I Gained Over 40lbs While Pregnant - Here's How I Lost the Weight
As I watch my baby boy squirm around his crib and blow bubbles with his lips while he drifts off to sleep, I can’t help but ask myself, “where has the time gone?” Our once 5lb snuggly baby has turned into a little boy with a personality and legs that can propel him across our rug in .2 seconds.
With his 6 month mark coming up just around the corner, I am amazed by how much has changed since we left the hospital with him in my arms. The mental and physical shifts of becoming a new Mom have been constant and, at times, surprising.
I shared in a previous post that I gained over 40lbs while pregnant. To be honest, I was anticipating gaining about 25lbs throughout my pregnancy, so the weight gain caught me a little off guard. Although I loved my bump and was constantly in awe of my body stretching to nourish this life inside me, I couldn’t deny that I was also excited to get my petite frame back post-birth.
At 24 weeks postpartum, I feel confident in saying that I am the best shape I’ve ever been. I am currently 4lbs heavier than I was pre-pregnancy, but I feel stronger and healthier than ever. With my new body came a new appreciation for how it has supported me through every phase of my pregnancy and postpartum journey.
Without further ado, today I’m breaking down exactly how I lost 40 pounds through mindset, diet, and exercise. I’m also sharing some never before seen, unfiltered postpartum selfies (hospital undies and all).
Let’s get started.
Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that everyone’s body is unique. The food and lifestyle that helps me feel my best may not be the same for you. By no means do I intend for this post to be something that you follow line by line or that makes you feel guilty. In short, take what works for you and leave the rest.
After watching my older sister go through 4 pregnancies and wind up on the other end even more in shape than she had been before, I adapted the mindset early on that I could do the same. I also read and listened to a lot of podcasts about postpartum, so I felt like I had a good grasp on my expectations going into his birth.
When we left the hospital on the 3rd day after London was born, I wasn’t at all surprised that I still had a belly that looked pregnant.
During my pregnancy, I vowed to give myself grace throughout my postpartum journey. I was not expecting to “bounce back” and fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans right away. My goal was to be in better shape post-birth than I had been pre-pregnancy, but I knew that would take time, consistency, patience, discipline, and self-love.
15 Quick Tips:
Give yourself a grace period
Breastfeed (or pump) if you can
Ease your way back into exercise with walks or 10 minute workout videos
Workout while in a fasted state
Put on workout clothes first thing in the morning
Make a set eating window (mine was 12pm - 8pm)
Focus on eating whole fruits, vegetables, and protein
Reduce your grain and dairy intake
Don’t go crazy with weekly “cheat” meals, instead indulge in a little dessert every night (like a couple pieces of dark chocolate or fresh berries with oat milk whipped cream)
Save alcohol for special occasions only
Make a weekly meal plan on Sundays
Get your thyroid checked (and balanced, if necessary)
Recruit a friend or family member to be your accountability partner
Set a special event or “deadline” to look forward to
Never skip a Monday workout (it sets the precedent for the rest of the week)
Mindset
Above all, be patient, consistent, and kind to yourself. My priority post-birth was not to lose weight; it was to bond with my baby and adjust to life as a new Mom. Give yourself a grace period when you get home from the hospital; no one is expecting you to look like a Victoria Secret model with a 1-month old baby in your arms.
Appreciate your body for everything it has been through and for bringing a child into the world first and foremost.
From personal experience, I’ve learned that hating my body and “punishing” it has never gotten me to a good place mentally or physically.
Instead, respecting my body was a mindset shift that allowed me to stop restricting calories, binge eating, and skipping workouts. Now, everything I do - from the healthy food I eat to my workout for the day - is because I value my body and want to keep it happy and healthy.
The thing I was most shocked by throughout my postpartum journey is that my weight loss was extremely inconsistent. Within the first two weeks of being home, I felt like I was losing weight quicker than I had anticipated. Naively, I thought at that point the weight loss would continue consistently until I was back at my pre-pregnancy weight. “Easy peasy; I must just have really great genes”, I thought.
