It's been 3 years sicne my youngest child was born. I am STILL trying to get off the last 20 pounds I so want to lose. I can't seem to do it! I work out 4-5 days per week. I eat pretty well. I can work a bit more on not snaking, but with all that said the 20 seems to like my body. I am so desperate to lose this weight once and for all. With spring right around the corner, I am looking for ANY advise of how to los this weight. I can't believe that 3 years after birth, I am STILL trying to lose this weight. It is very upseting to me. I hate always thinking about it. Thank you for any help!!!
I too am a huge fan of Weight Watchers as it's the only thing that has worked for me. In addition to re-teaching you healthy eating and portion control, it conditions you to write down everything you eat.
I attend through the at-work program but have also done the community programs (going to a meeting). They have a lot of nice online tools as well.
Good luck.
It's very hard to lose weight. Very hard. And as we get older and have babies... sometimes it's just never the same. But I SWEAR by Weight Watchers. I have used the program twice before and have successfully lost weight on it. I am actually doing it for a third time because I gained some weight over the summer and winter. It allows you to eat or make any type of food which helps with families. Teaches you most importantly about PORTIONS. Yea, 3/4c Life cereal and 1/2c milk in the morning really isn't very much at all... but that's a true one serving. It teaches you to eat healthier...WW biggest thing is fiber... foods higher in fiber keep you full longer (i.e.less points). Also, if you exercise, great... You can do the At Home Program along with Online or just At Home or choose to go to meetings. Good luck. It's hard.
Hi C.!
I too feel your pain as it has been 3 years for me and I have said that is it! The "baby fat has to go!...lol.
I am not very good at "dieting" (carbs are my favorite)so I have cut my portions, no second helpings, 100% no eating at least 2 hours before bedtime. I eat things like Pizza Blob (all the items of pizza just without the bread). I figure it is the taste I want so I just change things to get it. My family thinks they are fun to eat so it makes a nice change. I have also given myself "treat goals". Every 5 pounds I "earn" a special treat (small blizzard, couple of cookies, etc -- just one so I don't cut these items out becuase I know I will have them again). I also wear leg weights while I am working and playing around the house and on days were we wont freeze to death we go on walks. So far so good and when the nicer weather get here I will step up the walking a couple notches!
Good Luck!
ps. When or if you fall off the wagon a little remember to not beat yourself up about it! Just start again!
I have been using a great weight loss program called Cinch by Shaklee.
With most weight loss programs, when you cut your calories your body goes into famine mode and starts storing fat and using energy from muscle. That's why you hit a plateau like the one you seem to be stuck at.
Cinch uses an amino acid called leucine to help build muscle while you lose weight, so that you don't change your body composition in a negative way. That way, when you stop the diet you don't gain all the weight back again.
My hubby and I have both had great success with this diet.
To find out more visit www.cinchplan.com/rkklemm
I can feel ur pain.. well i thought i would try that special k challenge for two weeks maybe we motivate each other maybe start monday have a weight (via email if like)and we share the 3 meals planned to eat and how many mins. exercise things like that and maybe we could get more people to try a two challege see what mamasource mama loses most weight in those two weeks... any motivationo
what do you think.....
Hi C.,
Where do you work out? Can you get in contact with a personal trainer to help design a program that will help you? Or just changing your routine around may help.
Best of luck,
V.
FREE website!!! Counts your cals after given a target range, recipies, message boards, 24/7 support from all others in your shoes:)
You don't have to quit snacking, just snack smarter! Use fruits or vegetables for snacks with some protein to keep you feeling full. Carbs are NOT evil; they are essential for life but make sure you're eating the right kinds of carbs - whole grains.
Also, not sure if this is your issue but something to consider. Are you 'cheating' on the weekends? A lot of people who are having trouble shedding that last little bit do so because they eat clean and eat well all week long, but then when the weekend rolls around they 'treat' themselves to a meal or two that is loaded with things that absolutely wreck the diet. I'm not saying you should starve yourself, nor am I saying that you should never reward yourself. If you aren't 'food journaling', start doing that and see if you are going over your calories by a lot on the weekend.
About the exercise - are you strength training? If not, start lifting weights. The weight lifting will not bulk you up like Arnold, but will increase your muscles mass. The more muscle mass you have, the more calories your body burns while at rest. The other great bonus is that your muscles become taut and toned and the appearance of the 'bulge' improves. You don't have to do anything sophisticated, just weight train 3 times a week (chest, back, bicep, tricep, shoulder, glutes, quads, hams).
I am 42 and had my first child 18 months ago. I gained 60 pounds when I was pregnant. All my life I had a weight issue, it's like it ruled my life. Finally after I had my son, I said enough! I try to eat the right stuff but what worked best is no snacking. However if you have to the 100 calorie snack bags work to satisfy the urge, only 1 though. Foods I shouldn't eat, I just don't buy. Out of sight, out of mind. My son is so energetic, I am constantly on the go. I've managed to lose 60+ lbs. Best advise, love yourself more than you love the food. In addition to the exercise, work on the psychological issue too. Believe in yourself!
I realize this is a late response, but I JUST got into a new weight-loss program, so thought I'd share...
