How do you keep your body in shape between pregnanies?

[scwendy]

Originally Posted by raisingcropsandbabies scwendy-you must heal really well after your c-sections! By the time my babies are around 3-4 months old all I can do is go take walks with the kids... I couldn't do ab workouts till my babies were around 7 months old or so... way too painful! I'm jealous! My doc said no workouts till 12 weeks post-op, yours must say different?

I have been very fortunate to heal well after my C/Ss. As far as ab work-outs and, provided the incision was well-healed at the 6 week check, my OB allowed me to use physical comfort as my guide regarding work-outs, inluding abs. But I was 2-3 months post-op before I was physically ready to tackle
P90X as it is more rigorous.

[mg5g]

OP thanks for starting this thread! I am in the same shoes. I have 5 but three in three years. DD youngest is five months already - not sure where the time went! And my baby weight piled on my last pregnancy because I only had a few weeks between them. I usually loose a lot of weight right away but this time I haven't lost a pound since 1 week PP! (I did have a lot of post baby complications though so I didn't bounce back right away like I am used to doing.) I need to go get my thryroid re-checked but I don't think that is the problem. I bought a step machine this week and I am trying for 5 minutes at a time. I know it isn't much but with 5 underfoot it is all I can get to. I am hoping to work my way up to 3 - 20 minute step session a day - 5 -6 days a week. I don't have time to jog, or go to a gym, so I thought the stepper handy would give me a chance to actually do it. If you want a weight loss buddy let me know

[dagmomma]

I tend to go into extreme whole food eating.

With my first I gained around 80. Yes you read that correctly 80 pounds. And no my baby was not 75lbs like I was hoping.

I did not loose all the weight when I got pregnant with ds2. I lost about 60 when I got pregnant and then I ended at the same weight.

I knew after 6 months of having ds2 I had to do something. I was starving and not loosing the extra weight. I was working out all thie time and nothing--just exhaustion and hunger. Then I saw Alicia Silverston on TV (the view actually lol) and she was promoting her book the kind life.

Well I got it did it and lost ALL of my baby weight and was back to pre-pregnancy size. I did minimal workout (yoga everyday or every other day) No-stretch marks no nothing. Now the thing is it is a Vegan cookbook but she does not lecture you like other vegan cookbooks she tells you facts and is incredibly supportive. I usually have to cut out dairy anyway bc when I nurse all my babies had issues with dairy.

The best part is that the book basically gives you better ingredients for the foods you eat. Things I never heard of or new were options. I was chowing down on healthy peanut butter cups and brownies. When I craved something sweet I ate it. I just felt so much better.

I am pregnant again and I am strict with my food but still consume dairy and will eat what I am craving. I try to do healthier versions but that does not always work. But now I fell like it is so easy to keep the weight at bay during pregnancy (only gain 40 LOL) and shed it when its time.

Now during pregnancy I am doing Tracy Anderson pregnancy DVD and will do her Post-Pregnancy workout. I am on my 4th and I think I got this pregnancy weight thing down.

[Kindermama]

I exercise hard 3 times a week for 30-45 minutes. I do strength training both bodyweight and with 5-15lbs hand weights and then the rest of the time, I do intervals on the elliptical. I have only lost 10-15lbs (depending on the day) and one dress size but I think I look so much more thinner than I did when I weighed 10lbs less. I'm toned!

[BNC]

I dont.

[MomMe3]

Originally Posted by dagmomma I tend to go into extreme whole food eating. With my first I gained around 80. Yes you read that correctly 80 pounds. And no my baby was not 75lbs like I was hoping.

I also gained 80 lbs with my first. It took about a year to come off. I did an exercise program of Denise Austin workouts on TV. I did two or three in a row. Sometimes I'd put DS in the baby carrier so I had a weight on.

I have a big space between my kids though. To stay in shape, I try to eat whole foods. I do eat sweets and junk food on occassion because I believe in everything in moderation. I have just started back at actually doing a real workoout program, but before that I did things like walking instead of taking the car, and babywearing while walking instead of using the stroller.

There are still exercises that you can do post-surgery. Even walking helps. I had abdominal surgery (not a c-section) and my doctor wanted me up walking everyday. He said it would help me heal faster.

ETA: (Obviously my doctor didn't want me trying to walk miles or anything, but he did want me to be up and moving around.)

[seacat]

Originally Posted by AnimalHouse I don't do any particular program or diet. Basically, I just try to eat balanced diet (that also includes sweets, because I don't believe in depriving myself ) and stay active. I don't count calories, but I try to be mindful that in order to lose weight, and maintain, you need to burn more calories than you consume. Because I allow myself to eat sweets and fast food, I have to make sure that my activity levels reflect that. I really like doing exercise DVDs at home... Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred is a good one. Going for walks or jogs twice a day are a nice, relaxing way for me to burn calories as well.

This is what I do and I'm lucky breastfeeding takes off the weight. Mine are 21 months apart and I gained 60 yes 60 with both. My body has a strange reaction and holds water when I am pregnant I loss about 40 the week after he was born. Right now I'm a little below the weight I was when DS2 was conceived.

[AleahDeann]

I dont really. I already eat pretty healthy, but also enjoy occasional sweets. I cannot do vigorous work outs because my milk supply drops significantly. I have come to accept that I will live in my "fat clothes" until we are done having kids, then when my youngest stops breastfeeding I will power it out

[Lisathena]

I do not eat very healthy....but I do weight train with kettlebells. It helps my hubs is a trainer and certifed in them. I plan on swinging my way thru this pregnancy and keeping pictures/journal to do a blog on it. That said have been super sick this first trimester and haven't touched my kb, so hopefully I get to soon. And I plan on taking raw flab post partum pics and working my way back to a strong, toned body. This is baby number 5 for me. I only worked out after I had number 4. I have good genetics and bounce back to skinny around 9 months. But this time I did zumba and kettlebells, and wow...I am so much stronger, I love it! Now to force myself to eat better....nah! Lol oh and I tandem nursed for 1 1/2 yrs after baby num 4 so I did it all nursing too

[hohaas]

I just had my 4th 4 mos ago and it's my 4th in 4.5 yrs pretty much. This time my body did not bounce back as well and my diastasis recti is larger so I plan on doing the Tupler Technique to help bring my muscles back together. I just wanted to wait til the weather got a little cooler to get another splint for it to start wearing. Weight has never been a problem thank goodness (I think that's genetic- thanks Dad!) But BFing has always made me lose a few extra lbs over time.