Diet & Weight-loss

Drink 1-2 TBS of raw organic apple cider vinegar with equal parts water AFTER each meal. I swear this just eats the fat away. It totally works, and keeps the body alkanized, which means healthy, and it's inexpensive and easy. Apple cider vinegar also quenches thirst and helps the body absorb water better. Give it a try for a month. Thanks

Before I had my 6 mo. old I loved going to the gym. Now it's difficult to find the time. If you have Comcast Cable, the Exercise TV On Demand is great.

I have been overweight most of my adult life and on every program out there. What is working for me now is Weight Watchers at Work program. I have lost 36 1/2 pounds in 20 weeks. I have more energy and I don't need to take pain pills for my back anymore. I also track my food intake and activities online on Weight Watcher's e-tools. It really works. In fact, WW is the only program my doctors have recommended. My physician is also on it. The key is, you really have to be ready to lose weight. I finally am and I know I will reach my goal weight this year. Good luck L..

I have 3 kids myself. Im 25 and their ages are 1, 4, and 6. I started at that weight too! After my first I gained massive weight, and then I got pregnant with my 2nd 15 months later and never got the weight off. I finally got back down to my size and was extremely stoked, and then my 3rd came along 3 1/2 years later! She is now 15 months and the weight is off!!! But in between I had lost a little bit of weight and then just started gaining and gaining. Even when I was breastfeeding! The thing that I did that took me forever to realize.... you have to want the change so bad that you would be willing to sacrifice. Mommy weight is sooo hard to lose. But since you have 3 kids you definitely dont have to worry about not exercising cause they keep you going all day and night! I am only 5' 2 and its crazy to look back at pictures of me. People who didnt know me then, still dont believe it was me in the pictures. Im not even going to share what my max weight was!!! But I became obsessed with eating healthy, and working out. I decided to start taking yoga once I got some of the weight off. Yoga changed my life. I turned into a natural health guru!! Now I am going to school to become a nutritionist. The thing I realized the most when I was desperately trying to get the weight off, is that I was miserable. Not just because of the weight, but it had a lot to do with it. I wasnt happy with myself period. You really have to accept yourself, and love yourself and commit to doing things because you want to. Not because you are worried what other people think of how you look. That was the hardest part for me. Once I realized how much better I felt after changing my lifestyles, it just kicked in full force. Its a really hard thing to do for yourself. You dont even know where to begin right? The first thing I did was cut out sugars. Not all sugars just bad ones. I started eating a lot of whole grains, and cut out the bad fats and sugars. I still rewarded myself because I am a lover of food, but I would cut the things that I knew I could stand to lose. Not having fast food never bothered me it was more of a convenience. So I stopped that right away. I never drank much soda so I switched to diet (which is still just as bad) and only had it here and there. Starchy foods were harder but I switched to whole grain, and you will find that after a while you cant even think about eating white bread again. There are so many little things you can do without sacrificing the good stuff alltogether. Let me know if this helps, and feel free to email me back!! I am still in the process of getting the rest of the pounds off. The last 10 are terrible! But we could definitely help motivate eachother!!!

Blessings, and I hope this helps!

Hi L., my name is T. and I can idnentify. I have one 6 yr old and with in the last year and a half I have had 3 miscarriages.And The miscarriages all occured in my fourth or fith month, so I had already started gaining weight and getting wide. I was 130 lbs and a trainner/boot camp instructor.Now I am ashamed to say that.WOW.Its hard. After a days work, kids and husband you want to relax and have some me time(Whatever that is), then the motivation to work out is out the door.I just started a program by a man who used to be a plastic surgeon. He has been around doing this for years and well known.You to in his office and he does an overview of his program and then he gives you perscrition diet supressants and vitamins and then a B-12 shot that helps speeds up your metabolism and gives you energy. I have known lots of people who have done this and they have lost a lot of weight.They found they had energy so they worked out,changed the way they ate and off went the pounds. Let me know if your interested and I will get you his info.

T.

