Good Morning! Introduce Yourself!

Lauren - posted on 01/19/2009

Quoting Kathryn:

Good morning everyone!  I hope your new years are off to a good start.  My name is Kathryn, I'm 24, and I have a beautiful daughter named Olivia, born in October 2007.  When I first found out I was pregnant I weighed around 175 lbs., which is pretty heavy for me, I hadn't been happy with my weight for a while.  I'm 5'6", and did a lot of physical activity althrough school, and until I got to college my heaviest was around 135 lbs.  I definitely gained the freshman 15, and kind of bounced around between 140 and 160 for a couple years, then just kept gaining without losing until I got to 175 lbs. 

 

During my pregnancy I walked a lot and for the first few months only gained about 15 lbs., but then suddenly the last 2 months I gained nearly another 15 lbs. and got up to over 200!   After Olivia was born I kept up the walking, I really enjoyed taking her around the neighborhood and on some of the trails in town, but come December it was just too cold to take her outside.  I was pretty happy because I had lost almost all of the baby weight and was fitting into my pre-pregnancy clothes again.

 

In February, my mom and I joined a gym together (she needed to get in shape for a major backpacking trip, and was paying for my membership as a Christmas/birthday gift).  I was doing really well, going to the gym 4 or 5 times a week for Aquafit or Yoga classes, and also going with my mom to do strength training and use the elliptical machines.  I didn't really lose a lot of weight, which was frustrating, but I was losing inches, and actually went down 2 sizes from what I was before I was pregnant.

 

Then in August 2008, my boyfriend, Olivia, and I moved to Olympia, Washington for school, and just because we were ready for a change.  Since then I have been so unmotivated.  We don't really know anyone here, the closest is my grandma, who lives in Seattle, which is at least an hour's drive.  I go for walks every once and a while with Olivia (if it's not raining or snowing).  I really miss going to the gym, but I can't afford to join a gym here, even the YMCA is $45 a month, which is more than we were paying for our gym membership before.  The last time I weighed myself, before Christmas, I was up to 188 lbs. 

 

I don't really have any reason to lose the weight other than not being happy with myself.  I hate looking at pictures of me, even with my daughter, which makes me sad.  I don't want to look back at her baby pictures and be depressed because I was overweight.  I would like to get back down around 150 lbs. and then see where that takes me.

Although I can relate to many of your stories, Kathryn, yours really struck a chord with me. When I became pregant with my son, his father and I moved out to a small town thinking that we would save money in rent. Unfortunately that was hardly the case, and on top of that we suffered through one of the longest and most treacherous winters we'd had in YEARS! Needless to say I was lonely and isolated, the relationship with my son's father was only become worse on top of the cabin fever, and I was working so often that I could just barely enjoy my baby boy with all of the other issues that I had to battle with.

I soon found comfort in food. Since we had little money to do anything else (I supported my whole family,) we would buy food and eat HUGE meals, then go to bed. I gained an additional 15 pounds after LOSING ten of my preg pounds. The weather hardly permitted going outdoors, and even our spring is very cold, so despite taking some walks I was so big by then and felt so unhappy that I would EAT MORE to make myself feel better.

My son's father and I are no longer together, and I moved out of that town last summer, but the experience will always be with me. Although our experiences aren't paralleled Kathryn, it really did remind me of my life. Bless you and we'll all get through this!

Lauren - posted on 01/15/2009

Welcome newcomers! I love reading everyone's stories, and I'm sure everyone else does also, so please keep them coming! We're going through a long hard winter ladies (and to those who live in the warmer climates, please think of us that don't!) But we'll stick with it!

Sarah - posted on 01/14/2009

Hey there! My name is Sarah and I am the proud wife of Jacob and the happy mother of Isabella Rose. I live in the Midwest and have now returned for my last semester in college where I will graduate (finally) with a nursing degree.

