Yes, that’s right…
all 40 pounds of pregnancy weight are GONE!
Baby Creed is 6 weeks old and as of yesterday, I was back at the weight I was when I got pregnant with him. When I mentioned this on Facebook yesterday, I had several people ask me to share how I did it, so this post is to do just that.
First, I feel I need to add a disclaimer…
I was overweight to begin with.
(This photo was taken right before I found out I was pregnant)
It’s a known fact that the closer you get to your ideal weight, the harder it is to get the weight off, so it stands to reason that my being 40 pounds or more overweight to begin with makes it that much easier for me to lose the baby weight.
I also wanted to point out one of my weight loss heroes from this photo taken in April of last year. Her name is Kris and she blogs at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers. I watched her drop nearly 100 pounds and become more fit and active than I had ever seen her. Her journey has been an inspiration to me! Thanks, Kris!
OK, so back to WHAT I did to lose the pregnancy weight…
When I was still pregnant, I joined a group of moms of many I knew online who were making healthy changes. I was still several weeks from my due date, but I knew this time I was going to do it and not just think about it. My husband was already starting to lose weight using My Fitness Pal, so I was inspired by him and my friends to start eating better even before Creed was born. (By the way, Ty is now down 30 pounds! Wow!)
I got a copy of Trim, Healthy Mama (a few weeks before Creed’s birth) and started learning about separating out my fuel sources, so my blood sugar stayed at a healthy level (something that has always been a big struggle for me). I do not always eat the way that is recommended in THM, but it has made me more aware of what I am eating and what I need to do to feel my best.
Also, prior to having baby, I decided on some Baby Step Goals. I’m one of those people who would rather deal with the trees than the forest. A huge number of pounds to lose wasn’t something that motivated me in the least, so I decided to guess at what weight I might be after having baby and then set small goals from there. I wrote every single goal I had on a sheet of paper and then covered up all but the current goal and taped it to the back of my closet where I would see it every day. It felt so good to move that sheet of paper down to uncover the next goal yesterday!
The way I decided on what my goals would be were based mostly on my children. My first goal was to get to where I was when I got pregnant with Creed, which also happened to be the weight I was when I got pregnant with my last child as well. My next goal is another 12 pounds down and where I got pregnant with baby #6. After that, the goals work their way down to where I have been with other pregnancies…baby stepping my way out of all the “baby weight” I’ve ever gained.
I decided I would exercise as soon as I felt able to. I felt really well after having Creed, so I began walking at 3 weeks postpartum. I started by walking 1 lap around the back of our pasture with Ty. I worked my way up to 2 laps, then I started T-Tapp’s 15 Minute Basic Workout Plus.
T-Tapp isn’t a strenuous workout and it is easy to fit into my day. About a week ago, I started using the elliptical for 10 minutes. A couple of days ago, I worked up to 20 minutes.
I also just started back in with the Tupler exercises. Exercise at this point, is really just about what I can fit in when. I do hope at some point to be a little more planned out, but that just isn’t happening. I do like my friend Jamie’s take on exercising though…
I am also trying to get more sleep at night and drink more water during the day.
I also have been working on some “head issues.”
I know I am a person who needs to surround myself with people who believe in me and are determined and energetic themselves, rather than people who want to tell me how they can never get the weight off and how I probably won’t either (followed up with, “and that’s okay.”) I’ve had to be careful about who I listen to and what I tell myself.
I’ve also had to come to grips with my lack of self-control and ask the Lord to help me learn this. If you remember from this post, I allowed myself to indulge in food because of my daughter’s death. No more!
And lastly, I am acting like a fit mama. This may sound silly, but I have noticed how much more energetic and motivated I am when I move, eat, and think like a fit woman. I stand taller, I move quicker, I even enjoy the things I do more, when I act like I am fit. Crazy, but true!
So, there you have it! It’s not some magic bullet, but it did work for me! How about you? What have you done to get your pregnancy weight off? I’m sure everyone would love to hear more ideas for losing the baby weight!
Elizabeth says
Congratulations!! I really enjoyed this post. I was diagnosed with Diastasis Recti this pregnancy, and I’ve found your info helpful and I look forward to hearing more on the topic! 🙂
Sarah says
Congratulations Amy!