The Isagenix Cleansing and Fat Burning System may be a good place for you to start. It is an organic whey protien shake full of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. You initially drink this shake as a meal replacement twice a day and have one healthy, organic 400-600 calorie balanced meal consisting of a lean meat (no red meat during your "cleanse"), vegetable and carbohydrate. You will also take a mineral supplement in the form of a liquid (1 oz. daily). Drinking lots of water will help you flush your system and rid your body of stored toxins. I have been using this product since October of 2007 and have been extremely happy. I lost weight, gained muscle and best of all I feel balanced. I no longer am a grumpy mom and have mental clarity. I am amazed at how simple the formula is...feed your body the proper nutrition and your body will function like the miracle is was intened to be. I highly reccomend that you give it a try.

I had twins so I know the difference in maiden and mommy bodies. Love what you have but if you want a chance to feel better I would love to help. We could get our kids together and talk health if you have time. Call me at ###-###-####.

There's an online booklet you can download -- called Real People Don't Diet -- based on assessing your carb intake, and just reducing it a bit, and increasing your veggies. Looks like a great plan, but it does rely on meat protein (I'm a vegetarian....or I'd use it.) It costs under $50 to download....money back guarantee (I got my money back) You can email "RealPeopleDontDiet.com" for info or go to the website www.realpeopledontdiet.com

If I ate meat, I'd totally be using this plan -- and now the food pyramid folks are saying we should have 8-12 servings of fruits and veggies a day....this diet makes especially good sense. Cut back on (or cut out) soda -- it's empty sugar calories; diet soda makes you eat more, because it doesn't satisfy the sugar "taste" you want. Even fruit juice is high carb -- mostly corn syrup -- so you're better off eating the apple than drinking apple juice.

GOOD LUCk!

C.

I went to weight watchers, it's about $40/month. I lost 25 lbs in 4 months. The first couple of weeks were tough, figuring out what foods would satisfy me without going over my points allotment, but I think it's a great program. Good luck.

Hi L., I have a simular story. I am 28 and I have 3 kids. I started out at 120 and by the time I had my third I topped out at 210, because I was on best rest for the last 4 months of each pregnancy I gained a lot of weight. I got to 160 and was stuck. I met someone that changed my life! She introduced me to Herbalife, I replaced two meals a day with shakes that are very good and snacked on healthy stuff like nuts and fruits. Cut out all soda, juices and coffee. Swited to water and tea. Within 3 months I lost 40 pounds. The only exercise I got was taking my kids on walks with the dounble stroller. I am a huge sceptic, so I was very surprised when it worked and I took something called total control, which controled my cravings and helped me not to be hungry in between meals. If you are interested I sell the products you can email me at ____@____.com or call me ###-###-####
I look forward to helping you.
A.

I am a Personal Wellness Coach; I offer free wellness evaluations. Usually I meet with my client and we go over eating habits, ways to improve, and areas on which to concentrate in order to eat better. In making healthy choices, not only can you lose weight but you will be modeling healthy choices for your family as well. Give me a call ###-###-#### and we can set up a time to talk! I am also an Independent Herbalife Distributor, so if you also are looking for assistance in choosing a weight loss program, I can help you with that, too. Call me!

The best way, I'm sure you already know, is to consume fewer calories than you burn. If you don't/can't work out try running/walking around your block before you jump in your car to go to work (something that should take about 10 minutes - maybe 2 laps), then run/walk around your office at lunch (10 minutes do it before you eat otherwise you could make yourself sick and you'll feel less hungry), then do it again when you get home before you walk in the door. Have your kids do it with you - push your little ones in the stroller. The added benefit is they act as weights! The other thing is to eat healthy food. Eat breakfast - every single day. It will make you feel better and you'll be less likely to eat the bad "beige" foods. Figure if it is beige it is bad (high in calories/fat/chemicals. If you don't have time to cook dinner for you and your family consider hiring a personal chef if you can afford it. If not, cook enough on the weekends to cover you for the week. I hope this helps, once you get the hang of it you'll see it is a lifestyle change and it'll feel good. Plus, your children will see you modeling a healthy lifestyle that will stay with them for life! If you need any help, email me and I'll be a personal cheerleader for you! Good luck and know you can do it!

