Need some support.. PLEASE

Hello all,

I gave birth to my daughter Genevieve 5 weeks and 3 days ago.  :)  Little background here...

When I got pregnant I was 160 pounds.  I am 2 years 6 months out.  I gained 43 pounds with my pregnancy and 4 days after I had her, I was down to 179.  I am currently sitting at 176-7.  When I first weighed myself 4 days after giving birth, I felt very good about that number.  Could have been a lot worse.  I am not too far off from being back to pre-pregnancy weight.  BUT, the more time passes and as hard of a time as I am having adjusting to being a new mommy, I am getting more and more depressed when I look in the mirror.  My body was far from supermodel pre-pregnancy, but I was just getting comfortable with it and my belly skin was actually in alright shape.  Now since having my daughter, my body has changed a lot.  Belly skin is obiously looser, hips a tad wider, etc.  It just gets me down when I look at pics of when I was at my happiest time with my body before getting pregnant.  And when I put on clothes that I wore before I got prego, I notice how much tighter they are and what not. 

Now that I am occupied with the baby 90% of the day, I find myself getting nervous and rushing through meals, due to lack of time, or her waking up when I finally get a moment to actually eat.  Also, I don't cook as much for the same reason (lack of time).  I find myself grabbing whatever is quickest and same goes for snacking now.  I feel like I am developing awful habits.  And I will admit, my eating detoured a bit when I was pregnant.  I wasn't out of control with it, but I made some bad choices along the way, eating things I shouldn't have.  And now my worst nightmare has come true... I am STILL making bad choices at times. 

I would just like some tips, words of encouragement, ANYTHING.  I'd really appreciate it.  Being a new mom is the hardest thing I've ever done and I'd like to get back on track with my weight loss and come back to a world I felt proud of.  If anyone can offer any words or share their experiences, it'd mean a lot. 

Thanks for reading!

Here is the BEST words of encouragement for u...."YOU ARE NOT ALONE!"
I just had my baby alittle over 2weeks ago....and i also gained 40+lbs during the pregnancy...and let me tell u....i DREADED going to the DR's cuz i knew that the scale just kept going up...i am down 20+lbs....which is great for just 2weeks.....so im not TOO worried...but i must say i HATE walking by mirrors....and LUCKILY i had a C section and im still healing so i cant even try to squeez into my pre preg pants....but i hear ya with the belly flab is just not right anymore. My husband just keeps telling me how beautiful i am....yet im having A HARD time believing that!  :) i too made HORRIBLE choices during pregnancy....eating McDonalds...donuts....icecream.....ANYTHING i basically wanted....and i didnt get sick and thats why i kept doing it. Yes i monitored it to an extent....but it didnt help i STILL ate the bad stuff. NOW {thank god} im back to my surgery diet i like to call it. I get SICK to my stomach if i have mcdonalds....coolatas....icecream....anything BAD so i cant have them anyways if i wanted! :)

THINGS will get better......u will eventually have more time..{so ive been told...i wouldnt know cuz i too am in the same boat about snacking and not cooking cuz of lack of time}. I would just try to enjoy the baby!! u only get these ages once with them and it would be really bad to miss out on the infant months cuz ur stressing out bout vanity ya know?? Maybe try scheduling a PLAN of healthy snacks that u PRE MAKE so they are just able to be grabbed and opened and eaten! Take the baby on some walks....that is always good!! Keep ur head up....IT CAN ONLY GET BETTER right??  :) good luck

I can tell you that it does get better, and I know your thought is WHEN??? When I had my first daughter in April 08 I had NO time for anything, not really eating either. I lost 25 pounds by two weeks and another 15 pounds by 5 weeks. But then it took alot of work (I gained 70 altogether), I preoccupied myself, my thoughts and my time worrying about getting the weight off. I became obsessed with getting it off, starved myself pretty much for 3 months and that worked; But on that note I will say I was really moody, and very depressed. Like the other poster here said, enjoy time with your baby. I should have spent more time cuddling her then worrying about my weight. I did weigh 404 lbs at one time I think I can live with 220 for a short time. Stop snacking all together, drink tons of water and get in protein, same advice I was given! Good Luck and certainly you are NOT alone.