would you/did you get back in shape before your next baby?

AFSEAGO

We are discussing having another baby. DH isnt on board yet, but I am preparing and putting things in order so that we can TTC about this time next year...

I was wondering if I should try to get in shape a little more before then, seems a little bit like a waste since I would be pregnant again...

It's not even baby weight, I have just gotten a little more "fluffy" within the last 10 months...

What do you think?

soontobe05

I think if you aren't planning on TTC until next year, why not? It's not really a "waste" because you'll be making yourself healthy for your baby and it'll make you feel better. I don't see any "cons" to it anyway. Besides gaining with pregnancy. But think of it this way, it's less weight to lose to get where you are NOW after the pregnancy.

cbwm

See second ticker below.

anna7602

It wasn't a question of "before the next baby" for me. I just feel a lot better when I am getting regular exercise.  Nonetheless, I feel like being in good shape to begin with and then doing lots of pre-natal yoga & swimming made giving birth easier, so I would try to do the same next time around if time and child care permits.

hewinked

I lost 20 lbs after DD (17 was remaining baby weight).  I didn't do it to prepare for another baby, but like a month after I lost it all, we started TTC again.  It took me 5 cycles to get pregnant with this one, and I put back on about 10 lbs in that time.  I did Weight Watchers to lose the weight, and I told DH if I didn't get pregnant after 6 months, I was going back on WW.  I was just really mad at myself for putting 10 lbs back on, so I decided I wasn't gonna wait around anymore for if/when I got pregnant.  You never know how long it's gonna take, so if you want to take some weight off, why not.  GL!

Tomkat8403

I exercise regularly and in pretty much as in shape as I was before L was born. I have thought about stepping it up for the next couple months though, to try to shed a little bit more weight before we start TTC.

AFSEAGO

I guess you're right...I do sound a little lazy...Honestly HOW do you guys find the time to work out?

I just don't know if it is possible! argh!!!

Thanks girls for keeping me in line...I'm sure I would feel better with some regular excersise...I might be a little jaded because I didn't gain much weight with DS and it came off with no excercise I guess because of breastfeeding...

MidwestTexan

I think I was able to lose my baby weight so quickly after DS was born because I was in good shape before I got pregnant. Having a tight core before baby = easier time getting a flat tummy back after baby!

melrrr

AFSEAGO:

Honestly HOW do you guys find the time to work out?

a neighborhood studio offers 3 classes a week with free childcare (2 pilates and 1 Nia). It's the only way!

I did squat before getting pregnant, and did nothing for the longest time after she was born. I was lucky to be one of those women who let breastfeeding do all the work, but since we finally weaned I knew I needed to start doing something.

We don't have plans for no. 2 yet, but when we do I'm looking forward to being in better physical shape, especially where my abs are concerned, and will continue these classes through my pregnancy.  

ncbelle

MidwestTexan:

I think I was able to lose my baby weight so quickly after DS was born because I was in good shape before I got pregnant. Having a tight core before baby = easier time getting a flat tummy back after baby!

Me too.  I also think working out while pregnant helped make for an easy delivery and quick recovery.  Pregnancy is more likely to be easier on your body if your body is in good shape to begin with.

As for time...even something like taking a daily walk (kiddo can come along) goes a long way towards fitness.  I don't work full time outside the home so I do have more time, but if I did, I'd probably just get up earlier and use our elliptical (if it were too dark out to run). 

lauren&matt

I didn't... which shocks me.  I had a pretty fit bod before baby... I was a big-time long distance runner and exercised regularly. After dd, when I would exercise, my milk production would tank and BFing was very important to me. So I used that as my excuse and BF'd dd until she was 15 months. 

Now, 5 months later, we're TTCing... and I'm just not going to worry about it.

I was back to my pre-pg weight when dd was 4 months old... I just didn't get in shape and I'm certainly not as fit now as I was before.

I tell myself that I WILL be after child #2. I hope I'm right!!!

If you're not going to TTC for another year, then yes, get yourself in shape! It will make it all easier to lose once you have dc#2.  

**Gretchen**

bf'ing.

I couldn't exercise when bf'ing as much as I was, because my supply would tank. Now that I'm weaning, I'm going to start swimming again so I can keep it off.

MidwestTexan

**Gretchen**:

bf'ing.

I couldn't exercise when bf'ing as much as I was, because my supply would tank. Now that I'm weaning, I'm going to start swimming again so I can keep it off.

I lost basically all my baby weight from BFing, too, and, surprisingly, I haven't gained any weight since DS self-weaned about 5 months ago. (I do exercise a few times a week, but nothing too strenuous.)