I was 135 before my kids and went up to 170 after having my second. In the last 5 months I've lost 25 pounds with a combination of slimfast and Jorge Cruise's 8 Minutes in the Morning routine. (you can find it at any bookstore or online, his website is jorgecruise.com.) Just like it sounds you only exercise for about 8 minutes each morning so it not too time consuming and great for bust moms! I really love this program and I continue to do it each day since I still have 10 more pounds to lose! Best of luck to you with what ever you choose!

There is a weight loss program that has worked for a woman I know who lost 40 pounds and in a healthy way in which she is able to maintain it. It is from Arbonne International. In fact if you sign up for their plan by the 31st you can win a $1000 spa certificate. To learn more about the plan go to www.gofigure8.com. I sell the product in my business and personally drink the protein drinks, chews, which really do suppress my appetite and the NRGGO3 tabs, they to help metabolism and suppress the appetite. The entire company is botanically based, no chemical dyes or artificial sweeteners, no animal by products, just healthy clean ingredients for helping you get to where you want to be. And all certified vegan! If you need more info. let me know. Of course getting on an exercise schedule helps your mind and body. I know it is hard! Best of luck.

Just keep moving!!! As long as you stay active (playing w/3 busy boys)will help you loose the weight and tone the muscles, plus it is a great way to spend time with them. Another thing you can do is watch Fit T.V. and have your older boys execise with you or if it's just you and your 9 month old, have him sit in a safety seat and watch or use him to help you do sit-ups, squats, lunges and curls.

Good luck.

Hi L.,
Wow, you sound like you have a lot on your hands!!

I would like to invite you to a health and fitness seminar we are hosting at Embody Wellness Spa in Mountain View on February 9th. I took the workshop and it has changed my life b/c it has changed my thinking. It's free (except we are asking for for a $10 donation to Children's Miracle Network) and you can register at. http://revelation-fitness.com/

You can find out more about our wellness center at www.embodyspa.com.

All the best to you!
Rié C

Are there other mothers in your neighborhood that you can exercise with? I got together with some other moms in my apartment complex and started a stroller walking club. We walk for about an hour and a half every M-F while the older kids are in school. Aside from the exercise it's a great opportunity to talk about other mommy issues. It's a great support to have the other moms there and we're all loosing weight together.

Another fun form of exercise, and I do this all the time with my 4 month old, is dance. I'll either put her in her crib and dance for her while folding laundry or put her in her snugli and dance around the house with her. You could probably get the other kids in on the act. Call it "Family Dance Party".

Hi L.,

Have you considered doing any exercise videos? There are some really good ones out there now that will give you a really good work out. That way, you can be done with your workout by the time it would have taken you to get dressed, get in the car and drive to the gym. I recommend Slim in 6, the Firm, and Power 90. They will get you sweating for sure.
I hate going to the gym and these really work for me.

Weight Watchers worked for me. It took 14 months because I wasn't always diligent, but it worked. Jenny Craig is working for a good friend of mine, but it's a little expensive. Exercise is important but learning to eat moderate portions comes first. You can add exercise as you go with walks, or videos at home. (I Tivo exercise shows and do them when I can fit it in.) Sign up for something where you can get support and are with people in the same boat.

Good luck!

Hi L.,

You should try Somersizing. Pick up the book: Suzanne Somers "Fast and Easy". It’s an incredibly easy program and you can do it forever. My husband and I started in 2001 and I lost 75lbs and my husband lost 140lbs, we still have more weight to loose and are doing it the healthy way, “Somersizing”. The book also has great recipes which are Fast and Easy to make. I also purchased all her other Somersize books just for the receipes, they are GREAT! Call me if you have any questions 1-###-###-####.

www.suzanne24.com/E.

Gyms are not the only way to lose weight, but you will not lose weight without exercise. It is important that the kids see you move! Put the young one in the stroller, let the bigger ones scooter or whatever they like and get walking. Order home exercise tapes and wake up 1/2 hour earlier in the morning. Pack low cal snacks (vegies, fruits, etc) to get you through the stressful day. Keep an honest diary of what you eat and how you were feeling as you made the choice. It sounds like you have a lot going on and the one thing you don't mind neglecting is you. Weight gain is hard on your ego, and your heart and your lungs. Be careful not to let it get out of control. Do not strive for 125, start with smaller achievable goals.
Get out and move with the kids - they will love it and you will benefit. One pound at a time...20 minutes of exercise everyday will boost your metabolism! You can do it. You deserve to feel better about yourself! Good luck. Happy walking!

