Why am I not losing the weight?

pinkflutey · June 2014

I gained about 50 pounds during pregnancy, way more than I wanted to. I gave myself three weeks postpartum until I stepped on the scale and was about 15 pounds down. That's when I started watching what I ate and exercising. I'm also breastfeeding. Now, four weeks later, I still haven't lost a single pound. I'm getting really frustrated. It seems all I can find online is women who were back to pre-pregnancy weight within two months. I don't have any clothes I can wear and it's getting to the point where I don't even want to leave the house because all I have to wear is sweats and my maternity clothes. Please offer any suggestions. I'm feeling pretty down. Edit: It's not that I expect to lose the weight over night, I'm just extremely frustrated that I've been working out and watching what I eat (I am using My Fitness Pal to log food) for about a month, and I've actually gained a few pounds. I just don't know what I'm doing wrong. I just want to feel like I'm making progress.

flcl · June 2014

Hang in there. Like PPs have said, it took you 9 months to gain the weight so it may take you that much time to lose it. PP bodies are hard to get use to... things just aren't as they were before. Take it easy on yourself. Maybe you can use this as an excuse to go shopping and get some cute comfy clothes!

ChrisP2013 · June 2014

I'm 3 mos PP & I'm still at 160 lbs. I've gotten smaller but the scale hadn't budged. I don't know where the weight went but it's still there. Hubby says it's in the milk.

TiffanyBerry · June 2014

Took me nearly two years to get back to pre-pregnancy weight after my first. You're way early in the game. Give yourself time and patience.

momofmanyinthemitten · June 2014

I'm 8 wks pp and still have 15-20lbs left to lose of the 45 I gained. With my first 2 babies, I lost a good amount between months 3 and 4, when my hormones started leveling off.

Peanutz21 · June 2014

eh don't worry yourself reading other posts.

i am about 4 weeks out and my clothes still don't fit either. when i leave the house i wear stretchy pants/yoga pants. i even bought a few extra "nicer" pairs

Avion22 · June 2014

I gained 50 pounds too. The first 20 came off pretty fast, but I've been stuck there for about 6 weeks (plus or minus about two pounds).

First of all, you really don't want to crash diet or do a ton of exercise while BFing. Moderate diet and exercise changes are good. A realistic goal is 1-2 pounds per week. As much as it sucks to think it might take me 30 weeks to lose this weight, I know that's the healthiest way to do it.

I would recommend you go out and buy a few new outfits. Something to make you feel good about yourself :-)

hsal · June 2014

Ehh. Prepreg weight isn't all its cracked up to be.

I only gained 15 lbs my whole pregnancy so I was back to my prepreg weight basically once I delivered but I am so lumpy and gross and clothes don't fit...

I'm walking with the baby in my wrap and my daughter in the jogger. I use Myfitnesspal to track what I eat and that's it. It's more important for me to be healthy and nurse my baby than lose the weight.

Good luck though!

roo1oo · June 2014

Is it possible you're underestimating your portion sizes? You may want to get yourself a kitchen scale or measure for a week or so to make sure you're actually eating the amount you're logging.

Also, have you measured your waist/thighs? You may not see the loss on the scale but if you measure you'll see it there. Sometimes when you start working out, especially after a long rest period like the post partum 6 weeks, you'll lose quite a bit of muscle tone. When you start working out you'll gain that muscle back, so your fat loss may be offset by your muscle gain.

And it's not true. Most women do not regain their previous sizes in a couple of months. Make yourself feel a bit better by going shopping for a few pairs of pants that fit now. That way, as those get looser you'll get motivation to keep going.

Good luck. Its a lot of hard work to lose the baby weight. I still have about 10 lbs to go myself and I've been working at it since 4 months post partum. I'm determined that last 10 lbs is gonna be gone by the time LO is 9 months old.

rosabonheur9 · June 2014

I was disappointed when I realized that the extra weight wasn't gonna leave right away myself. Buying new clothes made me feel a lot better about it though, even though I'd gone up quite a few sizes from my ideal weight and it was a pain trying to find things that look good on this (once again) changed body and allow easy and discreet access for nursing. It's a real fashion challenge.

It has helped my self esteem to keep myself feeling somewhat put together with clothes and make-up. This has been particularly helpful on the lonely mom-at-home days. It makes me feel like I'm still part of civilization. I imagine it can help you feel more comfortable in your current figure.

bpatrick0809 · June 2014

I was back down to pre pregnancy weight 3 weeks after have my DS but I can not fit in my pre pregnancy clotes! So as long as your eating healthy and light exercise for now I wouldn't worry about it. I mean we did just create a child!

PrimRoseMama · June 2014

MrsMuq said:
You're eating probably an additional 500 calories a day just to keep up with BFing.

It took you 9 months to put on 50 pounds - do you really think you'll lose that much (less baby and the afterbirth) in a mere 2 or 3 months?

You need to have more realistic goals, track your calorie intake, and track the calories burned from exercise to have an accurate idea about weight loss.

Edit: Ditto what @Nicb13 says - you're not supposed to exercise (other than walking) until you get medical clearance at 6w for a vaginal birth, and 8w for a c/s.

All of this. You really really need to relax.

Your weight does not equal your worth as a human being. Give yourself time & focus on your health.

aevan · June 2014

are you getting sleep? Lack of sleep can make you hold onto weight. Breastfeeding a lot (while it burns calories) can also make you hold onto it because your body needs the calories. I didn't lose the weight with my daughter until years after she was born because I wasn't resting enough, and I wasn't eating at regular intervals.

babym6705 · June 2014

I gained 50 too and have lost 30 but those last 20 pounds are refusing to go. (I'm 8wks pp). I use MFP too and I'm pretty sure it's bc I'm EBF. My body is holding on to every single calorie and pound. I have noticed whether I track or have an occasional cheat day/meal, that the number on the scales isn't going down (or up). My body is using everything is has and everything it gets. I'm pretty sure MFP isn't going to work for me until I wean. I keep doing it though to help keep my portions under control bc honestly I could eat half a pizza by myself in one sitting and MFP helps me see how gross that is, lol.

Kriztyn · June 2014

I'm almost 9wPP and I am struggling to lose any weight too... I'm Formula Feeding... and logging into MFP as well. Increasing my workouts so hopefully I'll start to see change.

jmaalouf · June 2014

Your story is like mine. I counted my calories and worked out and GAINED weight. I also had NO energy (even after sleeping a full 7-8 hours straight!). Finally I made an appointment with an endocrinologist and got my thyroid checked, turned out I had hypothryroidism. I am now on a daily pill to keep my levels in the right range and feel a ton better. I've managed to lose 35 lbs in one year. Sometimes I get discouraged because with the amount I exercise and with what I eat, I feel like I should be losing more, but I do feel better.

Scantron3000 · June 2014

I gained 55lbs during pregnancy and I've lost 37lbs in my first 4 weeks PP with just breastfeeding alone. I've now plateaued at 18lbs up from pre-pregnancy weight and I've just been wearing my maternity clothes when I go out. Unfortunately, all but 3 of my maternity tops are sweaters. Just be patient, I can clearly see that my stomach looks like a deflated balloon, but I know it won't look like that forever. I plan on going out and buying some new summer tops in size large before returning to work in a month (I'm making the excuse that it's because of my huge, milk-filled breasts). Give yourself a mini shopping spree and know that, eventually, you'll go back to looking close to the way you once did.

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