Can you really go back to your pre-baby body?

Gena - posted on 07/02/2010

My body is "different" than before I had my kids, but I felt like although I lost the baby weight, it still took a while longer to get my hips to move back. I did get back into my old clothes, but found that I wasn't comfortable in the same clothes that I used to wear just because they weren't so much my style anymore. I worked out during both of my pregnancies and still work out now...plus I work full time so it is possible! Just stick with it and try to eat as healthy as possible w/out depriving yourself:)

Lori - posted on 06/02/2010

Your hips are wider, but they tend to go back to the pre-baby state within the first year. Just keep up with your exercising and dont worry about it, it takes time to recover especially from a c-section!

Beth - posted on 05/26/2010

I am back in my tight pre pregnancy jeans at this point but my body is just different. I am not sure what it different, but something is "off"....anyone else have that?

Emily - posted on 03/31/2010

Candice, you do need to be more positive! I just had baby number 2 in June. I too was a DD before pregnancy and my having my son 7 years ago didn't really change too much about my body. My daughter on the other hand... I stopped BFeeding in December and started working out the first of January. I have watched my body slim down due to my consistent diet and exercise. It has def. payed off. My bra size now is a D and my stomach is something that still needs to be worked on. I have to come to understand, though, that it's not going to happen quickly. It took 9 months to completely morph my body and it will take much longer to completely morph it into something I am proud of. I have to get in a bikini the end of April/beg of May and although I have slimmed down, there are still portions that need to be worked on. If I can do it, anyone can! I am slimmer now than before pregnant but want to lose about 10 more pounds. It's tough work but it's so worth it! Good luck!

Valerie - posted on 02/01/2010

I think you need to be a lot more positive!!! Everyone's body is different and just because one person's body doesn't go back to their pre-pregnancy size doesn't mean yours won't! I am also being realistic and I think as long as you eat healthy and workout, you can look as good as you want.

Candice - posted on 01/18/2010

Boo..I am sick of people lying and saying "oh, you just have to work hard, you can get it back" and "having kids is no excuse" (I'm looking at you Erika). Maybe if you've only had one kid and you were always a stick before kids, yes, you can probably get back to being skinny. I just had my second in October and no, my body will NEVER, EVER be the same. (I'm sure it's obvious that I'm upset about that!..as very worth it as my children are, mind you) My breasts were a DD before first child, nursed him for 10 months (by the end they were very "empty" don't know how else to describe), got pregnant with 2nd child and I am currently nursing her. My hips stretched after 1st pregnancy and didn't go back, which is fine..it's the tummy that I'm sad about. After my son it was almost back to normal with moderate exercise by 6 months postpartem, but this time around it seems there is no going back, there is a LOT more flab from stretching, etc.. I should add that I had my kids close together (19 months apart). I just want to be a realist. I am trying to lose weight and exercise but I truly will never have even close to the same body I had before children. Keepin' it real.

Erika - posted on 10/07/2009

My son is 9 months old and I am 5 pounds lighter than before I got pregnant. I had a natural birth and worked out during my pregnancy. I have been working out post pregnancy too and because I am so busy looking after my son I have cut back on the amount of calories I take in. My body looks the same except for my breasts. I nursed for 7 months and then tapered off. I don't nurse at all anymore and wow my breasts have changed. They are smaller then before my pregnancy but all the skin is still there from when they were swollen with milk. I started out as a DD, went to an E in pregnancy, atleast a EE while nursing (never really measured) and now I am down to a D. My hips never changed. My suggestion is walking, as much as possible. Just get moving. It will make all the difference in the world. And be smart about what you eat. You can't expect to look like a super model if you eat fast food everyday. Even a C section shouldn't change your results because they do not cut your muscles anymore. Don't use "kids" as an excuse to give up on yourself. Work at it a little and you can be back to pre pregnancy size

Maria - posted on 09/14/2009

Yes and no. Yes, you can go back to your prenatal weight, and no, if you're looking at getting whistle-bait, traffic-stopping figure, hollywood-skinny type. Lol Seriously, you can reshape your body and tone it better by exercise and eating the right type of foods. I had both natural and c-section (my youngest son was 12 lbs when he was born) and I'm only 5'2". I'm now 45 and my boys are 17 & 16. For more help, visit the website, www.self.com or www.everydayhealth.com.

Barb - posted on 09/07/2009

Yes and No! I have a 16 month old and I'm still working on the tummy flab! Your body already widens the hips as your baby gets bigger inside your belly, so yes even though you had a C-section, you will never have the same shape again! But what you have to do is change your way of thinking! Its' fine if you won't be fitting into your pre-baby clothes, first of all you get to shop for new clothes, and you now have to except your mommy body and find clothes that make you look and feel beautiful! Stay positive about your different body shape, and embrace it as a new you that might take a while to get back to even feeling back to normal! Drinking water and getting outdoors as often as you can is essential to fitting better into your clothes! good luck, but remember we're all in it together!