Baby Weight Loss Struggles For Mothers

No one tells you that after giving birth, you'll leave the hospital still looking at least 4 to 5 months pregnant. I expected to slip into my pre-pregnancy jeans and pack away the maternity clothes until my next pregnancy. Sure, I expected a little residual belly bulge after jumping into motherhood, but I didn't expect so much to be left.

Both of my children were breastfed, causing the majority of the baby weight to melt away with little help from me. This may have been a bad thing because it didn't force me to work. Of course there is always that last 10 pounds that just won't vanish. I think my daughter could nurse constantly 24 hours a day and it still wouldn't budge. And at some point, just nursing isn't enough to keep losing weight. If it were, I think every mom would nurse their kids well into toddlerhood!

I told myself after I became a stay at home mom that it would be easier to lose the weight. I would run around with the kids and the weight would just melt off. We would eat healthy meals and I could keep my snacking to a minimum. I've discovered that motherhood doesn't always work out the way we plan.

Eight months after giving birth to my second child, I am nowhere near my pre-pregnancy weight. I came close initially but now the scale is again climbing. My parenting responsibilities have doubled, and it feels as if my weight has too. The chocolate sitting in my kitchen may not be helping. Sometimes parenting calls for chocolate... just not an entire bag. Finding time to exercise is a challenge. Finding the energy to exercise is an even bigger challenge.

Seeing swimming suits on sale at Target in January and the knowledge of our summer vacation that will involve pools and hot tubs is a motivator for me. I don't want to hold back because I don't feel comfortable with my body. I see pictures of myself from a few years ago, after I lost the baby weight from my first pregnancy, and I miss it. I don't like what I see in current pictures.

The other motivation for me is my kids. Motherhood has changed my views on many topics, health being a big one. I want to be around to nag them and embarrass them for many years to come. I don't want to hold on to the extra baby weight for the rest of my life. I don't want to increase my risk for health problems down the road. Difficult as it may be, I know it's time to step away from the donuts and get myself moving. Besides, I don't think I can play the "I just had a baby" card must longer!