Question for all the moms that LOST the baby weight..

Ashley - posted on 03/03/2010

I don't know if it will help at all but it's my opinion that moderation is key. I don't fell that you hould have to give up everything you love just to get to a desired weight or body type, just watch how much of it you eat. Also, try not to stress over loosing the wieght because in some cases that can actual help add to keeping on the wieght. Your body works in crazy ways and for me, stress= extra lbs. After I had my son I wanted to get back into shape ebfore my husband came back from his deployment so I did "mommy adn me yoga and pilates" everyday. It was good bonding time, we both enjoyed it and he was like my own personal weight set. I continued to do several of those workouts with him and he still loves it. We've added some variations to our routines but it worked for us. I was able to loose all of my baby weight before getting pregnant with number 2, but it took time and patience. I also find that (becasue I'm a "junk-food-junkie" ) chewing gum helps with a lot of my snack cravings. I hope you get to that comfortable place soon and look amazing for your hubby!! Good luck =0)

Belinda - posted on 02/23/2010

Well 30 day shred is pretty good. I like it when I'm not up for P90x or don't have much time to commit!

For food...try portion control first. If you are still hungry, load up on extra veggies and good carbs. Snacks (healthy ones) throughout the day will keep your metabolism going and help speed it up over time. It will also keep you from crashing and feeling the need to eat or drink sweets.

Walking will be good since you said you can't run, but you will have to do other exercise as well! Baby Trend has decent jogging strollers that aren't too pricey. Or shop at second hand stores to see if they have any. Even walking with a regular stroller can be annoying! Also having someone to walk with you will help. Keeps you from talking yourself out of going.

Let's see...no soda (even diet). Unless it's a staple for you and then try to limit yourself. But in general, if you just control your portions and try to make healthier choices you will see a huge difference. I get frustrated if I don't see a result right away, but once I DO see a difference, it is a HUGE motivator to keep on keeping on!

Best of luck girl!

Shana - posted on 02/23/2010

Hey! I only gained 14 pounds with my daughter, but I lost all of it plus 10 pounds in the first month after I had her. All I did was breast feed! I didn't exercise or anything! I heard that breast feeding alone burns 500 calories a day. I have always been skinny (average), and very active, so that could be the reason I lost all that weight too.

C. - posted on 02/18/2010

Well, the base gyms here are free of charge. BUT, I don't have a license right now (long story) and the closest base is about 30 minutes away. So I'm kind of stuck working out at home for now :/ Thank you so much!! You have been so helpful! I will definitely look into the 30 day shred. It sounds like it's really great. Thanks again, Rebecca! Good luck to you, too!

Rebecca - posted on 02/18/2010

Oh and if i know i can't get to the gym one night i'll take the kids during the day and walk on the inside track for an hour or so. They have strollers you can use at the gym here and it's great for when my husband is gone and i still want to get a walk in:) Check in to your local base gym to see if they have any.

Rebecca - posted on 02/18/2010

Can you get a gym pass? I know for me my pass is 10$ a month for the base gym where we are(Canada) and i go at night once both kids are asleep. I hear ya with the bad ankles. I have a really bad hip and i was biking because it didn't bother my hip at all but after a month of that i no longer can do it for more then 5 minutes so i go on the treadmill. As long as you walk an hour on the treadmill and gradually work your speed up so you're at least speed walking you will see great results! The 30 day shred is very low impact as well so if you are looking for something that can work every part of your body without putting a strain on the joints this is it.
You will do great, just stay focused. For the first 3 months after my second child was born I put an old picture of myself on the fridge and every time i went for something i would see it and i would grab a yogurt instead of the piece of cheese i wanted or an apple. It helped me keep on track with what i really wanted. My daughter is 7 months old and i'm just starting to work on toning and i can feel the muscle but i can't see it so i know i have to lose a bit more weight before i can go back to focusing on toning.
Good luck!!

C. - posted on 02/17/2010

Thank you, Rebecca! I can't run- I have really bad ankles, but I can walk (when it gets a little warmer, anyway :))! Right now, even in the afternoon, the wind is still too bitter to take my son out and I don't have anyone that could watch him until about 5 or 6 and by then it's too cold even for me. But hopefully soon!!! I have to admit, I have been focusing more on toning more than getting all the weight off first. So I have to send out a REALLY BIG THANK YOU for reminding me that I shouldn't worry about that for now. THANK YOU!!! I hope you have a great day!

Rebecca - posted on 02/17/2010

Oh also lots and lots of water. Water takes longer to digest and it works your metabolism 4x as hard to digest it. If you drink more water you burn more calories right there. Drink a big glass of water 30 minutes before a meal and you'll eat less, use a smaller plate as well. Portions portions portions...that was my BIG problem. I use a smaller plate now and the first 3 days i would say were really hard and i felt hungry still but i now snack on yogurt or an apple during the day and i get my 6 mini meals in every day and am starting to see results.

