Q&A | losing the baby weight + affordable makeup
I'd love to know how you lost your baby weight after your babies. Did it take time? Did you exercise a lot? I currently do a bit of yoga but don't find the time to do much else.
I have a four year old and my second baby is now six months old. I gained 27 lbs during my pregnancy and lost 19 of it easily. I'm pretty sure that breast feeding around the clock helped! I've now plateaued and find it a real challenge to lose the last 8lbs.
Kind Regards,
Diana
Losing weight post-baby was a little different each time, and the weight was definitely slower to come off with each pregnancy. With Joshua (baby #1), I was back to my pre-pregnancy weight in a matter of weeks, but with Zoe (baby #4), I distinctly remember it taking quite a bit longer to be back to my usual size (6-8 months), even though I was doing the same things!
(with baby Joshua in 1999)
I didn't do any heroic dieting or exercise after I had my babies...I tried to eat right (read more about what that looks like in this post), and I did exclusively breastfeed all of them. I know not everyone loses weight while they're breastfeeding, but I definitely did, and I'm fairly sure my post-pregnancy weight loss would have been a lot slower otherwise.
I didn't do a whole lot in the way of formal exercise when my kids were little, aside from taking them on walks in a stroller. But taking care of a home and several small children isn't exactly a sedentary job, so I'm sure I got more exercise than I think I did. 😉
Regarding your last 8 pounds: I'm wondering if you might find those pounds easier to lose once your baby is weaned. I know some women's bodies tend to stubbornly hang onto some weight while they're breastfeeding, and they find it easier to lose those last few pounds once they're done nursing.
Regardless, I think you're doing great, considering your baby is only 6 months old, and I'd give yourself some grace for those 8 pounds. You are in an intense stage of mothering right now! As your children get older, you'll likely have more time to devote to exercise and sleep and eating right, and I'm confident you can finish losing the weight you want to lose.
I was curious about makeup. Do you wear it, what kind, how do you save money on it?
I have sensitive skin and seems I can only wear the super expensive kind.
So I usually forgo it all together.
Thanks,
Jenny
I do wear some makeup almost every day. The brands I use are totally not fancy, but since I don't have sensitive skin, they work for me. I use Cover Girl foundation, ELF face powder, and Revlon eyeliner. I have some ELF mascara that I wear occasionally (mostly because I feel like mascara is a pain to take off at night!)
Oh, and I have eyeshadow from Redeeming Beauty Minerals,(not affiliated) which I got as part of one of those ebook bundle deals. Their makeup isn't cheap, but I bet pretty much everything there would be kind to your skin, as it's a natural line of face products.
Since I'm not much help when it comes to sensitive skin products, perhaps some of my readers will chime in with affordable skin-friendly makeup ideas.
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Weight loss is such a toughie; everyone's bodies are so different! I'm not a mom yet, so I don't have much advice in this department. 🙂
As far as makeup goes, I've found that I only really use two pieces of makeup every day: mascara and lip stick. I truly believe that the best way to save money on makeup is to not wear it or limit wearing it as much as possible. I'll wear makeup throughout the week at work, but on the weekends I like to go bare-faced. With this approach I've been able to cut down on my makeup spending quite a bit!
My skin can get irritated easily, so I don't usually bother with facial creams or powders. I do have a tube of Dr. Jart's tinted BB cream for under-eye circles or pimples on rare occasions. It goes for about $40 a tube, but I only need to buy it once every year, so that's not too bad.
I've never heard of that cream! I'll have to google...
Curious what Covergirl foundation you use? thanks for answering my question! I have never worn foundation before but I wonder if I could wear it from them? I know a lot of people who wear Covergirl.
Jenny, I have skin that easily gets red and many moisturizers/foundations would actually burn when I put them on. I talked to my dermatologist, and she suggested CeraVe facial moisturizer. There is an AM version that has sunscreen and a PM version that does not. In the winter, I use both. In the summer, I usually only use the AM. https://www.amazon.com/CeraVe-Facial-Moisturizing-Lotion-PM/dp/B00DSC9YD6/ref=pd_lpo_194_tr_t_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=MAQX59TEGDD6VN7QFX4K&th=1
It isn't super cheap, but I've found that if I use it then other products I layer on top don't burn or turn my skin red so I spend less looking for the magic foundation.
thanks for the advice. My daughters with acne use that(the A.M. and the P.M.), as recommended by their dermatologist. I assumed it would be harsh for my super sensitive skin. I will try that!
