I Need to Loose 25Lbs

South Beach Diet was recommended by my doctor. It is very healthy and effective. It takes quite a bit of willpower at first, but becomes easier by the day. I have been on it for 4 weeks and have lost about 10 lbs and 4" off my waist. I no longer feel deprived and can eat plenty. Good luck!

Running or rowing are the only things that will allow you to eat what you want. Also, cut every portion in half. Good luck

Are you breastfeeding? Not all women lose weight while breastfeeding. Some women can't lose at all and others hold on to the last of their baby weight all due to breastfeeding.

If you can afford it I would suggest weight watchers, it's really helped a lot of moms kick those last pounds.

Hi, V.! What I suggest first is changing how you view the word 'diet'. From what I've observed amongst family and friends, when they go on a 'diet', is that there is immediately a negative conotation associated with that word. 'Diet' to most people generally conjures up ideas/visions of what one CAN'T eat. What the word 'diet' should mean is what you DO eat...i.e. 'My diet consists of...".

The second thing is to determine what your true motivation is for losing weight. My advice is to NOT do it for aesthetic reasons...don't do it for looks. When people do it for that reason first, they inevitably fail because they don't get results quick enough. They want overnight, or even within a week or two, results. That's not realistic! Rather, LOSE WEIGHT FOR YOUR HEALTH. Do it because you want to get a leg up on any family health history issues that may hit you...do it because it will give you more of the energy YOU want to be able keep up with your kids...do it because YOU want to be healthy enough to be around when your kids have kids. There is a history of diabetes on my dad's side of the family and I had a bout with moderate to severe cervical dysplasia (just this side of cancer) and my dad died of cancer and my paternal grandmother had a history of strokes...I got healthy because this is the only body I've got and I want it to last and I want to be around for my kid. And because if I do end up with diabetes or cervical cancer (or any other kind of illness) rears it's ugly head, I want to know I have the physical ability to fight it because I'd already be physically strong heading into it. Does that make sense?

With all that in mind...your diet should/could (I'd say should, but hey, I'm not a doctor or dietician, so this is just my advice) consist of whole grains (whole grain breads, brown rice, oatmeal), veggies and fruits (the more color the better...make your plate pretty with different colored veggies), low-fat dairy, nuts (if you're not allergic), chicken and fish (if you happen to like seafood). Pork is ok occassionally so long as it is the boneless pork loin chop variety and the same goes for red meat...only occassionally. And cut out processed meats (i.e. lunch meats and hotdogs...the nitrates/nitrites (preservatives) in those are terrible...there are some brands that are uncured and so don't have nitrates/nitrites, but you must be careful in handling these because they must stay cold because they don't have a preservative). Also check with your doctor to make sure there aren't any other dietary concerns (i.e. you're not diabetic...that would necessitate some tweaking to your diet).

You should eat when you're hungry...and take your time eating so your brain has a chance to register when it's full. And drink lots of water. And by all means...ALLOW YOURSELF A CHEAT DAY!!! This is a day when you can eat whatever you want...but here's the key...EVERYTHING YOU WANT IN MODERATION. Moderation is the key...whether you're eating your healthy diet or indulging in your favorite comfort foods. And if you 'fall off the wagon' so to speak, then don't sweat it and beat yourself up over it...just make a better choice at the next meal.

You should learn to become a label reader...and don't worry if this doesn't happen overnight. It's a learned habit...and it takes at least 21 days to develop a habit. :-) But read labels...learn to scan for the fat content and the sugar content and take a glance at the ingredient list. I try and buy things that have few ingredients and that have ingredients I actually recognize. For instance, I try and avoid buying products, like my whole grain breads and jams/jellies, that have 'high fructose corn syrup' (HFCS for short here) listed within the first 5 ingredients. This is my effort to cut out what I consider 'sugar on crack' out of my diet. For the record, Sara Lee's Whole Wheat with Honey bread has none of that HFCS in it...and Bonne Maman preserves also doen't have that in there either.

Keep an eye out for what the labels on packages say a 'serving size' is. Generally what we think is a serving size is way larger than what a real, reasonable, rational, serving size is. Eat your meals on smaller plates...they fill up quicker and so they look like you're eating a lot, but really you're not. I do this when I have to go to luncheons for work...I use a salad plate instead of the full-size plate and I load up that salad plate with salad and veggies and only small amount of meat and/or starch.

And by the way, I think it's wonderful that you're working out so often! Keep it up! And make sure you're getting a balance of cardio and weight training. The cardio does indeed help burn fat and calories, but building up muscle tone also helps burn fat, too. And improving your muscle tone through weight training also helps keep your bones strong thus helping ward off osteoperosis! Bonus! And you don't have to do big heavy weights...start off small and stay consistent, but remember to progress and challenge yourself by slowly adding to the weights you use. This way you won't bulk up...you'll just get nice and toned.

