9 Months On, 9 Months Off
Back before I was ready for kids of my own, I used to get agitated when I would hear that phrase. “You should give your body at least 9 months or a year to return to pre-baby size.” I’d think Why? Have you seen Jessica Alba? She was rocking a bikini way sooner than 9 months after having her baby. When you read gossip magazines, you’re infiltrated with celebrity body-after-baby photos. Women are celebrated if they lose the weight quickly, slammed if they don’t, and it can skew your view of what’s expected/exaggerated.
Way back in the day, before Livi was a twinkle in my eye (and my heart), I wondered about how my body would react to gaining weight while pregnant. Here I was, maintaining a solid weight loss for so long… how would I feel to watch weight creep on, slowly and drastically?
When the time came….
I loved it.
Every time they weighed me at the midwives’ office, instead of dreading it, I knew that every pound meant that my baby was growing. She was healthy, and that’s all that mattered. I watched my stomach grow round and huge, and could picture her inside, swimming and hiccuping around. My booty was bigger and rounder, my cups spilleth over, and my skin was dewy and glowing (when it wasn’t sallow and green with morning sickness, haha).
Before I had Liv, I thought that it would be hard for me to watch my body change, but the fact that I enjoyed every change instead of fearing it was a true sign that I was mentally ready to have a baby. If it would have happened sooner, like right after our marriage, maybe I would have had a harder time. I was still really insecure with my body -I think that it’s just part of the package when you’ve been previously overweight- and I guess I’ll never know how well I would have handled it. I’d like to give myself the benefit of the doubt and think I’d be mature enough to realize the miracle that was happening and let my insecurities fall to the wayside, but I like I said, I’ll never really know.
9 Months Postpartum Body
So here I am, 9 months out from having a baby.
Am I where I was before?
In some ways yes, in other ways, not at all.
I lost the weight pretty quickly
It happens slowly for some people, fast for others, and so many factors can influence this. Pre-conception and pregnancy eating and fitness habits, breastfeeding, sleep, stress, hormones, genetics, and type of birth can all have an impact on recovery and weight loss. When I did my 4 month PDB post, I was pretty much back to my pre-pregnancy weight. Even though the weight loss was there,
My strength and muscle definition was no where near previous levels
While I was pregnant, I’m thankful that it was easy for me to stay active. Almost-daily cardio sessions felt great, whether it was a walk with Bell or teaching a Zumba class. Even though cardio was no prob, when it came to strength training, I took it easy. I didn’t want to lift super heavy weights, so I worked to maintain where I was without increasing anything. Before long, strength training no longer felt good or “right,” so I stopped.
My stomach was smushy after giving birth, and still is
My abs are finally visible again, but my lower stomach still has a way to go, and that’s ok. Despite using stretch oil religiously, I have stretch marks. They’ve faded, but will probably always be there. I’ll proud of my little souvenirs and am so thankful to have been able to carry and deliver a healthy baby. Close up, you can see the silver slivers that I’ll never take for granted.
This is what my 9-month post-baby belly looks like:
It’s my new happy maintenance mode
It’s the kind that allows me to exercise for health and enjoyment, while indulging in treats on a regular basis. If I wanted to eat only chicken breasts, green veggies and 1/2 sweet potato all day (aka fitness comp diet), my abs would look very different, but I don’t want to live like that- I like food too much.
My boobs look 100% normal
This is despite my breastfeeding woes and exclusively pumping for months. This may be TMI, but I had always heard that breastfeeding gives you saggy breasts. I only breastfed for almost 6 months, so maybe the amount of time has something to do with it, but there are no visible effects from breastfeeding. Now, internal effects… there are a few. I was debating on writing about this in detail, but I’ve talked about it a little before- I damaged the tissue in my breasts from pumping. I was desperately doing everything I could to increase milk supply, so I would pump after every feeding and sometimes in between every feeding.. on high.. for as long as I could take it. I’ve pumped blood a few times and then would cry as I dumped it out (the midwife said I could feed it to her, but the thought of giving her bloody milk on top of the fact that I couldn’t make enough for her broke my heart). I’m still healing, and sometimes I’ll feel intense jolts of pain- so that’s why I’ve been taking it easier on the arm/chest strength training.