Hi there! It seems we have A LOT in common! I am 26 going on 27 in March and I too have 3 boys (a set of 4 yr. old twins). I am having the whole losing weight issue and trying to get back into what "I" like. It's a little sad because as much as I love being a mom it's so hard to not lose yourself. So I am trying to work out daily (if I get a chance). And basically eat better. I thought for this year I will try to focus more on me and working on the inside and out so that I can be a better mommy. If you'd like to chat Good luck and God bless! :)
C.

I've been told Weight Watchers is a really awesome program, where you don't feel starved or deprived. If you have a sedentary desk job, that will make it harder. Do you have breaks where you can walk? They say even short, brisk walks all add up during the day. Drink plenty of no or low-calorie fluids and eat 4 or 5 small healthy meals during the day to keep your blood sugar levels even. You've got to move...dancing, vacuuming, walking with the stroller & kids, bike ride, etc. You also might have your thyroid levels checked just to make sure you're not hypothyroid, which causes weight gain. Good luck!

I have gained way too much weight over the years, and decided that 2008 is the year I'm going to lose it. I am no expert, but my heart goes out to you. When you are taking care of everyone else it is easy to forget to take care of yourself. I also work full-time, and there always seems to be junk food at the office. I started before the holidays just cutting out the snacking and replacing sandwiches with salads, and have lost 8 pounds. With 3 children and a full-time job, how can you go to the gym? Don't be so hard on yourself! I am going to start bike riding with my daughter. That way we exercise and spend time together. Is there some kind of exercise you can do with your children, like taking walks or dancing together at home? That would be fun! I know what you're going through, and my prayers are with you.

Weight Watchers. it is a fantastic program - that works.

The best life diet. Check it out Oprah .com. I love it! A good idea is to buy a used treadmill on craigslist and just get on it walking and building up to running. I lost all of the 60 pounds of baby weight I gained by the time my daughter was 3 months old. I still have maintained the same weight however I still have 20 pounds to lose from before the baby. Good luck!!

I belong to the YMCA and they have a wonderful day care. Taking classes will not only help you with weight loss but will help in the stress department. It really gives you that extra boost to get through the day.

join a indoor soccer team . teams play 1 time a week and it's great exercise .

I could only give you my opinion about what worked for me. I am also a mom of three. Ages almost 11, 9 1/2, and 7 1/2. I was never "skinny",but in good shape. After having three kids within four years, I definitely wasn't the shape I wanted to be. When my youngest was just about 14 months, someone asked me if I was expecting another one. I wasn't upset, but it made me think. I decided that was it! I made a strong decision to MAKE TIME for me. I joined the YMCA in our area(they had daycare) and ate better. Slowly, I lost weight, gained energy, and overall felt good about myself. Sure, I wasn't going to fit in my wedding gown again, but I have three beautiful children!! I don't need to fit in the dress again anyway. Start off little. If you can, walk the kids to school. Park away from the store entrance. Take stairs. If you can't join a gym, with daycare, do something outside with your kids. Get Dance Dance Revolution. It's a fun and easy work out. The kids will love it too! Eat little meals. Put a healthy snack into the middle of the day. You won't eat too much at dinner that way. I know it's hard, but drink a lot of water. Overall, don't worry about being skinny again. Feel good about yourself! You have three children who love you. Good Luck. K. B

Unfortunately, L., there is no magic cure. Weight loss is very simple. You must burn off more calories than you take in. If your job is stressful, you may be tempted to snack on unhealthy foods. Your best bet is to simply never, ever buy junk food in any fashion. Don't keep it in your house. Don't keep it in your desk. Go for walks at lunchtime, and eat fresh fruits & vegetables. Cook only with olive oil, not butter. Fresh fish, lean chicken. No pastries, cookies, donuts, or other junk. You know what it takes - we all do. It's just a matter of whether or not you have the determination to change your habits. A number of other moms I know have been very successful using the Weight Watchers CORE plan, but like I said - you have to be determined. No magic bullet. No magic pills. Just a lot of hard work. You can do it!