I’ve found your blog fairly recently and have gobbled it up!!! It has been such an uplifting and encouraging place to come each and every day. God has given you such wisdom and grace.
Just wanted to thank you for speaking from your heart and shining God’s love in such a wonderful way and tone. So often I leave blogs feeling less than or that everything for the blogger is a competition. Your blog is not like that, and that’s why I keep coming back.
Have a great day!
Amy says
Aww, what sweet words! Thank you for your encouragement, Sarah. 🙂
Shannon says
Good for you! I haven’t budged in almost two years despite all efforts to the contrary…
Tara Bright says
Awesome JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How inspiring! I am also using THM. I started a month ago and have lost over 12lbs. I had a precious baby girl 5months ago. I was gaining weight while nursing because of all the hearty casseroles I froze for post-partum. I feel really blessed to have found THM and inspired to hear the stories of the women that it is helping to change their lives.
Kendra says
I worked super hard over the last couple of years to lose the majority of the baby weight I had gained with my first three children. As someone who has recovered (though it is a lifelong struggle) from an eating disorder, weightloss is stressful for me. Actually more stressful than the weight gain! Go figure. So I kept it simple. Eat less, move more. Gaining weight this pregnancy has been a challenge as I watch the scale rise once more, but you have inspired me to think on what I can do NOW, instead of waiting until baby is here.
Carol says
Congratulations! I just downloaded Trim Healthy Mama before I saw your post. I have a friend who lost all her pregnancy weight by following it. Looking forward to reading the book and starting.
Emily says
Well, it took me longer than 6 weeks, but I’m only 5 pounds away from my weight goal of losing ALL of my baby weight! I am right where I was between babes 1 and 2! Congrats on your own weight loss – no easy task. Keep up the good work.
Amy says
You inspired me when you were here with what you said about the way you ate during pregnancy helping you get the weight off after. Congratulations on losing almost all the baby weight! I hope to join you soon!!!
Kama says
Great thoughts! I am currently 22 weeks pregnant with #4 and hope to lose this weight a little quicker. We can’t take babies to the gym until they are 6 months old, so I use that as my excuse to not do much exercising after babies come. This time I’ll have to figure something else out. I’m still going to the gym through this pregnancy as I have with the others so that I can stay a healthier weight. Thanks for the great words on how you lost it so fast. I was wondering!! 🙂
Rachel says
Congrats on meeting your goal! We want to add to our family thus year, and since last September I have been taking steps to be healthier and more fit then anytime since we have been married. So the baby weight will come off easier and the pregnancy won’t be as hard on my body. Thanks for the encouragement!
Stephanie says
I found my motivation picked up more and more with each pregnancy. I am still 14 pounds away from this pre-baby weight (at six months for number six), but I am getting back to the “fit mama” mentality. I am already starting less than most of my pregnancies, and all the work I did before this last baby is giving my muscles a lot of “memory” which is making it easier. I purchased a program called “Fit Yummy Mummy” and it has helped a lot. She has great ideas, is very motivating and takes very little time to do. I adapt a lot due to the kids, and haven’t followed exactly but it works, and helps me. I also found that signing up for a “race” was really motivating too. It gives you a tangible goal to work towards- and it’s dated so you have to be ready!! Right now my husband and I (and it is so GREAT to get healthy together, currently we lift weights and work out together) are signed up for an obstacle course this Fall. Great motivation and a fantastic feeling of “I did it!” when you make it through!
Darcy says
Thank you for sharing! I am due in July and I am determined to lose not only the baby weight, but more. I’ve been overweight since I had my first so it’s definitely time to get back to losing (granted, I’ve lost the baby weight after the last three births, but not before that). I’ve already noticed that I’m not gaining as much this pregnancy as I have in the past so I hope that helps. I’ll be checking out Trim Healthy Mama and see if I can save up enough money to get a copy before the baby comes. Thanks for sharing what worked for you!
Kendra @ Living in the Shoe says
Yay for you, Amy!!! That is really great! I’ve used T-tapp in the past and loved the 15-minute workout. It was so easy to incorporate into my day.
Amy Roberts says
I absolutely LOVE Lindsey Brin’s videos. I not only lost my weight but got toned as well. What is best is it takes only a few minutes each day. I think you will love them.