Rebecca - posted on 02/17/2010

I do 4-5 days a week and try to burn 500-700 calories each day...it's hard some days but if you get a good workout buddy it will happen! Try getting in to running, don't worry so much about toning right now and get the weight off first. I did the Special K and Jillian Michaels 30 days shred...wow it was great! It was so hard but worth it! I was back to my pre pregnancy weight in 4 days with both of my kids but it was due to breast feedin, not exercising. I was also really sick with my son but i gained 50lbs the last 3 months of the pregnancy and that was including the 25lbs i lost the first few days of being pregnant. With my second i wasn't sick but i gained about 50lbs still.
My mother did the 6 day body makeover and she lost 15lbs in 2 weeks. Try finding that book, it has the plan right in it for your body type for the 6 days. I did it and lost a few pounds. Also do measurements once a week. I now don't lose weight but i lose inches. I'm still considered over weight for my height but i'm gaining muscle back so i don't care about the scale anymore. I started getting back in to jogging and running about a week ago and i have already lost 3 inches from my hips and waist.
Do leg lifts and side to sides using a weight ball. Do plank and the butterfly sit up. All will work your core and help you get some strength to get more out of each workout.
I highly recommend going the 30 day shred. Sit down and watch the first weeks exercise before you even try ti so you know what you're in for and then when you move on to the next weeks do the same and then the next weeks do the same. It is all interval training and works every part of your body in just the right motions to get great results!
Good luck!!

C. - posted on 02/16/2010

I highly doubt that I am pregnant. After all, the last time I had sex with my husband it was in August (he's deployed) and I don't think given the last pregnancy that another pregnancy would go unnoticed (I was sick all day, everyday for the first 6 months, then about half a day, everyday until I delivered.) I already did give up soda and did NOT lose 10 pounds :) I have the occasional soda, always diet (I never ever drink regular soda. I grew up around diet drinks b/c I have 3 Type 1 Diabetic siblings. To me, reg. soda tastes way too heavy and syrupy. I hate it.) But, the reason I was trying to give up even diet soda was b/c that the sugar substitutes can cause your stomach to bloat, which causes weight gain as well. I try switching up my foods, but on this meal plan I'm on, it's kind of hard to switch it up too much. I'll have to look into that cookbook! Thanks for posting!!!

Jess - posted on 02/16/2010

Could it be possible that you are pregnant again? that would make it difficult to lose weight. If not your body could have hit a platue or some of it could just be water weight. Do you drink soda? If you do then stop. You will lose 10 lbs. Drink more water and see your doctor just in case. Also, those FDA unapproved l diet pills are a synthetic molecule that mimics a certain molecule found in pregnant womens urine.....and they don't work. If you lost anyweight while taking them it was probably from a resticted diet. Also, you should try to switch up the foods that you eat. I have lost 44 lbs by using the Cook Yourself Thin cookbook. I hope at least some of that helps

C. - posted on 02/16/2010

Hahaha.. Melissa! Yeah, I had heard all of the side affects, that's why I was kind of leery about taking it. But a couple people on here said if you eat a low fat diet, then the chances of you having certain accidents or running to the bathroom would be slimmer. So I figure it's worth a shot. I am a SAHM anyway, and I hardly get out of the house as of right now (long story), so I guess it won't hurt to try it out.

I'll let you know how it works for me.

Melissa - posted on 02/16/2010

I was going to try Ally, but i read the reviews on more than one website, and costumers said that they pooped in their pants or where running to the restroom more than often. They even said that Ally costumers should carry an extra pair of pants inside their purse. I was like wow I'm not trying that I'm just going to exercise unless that comes with a warning too. lol

But Christina if you try it out, and it works for you let me know. B/c i understand about the whole eating unhealthy part. But it was like all the reviews were nothing but negative. So let me know!!!

C. - posted on 02/15/2010

Thanks, Eleani!!! I am going to go to the store tomorrow and I'll pick some up. Hopefully it will work out. I heard about the horrible side affects, but from what you have said and what another woman told me on here, if you eat what you're supposed to you won't have a huge problem. So I definitely think that's going to be something to try. And if your friend lost 56 lbs in 5 months!?!?! Sounds to me like it's worth the money. Thank you so much for posting!!!!

Eleani - posted on 02/15/2010

yes one of my friends did.. and she did lost a lot of weight.. you just have to stick to the right portions and dont eat whatever they tell you there not to (like stuff that has a lot of fat) because it could be painful for your stomach.. if youknow what i mean.... and she didnt excersise everyday.. she lost 56lbs in 5 months.. im pretty sure after all diets and things ure done.. u want something quick.. well ally is aproved by the FDA too.. soo.. i dunno girl.. let us know..

C. - posted on 02/15/2010

@Eleani.. No, I haven't.. I asked if anyone has tried it in the original post.. Do you know anyone that's tried it that had good results?

Awesome!! Thank you so much, Rachelle!!!!!

Thanks, Andrea. I really can't do running though. I have always had problems with my ankles and running always makes it worse. I though about Weight Watchers, but I'm just not sure if I'm willing to pay that much for things I already know..

Awesome, Shannon! Thank you!!! I was thinking about doing Alli with the "diet" (it's really not a diet, it teaches you how to eat right- I'm guessing it's similar to WW?) I am already doing. That's definitely something I'm going to try. Hopefully it will really boost my weight loss. All I'm really worried about is trying to lose at least 20 pounds by May to surprise my hubby for his R&R, the rest I am willing to lose slowly.