Life can be overwhelming but taking care of yourself has to be your priority. Whn you are healthy and happy you are a better mom. I am a widow with two girls who has always battled my weight. in the last two years I realized I had to change that becae all my girls had left was me. Just start walking whenever you can. I know finding time is hard so do it as a family or on your lunch break. Commit to doing it for two weeks and hopefully it will start to become a habit. Another crucial thing for me was NO FAST FOOD. It can sometimes be the easiest and fastest solution but it does no one any good. Track your food for five days nd se what you are eating and what you can cut. I personaly eat less bread, no potatoes and no pasta. They were all foods that made me hungrier or I couldn't stop eating. Occassionally I wil eat the whole wheat version and I like it. These can get you started and really believe you can take control of your life. In two years I have lost 65 lbs and I still have about 70 to go but I have also done two triathlons. I can't even begin to tell you how confident I have become. It is not all about how you look but how you feel. Good luck!!!

L.,
I run a mom and baby fitness class called FitMomma where I teach boot camp style classes to get in great strength training, but you get to bring you baby along! I also have cardio classes that are 60-70 minutes long so that you can get your heart rate up and really start burning the calories you need to take off the baby weight. It's a great way to set goals for yourself among other women who are going through the same thing and your son can interact with other babies. I can't tell you how excited I am to get other moms out there to change their lives and to include fitness into their children's lives! If you're in the Oakland or San Francisco area, I also do personal training and can easily do it with your kids!

Please let me know if you'd like more information on classes or personal training. My website is www.fit-momma.com.

We'd love to have you out there with us! I really hope that I can help you out!

L.,

I am in the same boat as you. With 3 kids, it seems like I'm in the car most of the day. My biggest problem is that I don't get enough sleep. I am really working on this, but it is about the "whole package." I am hosting an 8 week healthy lifestyle challenge through a trainer / nutritionist / author from Ventura County named Robert Ferguson. He is a healthy lifestyle "guru" and has friends and mentors such as Jack La Lane, Dean Ornish, Mariel Hemingway. He is also the trainer on the boxing reality show The Contender.

The challenge is geared towards anyone who wants to lose weight OR anyone who wants to get more fit, lower their cholesterol, get rid of hypertension, or just want to look better. The challenge focuses on setting goals, an eating plan (he says you can eat ANYTHING you want. You take your recipes and make minor adjustments to use ingredients that have a lower glycemic index), an exercise plan (walking, exercising at home or at the gym, and how to use weights) that even comes with photos of correct positioning, weekly webcasts and teleconferences and several meetings at my house that are designed to motivate you and answer your questions. The meetings at my house aren't mandatory, it's just to boost motivation. You can personalize your challenge by emailing Robert or calling. In fact, he says the people who have the best results are the ones who ask tons of questions. The key to this challenge is SUPPORT. And working on your goals with other people in a community minded way usually leads to better results!!

I'm so excited about this challenge. My own goals for this challenge are to lose weight and to lower my cholesterol. Believe me, I have a long way to go on this front. . .

If you're interested, you can listen to an archive of his webcast from Friday. Please go to his website at www.dietfreelife.com. If you think you may join me, you pay him through the web site, but if you type in my code "415," you get 20% off. It is only $40!! Oh yeah, the starting date is January 26. Registration deadline is the 23rd. Please call me if you have any questions.

Blessings,

A.
###-###-####
visit Robert's website at www.dietfreelife.com

I was in that boat after my third child. I bought a calorie counter, figured out how many calories I could consume each day and still loose weight and wrote down every calorie I put into my mouth. I also made a commitment to walk everyday, even if it was only 15 or 20 minutes. The weight loss was slow but consistent, I dropped 35 lbs in about 7 months.

Good luck!

M. L

After having kids weight becomes an issue for most moms. If it is something that you really want and something that is really important and means alot to you then what you need to do is look for a couple things that you can implement into the day that will help you. One being you cut down on eating junk food if you do. Really make an effort to eat healty. Diet is very big part of losing weight sometimes even if you can't work out you can eat better and lose weight that way. If you want to be serious about it then you need to incoporate it into making it apart of your day just like grooming yourself or even taking care of kids. When you play with kids use your excericising to play with them. They usually find it fun that they do some of the excercises to and it teaches them to be healty but also they think your playing and that means alot to them.