Spoiler alert: this is not what happened.
I lost about 20lbs (half of the weight gained) within the first month of giving birth by breastfeeding, baby-wearing, walking, and eating somewhat clean. The remaining 20lbs, however, were stubborn as a hell. I’m convinced that had I not made the decision to really, fully commit to losing the weight, it would have happily stuck around.
There were weeks that my scale hardly budged (or didn’t at all) regardless of how disciplined I was. This is when a positive mindset is key. Don’t allow yourself to get discouraged and give up; keep in mind that your weight may fluctuate for reasons beyond your control (or you may be gaining muscle).
I found that progress photos and the fit of certain clothes were helpful for me to keep my motivation strong during those difficult weeks.
My goal before trying to conceive with our 2nd baby was to lose the weight gained and feel fit and confident so I could fully enjoy another healthy pregnancy. This and, vanity, let’s be honest, were my motivating factors that fueled the discipline I needed to get where I am.
I told Sam throughout my pregnancy that I wanted to be a “hot Mom” and that I didn’t want to use this transition as an excuse to let myself go or stop prioritizing things that made me feel good. I realize that that may sound silly and shallow, but it’s just the truth.
When I feel confident and sexy in my body, I am a happier person which makes me a better wife and Mom, so it’s really a win-win.
Diet
My diet is unique due to my Hashimoto’s disease and Hypothyroidism diagnosis. However, I believe that the AIP (auto immune protocol) can be helpful for anyone because it is essentially just an anti-inflammatory diet. Most people have a negative response to the foods that this protocol cuts out and don’t realize it until it is removed from their diet anyway.
Note: I highly recommend getting your thyroid checked with your primary doctor, OBGYN, or an Endocrinologist post-birth. Even if you did not have any issues prior, pregnancy and postpartum can throw off your thyroid significantly and make it extremely difficult to lose weight (in addition to increasing your chance of postpartum depression, anxiety, and hair loss).
Here is a cookbook breaking down AIP and providing a guide to removing the foods from your diet (and reintroducing safely if you can): The Hashimoto's AIP Cookbook: Easy Recipes for Thyroid Healing on the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol
To put it simply, I eat whole fruits, vegetables, proteins, and nuts. I avoid processed foods, fast food, dairy, grains, eggs, and alcohol. I eat at home 6/7 days per week. I never count calories/macros or measure my food and I eat until I feel full (not stuffed).
I use the 80/20 rule for my diet meaning that I eat strictly Hashimoto’s-friendly foods Mon-Fri and have a meal or two that is off my diet on Saturdays and/or Sundays. Like I said previously though, I don’t recommend overindulging in “cheat meals” while trying to lose weight because you’ll be consistently setting yourself back from reaching your goals.
For example: Many of the meals I would enjoy on the weekends would have 1 or 2 ingredients that are off my diet (a high-quality ciabatta bread instead of a lettuce wrap or adding parmesan cheese onto my homemade Champagne chicken dish), as opposed to, say, a McDonald’s double cheeseburger and fries.
In regards to alcohol, since giving birth I have only had drinks a handful of times. When I decided that I really wanted to buckle down and lose the weight, I quit drinking all together. In my opinion, cutting out those extra calories in a glass of wine or cocktail, in addition to reducing your bad judgement for snacking when under the influence, helps you lose weight much quicker.
That’s not to say that I won’t be having a drink here and there moving forward. I simply wanted to reach my goals before adding alcohol back in for special occasions like date nights, holidays, and vacation.
Now, let’s quickly cover intermittent fasting since I know that’s a hot topic whenever I discuss my approach to overall wellness. I wrote about this in depth when I shared my experience with IF 2 years ago. I broke down how I got into it, tips for beginners, and the science behind how it can support a healthy lifestyle. Read my full blog post here: My Experience with Intermittent Fasting.
Since I obviously did not fast while pregnant and wanted to ensure that my milk supply was established before reintroducing any type of schedule, I waited until I was 12 weeks postpartum to begin IF again. I started by fasting from 8pm-10am and slowly extended my fast until 12pm (where I am now). I do not have plans to extend further because I am still breastfeeding and I feel great with where I’m at so I don’t see any need for a longer fasting window.
