8 months later, I still haven't lost the weight

HI, I have been having lots of problems since i gave birth nearly 8 months ago. Although i have extensive knowledge in nutrition and i know how to eat healthy, i gained a tremendous amount of weight during my pregnancy. Now 8 months on, i still havent lost the weight, despite eating less calories, less carbs, and breastfeeding. My exercise is about 3 times a week running/walking uphills, taking walks with the stroller, and looking after my son. No matter what i do i cannot shift this 30 pounds. I am STILL loosing alot of hair although it has been 8 months and am quite blue at times. so i am getting suspicious that maybe this pregnancy and birth/caesarean has altered my hormones and endorine system. Does anyone know of a doctor that specializes with post pregnancy and hormones. It is very unhealthy to walk around with such excessive weight and to be quite frank i am scared to have a second child as this may only exacberate the problem. Please someone help me as i know my metabolism has completely shut down and i need a doctor who is sympathetic to this..............thanks a bunch michelle

As for your metabolism, it's perfectly normal for metabolism to slow down as you get older. You say you are decreasing your calories, which is fine, but if you want to boost your metabolism, exercise is the way to get there. You say

''My exercise is about 3 times a week running/walking uphills, taking walks with the stroller, and looking after my son. No matter what i do i cannot shift this 30 pounds.''

You don't say how long you are exercising, but current recommendations are for 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week. I live in the hills, and the thing I must say about my own running in the hills is that while I am huffing and puffing going up hill, my heart rate drops below the aerobic threshhold while going downhill. I wear a heart rate monitor, so I know where I am at all times. I am amazed at how long it takes me to get into the aerobic zone (5 minutes, going uphill). So, for a 30 minute workout in the aerobic zone, I usually need to spend at least 40 minutes, with warming up and going downhill. I am exercising vigorously 5 days a week (40 minutes 2 days, 30 minutes 1 day, and 75 minutes 1 day) and 18 post pregnancy months later I am very, very slowly chipping away at my remaining 5 pounds (like a pound a month, but those last pounds are the hardest). From previous experience, I know it would make a huge difference if I could lift weights twice a week. (Muscle burns more calories even when you are resting, and you also look slimmer with muscle weight even if the numbers are the same.)

So I'd suggest definitely talking to your doctor, but also consider realistically assessing how much exercise you are getting and consider lifting weights. If there's nothing wrong with you, this is a better option that taking drugs or other substances to boost your metabolism. And I am a huge fan of the heart rate monitor! Most models will give you a calorie count, and mine gives me an exercise program and stores a little diary of this weeks accomplishments.

I was loosing hair for quite some time after the baby, and over time that seemed to slow down. boosting metabolism is hard work

6 months post-partum and still overweight

So, here it is: I joyfully gained 60 lbs. during my pregnancy...I gave in to all of my cravings. My daughter is six months now and I am stoill 30 lbs. overweight. A bit of myself:
- I eat rather well, with lots of vegetables and some fruits,
but do go through the occational ''stress binge eating''
- am still breastfeeding
- although I do walk everyday, my mobility is somewhat restricted since I suffer from chronic pain. When not pregnant or breasfeeding, I'm on painkillers. ''baby boot camp'' is out of the question.

I've heard alot that by this time I should have lost a more significant amount of weight. What are your stories out there mamas? thanks! anon

During that time, I watched many of my friends with children the same age drop the pounds rapidly. It was undeniably frustrating. And there were a lot of little plateaus where I thought that I this was it. I do believe that I could have accelerated the weight loss if I had added an actual exercise routine, but that simply was not a high enough priority.

So I chose to just let my body take its time to find itself again. It did take its time, but it did get there.

Congratulations for what you have accomplished, and best wishes (and patience) for the rest that is before you. - *finally* back to normal

you may want to add trace minerals to your diet (concentrace is one brand), since often we are hungry for the nutrients, not really the calories. make sure you are eating veggies, meat, whole grains, and minimize the refined flours/sugar (cake/bread), but eat to your appetite.

but as long as you are listening to your body when you eat, you'll be fine. when baby needs your milk less, the weight will come off. signed: be patient, it will come off! (and then you'll have another...)

