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@PrincessBaby: i woh and went back at 4 months. I was 2 lbs below pre preg weight then so all my clothes fit. I interpreted your "i would die before having to buy a new wardrobe" as "i would have to spend a buttload of $$ buying all new work clothes and dont want to do that if possible". I feel the same, i really don't want to have to shell out money for all new suits and whatever so i really need to be down to my pre preg weight before going back to work!

@PrincessBaby: Definitely harder for me to drop the weight with baby #2 too. Part of it is like bushelandpeck mentioned about less time, less energy... now that I had a baby + toddler. Another reason could be age. But overall, I just felt like my body clung to the weight more even though I was doing the exact same things. I didn't have to try as hard after baby #1, but I really had to make an effort with baby #2.

@Mrs. Jump Rope: I wonder if it's because of the breastfeeding? For me, I could not fully drop weight until after I stopped breastfeeding! I was working out, eating healthy, etc too.

@Mrs. High Heels: I've heard a lot of people say that and I wonder if it's true for me, too! We started solids in the last month, and here I am down 6lbs. Coincidence? Maybe..

@Mrs. Jump Rope: @Mrs. High Heels: same for me! I didn't magically lose weight fast even we EBF'ed for a year! Maybe it was my appetite being up to keep up my supply, etc. But my body did not burn any extra calories (or the scale didn't say it did) as a lot of moms experience.

I worked out to lose the last 5-10 around 6-7 months pp and that didn't really stick until 9 months. It wasn't until we fully weaned that I was at my happy weight and lost a few pounds more a couple months later.

@PrincessBaby: goal setting doesn't bother me, i don't think I implied that it does. I wanted to get back in shape to run a 5 min mile as quickly as possible post partum. But I pushed things too quickly and it ended up with injury and frustration and taking longer than it needed to. You're not talking about running but it's the same sort of do or die mentality I've heard from other runners post partum and I think those that fare better in the long run have goals and adjust if post partum challenges come up, sometimes the long game is more important.

Totally understand wanting to look good!! However, it is a little extreme to say "I'd die before returning to work in a bigger size." First world problems...

ETA: I know you didn't mean that literally. The reaction just seems extreme.

I don't think any mom out there wants to hold onto their pregnancy weight...
I think this post is extremely shallow.

@PrincessBaby: Haha! I know you did. That's why I made the edit. No worries - I wasn't offended. Also, my posts on here are certainly never perfect. Who has time to perfectly edit their posts? I am just in the camp that there would be worse problems on earth than having to go up a size for a couple months

@Madison43: I agree. I think it's the same thing as someone "fat shaming" moms about their postpartum weight. Sure it might not be your way or what you deem is "right," but I don't think OP has to defend her stance on her pp goals, just as those who take longer to lose weight shouldn't have to defend their PP bodies.

at the end of the day, this is all #firstworldproblems

my weight gain/ loss experience was about the same both times.
I lost 30lbs by 6 weeks pp without trying. I ate a ton too! I was 31 when I had dd and 1 month shy of 33 when I had ds.
I ate whatever, whenever and didn't work out while I was pregnant, so packed on 50ish both times. My bad. haha had to work out and watched what I ate to lose the rest. .
I'm about 10lbs over prepregnancy right now, since I gained a bunch back over the holidays and during our move (I stress eat!) but most of my clothes fit. I plan on slowly losing the last 10 before springtime.

I think it's great that you set goals for yourself and am sure you'll get back down to prepreg before you head back to work! Good luck!!

@PrincessBaby: you're "allowed" to feel how you feel about PP weight loss I felt similarly. Of course everyone wants to lose their pregnancy weight, but beyond a healthy baby, that was the top priority for me and if it hadn't happened easily (which I am extremely grateful for) I would have gone to the mattresses, so to speak, with diet and exercise to get there. Sometimes even that doesn't work, but it's worth a try if it's very important to you. It was to me and I wouldn't apologize for that. As long as you're not severely restricting calories - to the point of disordered eating - do what you have to do to feel happy after baby arrives.