Thank you all so much!!! You all have really been helpful and I greatly appreciate all the advice!!!! Good luck to the rest that are still trying to lose weight! I hope you meet your goals!!!!

Melissa - posted on 02/15/2010

Eh just come to my house and make salmon for me. lol
I will definitely try it, im just going to go to the websites everyone gave me and hopefully i find a good recipe.

thanks!!!!

Ashleigh - posted on 02/14/2010

I had my son about 7 months ago i havent lost the weight yet either but im working on it and with my hubby deployed i finally took initiative to do something about it it is a mind thing too i learned that pretty much everything on the outside edges of the store are the good things like your dairy fruits and veggies things like that and instead of hambirger i buy ground turkey and ive started working out everyda 30 minutes or more if i can the diference in what im eating has helped me maintain my weight so i havent gained any in a few weeks so i hoping with the addition of working out will help me lose the weight im hoping t suprise my hubby when he gets home in 7 months and so i figured idont know how long it will take but i should start now!

Shannon - posted on 02/14/2010

I gained weight with my first pregnancy and never really lost it, then I had my second child. I am 5'1 1/2" and weighed 164. I had tried alli in between but never really ate a low fat diet so I experienced all the bad things--- they really happen. I joined weight watchers in October and really stuck with it. I have lost 29.5 lbs and use alli in conjunction with my weight watcher diet. As long as I am really eating a low fat diet, I have no problems with it. It's when you ignore that piece of advice that you suffer the consequences. I am super excited about weight watchers and recommend it to anyone who is serious about weight loss. Good luck to you!

Andrea - posted on 02/14/2010

i recommend weight watchers, i am currently doing weight watchers and have lost 63lbs since starting in july. but i also exercise 6 days a week for an hour and ive really gotten into running which i think has really made a difference. but something that works for me may not work for you. just thought id make a suggestion.

Rachelle - posted on 02/14/2010

Just google Resting Metabolic Rate....or Basic Metabolic Rate....etc... my lap top was stolen 2 weeks ago, so I now have a new one and so no longer have the bookmarks I created for all my health and nutrition stuff. Something else I meant to mention...if you like beans. I LOVE the corn and black bean salad with basil lime vinegarette by Giada De Laurentis. You can make your own adjustments, like I left out the garbanzos and you can use bottled lime juice or trade cilantro for Basil if you can't get it. But it's best the way it's written.

Melissa....you really should try the salmon. It's SO good for us...especially women...good source of heart healthy stuff (omega fatty acids) and also calcium for our bones. :) You can get it canned and make it justlike a tuna sandwich....but don't ruin it with too much mayo. Also if you get a boneless skinless filet....keep it simple. I coat it lightly with olive oil, then sprinkle with something you know you like....garlic salt and pepper, or just plain salt and pepper...lemon pepper....the Lawry's marinades are also good, we like the teriyaki which goes well with some plain white steamed rice. As for heat....you want to go hot 400-425 depending on your oven....10 mins per inch of thickness. You're shooting to take it out a little undercooked then let it sit for a bit to finish. Overcooked salmon isn't very good...gets dry and a strange texture when you're chewing. Maybe try it at a restaurant first so you know what it should be like? Macaroni Grill usually does a good job. Going to the food network site is a good idea.....also epicurious.com is good.

Eleani - posted on 02/14/2010

have u tried ally?

Tabetha - posted on 02/14/2010

I would say that if youare only eating between 900 and 1200 calories, that might be the reason you have no energy when you are done working out. Yes you need to eat healthy, but the main thing is a good workout program. I'm 26 and I've got a 6,3,and 1 year old. I used to work out 2 hours, 5 days a week, but when I got home I was exhausted....that's because I had not been feeding myself enough, to have any energy left over after my workouts. Here is something else that my dr. had told me. You must eat no SOONER than 90 min. before you work out, and you MUST eat something IMMEDIATELY after you work out. YOu have to exercise more than 3 days a week to really lose weight. You have to do cardio, to get your heart healthy. And you have to vary your workouts. I got (at Walmart for $9) the Jillian Michaels Biggest Loser LAST CHANCE WORKOUT DVD. It is a 30 min. video, that takes you thru a warm up, alternating workoust, and cool down in 30 minutes.You need no equipment except for you free weights. You do your strength training and cardio/endurance training altogether. It is great for beginners AND advanced people. I'm sure you could check it out online if you wanted. As soon as I put my kids to bed at night, between 7:30 and 8, I workout. And that way, right after I work out, I can eat my snack, and at the same time, not be eating anything right before I go to bed. Just some thoughts...good luck to you!

Amanda - posted on 02/13/2010

After my first and having gestational diabetes I try to follow the diet they gave me while pregnant. 6 small meals a day count my carbs and try not to go about 60 carbs in a meal drink lots of water. I also was at the gym every day for about 1 1/2 hours doing a half hour of cardio another half hour of lifting weights or sit ups and another in the sauna. I lost a lot of water weight in the sauna but you will lose tons of extra weight by increasing your cardio and lifting weights because once you build more muscle you can burn more calories off. Be concious of what your eating too lots of protein such as fish chicken with salads are very healthy and help with weight loss, avoid any premade noodles that you heat up they are bad carbs along with a lot of potatoes, and white breads. It took me 9 months to get back to my pre pregnancy weight and i credit all of it to staying active. So up the cardio and resistance on ellipticals to where it hurts no pain no gain and you should see some results! Hope that helps

C. - posted on 02/13/2010

Thank you, Melissa! That helps a lot!