I've lost almost none of my pregnancy weight

I need your help! I had a baby nine months ago and I have lost almost none of the pregnany weight. At my six week apt, I had lost 20 of the 40 pounds that I gained. Since then I have exercised regularly and eaten very well and I have GAINED 15 of the pounds back! So....any advice? Some things to know: I do breastfeed, now only two times a day. I do have low thyroid and take medicine for it. My primary care doc at Kaiser hasn't been helpful at all and I am at a total loss. I am trying to get an appt with an endocrinologist. Any advice that you have (aside from....''it will take time'') will be helpful! Thanks! Sarah

Losing post pregnancy weight

I had my second baby 9 months ago and still have 15-20lbs to lose to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. With my first, it took awhile to lose the weight, but I was not 15 lbs over at 9 months. I am nursing still, but my baby eats solid foods regularly. I probably nurse her 4-5 times a day. I run for exercise, though probably not enough (3 times a week for 30-60 minutes at a slow pace), and I do not ''diet.'' My question is: do I just need to be patient for the weight to come off with time and weaning, or do I need to up the exercise and reduce the calories? anon

Weight Watchers is a really good program because really it is about paying attention to what you eat. I don't know about you, but I was so hungry when nursing that I would eat mindlessly. WW has the point counting system that lets you pretty easily tally your consumption without counting calories. The points are engineered to penalize high fat foods and reward high fiber foods.

I joined online. At the time I joined, online memberships weren't allowed if you were nursing. I don't know whether this is still true. I found out that the in-person program just adds 10 points to your daily point allowance if you're nursing full time, and emphasizes drinking enough water. I ended up doing the online program and just adding the 10 points myself. The online community has bulletin boards that are very helpful, mostly, bordering on a bit obsessive. (I think some people literally live on those bulletin boards.) But anyway, it's a really good program for losing weight in a sensible, healthy way ww alum

I know it can be frustrating, and I understand the desire to have your body ''back.'' But we have the bodies our children gave us, now! Good Luck Donna

My guess is that you haven't seen much movement on the scale because you have been building muscle mass in proportion to your fat burning, and this is in fact an ideal situation, as it improves lean mass ratio and raises basal metabolism.

As to diet/calorie comsumption, your goal is to maximize health, both for you and your baby. Eat the highest quality diet that you can; lots of fresh veggies and fruit, whole grains, lean protein sources and enough calcium. No junk food, soda, trans fats, highly processed foods, simple carbs/sugars, food colorings and preservatives.

Next, focus on quantity. Eat caloric balance every day. To estimate your metabolic needs, my web site has that you can use as a guide. Log on to www.befitmom.com, select Prenatal and Postpartum fitness and exercise, then click on Postpartum weight loss and scroll down to the chart. Since your baby is already eating solid foods regularly, add 300 calories rather than 500 to account for nursing.

The fact that you're a mom of two and have a fit, active lifestyle is to be commended. Keep your focus on health and you will succeed not only for yourself, but will create a fit, healthy lifestyle for your children to emulate as well. Helene

Weight loss 9 months after having a baby

I am hoping that someone out there has gone through what I am going through and can tell me what happens next. I had a baby 9 months ago. I just stopped breastfeeding fulltime, but still do a couple of times during the late night and morning. I had a cesarean and began to exercise seriously 2 months after I gave birth. I exercise at least 4 days a week for an hour in a high intensity workout, and often 5 days a week. My weight just won't come off. I weighed myself the other day and I had actually gained weight from the last time I weighed myself. I know that muscle weighs more than fat, but my face looks as fat as ever and I don't think that's muscle. I did drop a size, but after all of this work I am really getting desperate. If I knew there was hope or if someone has any suggestions I would really appreciate it. People tell me that my body will never be the same, but I just won't accept it. I know I shouldn't worry so much about it, but I want my body back - and I will work hard to get it. Thank you for your help, Tara. T

First, realize that for the first 15 to 20 minutes of moderately strenuous aerobic exercise that you are primarily burning glycogen (stored carbohydrates) as fuel. Only when you use up most of the readily available fuel, does your body go into the pantry and start to burn stored fats as fuel. For fat loss, aerobic exercise should be 40-60 minutes in length. Or, to speed things up you can work at a higher intensity, (but still in your aerobic zone, no panting) which will increase the rate at which you use up both glycogen and fats, and burn more total calories per workout.