I understand what others are saying, but I don't want you to feel like you're getting bashed for being very focused on this as a goal. My first question at my postpartum appt was whether or not I could use Crest White strips while BFing. Shallow? Of course. But you do you.

@psw27: then set the goals & lose the weight. No need to make a post about how determined you are.

It was harder for me to lose the weight after LO2, with LO1 it just seemed to melt off. However, my diet and exercise routine were non existent and I went back to work at 7 weeks PP this time vs 12 weeks last time. I have a sedentary/computer job, so I joined a bootcamp class and cleaned up my diet and am now below pre-pregnancy weight.

I think if you are determined, you will have no problems losing the weight. I had no motivation and wanted to protect my supply, but at 7 months PP, I had enough of the extra weight that I was carrying around and was unhappy with how I looked. Good luck!

@Ash: But there are lots of posts about people being determined to lose the weight on here. There are weight watchers posts, 30 day shred, postportum weight loss groups, etc.... everyone in those posts shares the goals they set. Look, I get that weight loss can be an extremely sensitive subject, which I say as someone who has straight up not lost the baby weight 16 months later, but I feel like folks are reacting negatively because she's been so successful in the past, which as a pp said, is just as bad as fat shaming those that haven't lost the weight.

Oops random post. Sorry

@PrincessBaby: I think it depends in part on the kind of recovery you have. I was still about 10 lbs from my pre-preg weight at 3 months. It was really hard for me to exercise in the beginning. My stitches would jab me every time I moved the wrong way. I don't think they came out until 9 weeks post-partum. I know they didn't dissolve and were still there and still painful at my 6 week appointment. I did not dream of exercising before 6 weeks, and really, I don't remember being able to do much until 10 weeks or so. Also, breastfeeding made me starving and anytime I tried to cut calories, I saw a huge decrease in output. So I just dealt with the extra weight for awhile. I did fit back in most of my pre-pregnancy pants, but I had to buy a few new tops. I eventually fit back in most things and got back to my pre-preg weight.

I have heard friends say it was way easier after the 2nd, since they had a toddler to chase, and others say it was harder.

I hope it's easier, and am hoping to have an easier recovery, but I'm not going to stress about it too much if it takes a little longer.

I think the fact that you had an easy recovery and lost weight quickly the first time around bodes well for you! Good luck!

@78h2o: I agree that recovery plays a huge role. With LO #1 there was no way I could have exercised before 6 weeks and even a couple of weeks after that things were just... not right.

Pregnant now with LO #2 and I have taken much better care of myself as far as diet and exercise go. Sadly, I have gained the same amount, though. I'm hoping that having kept the routine of exercise will pay off postpartum, though, and encourage me to get back to work-outs earlier (provided my recovery is easier).

Chiming in because I also have strong feelings about my body image the short answer is that weight loss was the same for me both times. I was 29 and 30 when the girls were born.

Long answer:

LO#1 - baby weight plus an extra 5 lbs came off quickly just through breaatfeeding, eating normally, and getting back to my normal gym routine (pilates 2x/week plus cardio). I was happy feeling sting again but actually unhappy with the extra weight loss - people asked nosey questions about why it's happened, when it was just what my body did.. I actually had to cut back on the gym to conceive #2.

LO#2 (born 22 months after LO#1): baby weight plus another 5 lbs I didn't really have to lose came off quickly with breastfeeding and normal diet. However I no longer have a full time nanny so my fitness routine consists of pushing a stroller with a baby in an ergo and running up and down stairs in the house. I'm slim but not strong, it definitely took me longer to feel like I could pick up my normal routine even if I had the childcare to do so. I'm 9 months PP and would like my abs back for a big vacation in six months so I bought myself a stability ball, magic circle, and resistance bands. I expect that my weight will go up a bit as I get toned.

Fingers crossed for you your experience is similar to your first as well. But re: the clothes....between breaatfeeding and two pregnancies, my pre pregnancy wardrobe has not fit normally for 3 years! I just supplement the pieces that do fit with filler items (jeans a size down, tops a size up)and figure I'll have one hell of a shopping spree when I'm done being pregnant and breaatfeeding