Tara, I haven't tried weight watchers, but I have heard good things about it. The only thing is, is I heard that it really just teaches you how to eat and that's what the 6 week thing that I'm doing does, so I'm not sure if I want to spend money on something that I'm already doing.. If that makes sense.

Thank you so much, Rachelle! What are some good sites that I can go to so I can figure out my BMR? Thank you so much for posting!!! I'm definitely going to try some of your food combinations.

Bre, I generally eat between 900 and 1200 calories per day. I don't keep a journal of it, but I know how many calories are in my meals and snacks- and sometimes I don't eat all of my meals/snacks, that's why I estimate 900 as the lowest. I know there are days when I don't eat as many calories as I should, but calories are a scary thing for me and have been for a while. I pretty much posted my meals and snacks. I use turkey or chicken for the lean meat; apple or banana for the fruit; Low-Sodium V8, green beans, carrots, corn, snap peas (snow peas), bell peppers (red, green, orange and yellow), broccoli or cauliflower for the vegetables; sweet potatoes or yukon gold potatoes, or occasionally baby potatoes, for the carbohydrates. Once in a while around "that time" of the month, I do indulge in some dark chocolate, but I try to go as dark as I can. To me, the darker the better- less fat, fruitier taste and more antioxidants than chocolate with a lesser cacao content.

Thank you all for your help!!! I really appreciate all the advice!

Oh, and Melissa.. Yes, salmon tastes good! There are many ways you can make salmon, though I haven't made it in a long time. But you can go to http://www.foodnetwork.com/ and Bobby Flay, Giada De Laurentis, Rachel Ray.. They usually have pretty healthy recipes.

Bre - posted on 02/13/2010

Ok....so how many calories are you eating a day? The fact that you're eating all thise small meals is good. Don't do pills. They have horrible side effects and aren't good for you and never work long term! Diets are the same way. They work at first, but then...BOOM! You gain it all back and then some... You need to eat a healthy balance of protien, healthy fats, fiber and carbs... As far as exercise you need at least 45 mins of cardio 4 times a week and also add weight training every other day. The weights help you burn calories too. Post meals so I can possibly help youi out losing... I am not a nutrionist by any means nor am I a trainer but I found what works for me and it could work for you too if you want to try... Just let me know.

Melissa - posted on 02/13/2010

Does Salmon taste good? I've always wanted to try it, b/c kinda scared to cook it. Also how would you cook the salmon?

Rachelle - posted on 02/13/2010

well.....b/c I too have kiddos that require all of my 43 year old time and energy, I completely understand how difficult it is to exercise and eat the way you know you should. It's on FitTv where I follow Cathe Freidrich w/ my DVR...the yoga is good too. I'm planning to do the P90x soon, but it's NOT for beginners. I could not have started with that when I was 30 pounds heavier. As far as food goes.... while it might be a bit boring for some, the best thing for me was to come up with a few meal plans for each meal and stick to that. For breaksfast: Kasho GoLean (hi protein and fiber) w/ skim milk; Quaker Oat Bran Hot Cereal w/ dried cranberries, 1 tbl brown sugar, 1tsp margarine; 1 Light & Fit yogurt with plain cheerios or grapenuts sprinkled in. For Lunch: 1 can skinless boneless salmon 1Tbl low fat Mayo w/ Olive Oil, relish and mustard to taste on whole wheat bread; I also love the various Progresso Soups (Lentil, Chicken Rotini, Hearty Tomato, Chicken Tuscany). For snacks between meals, I keep it to fruit, raw veggies, yogurt, low fat wheat thins, low fat babybel cheese, and I also use slimfast with a banana blended in....especially after workouts. I strongly recommend you get educated about how your metabolism works as well as the amounts of the various nutrients your body needs. I track cals, fat, protein, carbs, sodium, calcium, iron & vit C (via spark people). I had a couple of consults with a certified fitness and nutrition consultant and I learned a ton. I'm no expert and would like to learn more, but the take home on that was to know how many calories as well as the various nutrients your body needs and try to keep that in balance. AND eliminating any specific nutrient probably isn't good (like carbs), your body needs it all in balance. So for me, as long as I'm getting the various nutrients my body needs, the fat and cals kind of take care of themselves. After you've done that a while, you won't need to count it, you'll just know it. I counted religiously for the first 5 months but only do it a week or two each month to keep myself in check now. Also remember that there is such a thing as too FEW calories (a big metabolism sabotager), which may be why you've had some trouble losing??? You need to find that "sweet spot". 1200 is not enough for me. There are a few good web sites out there that will tell you what you need to know about your Basic Metabolic Rate. For me, I shoot for about 1400 cals, then burn at least 500. When I stick to that, I lose 2-3 pounds a week....but I'm now leveling off and I have wine on the weekends, so I'm not losing so much now., which is fine....I'm good with 153 for now as I slowly work on losing the last 10 (I'm just under 5' 8"). For dinner, I do a variety of things. Because I'm cooking for the whole family, I do something we can all have and watch my portions and the extras like butter and cheese. Often it's chicken (only baked, roasted, grilled w/o skin), also pork tenderloin is very lean and has iron, we do steak or roast once a week. I try to load up on veggies for my evening meal. I almost always have a veggie and dip platter on the table for all of us to snack on while I'm making dinner. Works great for me AND my kids. They are great veggie eaters which makes me a proud mom. :) Beans are a great thing to incorporate into your diet for the protein and fiber (black beans are especially great for antioxidants). A few other "superfoods" I try to work in every day.....blue berries, cranberries, sweet potatoes, sweet peppers, broccoli, etc.... I really hope this helps you. A year ago, I truly believed I was doomed to be the frumpy, forever oveweight mom. I felt awful. Now that I've lost it, I feel like I have this secret that I want to tell everyone......how you really can do it with the right information! Another good book to read, Chasing Life by Sanjay Gupta. Probably the Dr. Oz book, You on a Diet and /or You Living Longer would be good. I'm going to get those next. Good luck!