Amy says
Good to hear! I’m excited to give it a try.
Lauren Mc says
Amy,
Congrats! So happy for you! I am 5 weeks since I gave birth to my third baby. My stomach muscles are so bad, a doctor told me there is no way they will go back and to look into a tummy tuck! I was shocked! I’m interested in your progress with that when you post it… I wonder if there is hope for me. I have not lost much weight like I did with my first two children. Hope, my daughter, had issues with latching and it was a long 4 week struggle to get her weight on and us working together to be strictly nursing. Anyways, I have not had time to work out, no energy because I have been nursing every 4 hours around the clock! Forget sleep right now, let alone time to read. How do you do it?! Find time for yourself?? I know you have older children and that must be a big help. My boys are 5 1/2 and 2 1/2. How can I do it?? Any words of encouragement? I’d like to feel like I”m alive and full of life again. 😉
Amy says
I will admit, it is easier with older kids to help out now. But, I think what is helping the most is that my mentality right now is whatever I can do is better than nothing. I hit the elliptical for 10 mins…better than nothing. (My 2 yo sits beside me and plays.) I choose to eat 1 cookie instead of 5…better than nothing. I am making small choices every day that are adding up in the long run. And just having people who believe in me is HUGE, so my words of encouragement to you are…YOU CAN DO IT! 🙂
Sarah says
Congratulations Amy!
Losing that weight is hard, but so worth it. I just recently got down to prepregnancy weight- also 20 pounds over my ideal weight- but it feels great.
I’m really enjoying your blog!
Kris @ Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers says
Aw, thanks for the shout-out, Amy. And, congratulations!! You have done a fantastic job!
Erin says
It has been 14 months since I had baby #4. I am the heaviest I’ve ever been. A very kind and loving family member has ordered Trim Healthy Mama for me and I can’t wait to get my hands on it. In the mean time I’ve been using MyFitnessPal to track my caloric intake. I’ve been researching clean eating and pinning healthy recipes and working on planning healthy meals. I’ve also been pinning exercises that I can do with my kids and with no special equipment. I did order the Mummy Tummy book you mentioned in your Diastasis Recti post from the library and am waiting for it’s arrival. I have a 4 to 5 finger DR and had never even heard about the possibility of such a thing. Thank you for making me aware. I’m hoping I can heal and lose my weight before we have another baby. I have around 50lbs to lose so it feels like a daunting task, but there is no choice to give up, only to keep trying, even if I have failures or don’t feel like it. Your site has been very helpful & encouraging. Thanks.
Amy says
You can do it, Erin! And if you are like me, you need to stop looking at ALL the weight you have to lose. Take it in small goals and don’t look so far ahead. We can do this!
Josi says
Way to go Amy! I loved the pregnancy ticker…. maybe you could do a reverse ticker! Ha! A high-five to Ty for his accomplishment as well.
kacey says
thank you for your inspiring post! i need to lose 15 more pounds of my baby weight. your ideas about goal setting are very helpful. congrats on your baby and weight loss!
Suanna says
Amy, congratulations on getting back to your pre-pregnancy weight. I like the plan you have of baby stepping the weight off. I am almost 6 weeks post-partem after baby #6 and I am fitting back into my pre-pregnancy clothes. I don’t have a scale so I can’t keep track of weight. I do know that I want to go down at least one more size. I enjoy your posts and the encouragement they provide. Thanks for writing about life.
Laura says
Nice job! This post is an inspiration to me as I am currently pregnant with #3. I was really hoping to get back on track with weight loss, and then I found out I was pregnant. I already feel SO huge (I’m 27 weeks) and I know there’s nothing I can do about it right now so I’m getting a little down on myself.
I know that there are things I can do now to make the weight loss afterward easier. I’m writing down a few of your suggestions and am hoping to get back into the swing of things (gradually, of course), once this little lady decides to make her appearance. Thanks for the post!
Amy says
I’m hoping next pregnancy (Lord willing!), I’ll eat better too! That will help greatly. Blessings to you!