How I Lost the Baby Weight
Since I’ve had quite a few requests for this, here are some of the things that helped me lose the “baby weight”:
Making a healthy lifestyle change way before planning to become pregnant
By eating well and exercising, it was more feasible for me to continue those patterns and gain a healthy amount of weight during my pregnancy (34 lbs).
At the same time, be easy on yourself
This one I learned soon after becoming pregnant, as there were times when all I wanted was mayonnaise and salt and vinegar chips. I ate it, it was delicious, and then I made sure to get enough veggies for Liv to get some awesome nutrients. I enjoyed a lot more treats and fatty foods while I was pregnant, but just tried to keep a balance, reminding myself that as much as the baby wanted chocolate, she needed nutrients, too. In a lot of ways, I think it was good for me to relax because I’ve maintained a lot of this attitude after Liv was born. I want her to set a healthy example for her, and that includes enjoying treats and the “fun stuff.”
Choose sleep over exercise
Yep, that’s right. There were certain times when I really wanted to go to the gym because I hadn’t had alone time all day, but I was truly exhausted. So, if Liv was sleeping, I napped or went to bed early. When you’re sleep-deprived, your body will hold onto fat. As a new mom, you are perpetually sleep-deprived. So while it’s important to get in some movement for an energy boost if you have a small amount of time, if you’re dragging and wouldn’t enjoy it: rest.
Don’t diet
When I was breastfeeding, I was eating the same way I was while pregnant, with lots of healthy fats to promote milk supply. When I stopped breastfeeding (I pumped until I had nothing left), it was easier for me to listen to my body’s cues (I wasn’t as hungry all the time) and transition back to a lower fuel level without thinking about it too much. Your body will tell you what it needs- you just have to listen. Focus on eating well with the baby in mind, but also enjoy the things you enjoy in moderation. (Like when I switched to one cookie instead of multiples)
Binding rocks
This may seem like a contradictory tip with everything else I’m saying, but it’s a pretty passive way to guide your body back into place without thinking about it too much. I’m pretty sure this is the reason why my old clothes fit. It helped me figure out how to use my core again -I was hardly engaging it for the pregnancy because I felt like contracting my abs was smushing Liv- and the hip shrinker helped rein the hips back in. You can think I’m cray, but I think it worked.
RELAX
Stress can actually make your body hold onto and create more fat. Be patient with yourself and remind yourself to enjoy every moment, even the not-so-fun ones, and that your baby could care less about what your body looks like. I can now honestly say that babies grow SO fast. It feels like just a week ago that we were giving her her first bath, and now we’re starting to plan her first birthday party. It’s important to me to enjoy Liv as much as possible, while nourishing her, caring for her and giving her all of the love I can. At the same time, exercise can be a fantastic way to relax and unwind, depending on how you’re feeling.
Way before I was pregnant, reading posts about baby weight loss tips were so fascinating to me. Then I realized when it was my turn, it wasn’t that big of a deal. I was so focused on Liv, so thankful and so in love, it’s not what mattered. I worked out, and still do because I enjoy it, but at the end of my life, I know I won’t be thinking about that “one awesome elliptical sesh!” – I’ll be thinking about the sloppy wet kiss Liv gave me on the cheek last night before putting her in her crib. At the same time, I hoping that my commitment to health will help me enjoy a longer life.
The skinny jeans will always be there. The chance to create beautiful memories? Fleeting.
If you are pregnant or have had a baby, I implore you to check out this incredible short film about the transformation of bodies and bellies post-childbirth.
<3
This will probably be my last PDB post, until the next bambino a comes around 😉 (added a link for my update from baby #2!)
Past posts:
Update: My Post Baby Bod Fitness Plan is now available!
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Gina! You look fabulous! I’m not surprised because you are extremely active and eat well, but still, I’m really impressed!!!
wow, thank you friend!
Way to go! That’s one hot mama! I can only hope that I look half as good as you when I have kids someday!