Tara - posted on 02/13/2010

Some mothers can loose weight though. My story is the exact opposite i cant figure out how to gain any weight. i lost all the baby fat and then some. im scared that when my husband comes home he isnt going to want a toothpick. Have you tried weightwatchers. alot of people i work with live by that diet and the just love it. good luck mama!

Melissa - posted on 02/13/2010

The arm exercises they have substitutes for them. Like if you can't do the pull up bar, they show you on bands. And each exercise they have substitutes for them. Im only on week three so i haven't started the other six disc's b/c you only do six disc's for the first couple of phases and then you move on the the next ones. Like if you can't do push ups b/c of your arms you can get on your knees, but they tell you only to do what you can.

Hope this helps.

C. - posted on 02/12/2010

@Rachelle.. That wasn't insulting, really. But when I was 16 I found myself at 230 and was like, THAT'S IT! I lost 50 pounds in 3 months, so I know what hard work is. The thing is though, now that I have a kid, I can't do that anymore. I practically starved myself and exercised literally like all day, I was always finding ways to be active.. I even took up jump-rope b/c it is a GREAT whole body workout. Unfortunately, though, having a kid means I need all the energy I get, which means I can't skip all the meals that I did before and restrict my carbs to next to nothing. But thank you!!!! I never even thought about Cathe Freidrich in a LONG TIME!!! Her workouts are really good. I need to start watching FitTV again. I was addicted to it before I had my son, I'm talking I would watch it all day, everyday to get all the motivation I needed and I would follow the majority of the exercises. My favorite was the Namaste Yoga, though. I love yoga!!!

@Melissa.. I had thought about the P90X program, but with Erb's Palsy in my left arm, I'm not sure that I would be able to do most of those exercises. What are the arm exercises in the program like? I might look into that.

Thank you both for posting! You have been quite helpful! And Rachelle, I would love to know what foods you eat!

Melissa - posted on 02/12/2010

Right now im doing this P90X exercise. Its a 90 day workout plan complete with a meal plan and has everything you need planed out. Also it has 12 dvds containing everything from yoga to self defense moves. Its pretty good I'm starting week 3 and i already see a difference.

Rachelle - posted on 02/12/2010

OK, I think I'm the oldest mom on here....just turned 43 and I have 3 boys, 7, 6, and 3. SO, if I can lose weight, I think anyone can. At 21, you SHOULD have youth on your side. BUT, that being said, I think younger women (most anyway, including myself) don't have the life experience to know what hard work really is. I don't mean to be insulting. My weight story....come from a family full of obesity. I dodged that bullet for most of my life. The weight started coming on in my late 20's and was at my heaviest when I was pregnant with my first....180. the next 2 came quickly, and my husband was constantly deployed, so I never found the time or method to take care of myself. THEN my youngest turned 3 this last summer, and for some reason, the motivation and determination I needed just came to me. So, be honest with yourself....are you REALLY ready? You gotta have it mentally before anything else. THEN i started reading like crazy. I mostly followed Bob Green's Best Life Diet. I also used a nutrition tracking website called Spark People (can't say enough good things about that).....then I also changed the way I'd exercised before. Yes, 3 days a week WON'T do it. I used to be fit and thin and relied on a lot of cardio...but I quickly discovered that wasn't working for me. So I figured that if I wanted a different outcome, I should choose a different strategy. Now it's half the cardio and double the strength training. In fact, if you do your strength training well (good intensity with little rest between sets), you'll get the cardio along with the strength training. I've been following Cathe Friedrich's workouts....Legs and Glutes will work your lower body like crazy AND get good cardio for you....then add her bis and tris workout along with the chest and back and core workouts...and you CAN'T go wrong. Forget the silly diets with silly names...those are short term fixes at best! Seriously, I'm 43! I've lost 30 pounds in 7 months...so not all that fast. But I feel stronger and better than ever before...thinner than before I had my kids. If I cna do this, you cna too! Good Luck! If you wnat more info about what I eat, I'm ahppy to share my favs. I dont' like being hungry and I love to eat!

C. - posted on 02/04/2010

Thank you, Lisa! That was very helpful.. I never thought about how the hormones affect you even if you had a baby years ago.. Thank you!!!