After I got married two and a half years ago, I started gaining weight and before I knew it, I had put on about twenty-five pounds. My ideal weight had always been in the 115-125lb. range and I was now 150lbs. and feeling unhealthy. When I got pregnant with Bella, I lost a whole bunch of weight due to morning sickness, but after the fifth month, I ended up gaining 75lbs. total for my pregnancy. While I lost about thirty of it right away due to water loss, I have declined so slowly, that sometimes I am putting on weight I just took off.  I have a huge belly flap and very angry looking stretch marks which I know will never fully go away, but I am hoping I can at least get down to a healthy weight again before I get pregnant again. I want my next pregnancy pictures to have that "cute pregnant woman" appeal, not the "I'm a beached whale" look!

Gelavij - posted on 01/08/2009

Hi my name is Gelavij. I live in Hawaii with my husband of 5 years and our two year old daughter. I still am 10 pounds above my pre-pregnancy weight. I have been working out, but skipped during the holidays due to all the visitors. Our family is from MN so they all like to skip the cold!!! Luckily I only gained 3 pounds. I just weighed myself today ;(. So I have a bit further to go now. My main reason to lose weight and get more fit is so that I can prepare my body for another baby and remain more active in my next pregnancy. I'm really looking forward to the support from all you other moms. It's swimsuit season all year here, so I am ready to feel sexy at the beach again!!!

Amy - posted on 01/08/2009

Hello my name is Amy and I am 27 and mother to 4. I have always struggled with my weight and have huge relatives.   After my youngest (2years ago) was born, I lost 30 lb and was down to 160.  Which is 5 lb. less then when I got married.  I wanted to lose another 10 but the economic situation hit my husbands job and my stress level escelated.  I gained 20 lb. back last year.  I was very depressed and still am. Mostly now because I gained all my weight back.  I see others losing weight and it just makes me even more depressed.

I weigh 179 this morning and am hoping til June to have lost 20 lb.   Good to know I am not the only one in this boat.

Kathryn - posted on 01/08/2009

Good morning everyone!  I hope your new years are off to a good start.  My name is Kathryn, I'm 24, and I have a beautiful daughter named Olivia, born in October 2007.  When I first found out I was pregnant I weighed around 175 lbs., which is pretty heavy for me, I hadn't been happy with my weight for a while.  I'm 5'6", and did a lot of physical activity althrough school, and until I got to college my heaviest was around 135 lbs.  I definitely gained the freshman 15, and kind of bounced around between 140 and 160 for a couple years, then just kept gaining without losing until I got to 175 lbs. 

During my pregnancy I walked a lot and for the first few months only gained about 15 lbs., but then suddenly the last 2 months I gained nearly another 15 lbs. and got up to over 200!   After Olivia was born I kept up the walking, I really enjoyed taking her around the neighborhood and on some of the trails in town, but come December it was just too cold to take her outside.  I was pretty happy because I had lost almost all of the baby weight and was fitting into my pre-pregnancy clothes again.

In February, my mom and I joined a gym together (she needed to get in shape for a major backpacking trip, and was paying for my membership as a Christmas/birthday gift).  I was doing really well, going to the gym 4 or 5 times a week for Aquafit or Yoga classes, and also going with my mom to do strength training and use the elliptical machines.  I didn't really lose a lot of weight, which was frustrating, but I was losing inches, and actually went down 2 sizes from what I was before I was pregnant.

Then in August 2008, my boyfriend, Olivia, and I moved to Olympia, Washington for school, and just because we were ready for a change.  Since then I have been so unmotivated.  We don't really know anyone here, the closest is my grandma, who lives in Seattle, which is at least an hour's drive.  I go for walks every once and a while with Olivia (if it's not raining or snowing).  I really miss going to the gym, but I can't afford to join a gym here, even the YMCA is $45 a month, which is more than we were paying for our gym membership before.  The last time I weighed myself, before Christmas, I was up to 188 lbs. 

I don't really have any reason to lose the weight other than not being happy with myself.  I hate looking at pictures of me, even with my daughter, which makes me sad.  I don't want to look back at her baby pictures and be depressed because I was overweight.  I would like to get back down around 150 lbs. and then see where that takes me.