I enjoyed and appreciated this post more than you know! I just entered into my 2nd trimester this week, and gaining weight (and losing it all afterward) is something that I’ve been a little anxious about. I already had to gain about 10 pounds to even get pregnant so gaining more is a little overwhelming at times. Reading your take on it is so refreshing though and makes me realize that it’s such a minor detail in the whole scheme of things. Thank you for sharing! And you look AWESOME! 🙂
P.S. I came across a couple of your pre birth posts on cloth diapering. Do you have a follow up post of how cloth diapering is going (or if you decided against it) since Liv has been born? I’m curious how you did or didn’t like it as we are trying to decide whether we want to do cloth or disposables.
I was wondering about this too lately actually!
ehhhhh about that. it really hasn’t happened at all lately, and it’s for all the wrong reasons (aka i hate the way they make her clothes fit and i don’t want to buy clothes 2 sizes bigger, because she already has plenty to last her through the season that fit her). they’re really not difficult to use, not terribly gross, and she doesn’t seem to mind them. disposables are so easy, though :/
thank you! just keep doing what you’re doing, and the weight will come off when it does. you’ll be so busy and in love with your baby, it probably won’t matter as much, too 😉
Wow, you look amazing! My abs have never in my life looked so rockin and I’ve never been pregnant. You’ve given me even more motivation to get myself into better shape!
This post brought the most gigantic smile across my face. You look absolutely fabulous, and should be extremely proud of yourself! You worked for it, and it totally payed off. What an inspiration– total hot mom alert! 😉
Thank you for sharing this and for always being so honest and up front. I too had a battle when it came to breastfeeding my little one (she is 2 now). To this day I find myself upset and devestated that it did not come easily to us. Watching my friends BF like it was as easy as tying their shoes made it that much harder. Hearing that someone else had troubles and that it still is a hard subject is refreshing and makes it feel a little bit more ‘normal’. Thank you.
it’s weird but when i see my friends breastfeed, it makes me feel sick and nauseous. i feel kind of jealous, which is petty, but i do.
and it’s the same thing for me- it breaks me heart to hear that others have had problems, but it’s comforting to know i’m not the only one
xoxo
Which hip shrinker did you use and love? 🙂
hip shrinx (i think that’s how it’s spelled?). amazing.
I love this post and your attitude! I hope I can have the same mind set when I get pregnant in the future. Thanks for sharing.
you seriously make me cry (good tears!) every time i read one of your posts on this page 🙂 you have such a beautiful outlook on your body and life in general, and the last part “The skinny jeans will always be there. The chance to create beautiful memories? Fleeting.” could NOT be more true. all it takes is looking at my sweet boy to know that the new body i have created a miracle!
amen, friend <3
and your baby is absolute precious perfection.
xoxo
You look AWESOME Gina! Love the before and after pictures in the same pink outfit – that’s so incredible to see. Thanks for sharing, and for having such a positive, encouraging attitude 🙂 Loved your PDB posts!
Loved this post! I think you look amazing, but your outlook is way more impressive to me. 🙂
You look beautiful. Thanks for a sharing:)
thanks for reading 🙂
You are amazing– such an inspiration!
Great post! Lots of stuff to keep in mind when I give birth next year.
You look amazing Gina 🙂
I want to thank you for writing this. First and foremost I think it’s a real and honest. I get so sick of people telling me I lost the baby weight because I’m young (I’ll be 30 in April) and have good genes. I lost the weight because I worked at it, I counted calories and ate right then I worked out when I could and I still do those things.
Also I had a difficult time breastfeeding my son and ended up pumping for three months….I have the same pain in my one breast and no one has been able to explain it to me….thank you for connecting those dots.
thank you so much for reading this. it always makes me sad to hear when others had difficulty breastfeeding, because i know how heartbreaking it is, but it’s also comforting to know that i’m not alone.
sending love to you!
Tell your acupuncturist about it. The Stomach meridian runs right through the breast. Acupuncture will accelerate the healing 🙂
No offense, but if you were counting calories and working out to lose the baby weight, it’s pretty clear why you had trouble breastfeeding. There is really no reason to have trouble if you’re eating enough and bonding with your baby enough… I just hate to hear people struggling with something so natural.
And Gina, you look great. Thanks for sharing!
thank you for reading!
a lot of women have trouble breastfeeding for different reasons, even when they are eating enough and not working out too much- in my case it was because of a past medical reason. no matter what causes it, it’s devastating to go through.