Lisa - posted on 02/04/2010

You may not like my answer...time. With my 1st child I was back to regular weight after 1.5 weeks. but my second was 5 before I lost the last 20 lbs! The doctor said my hormones had to "get back to normal". I'm still trying to get over the hot flashes and other issues... It didn't matter what I did, diet, exercise, you name it...when I stopped trying is when my body decided to go back.

C. - posted on 02/04/2010

Correction, I went back and looked at my meal plan card and the PM Snack is supposed to be 2 oz lean protein, 1/2 c CARBS- not veggies- and water. Just wanted to fix that real quick.

C. - posted on 02/04/2010

Thanks everyone!

Well, I don't want to start the journal just b/c I know how I am.. Every time I start a journal it becomes an obsession, even if I'm not supposed to be counting calories and just documenting what I eat, it always turns into a calorie count for me. I know I shouldn't focus on the scale and should focus on inches lost, but that's really hard for me to do. I told you I became obsessed with it before, that's one thing I can't let go is weighing myself everyday. I already had my thyroid and everything checked in May '09 when I went to the doctors 3 times in 4 days due to the previously mentioned diet pills that I was on. I do watch what I eat, that's why I don't understand why my weight loss has stopped. I also don't have any way to get to a gym at the moment, so all my exercises are done at home with DVDs and my stability ball and weights, and I do have resistance bands, but I usually just stick with the weights. But thank you!

Here's a quick overview of the "diet" that I'm on. It's the 6 Week Body Makeover, your eating and exercise plans are based on your body type. They have an infinite menu planner and each food is under a category (example, it's broken up into groups: Carbs, Veggies, Fruits and Meats. Each meat, carb, etc is under a letter, like chicken would be a Meat B, certain fish would be a Meat A, and so on.. Basically on your meal plan it tells you how many ounces of meat A, B, C or D and you pair that with whatever letter you are supposed to eat at that meal/snack. Like breakfast would be meat A paired with fruit B. It teaches you how to pair foods to boost your metabolism.) For my body type, I have to eat:
Breakfast:
2oz lean protein, 1/4c fruit and water
AM Snack:
2 oz lean protein, 1/2 c fruit and water
Lunch:
2 oz lean protein, at least 1/2 c veggies, and like a 1/4 c of carbs (like sweet potatoes) and water
PM Snack:
2 oz lean protein, 1/2 c veggies and water
Dinner:
2 oz lean protein, 3/4 c veggies, 1/2 c carbs and water

And you can have a nighttime snack if you get hungry later on and that would consist of like a 1/2 c of fruit, but I usually never eat the late snack.

Thank you all for posting! I don't know what I'll do, but hopefully something will start working soon. I'm tired of being at my current weight.

Heather - posted on 02/04/2010

Hi Christina,
Everyone is going to have an opinion. My advice: Get a thourough physical from your doctor. (Check your thyroid!!!) and talk about your concerns with a fitness trainer. Between the two, you should hopefully get moving in the right direction.

Good Luck!

Jordan - posted on 02/04/2010

I gained 55 pounds during pregnancy 9 months ago and I am now 5 lbs away now from my pre-preggie weight of 108.
Here is the key - Diets DON'T Work! If you want to loose weight, it is going to be a complete lifestyle change. I would love to help you with this so I am going to ask you to email me. I have some questions for you about eating habits, exercise habits, sleep haibits and such. I bet we can get a program set up for you that will work JUST for you. :)
While the advice on here is nice, every person is different.

I hope you will get back to me so I can help you out. If you would like, you can email my personal email - mooseluver24@gmail.com
Did I mention my degree I'm working on is in Fitness and Nutrition?

Jo

Whitney - posted on 02/04/2010

u can try all the gimmicks you want... you hafta exercise at least an hour 5 times a week and watch what you eat. do u have like a friend who wants to lose weight too? it makes it easier to motivate urself if ur not doing it alone. make sure U USE WEIGHTS cardio and weights is the most effective way to lose weight. the more muscle u the more burn ur metabolism gives you. just stick to it!

Wendy - posted on 02/04/2010

You have to watch what you eat. Eat less bread and pasta. I cut all bread and pasta out my diet for two months and ended up losing 30 pounds. I cut back on potaoes also. Just have to watch what you eat, downsize your portions.

Krista - posted on 02/04/2010

Christina,
I didn't mean to imply that you were necessarily addicted to sweets or greasy foods, but that a very simple diet for a while would purge your body of things that you might crave. For my hubby, it's beef and beer. For my mom, it's bread. All of us have things that we enjoy that are not necessarily ideal for us, and sometimes restraining from eating those can cause our cravings to change to more positive and healthy ones.

If more exercise seems to make you more tired, you should try doing shorter spurts, similar to eating small but more frequent meals, and try to stick with it for a few weeks. You have to look for results in the energy department over time, and not all at once. Pushing yourself and wearing yourself out when you are not ready for it will make you tired- you would want to work up to those long workouts- but not getting some type of cardiovascular exercise causes the positive body chemicals to slow down, making you feel worse both mentally and physically. Sounds like your exercise routine is fine, but I would still say you need more cardio, every day, in some form. Resting your body from resistance training is good, but resting from cardio makes you take steps backward. Running around with your son could be cardio on "off" days. I have a chronic illness, and the doctor told me the most important thing I can do is get my heart rate up. If I feel too tired or in too much pain to exercise, I need to do three 10 minute stints instead of one 30 minute stint, but no matter, what I must move my body.