Kate @ Modern Alternative Mama says
I keep telling you about magnesium, I know. 🙂 I make this: http://www.modernalternativemama.com/blog/2012/12/17/monday-health-wellness-magnesium-lotion/ A tbsp. is about 600mg. I’ve probably used close to that much towards the end of pregnancy. I am 40 weeks tomorrow and no baby yet. I have only gained about 15 lbs. though (I was 10 lbs. heavier than I’d like when I got pregnant). It has benefited me in SO many ways though, so few pregnancy symptoms. Here is more on the general benefits: http://www.modernalternativemama.com/blog/2012/11/12/monday-health-wellness-magnesium-may-solve-common-health-issues/
I can’t wait to see how it works out after! Yay for baby steps. 🙂
Amy says
I’m listening, Kate! I’m listening! 🙂
Karen says
Amy,
I was looking at T-Tapp, which versiion of it did you get? It goes all the way from basic to the full package. I’d really be interested in getting my hands on it.
Amy says
I have the Basic Workout Plus 🙂
Laura says
How Wonderful! Congratulations!
I was overweight when I got married, probably 40-50 pounds. We are almost married five years and I am pregnant with Baby5. Right now I am 110 pounds overweight.
I seem to follow this same pattern- I don’t gain too much in my pregnancy, maybe ten pounds tops. I have a huge baby (last one was 11 pounds). I loose a lot of weight, maybe around 20-25 pounds within the first month of having Baby. I gain it back, immediately. Sometimes more, too. I can’t get motivated. I work on trying to motivate myself. I get pregnant again. Cycle repeats.
I’m usually not not pregnant long enough to really get myself going and motivated.
Laura says
Do you have any advice for me?
Amy says
I decided this time to stop seeing between pregnancies as the only time I could do anything about the weight. Granted, I’m probably not going to lose weight while pregnant, but the better I eat, the healthier I am (and baby is) once I have the baby. I had a friend tell me that the fact that she ate according to the gestational diabetic diet w/ her last child contributed to her ability to take off the baby weight faster. So, I am making choices now that will extend through any other pregnancies that the Lord gives us.
I’m hoping to interview my friend (and fellow mom of many) who lost over 100 pounds a few years back and put that information here on the blog soon. For me, the motivation comes from someone believing in me and believing I can do this. My friend Jamie is one of those people who believes I can do this because she did it too. 🙂
Diana says
Congrats on losing the baby weight!!! I have just lost my baby weight (from all three babies) and am back to where I need to be (though I wouldn’t complain about another ten pounds). The weight simply refused to budge until I did low-carb/Primal, but it has gone over about four months for a total of forty pounds. That meant giving up all sugars, grains, legumes, fruit, and starchy vegetables. Sounds difficult, but it’s now a way of life for me and I’m feeling sooo much better!!
Love the blog, as always!!
Diana
Homeschool on the Croft says
Good for you! I am not post-pregnancy (well, not unless you count 9 years post!), but at 46, I’m finding it harder than ever to lose the little extra I’ve put on over the past year. I only need to lose around 7lbs (though 10-12lbs would be nice 🙂 ) and I just can’t seem to budge it. I think what I’ve heard women say over the years about ‘women of a certain age’ finding it harder is true, but it being ‘difficult’ is no excuse for not getting it done! My clothes are too tight (feels yucky), and I am *not* going to buy bigger clothing! I am 5 ft (yes, I’m that tiny!), so 7lbs extra really makes a difference. Your upbeat post has inspired me …. I need to get on that treadmill that sits in our guest bedroom gathering dust!
Amy says
You can do it!!! 🙂
Christy says
This post has brought me to my knee’s. I’ve gained so much weight between pregnancies, I have no problem losing the pregnancy weight, I am normally back down to prepregnancy weight with in a couple of weeks (the last 4 pregnancies I’ve only gained 20 lbs so it’s came off quickly) but then I eat horribly, lack of exercise, and weight gain comes and comes and comes. I’m at my absolute heaviest ever. I’m truly ashamed of how I look and just dislike my weight and how I look. I WANT to loose this weight. I want to be healthy for myself and for my children. I have 2 little girls and 3 little boys looking at me. I don’t want them to be embarrassed of me, and I don’t want to teach them poor eating and work out habits. I am joining Weight Watchers, as it’s worked for me before. I can’t keep living like this.