That is what happens to me, it burns my skin. I wash my face with the oil cleansing method and it has helped so so much. but sadly I still cannot find a makeup I can wear. luckily I have really good skin, but I am 43 now and as I age I want a little something you know?
I second the recommendation for CeraVe. I had never heard of it until my daughter's dermatologist suggested it -- and now I find it our local drugstores. It has made a world of difference for both of us.
With both my kids (exclusively breastfeeding), I felt like my weight loss kicked in the most from the 9 to 12 month range. I got super skinny and couldn't eat enough! After both my kids, though, it seems like my weight has been distributed differently, so even though I've lost weight, some clothes no longer fit the same.
I have found that Almay products (available at WalMart, Target, etc.) work well for my sensitive skin. However, for every day, I usually just use eye liner & shadow and a bit of blush since my skin is fairly pale.
I have a girlfriend with super sensitive skin and she swears by Almay products as well...that's all she will use. Luckily there are usually coupons and good sales on this brand as well!
My skin is very sensitive too, and besides that I can't stand the feel of most makeup. I use Tarte liquid foundation. It is on the expensive side, but I don't use make up most days so the one tube I bought has lasted over a year. I use Burt's Bees moisturizer. It's hard for me to find a moisturizer that doesn't make my face flame up. It's kind of expensive, but it lasts awhile too, because a little goes a long way.
My little guy is just under 8 months old. Like the question writer, I've lost all but 5 or 10 pounds of my pregnancy weight. I don't have any tips, per say, but I've stopped getting on the scale. I eat fairly well and exercise when I can, and I don't sweat the rest of it.
That being said, not everyone is able to think like that, so one suggestion is to include your kids in your exercise routine. Pop in a workout DVD and let your toddler do it with you while baby watches. Or invest in a double jogging stroller and jog around the neighborhood or to a nearby park a few nights per week.
The All Natural Face is what I have. As it says, it's all natural. You buy it online only and is super affordable. I think I spent $30 total for foundation, eye shadow, mascara, brushes, etc. I had to start from ground zero as all my make-up had expired. My personal experience is that when I was using soap with sulfates and Mary Kay the skin on my face felt hot and bumpy. I'd recommend just avoiding products with the most common chemicals that could be irritating your skin.
I also have sensitive skin. I use foundations and lip butters from Everyday Minerals (these are the only mineral foundations that don't make my skin burn!). They have an ongoing promotion where you can buy two face products and get one free, so I order three for the price of two and all three last me about a year and half (I have hubby buy these for me at Christmas).
They are long lasting, wear well, and are completely natural products. They end up being very affordable in the long run.
I second Everyday Minerals! My skin is really sensitive, in general, I have rosacea AND I'm prone to blemishes so I have to be really, really careful about any face products and makeup that I use. My skin LOVES Everyday Minerals - I've never had a reaction to it, it doesn't cause breakouts and the coverage is really good without making me look like I'm wearing a ton of makeup. This is also the only makeup I've found that stays on during hot & sweaty summer days (I live in Texas).
You can order it online from https://www.everydayminerals.com/store/ or I recently discovered that Whole Foods also carries it.
My skin is sensitive as well. I have had luck with Mary Kay. I've used it my whole life (dabbled in others, but just didn't like them as well). I don't wear it every single day as I like to give my skin a break, but I love it. Some people think it's costly, I think it's affordable, when compared to others out there and how little you need. I use their liquid foundation and one bottle typically lasts me 6-9 months, depending on how much I'm using it.
My wife weighed less when my daughter was born that she did pre-pregnancy. Her secret was her body didn't want her to eat anything. I know it's not helpful, it's just another sign that everyone is different, I guess.
Oh, baby weight. Breast feeding did nothing for my baby weight. It took forever to lose for me, but they were worth it 🙂 I'm still working on losing the last of my "baby weight" from my last biological baby (7 YEARS old... yipes), but I also just found out I have a thyroid issue. So there's that. I found cutting out refined sugar did wonders for my body as well.
As far as makeup, I use Melaleuca skin care and cosmetics. I don't wear a whole lot of makeup, but when I do, I want something that is not going to seep chemicals into my skin (given my thyroid issue and a few other hormonal disruptions, I am super weird about what goes on my skin... because it absorbs into your bloodstream in about 30 seconds!) And it's very affordable. I can give you more details if you want them.
I love the Melaleuca products I've used...the laundry soap was fantastic.