Thanks for sharing such beautiful thoughts! I am a pregnant first time mom and reading all of your posts have made me feel so refreshed about pregnancy/birth/and baby!!
thank you! sending lots of love and good wishes to you and that little baby 🙂
You look great! Thanks for sharing the video too!
i’m happy you enjoyed it!
You look unreal! It took me longer to get to a happy weight post partum, but that is ok. You’re right you think pre baby your whole focus will be on getting back into shape. But it’s not possible for most of us nor would I want it to be because all I ever want to do is cuddle my little ones.
exactly- it’s definitely something i thought about a LOT more when i wasn’t even planning to become pregnant. it’s funny how things change and you realize what’s really important
LOVED this post! I started reading your blog when I was pregnant (and you were too!). I had my little boy, Charlie, in February and he has changed my world. I have always been a little obsessed with working out and to be honest, it has probably bordered on unhealthy at times but my LO changed all that. I can totally relate to the feeling of wanting to go to the gym but skipping it to catch some extra zzz’s or simply to just play with my boy. This never would have happened before I became a mom. Amazing how your perspective changes, isn’t it?
Happy 9 months to Livi! She is beyond cute.
it really makes you realize what’s important. happy 8 months (soon?) to your little guy!
thank you so much for reading <3
xoxo
Gina you look amazing! No matter what anyone says, it’s all what you believe and how you feel, but as an outsider looking at you, you look incredible! Congrats on all your hard work because it shows!
As for all your nursing woes and the damage from pumping, oh wow, I am so sorry to hear that and how painful this must be physically and emotionally. So sorry about this for you, Gina.
You do look amazing:) Just wanted to thank you for yet another awesome post! I have a 7 month old and it has been so encouraging to read about your journey through pregnancy and now about raising Livi. Really, you (your blog) has been such a blessing to me when I have felt insecure about my body post baby. Thanks!
thank you. and keep up the amazing work you’re doing <3
I just wanted to say that I love your “approach”. By that, I mean that you are health-conscious, but not extreme and too many times I have seen mothers who are health or weight-obsessed pass that onto their daughters – who later develop eating disorders.
…I think you are a great example of a healthy woman for your daughter.
Thank you, Gina. (Oh and – you look great! (but you always did!))
thank you, that’s an amazing compliment. i really want livi to have a healthy body image, and hope to be a good example for her
Hi, I wish I was embracing the baby weight gain as much as you. It is just hard, iv worked my entire life to maintain my weight, iv belonged to a gym since I was 12, now I’m 29 and pregnant, and it’s hard to embrace it. 🙁
I’m 6 months but already thinking about post weight loss, can you explain the binding more and how you did it/ what you used please.
Thank you!
hang in there. the best way to think about it is that you’re sharing your body with someone else right now and providing everything that little baby needs! it’s amazing, really.
for the binding, i did the hip shrinker and belly bandit. they were fairly expensive, but like i said, easy because i didn’t have to think about it
What an incredible post. You are an amazing mother and I think your whole approach to pregnancy – before, during and after – is such an inspiration for when I have my own children. Balance is the key to life in all aspects and you’ve really demonstrated that. Thank you for posting and sharing – even the not so nice details that might seem hard to share. We appreciate it!
Amazing post you are beautiful inside and out!
<3 to you, friend
love your honest post! you look awesome!
Um, you look BEYOND AMAZING!!! You go girl
This is such an amazing post, you look so wonderful!!!
You look amazing! I’m 6 mos pregnant and this post was so encouraging. I’m in wedding a few months after I have baby and I’ve been stressing out a lot lately about trying to get back into shape in time for the wedding. This post was just what I need to remind me not to get worked up about it. Whatever I don’t lose by the wedding can be taken care of with a little Spanx 😉
I’m sure you will look fantastic! I was in my sister-in-laws wedding in July 5 weeks after delivering and was so stressed about looking “like I just had a baby” when so many family and friends were there that we hadn’t seen in a long time. I had to guess when ordering my dress and I ended up having to get another rushed to me 2 weeks before the wedding because my boobs were out. of. control. It all worked out and I felt fantastic because hey – I just had a baby!