You can try Weight Watchers at home check out their web site. I have done that and it works if you stay with it. I found Curves to be very helpful. It is a 1/2 hour 3 days per week. They don't have any child care however. I know how you feel but be happy with yourself as I am sure you are a great Mom.

Hi L.- congratulations on managing a full-time job with three children- that is a big deal! It is hard to know what to offer without knowing more about how your body and your schedule tend to run, but here are a few thoughts:
1)rule out any actual medical problems- such as thyroid issues- if your weight gain is truly remarkable (40lbs or more)

2) give yourself a break- stressful jobs and young children are neither one conducive to optimum weight loss because you probably don't get frequent, regular exercise of the helpful variety (you're working all right, and you're tired too, I bet). If you can make regular time for the heart-pumping exercise that you love best, that will help.

3)Are you breast-feeding your little one? Because your body naturally will want to carry a bit more weight in order to sustain milk production (in the range of 5-8 lbs,say) If so, don't fret- it'll fall off when you wean and you need it now.

4)Whatever you do, don't 'crash' diet or starve yourself- it only tricks the body into hoarding fat whenever you do eat more normally- if you tried this (or inadvertantly fell into this pattern because of being too busy to eat) after each pregnancy, that would explain an abrupt change in weight now.

5) Eat your green vegetables- just as you would like your children to do. When you're stressed, comfort food is often way faster and more appealing, but I promise you it's better to go for the veg and promise yourself a small 'treat' now and then. Be sure to eat most of your protein in the early part of the day, because it metabolises much better that way (try to avoid it after about 3:00/4:00pm).

I wish you a speedy return to a body you enjoy- happy mothering- R

Hi L., I can relate! I recently dropped 25 pounds and have found a healthy way to do it and increase my energy. The first step was deciding to be healthy -- not just lose weight, because that leads to more set-backs. One product that helped is called NanoGreens, but you can only get it from heath professionals, it's not sold on store shelves. It's a powder that you mix with water and drink every morning, it contains all the vitamins and enzymes a body needs, as you cut back on your calories and add exercise to your routine. I'm not a gym-person, so I just take long walks on the weekends (I'm up to 4 miles now). Anything you do is a positive start, and will gradually help you lose weight and get more energy back.

If you can get to Sausalito, there is a licensed nurse who does massage, facials and lifestyle consulting who was instrumental in my case. She sells NanoGreens, and her other services are great for relaxation and skincare. NanoGreens are pricey, but one container will last a long time since you only use a spoonful or two per day. Her website is: www.mishaspavitale.com

Good Luck!! You can do it!!

M. O'Connor

Weight Watchers has a FABULOUS program that works. It's waaaay easier if you are still breast feeding because you get a lot more points per day. I lost 45 pounds in it after having my son 2 yrs ago. The hardest thing is to walk through that door. (don't do the online program. It works much better if you go in to a center and stay for meetings - maybe on your lunch hour...) Good luck! You can do it.

K.

Check out Baby Boot Camp! www.babybootcamp.com

Stroller fitness that not only whips your butt into shape, but provides you with a great community feel! There are also franchise and instructor opportunities available in some locations.

weight loss is a common dilema for many moms! it's hard to give weight loss advice, because it's a very personal issue for people and we get so much conflicting advice from the "professionals" -
my most general advice would be this: make sure all your snacks are protein snacks (cheese, jerky, nuts etc), not carb/sugar snacks, don't drink fruit juice (eat fruit instead), stay away from fast food, cut down on sugar/processed flour products. the biggest trap we all fall into is eating our kids snacks - and the fact of the matter is that THEY aught not be drinking all that juice and eating all those raisins and banannas and crackers and cookies, either!!! (raisins and bannanas are very high in sugar and ideally should only be eaten once or twice a week, and i cup of apple juice has the sugar and calories - and none of the fiber - of ten apples)
whole foods are better, protein and fat are GOOD for you (not fried food fat, but fats that naturally occur like meat fats, avocados, oils, fats found in nuts etc) - fat and protein regulate and stabalize your metabolism so that you aren't on a hunger/craving rollercoaster - and don't forget those vegetables! they are powerhouses of nutrition without many calories or fat :) good luck, hun, it's a hard road to be struggling with hormones/weight but you're looking at it and that's a very, very good thing! i wish you the best in finding the path that works for ya :)