As far as journaling, write down only what you eat and drink- do not count calories, carbs, or fats. What you are looking for is an awareness of what you eat so you can track patterns, both positive and negative, and hold yourself accountable. You don't want to obsess- it will make you feel worse. I also agree with whoever it was that said something about looking for progress in inches lost, looser clothes, things like that, and not just numbers on the scale. I never weigh myself unless I'm at the doctor. I track my progress by how I look and feel, and by how my clothes fit.

It's all about the choices you make every day going from being concious, even difficult choices, to being part of your life, so you don't have to stress or obsess about it.

Good luck.

C. - posted on 02/04/2010

I didn't have enough time to read all of the posts (I got up to probably the first half of Shannon's post), but I just wanted to say this..



For the 6 week body makeover, you are only supposed to work out 2 days a week for 15-20 minutes each time. Like I said, this worked when I did it a few months ago, but for some reason it doesn't seem to be working at this time. I'm also not supposed to have a lot of dairy- even if it's low-fat or fat free- which I hate b/c I love my lactose-free, fat-free milk! If I feel like I'm getting hungry and it's not time for a meal, I try to grab a small glass of Low Sodium V8, and even though I'm not supposed to, occasionally a small glass of fat free milk. Something small just to hold me over until the next meal or snack. I used to keep a journal with all my calories, fat grams, sodium, sugar and total carbohydrates listed, but I got obsessive with it and I would flip out over the tiniest calorie that I ate and would exercise constantly (and I do mean CONSTANTLY). I promised my mom a couple years ago after I'd lost 80 pounds that I wouldn't count calories anymore b/c it was becoming an obsession and you could already see my hip bones sticking out, my collar bone stuck way out, my ribs were starting to stick out. And I'm tall compared to a lot of people I know (I'm 5'6" now, but when I was doing yoga everyday I was almost- ALMOST- 5'8"), so I looked even thinner and bonier. She was getting worried and that's the last thing I wanted was for her to worry about my health. I also weigh myself everyday, which is a little excessive and a bit obsessive, but it drives me insane if I don't weigh myself in the morning. I will literally not eat almost the entire day if I do just b/c I'm afraid of gaining half a pound.



I would love to exercise more, but I don't have a lot of energy since I've had my son. And no, more exercise for me doesn't mean more energy- it means I'm more exhausted. Trust me, I've already tried it. Before my husband deployed, he would stay home with my son while I went to the gym (it was like 5 minutes away walking time). I would exercise like 4 or 5 days a week. I lost weight, but the fact that I was too exhausted that I could barely get up to change my then 10 month old, that to me wasn't worth losing weight as mush as it was worth having the energy for my son. And yes, I was getting enough sleep at night. I would get anywhere from 6-9 hours a night. Any less than 6 hours and I could not function the majority of the time. On rare occasion have I been able to run on 3 or 4 hours of sleep (I'm not talking about with a newborn or a child, I'm talking about just in general).



I don't have any "addiction" to greasy foods. Do I like them, yes. Do I eat them often, no. Probably less than once every other week. And when I DO eat them, it's not very much b/c it upsets my stomach from all the nasty grease- like I'm going to vomit. And I do de-grease my foods- so what most people would consider a little grease, I consider a lot of grease. The only time I did eat a lot of greasy foods was when I was pregnant and that was only b/c that was the only thing that calmed my stomach other than bananas and greens (collard greens, mustard greens, just about every kind of greens there are..) I was sick throughout the 9 months. All day, everyday for the first 6 months and about half a day, everyday until I had my son. Do I like sweets, yes. Do I have an addiction, no. I usually only eat sweets (other than fruits- and yes, I consider fruit as a sweet b/c they contain a ton of sugar) when I'm PMSing (about a week before my period) and I crave chocolate- any kind of chocolate (which is weird b/c I generally only eat dark chocolate- 60% cacao or above. 90% is my absolute favorite though- just b/c it has an even fruitier flavor, less sugar and more antioxidants than milk chocolate). Unless there's a holiday, that's the only time I eat sweets. And the only reason I allow myself to eat the chocolate when I crave it, is b/c studies have shown that women who crave chocolate during their menstrual cycle need specific nutrients from the chocolate, just as if your body is craving potassium, you'll crave bananas, tomatoes and so on.