Second, consider adding strength training to your fitness routine. Increased muscle density will not only make you firmer and smaller, but will help to raise your basal metabolism. Do as much standing strength training as possible. If necessary, hire a personal trainer for a session or two to teach you how to use free weights or body resistance exercises to build muscle density. Plopping yourself down on a machine, where you do not need to support your spine or body weight, is not the best way to go. Third, to help speed weight loss, add lots and lots and lots of raw fruits and veggies to you diet. Particularly foods that require a lot of chewing. These foods add bulk, without a lot of calories, helping you to feel full after a relatively low calorie meal.

On the flip side, cut out all junk, highly processed carbs, all trans fats (this is really important for weight loss), foods high in saturated fats, and refined sugars-- including alcohol. And lastly, remember that this process of ''de-evolution'' is naturally a slow one. A lot will simply depend on your genetics, as well as previous fitness level and age. Scales don't give use much useful information, i.e., our lean mass ratio, how much fluids we are carrying, (nusing moms carry a lot) so don't get hung up on a number that is not helpful. You mentioned that you have lost a dress size, that's significant! Pat yourself on the back, you deserve it. Helene Byrne author, ''Exercise After Pregnancy: How to Look and Feel Your Best''

The other thing I did was to excercise, and to substitute a protein shake in the morning for my usual breakfast (used to eat a bagel or some other kind of carb). It is fantastic that you are exercising so much. Best way to lose weight! Took a while, but then it came off

Any good fitness professional will know that I can't give personal advice to you without knowing more, but there are some general reasons for weight plateaus that might apply. Such as, maintaining the same fitness routine for too long, so your body has adapted and ceased to respond to your workouts. You may need to add more strength training to increase muscle mass, or perhaps you're already doing a lot of strength training and you could use more cardio-respiratory training. You may be eating at times of the day that are causing your body to retain calories rather than letting go of them. A food journal is a great way to really take a hard look at what, when, and why you are eating.

I'd say it's true that a woman's body is never quite the same after giving birth, but I don't think that means we have to settle for a body we don't see as healthy. It sounds like you're working out a sufficient amount, so the trick is to change the distribution of calories consumed and/or make the workouts smarter in order to get the result you want. Good luck and be healthy! Alonn, FitnessforParents.com

How can I get rid of this last 7 pounds?

I’ve been reading the archives about post-partum mommy belly but what I am experiencing is different. My skin isn’t wrinkly; it’s more like a spare tire around my middle. I can not seem to lose the last 7 pounds I gained during pregnancy. Now that my son is 2, I am really getting frustrated. I exercise regularly (cardio, weights, and Pilates mat classes) and eat well. No matter what I do or the intensity of my workouts, I still have these love handles and this roll over my waist band. And my thighs…sigh. I have never had this much trouble getting into shape. Is it my age (late 30s)? Is it hormones (I had post- partum depression)? Is it because I am still nursing (2 times a day)? Do I need to see a nutritionist? Do I need a personal trainer? Or a personal trainer who is also a nutritionist? Help! I don’t want to spend another summer feeling yukky about my body. And please, I don’t need counseling about how I should love my body. Just practical advice to get rid of this 7 lbs. of fat. Love my body but not my spare tire

All three of the things that you mentioned may be playing a role. First off, everyone's metaboloism slowly winds down with aging, and this process starts in our twenties. We just don't start to notice it until our mid thirties or so.

