r/postpartumprogress

I gained a lot in pregnancy and the scale just kept going up. One of my favorite moments was in month 9 stepping on the scale and it saying 90 something and the nurse saying “that’s in kilograms btw” lolll I very much did not believe I was under 100 pounds. Anyways, breastfeeding and chasing around a baby definitely help. Trying to stay active and also focus on building muscle and building back my core have been huge priorities. It took postpartum for me to realize I don’t think I ever was doing ab exercises correctly and engaging my transverse abdominals. Anyways if anyone is currently in weeks 35-40 of pregnancy and feeling real swollen, I promise it will go down!!

This was not a quick bounce back 😂 It took 2.5 years to lose +90lbs through diet and chasing a toddler, June of this year I finally got back to the gym with functional strength training and feel (almost) as good as I did pre pregnancy!

I've never had a cute bellybutton, so I wasn't shocked to see it change postpartum with loose skin. But I am now 3 months pp with my second and this triangle shape annoys me.

I have 1 finger ab separation, no diastasis recti according to physio (it's firm).Working on getting my core strength back slowly but surely.

Has anyone had something similar? Did it ever go back to "normal" or is this my new normal?

Thanks a lot!

The important thing to remember is that you can do it at all.

7 months between the upper left and bottom right. I haven’t been brutally strict, but I’ve been consistently trying for a healthier lifestyle. Although progress is slow, it’s present! You guys got this!!

First picture is now at 12 weeks postpartum compared to my legs this time last year, before I was pregnant 😞 I’ve lost a lot of my pregnancy weight.. mainly on my upper body and yet my thighs and calves are still much bigger than they ever were before. I’ve always had naturally thin legs that I used to like about myself (despite many other insecurities!) so I just cannot get used to my legs feeling thicker like this. I’m breastfeeding and had an emergency c section. Is it likely that my legs are going to stay like this now that I’ve had a baby? I feel like if it was fluid retention it would be long gone by now.

I was talking to my fiance right now about how I’ve been feeling SO much more confident with the appearance of my stomach now that I started working out again (I took 6 months off due to a back Injury). I just got back into the gym 2 weeks ago but prior to those 2 weeks I’ve been doing deep core workouts. I didn’t realize how massive of a difference it’s made until I found the top picture. Like WHAT. I was literally about to drop several thousands on a tummy tuck because it was weighing so heavily on me. Like seriously I was crying all the time because I hated my stomach. Then I told myself you know what I’m going to give myself 2-3 more years I’m going to try toning up my stomach working out and then in 2-3 years if I still don’t feel happy then I’ll get the tummy tuck. Several people online told me the only way to fix my belly button and the surrounding skin that I despised was a tummy tuck but I’ve been able to achieve a noticeable difference just working out and I’ve been using tretinoin as well. Just wanted to share a small win I’ve made! I’m still going to continue working out my core and abs and I’ll see how far I can get. The goal is abs but that’s going to take awhile lol I cut down 20lbs now I’m 115lbs and going into a recomp/maintenance to grow muscle and lose fat.

As the title says, I have 6 kids. I want to preface this with my youngest is now 10 and I did always stay active BUT it doesn't negate what I am about to say:

1. Give yourself grace. Unless you are shelling out lots of money or have the freakish genetics, we will NEVER be EXACTLY how we were before kids. There will he differences. Not bad. Not weak. Not ugly. Just...different. We carried a whole-ass HUMAN y'all!!!! So wear that pride. Yea it's easier said than done. And some days, you'll still pick apart your appearance in the mirror, and say shit things to yourself, and obsess over the IGer or celebrity who seemed to bounce back, or even put money aside for that surgery (ask me how I know lol). But it's a practice.

2. Give yourself TIME. Raising little kids is hard AF. And while I was active and moderately in shape, I simply could not devote the necessary time to my training for AESTHETICs until they were older. I had to fit in those workouts early on for function and internal health. And that's ok!

Now at 40, I compete. Yes, I get on stage, mom bod and all and willingly get judged lmao! Am I assuming tight as the youngins? NOPE. But I put in effort and time and throughout all those years, and still now, practice gratitude for the POWER beyond "looks" that my body can do. It's pretty cool.

Take it slow. Do exercises that make sense for where you are RIGHT NOW in life. Be grateful you have this vessel and mind and heart that can do soo much

Cheesy but yea 🩷

I have been working out from 7 weeks PP at least twice a week and eating at maintenance until I stopped breastfeeding. Honestly, I saw the biggest drop in weight when I stopped breastfeeding in July. I feel better, I still feel very overweight when I look in the mirror but I was overweight when I got pregnant! Started at 95kg and now at 83kg. I am also tired of seeing these insane 3 month transformation pics. I am really trying to do this slowly ans sustainably so that I start off better when we hopefully get pregnant again. I am 167 cm tall.

The first photo is 7 weeks pp, second is 6 weeks pp.

The past two days I look soo much bigger especially in my rib area. Any idea what could cause this? (Not bloated this is first thing in the morning)

I started doing diaphragmatic breathing, heel slides and glute bridges a week and a half ago. Two days ago I increased to leg lifts side lying, and trying out dead bugs heel taps which were really hard.

First picture is 8 months post partum and second picture is one year post partum. I run a few times a week but mainly have changed my eating habits. I have way more energy and can play with my kids more comfortably, which is ultimately what matters to me.

I wish I would have taken a proper "before" photo but I just wasn't comfortable with that.

Also, I've erased some of my tattoos, which is why my thigh and arm look the way they do.

I absolutely HATE my body. I’m going to be 3 weeks postpartum tomorrow. The weight gain doesn’t even really bother me, as I’ve been “bigger” my whole youth. However, these stretch marks and wrinkly looking stomach have me hating myself x1,000,000,000.

Why are they so prominent. Why. I know they get lighter over time. But the texture. I can’t stand to look at myself. Before I got pregnant I felt semi attractive. That has all flew out the window.

My husband says he still finds me attractive. He is very sweet about everything to do with my appearance but I just can’t seem to feel any sort of confidence at all. I can’t even bring myself to kiss him much or anything.

I don’t want to neglect him because of my own insecurities. I’m a ftm and I haven’t started working out or anything. I’m under the assumption I can’t until my 6 week checkup. I do the little core tightening exercises like but that’s really it. I’m exclusively pumping too so that’s also a new thing I found out I hate about myself.

The enlarged nipples and areola. How they constantly leak. Yes I have nipple covers but still. Just how different they look. How different I am now.

When did you all start working out? Please someone tell me this will get better. I’ve seen people getting the laser treatment to reduce the stretch marks. At this point in my mind I’d spend any amount of money to try and feel somewhat appealing. However, I know I have a long ways to go before I could even get that done.

Did anyone also feel this way? I just can’t bare to look at myself and it’s taking a toll on my mental. I love my daughter so much and I’m so amazed at what my body created. But, I hate the result of what it has done to myself.

I want to buy cute clothes, it’s so hot where I live, I want to wear short shirts again. I want to lay out while my husband and stepdaughter play at the pool. I can’t even imagine what I’d be like to wear a bikini. I don’t know how long I’m going to hate myself.

I just hope it’s not forever.