Disneygeek77

I am trying to lose weight now before we start TTC.  I gained 50 lbs, lost about 35 and recently gained about 10 back.  I am just not happy being at my current weight and am scared what I would feel like if I gain another 50 lbs with baby #2.  Ideally, I would like to be back to my pre-pregnancy weight and only gain 30 lbs a second time.  So we will see.

 

N&G 5_26_07

I am having a really hard time to find motivation to lose weight. I am ashamed to say that. I want to lose weight but cannot find it within myself to stick to something.

mollymurphy

Did I? Yes and no...yes in that I was back to my pre-pg weight just a few months after DS was born. No in that I would like to be more toned and have my running mileage back up by now, and I just don't. (Juggling working FT, BFing and baby...yeah, something had to give, and that something was working out.)

So, I've put my heart into getting back into my routine so that I feel better, but even if I'm not exactly where I want to be, I'm not going to let it stop me from TTCing again.

ETA: I just went back and read the previous posts, and I, too, credit BFing for my weight loss...it was a heck of a lot of work, but man eating whatever I wanted was great while it lasted!

Echowysp

I wasn't quite as fit as I was before ds, but I was in good shape.  I haven't exercised at all this pregnancy and I hope I'm not going to regret that once baby is here.  I quit my gym membership a few months into this pregnancy (I had no time to go and m/s and fatigue made it undesirable), so I might look into either a class after dh comes home or join the local community center which has childcare once future dd is old enough.

lwrigley2000

I had two docs advise me to loose the baby weight and tighten my core before having baby #2 b/c they said it is a lot harder to do it after a second baby. With that said, I'm holding on to the last 4lbs and my core would be classified as "squishy". I'm not using that as a factor to keep from TTC when we want to.

Princess_Lily

For me, during my first pregnancy I had RLS or whatever that was - pregnancy arthritis...and I fed into that, I put on more pounds than I wanted to.

Looking back, I think if I moved more (light exercise) it wouldn't have gotten so bad.  Now I'm planning on joining a gym to get into shape.

BelleBaby

I just started a diet and exercising to get myself back into a little better shape.  I've only got about 10 stubborn lbs. that didn't come off after the boys, but I'd still like to get more fit before trying to get pregnant again.

LuvinMyKids

The one rule I have always had for myself before I got pg again was that I had to be back at my pre-pg/ ideal body weight.  It was a GREAT motivator to get in & stay in shape!  After each of my 4 kids I have lost all my baby weight & then some!  I weigh 10lbs less now that before I had my 4 kids!  I weigh now what I did in high school!  I am in the BEST shape of my life, weight wise and physical fitness wise (I work out at Curves 3x a week & really watch what I eat)!  Had I not lost all the pg weight in-between each child, though, I am sure I would not be where I am now...I would be really struggling with it. 

It took longer for me to lose the weight after DD1 because I  BF her for 18 mos (the longest of all my kids) & unlike a lot of women, I do NOT lose weight from BFing.  My body holds on to it until I stop BFing, which is fine...I just had to be patient!

Trust me, do it BEFORE you get pg.  Don't wait until you have the pregnancy weight, as well, to lose, because it will be much harder. Plus, the more healthy you are,  the more healthy of a pregnancy & baby you will have!  What better reason to lose some weight?!?

erino&chrish

I gained 60 lbs with LO and have steadily worked off 52 lbs.  I am still 1-2 pants sizes bigger (I have a J-LO/big butt to begin with), so I'd like to work my legs/butt down to their previous size before baby #2, BUT we just started TTC so if I get pregnant right away I'll be 8 lbs higher than my pre-pg weight with LO from the starting gate.  Hopefully this time I won't eat everything in sight and can keep my weight gain more "reasonable".  LOL.

katypresson

I only gained about 15 lbs with DS.  I lost 10 in the beginning and then gained that back plus the extra 15 lbs, so really 25 lbs total.  But once I had DS it all fell right off.  I'm the exact same size I was before having DS (I was plus sized to begin with).  I'm not really "trying" to lose weight before TTC #2. 

Besides...I think it's totally normal for moms to be "fluffy".  As long as you're happy with yourself...I wouldn't worry about it.   

Soon2BMrsN

MidwestTexan:

I think I was able to lose my baby weight so quickly after DS was born because I was in good shape before I got pregnant. Having a tight core before baby = easier time getting a flat tummy back after baby!

This.  I'm actually losing too much weight now with BFing.