for juice, cookies, toys under the couch), I suspect I will have to do it when he is asleep. I am NOT a "morning person" normally but I suspect what will end up being the best is doing it before the kids get up in the am, esp if I want it to be 6x a week. My husband (who gets up at 5:30 am to go to the gym 3x a week) says it is just a matter of setting the habit and I will be fine after the initial shock period

But this is not going to happen until the newborn is sleeping thru.

It is good to know you didn't workout with intensity til he was 7 months. I am trying to keep in mind I am just now getting back into the swing of things and to not overdo it or be too strict.

I definitely agree with your philosophy about FOCUS during workouts (reading some of your other posts). How many times did you see people just drifting around the gym, wasting time and not really putting a focused effort in? And their bodies never changed. Somewhere I read that never really lifting that hard (high enough weight for a real challenge to their muscles) is what keeps many people at an intermediate level permanently, rather than progressing to advanced.

I wish you the best with your second pregnancy! Kids are great. I found the 2nd baby much easier than the 1st, when everything was a learning experience. Sounds like you will have a healthy weight gain.

Thanks again!

Jen