Hi L.,
I know how hard and discouraging it is to loose the weight. I commend you for reaching out with this email and know that you can do it! I have some FANTASTIC tools to help you! It starts with the commitment and it seems you are ready. Have you heard of Arbonne? It is a swiss formulated company that sells botanically based products. Truly great stuff and very beneficial. Pertaining to weight loss, we have protein shakes and fiber shakes with very healthy ingredients! We also have weight loss chews to give you extra energy and help you get through those "snacking" times of the day. The flavors are yummy, too - chocolate, carmel, pink lemonade, peanut butter, and berry burst! We've got a detox tea to help cleanse your liver, kidneys, and blood and support good health, and a weight loss supplement that is very effective at curbing your appetite, increasing metabolism and aiding digestion. Then, our newest product is our energy drink. It comes in a tablet like airborne that you mix with water - very convenient for us busy moms. The energy in the drink comes from green tea (a super antioxidant), a B complex, ginseng and a little bit of gurana. I have been so excited sharing these tools for weight loss, especially with busy moms, and would love to talk to you more about them. And, I would also love to support you, not only in meeting your goals, but in letting yourself off the hook for your weight gain and difficulty getting back to your ideal weight. In addition to selling Arbonne, I am also a yoga instructor and counselor specializing in women's issues. The hardest thing for us to do, AND THE MOST IMPORTANT, is to accept ourselves in the moment, however we are! Then, accept change, embrace change and work toward your goals. You are already doing that just by sending out this email and asking for help!
Please feel free to call me at ###-###-#### or email back!
As far as Arbonne, you can check out our website, too at arbonne.com or gofigure8.com.
You can do it!
Love,
T. Moore

Diet and exercise...I would start with exercise. Just try to get some every day and try to watch what you eat. I think with all the stress of life and 3 kids, if you push a "diet" you might just get frustrated. I am in the same boat, I have been trying to walk more. I am leaving my hubby with baby and running to the store etc. Slowly losing....like a pound a week....but you put it on over 9 mo ..longer to take off. Hope that helps

First off... you said your job is stressful... Try to cut back. Stress allows your body to store FAT that eventually lead to weight gain... You really need to exercise.. Even if it is just walking for 15 minutes a day.. This gets your blood flowing and allows for your body to get rid of waste.. Exercise also reduces stress. I did the south beach diet... You can even cheat a little and you will drop pounds. I lost all my weight from my first baby within the first 6 months (40lbs). All I did was eat right and walk alittle a day. The last 10 lbs was the worst.. I did the South beach diet and lost 10 lbs in two weeks!! The most important part of loosing weight is eating right.. Eat good protein, good carbs, and fiber.. second is exercise... even walking around the mall.. what ever it takes to move around. You lose calories.. try to stay away from Junk food and soda and coffee... These three things will ruin your chances of weight loss.. If you want junk food try to eat yogurt or sugar free pudding or light ice cream.. drink low fat milk and low fat cheese. and plain coffe if needed.. You really don't have to diet just change the way you eat... It will require help from your house hold... I run around the house with my nine month old.. He chases me.. and I end up sweating... and before you know it you have exercised for 30 minutes while playing with the baby.. Swimming is an awesome way to exercise.. and choose your snacks wisely... eat nuts, fruit, and things with either no sugar or low fat.. Cheese sticks..

I am a first time mom of a beautiful nine month son!! Married 5 years..

I have never been that weight, but am getting ready to start my own weight loss program so I can get down at least 40lbs. I am starting with the attitude of changing the way I eat instead of dieting. That means watching and reading the labels of the food, actually eating a meal, and exercising regularly. I would take a look at what you eat and make a journal or log for like a week. Then evaluate it and see if there are more healthy alternatives to what you ate. Being busy this may seem hard, but it could help you better organize the meals for your whole family. Going to the gym can be fun for your whole family. Most gyms have great daycare areas on site which don't cost anything more for a family membership. We belong to the local YMCA and the price is about $70/month for a family membership. What I told my husband is that we can cut out just (1) of our dinners out in a month and cover that cost. And the benefits are great. They have onsite childcare, classes and you get a session with a personal trainer. It can be a daunting task, but starting and sticking to it will make you feel better in the long run. One last thing, I would also check on-line for some sites that offer e-dieting. They help plan menus and exercising activties that you can do at home.