I have sensitive skin and allergies so make-up has always been a challenge for me. A decent drug store brand is Almay. When I started developing allergies to Almay I switched to Clinique and have been using it since I was 18 and now 46. With it I ask for it as a gift for Xmas and stick with colors that work for my tone.
Oh, baby weight. I lost most of my weight after my first baby fairly quickly, but the last six pounds took a year to lose. Since my hips had stretched out a great deal, even with only six pounds difference in weight, I had to wear pants that were two sizes larger than the pre-pregnancy size, for a year. I nursed her and watched my portions very carefully, and finally, my hips tightened back up, so I could wear my old clothes again, but as I said, it took a full year.
I was prepared with that second one to go that route again, and I had my "big hips" clothes ready and waiting. My oldest was a busy three year old and I babysat a two-year old through my pregnancy, and my hips didn't loosen up like before. Maybe that was the difference, but to my surprise, I was back in all of my old clothes -- including ones I wore before the first baby -- only three weeks after the second baby. All I can say is, watch how much you eat and give it time.
Makeup -- I wear powder mineral makeups that are free of the bad chemicals. It does cost more, but it doesn't clog my skin, helps protect it from the sun, and feels better than the heavy liquids and pancakes. I also will only buy cruelty-free makeup, but there are actually a lot of them around, although not often at drugstores. I downloaded the free Leaping Bunny app and I can shoot the bar code with my phone to find out if that product is cruelty-free or not.
I'm very much not a joiner, but I finally joined a Facebook challenge group to kickstart losing baby weight. In six weeks (just ended a week ago), my body shed about a third of the weight that it had retained over the span of five kids in eight years. I'm hoping that just paying better attention will help — I'm sure that's why the challenge worked when nothing else did.
I recently discovered ELF cosmetics and have been pleased with them. Periodically they offer bonus gift packs when you order $15 worth online. Recently I got a mineral facial spray that I love free this way. You can't beat their prices.
Honeybee gardens is a great affordable more natural makeup. I have very sensitive skin and have never had an issue with their products. You can order it from vitacost. They have great refund policies if it doesn't work out and their shipping is very fast.
Just before reading this blogpost, I was thinking about losing my baby weight and reminding myself to be more generous. I'm 8 months(ish) postpartum with my second child (21 months apart), and that weight is stubborn! I lost a good bit in the first 3 weeks, then I started gaining weight, which made me so mad. Once I started each child on solids, I started losing a bit more. With my first baby, that was enough to get me almost to pre-pregnancy size, but with this kid, I'm still 10ish pounds off. It's frustrating. But the past two weeks, I've been focusing on enjoying my children and their antics because I won't get this time back. I really don't want to look back 10 years from now and wish I had spent more time making memories with them and less time consumed by my weight. I'm eating (mostly) well, and my health isn't suffering right now; it's just my vanity that's taken a blow. In these past two weeks, I have found that when I enjoy my kids and my life, I am less bothered by my weight. I'm realizing that while it would be nice to be my pre-pregnancy size, that isn't what will ultimately bring me great joy and delight.
Good for you, Kaitlin! You have the right attitude about what is important in life. Having a child and supporting a life for ~9 months (and longer, if exclusively breastfeeding) is a huge thing and our bodies have to accommodate for that--we can't expect to bounce back immediately, if ever. Our lives have changed forever so it only makes sense that our bodies may have changed forever, as well. It is just a matter of adjusting to a new normal. Healthy eating habits and acceptance of one's body is very important for modeling to your children especially when they get to the age when body image is becoming important...
Well said.
I have a 2 1/2 year old and a 2 month old. Remember that it took 9 whole months to put on the weight. You need patience and grace in addition to eating right and regular exercise. (Breastfeeding did/does nothing for my weight loss. Boo.) It took me well over a year to lose the baby weight the first time and adding in regular exercise made a huge difference - I didn't do that until my baby was about 9 months old. Then I was even able to lose an additional 8! I know it's hard and frustrating. I wish you the best!
My friend lost her baby weight by turning everyday activities into exercises. Need to pick up things from the floor? Either bend from the waist as in toe touching or do squats. Need to dust? Do stretching and twisting as part of the process. Etc. Plus, just lifting baby multiple times a day acts as weight lifting, especially when you lift the child above your head, with increasing weight coming naturally. No extra time needed.
I nurse my babies until close to two, though the frequency drops off a lot after a year. I feel like my weight goes way down because of nursing during the second year. And personally, I really enjoy nursing in the second year. But what's right for one isn't necessarily right for another, so don't stress about it and be kind to yourself whatever you choose.