And yes, your experience with postpartum depression may have effected your metabolism. Studies have shown that depression can lower metaboism, though the exact mechanism is not fully understood. Nursing just twice a day can also inhibit weight loss in some women. Think about it, by nursing, your body understands that your infant's nutritional needs are still dependant upon you. So it doesn't make sense, from a biological perspective, to ''empty the pantry''. My personal experience was that I held onto five extra pounds while I nursed, (until 22 mos.) and then after I weaned, lost the excess with out trying.

You should also remind yourself that not all of your 7 pounds is necessarily fat. Most likely, since you are still nursing, at least half of that or more is extra fluid, and will come off after weaning, like mine did.

Everyone has looser belly skin after pregnancy, and you are lucky that you do not have stretch marks or crinkled skin. But I do think it's possible that part of what you don't like about your tummy is caused by looser skin. After you wean, you could consider using Retin-A, (which is the only scientifically proven treatment) to increase the amount of collegan (the elastic fibers) in your skin. This will help make your skin firmer.

Since your body weight is stable, that means you are at caloric balance in your body. To lose weight you need to tip the scales in your favor. I think a consultation with a nutritionist is a good idea. She might be able to help you identify areas in your diet where you could trim calories without hunger or deprivation.

Since you work out alot, and have a varied routine, (which is good) I doubt that a personal trainer will be of that much help to you. And in the mean time, buy a one piece bathing suit, and have fun this summer. Helene

Others of us are not that lucky. Some of us hold onto extra weight until we stop nursing, it is probably just a hormonal thing. Also, having a baby changes our living patterns in a huge way; we get less sleep, have less time to cook well, have less time to exercise, all of which contributes to holding extra weight. You could be suffering from a combination of the above.

My recommendations speaking as a woman over 40, the mother of 4, and a plastic surgeon is to relax if you can and enjoy your child. Even if you are taking the time to workout and eat right, you may be doing less than before the baby was born. Do what you can to get enough sleep, it is hard to lose weight when you are chronically sleep deprived. If you are trying to squeeze into those pre pregnancy jeans, buy a larger, more comfortable pair. If none of this works, see what happens when you wean. But your body has been changed by your pregnancy and motherhood. If you are still really unhappy about this roll, there are small surgeries that can help the situation, if you choose. I hope this helps. Elizabeth

Also Power Pilates offers a video or DVD tape called the post-pregnancy workout developed by Susan Moran-Perich co-owner of Power Pilates, which she made shortly after giving birth (www.powerpilates.com). IT is an excellent companion for any private instruction since you could do some work at home on your own time and that helps bring the costs down. I would also talk to a nutritionist who could help you set up a diet plan in order to make sure you are getting the proper vitamins and minerals to take on an exercise program. I have seen many women get disappointed early on because they tried a variety of so-called inexpensive methods and what I call quick fix exercise programs. You have to be very disciplined and stick with something that focuses on strengthening the abdominal and lower back muscles and at the same time is not too strenuous for you being a mom with two kids, which is a very challenging period in your life.

It's also important to start working in a cardio routine of some kind. This can be even simply just taking your kids in the stroller and seeing that you have a brisk walking tempo. Or maybe think of investing in a stationary bike, again something you can do at your own pace and time schedule in your house. The truth is if it is too much of a challenge, i.e. getting to a class, finding a babysitter, etc. it just won't happen. Again that is why private instruction is great for motivation, individual needs and all around personal care that is determined by your schedule. Again it is worth it to spend some money right now into getting in shape and then you can be more able to maintain it later on your own. Best of luck!

It's been over a year, with little shift in my weight

I need advice and suggestions on how to battle very post pregnancy weight loss. I had a strange metabolic response to my pregnancy, where I inexplicably put on a huge amount of weight (70 lbs.) despite eating right, exercising and having no previous problems with weight gain. It has now been over a year since my child was born, with very little shift in my weight (again, still eating well, exercising, breastfeeding, etc). Needless to say, I feel hopeless and frustrated. I've run the gammut with blood tests, and could find no hormonal abnormalities. I'm open to all suggestions - accupuncture, natropathic, pharmaceutical,etc. Please let me know what's worked for those of you who had a pregnancy that transformed your metabolism. Thank You. anonymous