Fasting gives me incredible, natural energy and focus, allows my body and digestion to have a full “reset” each day, and makes me more mindful of my hunger cues and cravings rather than eating out of habit.
Example of What I Eat in a Day:
9am: Black coffee, water
12pm: Kettle & Fire bone broth, a couple scoops of Kimchi
1pm: Smoothie (1 frozen banana, handful of frozen berries, handful of spinach, 1 pitted date, scoop of unflavored collagen peptides, spoonful of chia seeds, 1 cup of unsweetened macadamia milk)
2pm: Handful of grain-free Siete sea salt tortilla chips with traditional ‘Roots’ hummus, handful of green grapes, 1 clementine
3pm: Matcha with unsweetened vanilla coconut milk and coconut sugar
5pm: Lemon ginger kombucha
7pm: Homemade pizza (Keto grain-free crust, olive oil, grilled chicken, balsamic glaze, goat cheese crumbles, sliced figs, rosemary, arugula)
745pm: Bowl of fresh berries with oat milk whipped cream, sprinkle of grain-free granola on top
For more meal and snack ideas, read What I Eat in a Week (Postpartum).
my first post-workout selfie that I sent to my accountability partner
Exercise
Confession: I have never in my life wanted to work out.
I’m not one of those people who just “has” to go to the gym or loves a 5 mile run. Truly, I’d much rather snuggle up on the couch with a plate of cheese fries topped with pickled jalapeños and extra crunchy bacon while I binge-watch the latest Bachelor in Paradise season.
That being said, I’m intelligent enough to know that if I choose that path, I’m not going to have the body or healthy lifestyle that I want. So, while I’ve never been overly excited about doing a workout video or 20 minutes of cardio, I choose to be disciplined and follow through with what I know is best.
However, I do feel like there is a difference between “wanting” to workout and now, after consistently sticking to a set exercise schedule, being used to it in my routine. I no longer feel like I’m resisting or dreading it (90% of the time, at least).
Ok, let’s get down to the specifics since I know that’s what you came here for.
making my workouts happen even when London wakes up unexpectedly from his nap
Since I had a generally pain-free birth experience, my doctor cleared me to walk immediately when I was discharged from the hospital. He actually encouraged me to get outside at least once a day and walk with my stroller, even if it was only for 30 minutes. So, that’s how my postpartum exercise began. I was walking with my stroller (very slowly and casually) for about 30-60 minutes a few times per week.
Aside from walking, because London hated to be put down as a baby, I was CONSTANTLY wearing him in my baby carrier. Bouncing, swaying, and walking with his extra weight was a major factor in toning my legs and getting rid of the extra bloat down there.
Once I hit the 6-week mark where I was cleared to start working out, I was more intentional with my walks and would go twice, sometimes three times per day, (while I was on maternity leave) and do more of a power-walk pace.
I didn’t begin adding in traditional workouts until I was 12 weeks postpartum. At that point, I decided that if I wanted to speed up my weight loss, I needed to dedicate myself to a real schedule.
Side note: I work a full-time corporate job from home, care for my baby full-time, and run a freelance business. So, if I have time to squeeze in a workout, I promise you do too. Whether that means I workout during one of London’s naps, with him playing on the ground in front of me, with him strapped to my chest, or at night once Sam gets home, I make it a priority no matter what.
Here’s what it looked like for weeks 12-18 postpartum:
Monday: Abs, Wednesday: Arms, Friday: Legs
Each free Youtube video (linked above) is a 10 minute workout and something I knew I could stick to that would be easy to fit into my schedule.
Then, after not skipping a single workout for 6 weeks, I decided to add in 10 minutes of cardio on my elliptical. I did this slowly, beginning with 1 day per week (Fridays) in addition to my 10 minute workout.
Then, after not skipping a single workout for a few more weeks like that (see the pattern I’m getting at here?), I decided to add 20 minutes of cardio on my elliptical to 2 days per week, then 3 days per week.
