How to Lose Weight After a Twin Pregnancy

Losing weight after a twin pregnancy is a serious challenge. When my twins were born I was so excited to reclaim my body. Months of bedrest, insane food requirements, and constant pain were rough. I was ready to have my body back to myself. It was getting a bit crowded with the three of us. I knew I was going to have some work to do to get my body back but what I didn’t count on was how changed I would feel.

I’ve never really had a problem with my weight but suddenly I’m considered plus sized. Strangers are rubbing my belly and asking when my baby is due. The weight just isn’t gradually coming off like it has with my other pregnancies . . . actually I’ve had to fight not to put more weight on since my metabolism has changed so drastically.

It’s discouraging. I’ve been tempted to give up more than a few times since my twins were born.

I have never considered myself a runner. It’s just never been my thing. Nothing I tried was working though so I’ve started running . . . slowly. Very slowly.

The first time I went running I barely made it to the end of my driveway. The second time, I tried running at the gym and just about bounced off the treadmill trying to keep up.

But I kept running. A little bit more each day. I won’t win any races but I’m slowly gaining steam and running for longer stretches each time (although if races are your thing you should check out the fun things Zappos is doing for the Bay to Breakers race in San Francisco). The reasons I’ve kept running have surprised me a bit though.

Sure, I want to be skinny. Telling people who want to rub my belly that no, I’m not actually pregnant is getting old. But more than that, I want to get back to being me. My health took a serious blow with the twins. I get tired easily now. I don’t have the strength that I’d like to have. I want to be healthy and have the energy to enjoy my kids.

So I run. And every step that I run, no matter how slowly, makes me feel like I’m running towards a healthier future.

To date, I actually haven’t lost any weight. I feel like I need to start with that. It seems like my body has dug it’s heels in and refused to drop a single pound once I lost that initial bit of weight after delivery so if you are looking for a feel-good story about how to fit into a size 6 after twins . . . this isn’t it.  I’m realizing more and more though, my weight loss journey isn’t just about weight. Right now I’m concentrating on getting stronger and developing good habit. I’m confident that the weight loss will come when my body gets around to letting go of those extra pounds.

So, coming from a non-runner to a wanna-be runner, 

here are my tips for getting into a good fitness routine after twins:

Just start moving. It’s funny how the more you move, the more you want to move.  I find myself craving activity now, even on those days when I don’t get much sleep (which is pretty much every day right now). Those days when I’m just too tired to do anything, I know that I’ll get a boost of energy if I just get out there and start running . . . even if it’s only to the mailbox.

Run to recharge. I don’t focus on how much weight I’m going to lose while I’m exercising. That doesn’t motivate me in the moment. I run as a way to get out my frustrations and work through the stress. I run for strength. I run for the courage to get through another crazy day as a work at home, homeschooling, mom to 6 kids. My life is hectic and that time I get to escape for a bit helps me recharge, especially when I get to run while looking at some beautiful scenery — the beach is my favorite escape.

Run for you. I want to be skinny, sure, but ultimately that’s not what motivates me. I didn’t gain much weight during my pregnancy, mostly because I was so sick, but I have a leftover belly and almost no muscle. That happens when you carry 12+ pounds of baby. When I run I run for me. That means I focus on enjoying being in the moment and focus on feeling strong.

Listen to your body. Any pregnancy is hard on your body. A twin pregnancy is even harder. I’m actually glad I didn’t really know what I was getting into in the beginning of my pregnancy. Not knowing somehow made it easier to push through each day. So you have to ease into things. Listen to your body. Do things that work for you and not things that everyone else tells you that you should be doing. Twice I’ve messed up my ankles and feet trying to workout harder than I was ready for (BOTH times were after having babies). I’m still recovering from the last one that’s kept me at a walking pace for 6 weeks now and this time I’ll definitely be listening to my body a bit better.

Don’t burn yourself out. Running should be fun. Any exercise should be fun. When it stops being fun you need to change things up. Try something new. Go running on a new trail or with a friend. Cut back your running schedule or slow down the pace. Ultimately, you’ll get more running in if you stick with it so go with the whole “slow and steady wins the race” mantra. Find a schedule that works for you and keeps you motivated.

Be comfortable. For a few months after the twins were born, I exercised in ratty old yoga pants that were faded and stained. I just prayed that I wouldn’t run into anyone I knew while I was out walk/running. My excuse? I didn’t want to buy new clothes to fit the size I was because I was hoping not to stay there. Ten months later I’m still at the same size. I finally gave in and got some nice running clothes that fit . . . nice, not the cheapest thing I could find. If they only fit me for a month than at least I was comfortable and felt good about myself for a month (and if they only fit for a month I will honestly be one happy camper. I will gladly go out and buy a smaller size).

I found a couple of great outfits at Zappos. We’ve used Zappos for shoes several times before but they are so much more than shoes now. I knew Zappos has a reputation for AMAZING customer service and a free 365 day return policy. The last time we ordered a pair of shoes that didn’t fit the customer service team actually offered to find the right size from another retailer when they didn’t have the size we needed in stock. That gave me the confidence to buy online because I knew if something showed up on my doorstep that wasn’t flattering or just didn’t work for me they would help me find something that would.

I was so impressed by the great selection they had. They had running clothes for women of all sizes, which was good, because I’m not comfortable in skin tight workout clothes right now so I needed some choices. I ended up finding a very slimming pair of running pants with a super comfortable moisture-wicking shirt that does not cling to my leftover baby (babies?) belly.

So my post-twin weight loss journey continues. I’m determined to have fun with it. I’m getting my kids involved and keeping things fun and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the weight-loss will happen.

What have you done to lose weight after a twin (or singleton) pregnancy?

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.