You have such a beautiful heart, Gina! Your tireless positivity inspires me daily. Livi is so blessed to have such an amazing mom (and dad!)!! Oh, and DANG GIRL!! You look UN-BELIEVEABLE!!
you know how to make a girl blush 🙂 thank you <3
first of all you look amazing.
also i heard that celebrities and models don’t carry their babies to term to avoid their hips widening too much. they schedule C sections after a certain month when it is safe for the baby. just a rumor i heard.
that’s really interesting- i hadn’t heard that before
Gina, this post was a great read. I’m currently at the 5 months mark and have been enjoying going back to read your past family/pregnancy posts from over a year ago. I’m finding them to be much more beneficial than any self-help book.
I appreciate how honest you are with your readers, and I hope that people look to bloggers like you (and hopefully me… someday) as an inspiration for post-natal strategies and philosophies…not celebrities who claim “I’m just naturally thin and soooo lucky. I don’t work out. I ate cheeseburgers all the time.” People respect the truth! And the truth is that “bouncing back” takes a lot of hard work, physically and emotionally.
Thanks for sharing and continuing to be a positive motivator while I progress through my own pregnancy!! 🙂
I’m at the 5 month mark too and love referencing her posts too!
thank you!!
Girl you look damn good for having a baby 9 months ago! Thanks for being so honest and open with your experiences, I really learn a lot from these posts.
You really are an inspiration! You look amazing!
wow, thank you!
These are all great words, Gina! I honestly thought I would have MAJOR issues with a growing belly when I got pregnant, but now not at all (I’m almost 35 weeks). It must be, like you said, the mindset or even the maturity? I don’t think my body has really changed much apart from a growing belly, which I’m super thankful for, but when I go to my midwife appointments I was like you and had always hoped and been comfortable with the numbers increasing. For a few visits, my numbers were actually staying the same and I actually didn’t like that. Luckily, last visit I had went up 3lbs and was so proud of that!! It’s crazy how your mind reworks itself when you have someone else to care for!
I actually think your stomach looks pretty ab-tastic, myself!!! And with the first photo…I seriously thought you had just photoshopped out your stomach. That’s how similar they look at a quick first glance! 😉
same thing here- i would get on the scale and think “grow baby, grow!!”
so excited for you that your baby will be here soon <3
xoxo
I enjoy the “no crying zone” sign in the background. Need one here!
haha tom made that a long time ago- it still cracks me up
You look great, Gina! Even though I don’t see pregnancy in my immediate future, I’m always interested to read about how women deal with their changing bodies during pregnancy, since it’s something that I wonder how I’d handle as well. Coming from an eating disordered past, the thought of gaining weight is a bit off-putting, but it’s comforting to know that most everyone sees it as a blessing. Thanks for sharing all of your experience and tips 🙂
Gina, I HAVE to say… You. Are. Amazing. I really appreciate all this information because I’m hoping to get pregnant in the next year or two, and I’m not sure what to expect. Many of my friends have had kids already, but none were as active as I am, so it’s good to know how my body will change… what I can do physically while pregnant… and what to do afterwards. So, thank you!!
thank you so much for the kind words! i’ll be sending lots of good wishes to you as you plan for your family to grow 🙂
I used to wonder how I’d feel about myself after I had a baby and now that it’s happened, I feel great. No, my body doesn’t look exactly how it did before. That’s ok though because I’m not the same person I was before. I’m happy with the new me inside and out. I just continue to be as healthy as I can and that’s all I can do.
You’re lucky your boobs didn’t change appearance wise. Mine did (womp womp). I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me. However, my little insecurity about that is nothing compared to the love I feel for my child. Worth. Every. Bit.
Besides, I’m not opposed to a boob job later on! 😉
Oh, and you look HOT (and not “for someone who had a baby”) Baby or not, you look awesome. Period.
thank you, friend.
and i couldn’t agree more- we’re not the same people we were before at all. you have an incredible attitude! and yes, there are always boob jobs 🙂
Not trying to be snarky, but haven’t you had a boob job already Gina? I’ll pull a Seinfeld and say “not that there’s anything wrong with that!” (and I mean that!). I just think you should be honest with your readers.
Anyway, your body looks slammin’. Congrats!
As always, you look incredible Gina! Thank you for sharing this very heartfelt post.
thank you so much for reading
Gina you are a rockstar! Congratulations!