Jenna - posted on 01/08/2009

Hi, I am 23 and mother to my darling Jake (almost 6 months). Before having my son I weighed about 58kgs (sorry im from New Zealand - dont do pounds). I have no idea how much weight I gained during pregnancy, I got back into the gym 6 weeks after having my son, and got down to 63kgs. Since moving 1 month ago to a very isolated place away from my family and friends i have put on more weight, which I would really like to lose before my wedding (21st of March 09).

I am naturally of small build, so the xtra few Kgs around my middle I feel are quite noticable. If it wasnt for my chocolate addiction I think I would be doing alot better. I would love to be motivated enough to wake up in the morning pop my son in the pram and go for a walk, but since moving away from friends and family i think i am in a bit of a slump!

And I really need to fit into my wedding dress - which I of course ordered a size to small, or my Dad really wont be happy with me!!!

Lauren - posted on 01/07/2009

Everyone, thank you so much for getting the conversation started. It sounds like we're in a familiar boat right now! Well, enough is enough of the "post-partum" weight!

Brittany - posted on 01/07/2009

Hello!! My name is Brittany. I have been married to my wonderful husband for a little over a year, We were married on Novemeber 2nd. I weighed 143 lbs then and looked really good.Weight for me has been a lifelong struggle. I am 5'4" with a larger bone structure. I had lost alot of weigh and was just starting to be happy with myself. In January I had a miscarriage and then one month later was pregnant again! In october I gave birth to my beautiful baby girl Emma. I love her so much, but I don' t love the extra weight. I weigh 163 lbs now.

I gain weight around my middle so I have some severe love handles! I also have a very unattractive muffin top when I were any jeans! I had to go to a party and that was the final straw. I decided right then and there that I would lose my baby weight and even get a little past my pre-baby weight. I want to weigh 130 lbs by September. I want to put my weight problems behind me once and for all!

Sarndra - posted on 01/07/2009

Hi well hers my story also, forgive me but I don't know what I am in pounds only kgs.  I got married in May 06 to a wonderful guy. We got married early due to me having endometriosis and having a chance of not falling pregnant at all. We weren't supposed to get married till the following year, I got down to my smallest of 76kgs and then fell pregnant a miricle 2 months after trying.  I had terrible morning sickness and lost 10kgs which put me down to 66kgs, when I could finally eat again I put on 34kgs including the weight that fell off me.  After I had Lachlan I lost 20kgs just by having him.

I have stayed at 80kg for almost 2 years now and it frustrates me I start walking and after a couple of weeks of seeing no change I quit it drives me nuts.  I went on the weight watchers site and put in my height and weight and for my height and weight I should only be 68kgs which puts me in the obese range apparantly.

So hopefully this will help me along the way.

Jessica - posted on 01/06/2009

Good evening and Happy New Years to you as well.  I think this is a great idea and am thankful for a support group in my quest for my pre-baby body.  I thought I too would share my story.

In July of 2007, I got married to the love of my life.  I was 160 lbs at my wedding, but I was in great shape.   To our great surprise, I found out I was pregnant in late August.  We were so very excited and so were both of our families due to the fact that it would be the first grandchild on both sides.  Well, around mid-September I started having some brown blood spotting.  This lasted for weeks.  Then the brown spotting turned bright red.  I went to the doctor and was told that it was possible that I could miscarry.  I lost the baby on October 2, 2007.  My husband and I were devastated. 

Well, after my miscarriage, I just gained weight like crazy.  I'm not sure if it was some sort of depression that made me gain the weight so quickly.  In December I weighed 200 lbs.  I had gained 40 lbs in 4 months.  Finding this out made me even more upset.  I knew I had to do something.  Then in mid-February I found out that I was pregnant again. 

I went to my first prenatal visit weighing in at 206.  On the day that they induced my labor (October 15, 2008), I weighed in at 256.  I had gained 50 lbs with my son.  I was optimistic about losing the weight from the pregnancy because I had chosen to breastfeed.  In the first few weeks home from the hospital I had lost close to 25-30 lbs.  Now, my son is 3 months old and I have hit a brick wall on my weight loss.  I am still breastfeeding, and I just started back to work yesterday.  I also started a workout plan that I am trying to do in the mornings. 

I am hoping the support from this group will keep me motivated to get my weight loss going!! 

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!!!