I never wanted to overwhelm myself with a ton of exercise at once because I knew that I would resist it to the point of giving up. That’s why I started with so little (just 10 minutes per day) and worked my way up.
Here’s what my workouts look like currently at 24 weeks postpartum:
Monday: Abs and 20 minutes on the elliptical, Wednesday: Arms and 20 minutes on the elliptical, Friday: Legs and 20 minutes on the elliptical
During the week now, I also add in a 45-60 minute power walk outside with London in the stroller whenever the weather is nice.
Lastly, I think it’s important to note that I never missed a workout, no matter how badly I didn’t want to do it. My theory is that if you skip 1 workout, you’re much more likely to continue skipping and eventually fall off the wagon all together.
My tips for keeping this promise to yourself: always workout on a Monday (it sets the precedent for the week), don’t schedule workouts on the weekend (feels too much like a chore, plus my schedule is always changing/more hectic on weekends), get dressed in workout clothes first thing in the morning (even if you’re not going to exercise until hours later), and workout in a fasted state (this is when I have the most energy and also when my body burns stubborn fat faster).
Accountability Partner
Do NOT underestimate the power of having an accountability partner throughout your weight loss journey. This and having a deadline to look forward to (our first family vacation) was absolutely instrumental in kicking my butt into gear.
My sister in law and I were chatting when I was 12 weeks postpartum and still had about 16lbs left to lose. She felt like she was in need of some motivation on her fitness journey as well and we were planning a family vacation together a few months later. So, we decided that we would keep each other accountable via daily text messages and use our vacation as a countdown to have a goal to look forward to.
Since that day, we have been in constant communication while sharing our up’s and down’s, cheering each other on, and sending photos of our success and milestones.
Knowing that someone else was counting on me and that I had to send photo proof that I had completed my workout for the day, meal planned for the week, and in general, was making healthy decisions, was so helpful.
I highly recommend taking this route if you have a friend or family member on the same journey as you. Think of it as a team effort and you’ll feel less alone in the highs and lows of it all. Choose someone that you trust to stay motivated with you, uplift you when you’re feeling defeated, and celebrate the ‘wins’ beside.
Note for vacations:
Lastly, my mindset on vacation or while traveling for holidays is “nothing is off limits”. I allow myself to indulge in alcohol and whatever food I want. I don’t binge eat and I still tend to fast naturally from 8pm-12pm most days, but I’ll have a sugary cocktail and a latte at the same time for lunch as an example, or order a decadent chocolate brownie sundae for dessert while out.
This allows me to thoroughly enjoy myself with friends and family during special occasions and not stress about my diet or squeezing in a workout. It may temporarily set me back from reaching my health goals, but in the long term it works well for me. I give myself that break and inevitability it winds up showing me how bloated and sluggish those things make me feel.
My biggest tip if you are going to do this is to have a total “reset” the day after you return home from vacation. Think of it as a “detox”; I usually do a longer fast this day and break with a diet that is extra clean and nourishing (bone broth, kimchi, kombucha, green smoothie, etc). I also highly recommend doing a workout on the same day even though you most likely won’t feel like it.
Doing these things is like ripping off the bandaid and jumping back into your goals rather than risking a prolonged break or falling off the wagon all together.
Phew. That was a long one. I know that many of you have been waiting for this post and I wanted to make sure that I didn’t leave out any important details in my postpartum journey. Some weeks it felt like nothing I did moved the needle or my progress was so minuscule that I barely noticed, but looking back I truly see how every little decision added up and brought me to my goal.
Remember throughout your journey that consistency is key and being kind to your body is the best way to make positive, long-lasting changes. I want this post to serve as inspiration for you as you navigate your health and fitness goals. If you have any questions about the topics I shared in this post, want me to dive into specifics, or simply need someone to cheer you on, my Instagram DMs are always open for a chat!
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Want more postpartum-related posts? Check out What I Eat in a Week (Postpartum).
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xo Anna Elizabeth