My second baby is 8 months, and I just reached my pre-pregnancy weight. I gained 40 lbs with each baby, so I was anxious to lose afterward. I'm too cheap to buy new pants when I'm planning to lose the weight anyway, so I just parked myself in my yoga pants 🙂
There were times when I was losing and times when I wasn't. When I was losing, I was walking 2-3 miles per day or watching
portion sizes.
I've tried not to stress about weight around this time, though. The priority has been hitting the nutritional bases so that I grew a healthy baby during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and so that I have enough energy to feel well and take care of my little ones.
Some of it, like the little belly pooch, has never gone away.
I nursed all three children. My age at each birth seemed to have made a difference with the weight loss and how I felt after delivery. I gained more weight after delivering the second baby than I did while pregnant. I had some really bad nursing advise. I ate doughnuts constantly. Yes, I know !!!! I was told my body was craving the fat to supply the baby with milk. hahaha. Really. not so funny. I really had to cut out all the junk in my life to get back down. Took a couple years. I have now found that I need to change my makeup routine due to many aging changes. I currently am unable to wear any makeup due to facial surgeries. I think the first of the year I will experiment with Clinique. I really have splotchy complexion and could use a recommendation. I like long lasting coverage that doesn't smear/wipe off.
Cracking up at the doughnut advice! I mean, our bodies can actually make milk from doughnuts, but I'm not sure that's the ideal fuel. Ha.
At least you know better now. 😉
I gained about 40 pounds with each of my two kids. One was bottle-fed and the other breast-fed, and my weight loss was the same with each. I would try not to worry about the numbers, and just do your best to eat well and stay active in a general day-to-day sort of way.
Personally I save money on cosmetics by not wearing any, altough I know not everyone would be comfortable with that option.
That's so interesting to hear!
I'd always assumed the breastfeeding was making me lose weight, because at the end of a year of breastfeeding, I was usually a bit underweight, and that corrected itself once I stopped nursing. But I'd never done a side by side comparison like you did!
My experience: losing the baby weight gets harder with each baby, probably because we are older. My first I lost all the weight immediately. I was young! My second, I started training for a marathon while breastfeeding exclusively and that also turned out to torch extra weight. My third, not so much. Fourth, I got back to my high school weight by cutting out almost all carbs. But it turns out I like carbs (especially beer and chocolate) so a lot of it came back on. Oh well.
This made me smile. Yay beer and chocolate! Also baked goods ... .
Gained 29 pounds during pregnancy #1. Already had lost 22 pounds by the time I got back home.
Second pregnancy I gained 26 pounds and came back home having lost 8 pounds.... and my baby was 9 pounds! Go figure!
Did nothing different between the two. So I think a big part is just luck, honestly. And once the first few months are passed, then it's all about diet exercice and SLEEP. And, as mothers of newborns, sleep is often elusive, so the weight tend to stick around for a bit!
I have sensitive skin and tend to get adult breakouts and have found ELF to be a great brand. I don't like their eyeliner though and use Rimmel for that.
Birchbox is also great at giving me the chance to try high end products for $10 a month. Lots of organic items if you list it as a preference. What I like most about Birchbox is it keeps me from spending $20 on trying products one or two products a month and instead I get to try 4-5 products a month.
So with all of my children I'd lose weight rapidly until I got to within 5-10 pounds of my previous weight. No matter what I did, how I ate, how much I ran or lifted-it stayed until they hit 2-3 years. And then it came off, without fail
Makeup ... I have sensitive skin and can't stand most products. I use Organic Wear tinted moisturizer and Physician's Formula blush when I feel like being "fancy", and I'd like to find an eyeliner that doesn't irritate (no success thus far), but mainly I am bare-faced. I prefer wearing outlandish jewelry, honestly
Erm! I'm still trying to get back to pre pregnancy size. Baby is 41! I guess it can take a while!! 🙂
Now, that is very funny!
My skin is super sensitive, I have a hard time with even sun screens. I use Mary Kay night cream , it is water based. During the day I use it very sparingly under the sun screen. Everything else makes my eyes swell practically shut. I use mascara from Ulta , it is their brand & usually only when going out. I use tinted moisturizer over the Mary Kay & Avon eye pencils for my brows as a fill in. I was 1 with 24 hour morning sickness so I gain very little weight with any of my 3 babies.