The myth: breastfeeding helps you lose baby weight.
The truth: not being pregnant anymore helps you lose baby weight -- initially. But if you want your abs back, don't count on breastfeeding.
On average, breastfeeding exerts 300 - 500 extra calories a day. However, a breastfeeding mom also eats more. Your postpartum belly, the paunch of lose fat that hangs over your pants, comes from months of stretching and weakening the abdominal muscles. (Really sucks for a fashion blogger trying to fit into her old wardrobe, by the way.)
It takes time and effort -- and not just feeding the baby -- for abs to lose fat, and regain previous strength and appearance.
There is no magic formula, unless you count the "Three C's" -- cardio, core, and clean eating.
First, lose the fat! The only way I know of is lots of cardio -- and only at high intensity. (Don't just walk, run; Don't just run, run like someone's chasing you.)
If you can't run, there are other high intensity workouts like elliptical, kickboxing or step aerobics.
After losing the weight, sculpt. Regular situps, crunches or plank exercises all help. Also, if you belong to a gym, use the ab machines there. Some of them hit areas you never knew existed.
This is the hardest to accomplish for me. I love soda and dessert, none of which fit in clean eating, a lifestyle choice of consuming six small meals a day of low fat, nutritious and non-processed foods.
Though I'm terrible at clean eating, one trick did work for me: start the day with a bottle of water. After guzzling water first thing in the morning, I find myself making healthier choices all day. Don't know why, but it works.
Depends. Some women did it in three months; others take longer. For my first postpartum, my abs took nine frustrating months to return to shape.
Before giving birth again, I was determined to lose the postpartum belly fast. But it has been a whirlwind since J was born -- so much busier with two kids, and then blogging surprisingly picked up -- so I stopped pressuring myself. And I suggest you do the same.
Oops! Gained two pounds. Like I said -- bad at clean eating.
The truth: not being pregnant anymore helps you lose baby weight -- initially. But if you want your abs back, don't count on breastfeeding.
Why do you have a postpartum belly?
On average, breastfeeding exerts 300 - 500 extra calories a day. However, a breastfeeding mom also eats more. Your postpartum belly, the paunch of lose fat that hangs over your pants, comes from months of stretching and weakening the abdominal muscles. (Really sucks for a fashion blogger trying to fit into her old wardrobe, by the way.)
It takes time and effort -- and not just feeding the baby -- for abs to lose fat, and regain previous strength and appearance.
How to get your abs back?
There is no magic formula, unless you count the "Three C's" -- cardio, core, and clean eating.
Cardio
First, lose the fat! The only way I know of is lots of cardio -- and only at high intensity. (Don't just walk, run; Don't just run, run like someone's chasing you.)
If you can't run, there are other high intensity workouts like elliptical, kickboxing or step aerobics.
Core
After losing the weight, sculpt. Regular situps, crunches or plank exercises all help. Also, if you belong to a gym, use the ab machines there. Some of them hit areas you never knew existed.
 |
| This photo was NOT fun to take. |
Clean Eating
This is the hardest to accomplish for me. I love soda and dessert, none of which fit in clean eating, a lifestyle choice of consuming six small meals a day of low fat, nutritious and non-processed foods.
Though I'm terrible at clean eating, one trick did work for me: start the day with a bottle of water. After guzzling water first thing in the morning, I find myself making healthier choices all day. Don't know why, but it works.
 |
| Start the day with a bottle of water. |
 |
| Tonight, consider a delicious and nutritious plate of bok choy. |
 |
| Painfully stopping myself from eating the cookie. |
How long does it take?
Depends. Some women did it in three months; others take longer. For my first postpartum, my abs took nine frustrating months to return to shape.
Before giving birth again, I was determined to lose the postpartum belly fast. But it has been a whirlwind since J was born -- so much busier with two kids, and then blogging surprisingly picked up -- so I stopped pressuring myself. And I suggest you do the same.
Weekly Weigh In
Oops! Gained two pounds. Like I said -- bad at clean eating.
Fitness After Pregnancy Progress Chart
Date |
Photo |
Weight (lbs.) |
12/20/2012 (9 weeks postpartum) |
 |
121 |
Date |
Photo |
Weight (lbs.) |
12/13/2012 (8 weeks postpartum) |
 |
118.8 |
Date |
Photo |
Weight (lbs.) |
11/29/2012 (6 weeks postpartum) |
 |
119.4 |
Date |
Photo |
Weight (lbs.) |
11/08/2012 (3 weeks postpartum) |
 |
121.8 |
Date |
Photo |
Weight (lbs.) |
10/31/2012 (2 weeks post partum) |
 |
124.2 |
Date |
Photo |
Weight (lbs.) |
10/13/2012 (1 week before due date) |
 |
145 |
Date |
Photo |
Weight (lbs.) |
02/2012 (Pre-Pregnancy) |
 |
108 |
108? I think you look great now but if you feel your best 13 lbs lighter I can understand. I have never believed that nursing will help you lose weight faster, i always thought it was a myth because you need to eat more while you are nursing, your most just confirmed...case closed.
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