Why is this weight not coming off?!

Losing the baby weight is hard! Sure, a lot comes off when we first have the baby. The body starts to return to a non-pregnant state. But then we hit a stall out phase. The breastfeeding is no longer helping to drop the lbs. So, you start increasing your workouts from a walk with friends and a coffee to adding in a jog or elliptical once or twice a week. Still nothing. So, you run a bit longer, or add in another session.

Jane on Facebook says she does these high intensity workouts and the weight is melting off of her. She has lost all the baby weight and then some. You sign up for a class and get your butt kicked. I must be out of shape. You commit to the one-month challenge and dedicate yourself to this. You will do it! You are starting to feel a little stronger, a little less winded in the class, but the weight is still bugging you. The scale is dropping ever so slightly, but this pudge around your midsection is not budging (except when you do the burpees… it moves around a lot during the burpees).

What gives?! You are busting your ass at the gym. You are sweating buckets, tired & sore. The workouts have to be working, you are going 4-5 times a week minimum.

Here is the problem. Your hormones are out of whack. You are stressed, not sleeping, not eating right for your goals, and not resting adequately. It is so much more than just working out to lose weight. Especially fat after baby. Let’s face it, we aren’t getting any younger, we know it is going to get harder to drop the chub. But you didn’t expect it to be so hard all of the sudden. You for sure didn’t expect the weight to start creeping up! This is normal after having a baby, it sucks, but it is very common for moms to be depleted and not able to bounce back the way they hoped.

What can you do? Have a look at your workouts… are they leaving you feeling exhausted or energized? Do they pump you up or leave you deflated? If your workouts are too intense for too long or to frequently, your body will take that cortisol spike and hang onto it. Cortisol (our stress hormone) is great in small doses and if we are able to clear it out. But if we are constantly stressing our bodies/mind/spirit and not giving them a chance to rest, relax and recharge, that cortisol can linger and do some damage.

Ask yourself, are your workouts working for or against you right now?