Try walking every day - pushing the stroller. If your job lets you have any time at the end of the day. If not, try and take a break at lunch for a BRISK walk.
And I know it is a bit boring, but if you can get in the habit of eating the same thing every day for breakfast or lunch it really helps! It "trains" you to eat only certain amount of calories.

I know how hard it is! You can do it! Just go day by day girl! Good luck! And set out a dish of carrots or healthy snacks at your desk or on the table at home to help you. L.

Hi L.,
I am a new mom and a registered dietitian and I know it can be hard to eat healthy and snack healthy, but I would suggest eating 5-6 smaller meals through out the day to keep your metabolism going, have healthy snacks on hand and divide them up in small portions in zip lock bags for conveince, snacks like trail mix or almonds with fresh fruit, or whole wheat crackers. Also make sure to eat breakfast, preferably with some source of protein- eggs or soy patties or yogurt for example. Try to walk with your kids after work or kick a soccer ball around with them for some activity. Of course try to limit fast food and restaurant food, and sweets because they are high in calories and low in nutrients. Overall don't be too hard on yourself- you just had a baby 9 mo ago- you will probably never be at your pre-babies weight again, but with better choices you can find a healthy mama weight for your self
hope this helps

Hi L. - I remember way back in high school when I weighed 125 and never had to give my weight a second thought. Are you nursing the 9 month old? If so, you can eat up to 2000 calories a day (as long as you work out) and still lose weight. I have a collection of DVD's from Billy Blanks, Turbo Jam, etc. that I rotate through to keep things fresh. I work out at 6 am, but when I was nursing it was more like after breakfast. Your kids will enjoy watching mommy exercise and may even join in - you could wait till your first grader is at school and then only have 2 kids' worth of interruptions to deal with. By taking care of yourself, you are setting a great example for your kids - don't feel guilty about taking time to exercise and eat right. I'm 42 and keeping the weight off is harder than it used to be, but definitely worth the effort (BTW I'm no where near that magical 125).

I joined ediets. The plans, exercise and most of all the message boards were great. I was heavily into the working moms board, where everyone is in the same boat. It gaveme motivation and I learned how to sneak in exercise time and learned more about how i could make me more of a priority without giving up on my kids.

Good luck, and remember that there are lots of us that battle the same problem, you are not alone!

L., The only way to lose and maintain weight is to exercise and watch your calorie intake. One program that can help is weight watchers. It is not a diet. It is a lifestyle change. You get to eat anything you want but in moderation. They have two systems - points or eating certain foods. And I am only suggesting weight watchers because it can help you get started. You can actually do it on your own if you start watching your portion size and adding exercise. Cardio plus strength. And you don't have to join a gym to exercise. There are things in your house that you can use. You can buy tapes to play at home and do fun workouts. Core rhythms is a good set of DVDs. Do not let anyone talk you into anything else (High carb, low carb, protein only, soup only, pills). The problem with those plans, they may work but for a short time because you can't be on them for life. That is why you need a lifestyle change. This won't be easy. But if you commit today and get a support group, maybe some friends or family member to do it with you, you will be successful. D.

L.,

I am 42 and have two children (6 1/2 and a 15month old. I started out like you (I had my first at 35). I am now 42 and I am the biggest ever. I was always thin until I had my first child. I know the feeling, I hate it....I don't like to buy any clothes for myself, because I feel they don't look good on me.

Now that it is a new year, I have to find time for myself to join a gym. You have to get some type of exercise in as well as eating less and more healty. For me, this would be my outlet since I don't go anywhere by myself. I help my husband with his business and I don't even know how I would fit this in. I can try at home, but who am I kidding.......

I say to myself I'm so busy.....don't have time.....I realized you just have to do it.......the work will always be there........so I decided I am going to join a gym and perhaps a personal trainer.

This is all I can tell you now. I hope to loose 50 lbs. by june.

Good luck!