Losing the Baby Weight Without Losing Your Mind

It was fun getting bigger through pregnancy. Gaining weight was expected, celebrated, and measured monthly. Post-childbirth, however, nobody mentioned that only about 10 of those 35 pounds would come off with the baby. I suppose I never did expect to birth a 35 pound baby, but tell that to an irrational new mother with a newborn, subsiding on 3 hours of continual sleep each night.

I've had practice losing baby weight. The combined total of weight gained over four pregnancies and births was 152 pounds, or an entire person. Luckily the baby weight had to be lost on four seperate occasions, in 20-30 pound increments. Admittedly, I was fooled by the firstborn. At 22, I was on the thin side and had the metabolism of most active 22-year-olds. Two weeks and the still-pronounced belly slimmed down. By the time I was onto number two son, less than two years later, I was starting at the same weight as I had with the first. Youth has a way of helping with losing baby weight, as well as chasing a toddler around.

If it sounds too easy so far, it was. The baby weight from my first two babies slid off over time, helped in large part by staying active and a good metabolism. Toddlers are great for losing the baby weight, but you have to wait a year post-baby to reap the benefits of squatting on the floor to pick up toys, chasing loose toddlers around the yard, and eating in quick spurts. Toddlers help with baby weight loss in a major way.

Losing the baby weight was much harder for the third and fourth babies. Gaining extra pregnancy weight (50 pounds with #3), being less active, and just being a few years older added to the struggle to lose the baby weight as easily. Breastfeeding helps, but like many moms, I was too worried about eating enough food to nurse, so weight loss had to wait. I nursed for almost a year with #3 and lost more weight initially, but then it slowed down. It took a full year for the last two baby weight gains before I was back to withing a ten pound range of pre-baby weight.

Losing baby weight is a challenge. It takes nine months to put on the weight, and generally takes about as long to lose it. Hips get a little padding, bellies aren't as lean, and exercise is more exhausting after a full day with babies. What does help is patience. Every baby may add a few pounds, but there is no quick fire way to lose baby weight.

Once you are able to put concerted effort into losing baby weight, a few basic tips can help. Over time, walking, drinking at least 8 glasses of water each day, cutting back on junk foods/high calorie rush meals, and a good mental frame of mind will help take off some of the baby weight.

Fast forward to the present day, years after my firstborn made his appearance, but not so long since my last born, and I have come to appreciate the passed down wisdom that with each child comes a few extra pounds of love.