Hi everyone,
Am a new member and a mom of an 18 month toddler. I was wondering how long does it take to lose post pregnancy weight. My ht is 5ft and currently I weigh 62 kgs (!!!). I have been doing some yoga and have started watching my diet now. My two questions are-
1. What should be the ideal diet-exercise combo for a mom who is swamped with work and can't really take out the time to hit the gym.
2. Should I succumb to temptation and try quick fix diet pills or my all time favorite Atkins diet to jumpstart the weight loss.

Looking forward to your response,
Thanks!

    

It took me 3 months to get back to my prepregnancy weight. I am 5'1" and was able to lose it quickly by eating healthy meals and exercising.
It looks like you are off to a great start. You're eating healthy and toning up with yoga but you need to do some cardio to lose the extra weight.
I have never ever paid for a gym membership. I've always lost weight at home. I started off by going for long walks with my baby. Make sure to walk fast. Going for a stroll won't help much. After I regained my energy, I was able to walk longer and further. On rainy days or super hot days, I do aerobics at home. There are tons of really good DVDs you try. I love Ellen Barrett. Her workouts are fun and you get a good workout. The ones I own are: Pick Your Level Weight Loss Pilates (pretty easy), Crunch:Burn and Firm Pilates (works you out), Crunch Fat Burning Pilates (works you out). On lazy days, I like doing the Pick you level weight loss pilates.
I've haven't tried her other video. Go to your library and see what they have. I found the Ellen Barrett videos at my local library. After I gave them a try and enjoyed the workouts, I went to wal mart and bought my own.
As long as you eat right and exercise (cardio), you'll lose the weight fast! If, for some reason, your weight won't budge, get your thyroid checked. Women who have had a baby, can develop hypothyrodism which means that your thyroid isn't making enough of the thyroid hormone which causes weight gain! So get check! Doctors don't check for it unless the patient requests the test.


Please do not take diet pills. They are not good for you. My cousin took diet pills after she had her first child. They worked fast. 50 pounds (23 kg) melted off fast! But after she reached to her goal weight, she stopped taking the pills (she was also suffering from side effects so she didn't want to take them anymore) and she immediately gained the 50 lbs (23 kg) back plus an extra 40 lbs (18 kg)! So be careful! I wouldn't recommend the pills. It's not worth your health!

I also held on to some extra pounds after my son was born, and decided to start losing the weight when he was around 18 months old. I was eating a lot of junk food and drinking regular soda at the time, so I switched to drinking diet soda/water and eating healthier foods. Those small changes worked, and I lost about 30 pounds in 6 months. Good luck!

I had my daughter in Jan 06. I was 5'5 and 128 lbs (58 kg) or so before conceiving her, and delivered her at 172 (78 kg) or so. When I got pregnant with my son in Sep 06, I was 152 lbs (68 kg), and delivered him in May 07 at around 190 (86 kg). I was back down to 135 (61 kg) when I conceived this son in Jan 09, due next month, and I'm at 172 (78 kg) now.

I never actively dieted or worked out to lose weight. I was too afraid of what it might do to my breastmilk supply. I figured I'd have plenty of time after they were weaned, and as you can see, breastfeeding and cutting down on the munchies alone got me down to within 8 lbs (3 kg) of where I started within 3 years' time. I know they say that you can diet or work out to lose the baby weight and not affect your supply, but nursing was so important to me that I chose not to.

Good luck! You can do it!

Great advice, everyone.. Healthy Momma, have gotten a couple of exercise videos and will now use the early morning hours for a cardio workout.. And yup, munchies can really add up calories, so am cutting them out. I'm hoping can drop a dress size or , even, two by christmas/new year!! Thanks!! Will keep ya posted.

I thought I would chime in here. I am still 30 pounds above my pre-pregnancy weight and my daughter is 2. I have never had so many problems with weight loss. I was working out everyday, watching what I ate and nothing was working. My doctor keeps telling me that “women forget how long it took your body to get that way during pregnancy and it can take double that to get it back”.
I will admit I got desperate and I went to a wellness clinic that specializes in weight loss, and they gave me Adipex. I have lost 6 lbs the first week and cut out all sweet tea and soda. I am worried though that when he takes me off the pills if I will gain everything back.

Hi firelady,
I've been tempted to join a wellness clinic too.. Bt everyone I know has been advising me against it.. They say that you gain all that weight back and maybe even more.. However, if I don't lost weight the natural way, I'll be trotting off to one of those wellness/slimming centers.. so, do let me know how it turns out eventually. thanks

I am still about forty pounds over my pre pregnancy weight. I have been trying to eat fewer carbs - not carbless, just less of them- and that works pretty well for me. Did I mention that my daughter will be eleven this week?

I really enjoy the wellness clinic because while I am on the pills to lose weight they are giving me a diet plan, and helping me eat healthier. They cut out my snacks and sweet drinks, I think in the long run that will be good. If I can get the craving out of my mouth for those things, then I am less likely to want to eat them later on. I hope it works, and I will keep you updated.

Yup. Cutting out sugar is a major challenge for me too. I drink a lot of tea and coffee and will now be using honey/splenda in them instead of sugar.. plus desserts are a big temptation.. so i guess, if you can kick the sugar craving, things become a lot easier.. Glad they're giving you a healthy diet plan too.. Looking forward to your updates.