There is a new nutritional program comprised of four natural products that is doing wonders in the weight loss field. So far there are people losing as little as 8 pounds a month and as much as 8 pounds a week, without changing their diet and lifestyle. They are just taking these supplements. It's pretty phenomenal - for anyone who wants to lose a lot of weight or maybe just a few more pounds...
The website to check out is www.justeatandlose.com, then click on the tab for the Core4 products.
C.,
I am a SAHM of 10 children ages 17 yrs.-2 1/2 yrs.
In 15 years of being pregnant, nursing and diapering...I have gained an lost 500+ lbs.
Almost 2 years ago when my 10th stopped nursing I made a desision to "battle the bulge", won that battle by going from a size 12- a size 4 in only 12 weeks and now I train others how to have the same success.
If you are interested in checking out my story and my services, go to www.CHAMPcampOnline.com
Change Habits And Make Progress...
Blessings to you on your journey,
C.
Check out sugar busters book. It is about $5.00 at the bookstore. My best friend who also has thyroid problems read the book and eats the diet and has lost 20lbs. Her endocrinologist recommended it. It is really about eating more high fiber foods with a low glycemic index. Keep working out and think about getting the book. IT is only going to cost $5.00!
I, too, have that 20 lbs and have just started to really address this concern.
So...just a couple little things that I am adhering to:
Different thoughts on this subject but... DRINK lots of water. Try drinking NO LESS than 12 oz. glass around 15 minutes before each meal - to get the stomach acids prepped. I have always thought it was good to drink water with my meal but I was told by a dr. that it actually is more beneficial to drink it before the meal and to only sip during a meal. Also, when you wake up in the morning, first thing to do ... drink your 8 - 12 oz. water. The formula that I have been using (and there are a few different thoughts about this is) Figure your body weight; divide number by 1/2 and convert that number into ounces and THAT'S what you should drink in a day. (150 lbs divide by 2 + 75=ounces of water/per day or approximately nine-ten 8 oz. waters.). If you are concerned that you are going to have to go to the bathroom a lot, add a touch of sea salt/kosher to your water. You won't taste it - but it will curb your bathroom needs.
Also, write down what you eat -even those few pretzels or crackers that NEVER made it to a plate but get eaten on the fly - it really is amazing how many snacks I was able to "justify" having and once I wrote them down, I was a little shocked.
One of my friends is a personal trainer. She recommended to me that, even if I think I know what a "portion" looks like, for the first few times, measure it. So if it says.. you can eat 15 cheese nibs or 3/4 cup of cereal, measure it out to get that "true" measurement". You may be surprised how wrong your estimations have been - I know it was an eye-opener for me.
The personal trainer idea is a great one. You may only need someone for a few sessions but it will get you on a good exercise regime. If you are doing the same thing the same way... your body just gets used to it.
Also... use the buddy-system so that you make someone accountable who wants to lose weight and they make you accountable. It's great to have a cheer leader in your corner when you need one - (or that good friend who knows how to motivate and push you!)
Also... just think - if you lose 2 lbs each week, by the last week of March, you will have lost 20 lbs! Even if you go slower, easily by the end of April... WE CAN DO IT!
GO! GO! GO! Good luck.
I wanted to comment on the person who wrote in about the Special K diet plan. I did it last year for a few weeks and wow the weight really did come off. But shortly after I stopped it came back on.
What I found really works for me is to control my snacking, this is much more important than even exercising (which I do almost every day). I drink a ton of water--this is also key. Every time I think about a snack I get a full glass of water first. I carry a water bottle everywhere. Then I really think, does it feel better to eat the snack or when I see another pound lost. Sometimes the snack wins. I had a piece of chocolate cake yesterday but passed up other snacks.
I use the WII Fit most days, I really like it. I was worried it would be too easy. It is good but not a great workout for people who are physically fit already. I have maxed out all the levels but I still find it challenging, just not all by itself.
Good Luck,
P.
Are you drinking any soda? I have read so much about soda, even diet soda, affects your metabolism. It seemed to help me when I quit drinking that.
What kind of workout do you do? To burn fat you need to be at your target heart rate, it's not enough to just sweat. I'm sure there's a calculator somewhere on the web that can help you figure that out.
I also noticed that my metabolism has slowed down quite a bit over the years and I just have to watch how much I eat.
Good luck!
Try Jillian Michael's 30 day shred DVD. It's not a weight loss plan, it's an exercise video with three levels that are all 20 minutes long. I did it for the 30 days (everyday) and lost a total of 15 pounds. I can barely do the 3rd level from start to finish or not feeling like I'm going to die. So you do get a great workout in 20 minutes. Now I have added yoga and pilates during the week so I don't get bored. For your diet, cut out all refined sugar, white bread, white potatoes, white rice, white pasta and ANY soda. And of course, no fast food. Stick to whole grain snacks,wheat bread, whole wheat pasta, brown rice and sweet potatoes. You'll be amazed how fast the weight will come off. Hang in there, you'll get the weight off. I'm sure a lot of other mama's have much better diet info, but that is what I have done. Good luck!