My current exercise regimen consists of 1 or 2 days a week of my exercise DVDs (I'll do at least 45 minutes and most of it is cardio/weights/yoga) and on the other days I use my stability ball, free weights and I do some endurance training and I have at least a couple days off to rest my body. I have noticed that some of my pants are fitting more loosely, but I can't stand the fact that I'm not losing numbers.. I don't understand WHY I'm not losing numbers. I remember when I was young, my mom would always say how much she needed to lose weight, and she still says it, and that's partly why I lost so much weight a few years back. And it's not that I don't want to lose weight, I want nothing more than to be happy with my body again and be that confident woman that my husband first met. But for some reason it's at a stand-still. I was thinking maybe I was pregnant, and I would hate it if I was just b/c I have been smoking all this time, but that's the only thing left that I can think of, of why I'm barely losing any weight right now. I'll try to reply later. I am tired and need some sleep. It's a long story why I'm even up right now, so I won't get into that at this moment. Goodnight and thanks for the advice :)

Krista - posted on 02/03/2010

I agree with Shannon about resistance training. I had to quit my gym membership due to finances, which is why I work out at home, and had issues with how to subsitute for free weights. My hubby is Army, and I actually looked up their workout for females in my age range, since they use their own body for resistance in their basic training and other TRADOC schools. There are all different ways to do push-ups that work out all different areas of the upper body. I bought some hand weights for home, use, as well. I also want to clarify on my walking 30 minutes a day that I do vary intensity, and push myself as hard as I can- definitely agree there. Good points, Shannon, and Anna, as well. Small meals and avoiding white carbs.

Shannon - posted on 02/03/2010

I lost it the good old fashioned way. Exercise. I learned the trick, and read everything I could about exercise, and how to see a difference. You have to vary your workouts, you have to kick your butt doing them, and you have to drink a lot of water, and watch your caloric intake. I did 30 minutes on an elliptical machine, you have to get your blood pumping and you have to vary the speed and incline. I then did a 20 minute walk on a 3.0 to 3.9 mph setting, varying the incline between .5 to 2.0 incline. Free weights are also a must in order to speed up fat loss. Do some sort of resistance training if free weights is an issue. Remember...when you lose weight you cannot just look at the scale, take your measurements...bust, hips, waist, upper thigh, calf, upper arm, right below elbow, etc. When it looks like you have stopped losing weight, even though you are exercising and watching the calories, you are more than likely lose inches. Jot down your measurements and re-measure yourself once a week, you will see the inches come off.



Good luck, and stay off the diet pills. None of them are worth anything, can be dangerous, and are figments of the imagination for the most part.

Anna - posted on 02/03/2010

I would say definitely exercise more (especially cardio), and don't buy into any of those diet plans. Just drink water, eat more veggies than anything, avoid white carbs, and eat small meals rather than big meals.

I've got two kids and lost the baby weight within 4 months both times just by doing what's simple and effective.

Krista - posted on 02/03/2010

Hi Christina! I don't know if you'll like my advice, but I have three kids, and was able to get back to close to my pre-pregnancy weight each time in about what they say- nine months on, nine months off. I am turning 30 this year, my youngest is 3, and I am happy with my body. I'm assuming you are not breastfeeding at the moment- if you are, you may want to adjust. First of all, you are trying lots of diet plans, but what you may need to look at is what your normal eating plans are on a daily basis. For instance, I am a sweets addict. I did poorly on Slim Fast and Special K, because they actually made me wants sweets more. What finally worked for me is essentially a healthy "fast". I went for a week eating nothing but fruits, veggies, brown rice, and whole oatmeal. For protein I had beans or nuts, so sometimes beans and rice for dinner, sometimes a salad with soybeans, something like that. NO soda or sweets, only fruit, and I drank tea with no sweeteners or water. This may make you a little gassy, so be prepared with some Beano or Gas X. My hubby did this with me once and he had no problems with gas, and dropped 10 lbs. that week. This is a totally healthy way to eat, and it purges your body of all your addictions and cravings for sweets and greasy foods. I gradually introduced meats and other "fun" foods into my diet, but in moderation, and kept a journal of everything I ate. I learned to enjoy any "treats" in smaller portions. I have kept up a healthier way of eating since then, and even enjoy nibbling fruits and veggies for snacks, when my previous "go-to" would have been crackers and a cup of hot chocolate. Now, if I go on vacation, or see myself slipping, I will do the fruit and veggie thing for a couple of days to get my body back on track. If I am craving sweets on a normal day when I really know I shouldn't have any, I do Sensible Sweets hot chocolate, Jello Sugar Free pudding, or some dried cranberries with chocolate chips, and these things always do the trick. My general rule of thumb is to only eat "real" dessert on weekends or if I'm at a party or on a date with my hubby.



Also, 3 days a week of exercise is NOT ENOUGH. Doctors recommend 30 minutes 5 days a week for weight maintenance. If you want to lose, you must step it up. I currently exercise every day if I can, although it is generally for only 30 minutes. I don't do anything special- mainly just walk pushing my youngest in a stroller, or walking to a dvd on bad weather days. 3 days a week I do toning exercises like you might find in a women's magazine, but I do them religiously.



I am by no means a "health freak"- I still indulge in pizza, Mexican food, and ice cream, but I eat sweet potato fries instead of french fries, only eat whole wheat bread and drink skim milk- everyday "small" things that have made a huge difference. My hubby doesn't do all of what I do, but he has made a few changes just by watching my example, and that really helps. I used to find that if he was eating something "bad", I had to have some to, but now I have my own little substitutes.



I watched my mom go back and forth with her weight on all different kinds of diets my entire life, and she never seemed happy with herself- still doesn't, in fact, but I made the choice to do things differently, and I wish I had sooner, without being driven by all the baby weight gain. Maybe I wouldn't have gained so much in the first place if my eating habits had been better.



Anyway, good luck to you, and hope my 2 cents helps.