<3
You. Look. Fantastic!
I feel like I could have written this post….you took so many words right out of my mouth. Coming from a history of losing a significant amount of weight as well, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about gaining 30+ lbs. while I enjoyed every minute of pregnancy and knowing my body was supporting my growing baby, I still gave myself a ridiculous 3-month goal of getting my body back. As soon as Tripp was born, my priorities completely shifted in a matter I’d seconds. 4.5 months out, I’m back in all my old clothes (minus the bras haha) but definitely still have a ways to go as far as lean mass and definition.
You’re so right about choosing sleep over exercise too! Prepreg I would work out even if I was exhausted, and I find that I’m getting the same results now….working out half as much but getting more bang for my buck with things like HIIT and combo weightlifting exercises.
Thank you for continuing to share your amazing journey. So nice to hear about what other moms are going through and especially from someone I feel like I can relate to so much!
I agree, it takes time for post-baby body to recover. Even though I was back in my jeans right away (hello muffin top) my body wasn’t back until I quit breastfeeding at one year. During my pregnancy I started at a low end of healthy weight and gained about 30 pounds. I think my body wanted to hold on to some extra fat to see me through the breastfeedng. Even though my baby is now eight, I appreciate this real, sensible post.
I know I’m the millionth person to say so, but WOW.
I’ve always been a bit afraid of pregnancy because of what happens to your body – but this post gets two thumbs up from me because now I have an entirely different way of thinking about it! Seriously, I read this this morning and (in a non-creepy way!) have been thinking on it all day so I had to come back and comment.
I think Liv has a wonderful example in her mom – you’re doing a great job.
Gina, posts like this are why I love your blog so much! I don’t have kids, but I’m still learning to “listen to my body” and get to a healthy weight and your positive, healthy mindset has really made such a difference to me. I think it is so amazing how you’ve learned how to best fuel and work your body and do it because it feels good, not because you’re focused on a bikini-bod. You look amazing, and more importantly, you’re setting a really great example for Liv to look up to so that she can have a healthy relationship with food, fitness, and her body image. Thanks for the great inspiration 😀
You look so great! My husband and I aren’t ready for kids yet, so I liked reading about how you felt before you were ready/after you were pregnant!
Thank you so much for this post!!!! I am 8 months post delivery and have been struggling with this very issue. I am actually back to my pre-preggo weight, but no where near my size. This was my second baby and with the first it took me about two years to get back to the pre pregnancy size and body. I have quite a few friends this time around that lost the weight and got back to their size within weeks of delivery and it has been hard for me to see them and feel as though I must be doing something wrong. Reading this post just assured me that choosing sleep over going for a run is still the right choice for me. I wouldn’t trade the time with my little man for any time at the gym 🙂 I really needed to hear this right now and I appreciate your honestly so much! Thanks again
-Melissa Hernandez
Gina,
Thank you so much for sharing this! It couldn’t have come at a more perfect time because a couple of weeks ago I found out I was pregnant! And while I am so happy to be pregnant, I am also nervous because I am probably in the best shape I have ever been in and at my lowest weight. Like you, I gained quite a bit of weight through my later high school years and am a little anxious to gain it back! The video was wonderful and thank you for the tips!
Jen
This is such a beautiful post, Gina. I’m nowhere near the point in my life where I want to have children, but I know it’s something that I want to do. Good for you for having the courage and self awareness to accept your changing body and embrace it with open arms. I hate the media’s portrayal of the “body after baby” crap. I hope I have the same acceptance and patience that you do when I do give birth and begin to try to get my body back. Thank you!
You look awesome girl!!! My little peanut will be two months next week and the weight isn’t coming off as easily as I had hoped. I think it had to do with the fact that I was getting my extra calories to support breastfeeding from all the wrong sources :-/ To get my eating back on track I recently joined weight watchers because they take into account the extra nutrition needed for breastfeeding. Right now I’m just enjoying my time with my little girl. My workouts happen when she naps and when I do I go out running, it’s more for my sanity than my waistline 🙂 I do have a question for you-I remember you saying your stomach got fuzzy. Mine did as well and I’m just curious as to when that will go away?! Luckily it’s light hair but slightly annoying.