And finally (I know...this is long...my apologies)...if you have a scale...DITCH IT!!! I don't own and scale and will never own one. The only time I get weighed is at the doctor's office. Instead go by how your clothes fit! When your pants start getting loose well, that's pretty darn good sign you're losing weight. And hey it means you can now go clothes shopping! And also go by how you feel. Do you feel more energy with eating well and exercising regularly? You should. :-) You will drive yourself absolutely nuts if you step on a scale on a daily, or even weekly, basis! Us ladies, especially, our weight fluctuates on a daily basis...I mean we've got our lovely hormones and our periods, etc. What's more, is when you start getting muscle tone...well muscle more than fat...so you don't want to get discouraged if the number on the scale is higher and it's just because you're getting wonderfully toned.

Good luck and let us know how you're doing!

L. (37-year old Mom of one...lost 63lbs (43 of which came from my pregnancy) without special diets or a trainer and while working full-time in addition to being Mom to my wonderful son. :-)

I guess it depends on how bad you want to loose the weight! Really it is all in your diet!
If you eat only protein and vegetables you can loose weight really fast. 1 cup of plain oatmeal with 1 tsp honey for breakfast, eggs and chicken with no salt (get mrs. dash seasonings, taste great but no salt!)for lunch, and more chicken and vegetables for dinner. All vegetables are free.. eat as much chicken, fish, and vegetables as you want. It is a lot like the body for life diet. I lost 15 lbs in 2 weeks doing it, but as a warning. Your body will not like you! You will go through sugar withdrawl and be really tired, but you will loose the weight!
A better and more fun way I have found is Turbo Jam! It is a work out series you can get on line through beachbody.com It is really great! I was still nursing my son and lost 35 lbs in 6 months. I had lots of energy still and have been able to keep off the weight. You still have to watch your diet, but it is much more "body friendly" than the other diet. Good Luck to you!

Hi V.. Here's a diet that worked very well for me:
1000-1300 calories per day
20 grams of fat per day
100 grams of carbohydrates per day
79-90 grams of protien per day
Count every single thing that goes into your mouth, including gum, coffee with sugar or cream, etc.
start walking every day. start with as far as you can and increase at least 10 minutes at a time.
I lost 100 pounds. took me a full year, but I have kept it off for going on three years. Good luck. Gramma NeeNee

tough! I know what you're going through. I gained over 60 pounds when I was pregnant. You might want to try to cleanse your body before going on crazy diets. it really worked for me when I got in a rutt!!! I went on a program called Isagenix and it wasn't hard. No starving.
If you want information about it, I would be happy to pass you the number of the lady who helped me through the program.

I had my baby girl just a year ago. When she was 5 months old I was going through the samething. I was not losing weight at all. I was staying at the same weight forever. This is what my doctor suggested for me to do. She said for me to drink lots of water, cut the salt, and also stop drinking sodas and juices. At first I was like this is going to be really hard, but I started to realize that I was retaining my water. I changed my eatting habits. I stop eatting bread. I eat mostly chicken. and I love to eat veggies and fruits.

I do walk at least 2-3 times a week. and I also invested in the Wii Fit game. That Game is great for a person like me who is a stay who motherof 2 and cant always make it to the gym.

If you stay active and eat right. Dont forget to drink lots of water. The weight will ease off. I have lost all of my baby weight pluse more from both babies;)

Let me know how you are doing kay;)

Hi V., you've already received some really great advice but thought I'd share what has helped me lose 20 pounds (and counting!). I joined Weight Watchers at work and joined my local gym. There were a bunch of ladies I didn't even know that joined WW and now we're all really great at keeping each other on task. It's a great group to be a part of.
Also, I work our 4-5 days a week which I know might sound like a lot but really isn't. My gym has child care and as a single working mom, it is a little slice of heaven having that time to myself and I feel better than I have in years! As for my work out, I change up my cardio almost every day. Example, Monday: run for 30 minutes Tuesday: run on treadmill for 15min. then use eliptical for 15min. Wednesday: run intervals on the treadmill (90 seconds as hard as I can go, 3 min. easy jog, 90 seconds as hard as I can go, 3 min. of walking, etc.) Saturday: kickboxing class

Then I also do stretching and weights. Arms/shoulders one day, back/abs another, legs another

Hope this helps!

Hi V.,
I am not an expert, but have to tried consulting with a nutritionist. It could be that you are eating the wrong foods. Have you also tried using weights with your workout routine?
I recently read the abs diet for women by David Zinczenko
It was really easy to read and had great tips. I borrowed it from the Corona library.
Good luck with your weight loss and don't give up!

Hi V.,

Don't be depressed about the baby weight, 5 months is not very long. My youngest is turning 9 years this October and I have finally started loosing the "baby-fat". LOL (maybe you can't call it baby weight when they are in 4th grade).

I have been on weight watchers since January and have slowly but steadily lost 20lbs. I have 20 more to go to reach goal, I went in it as a diet, but have really learned alot about what I was eating and how it effects my body.

1st drink at least 4-5 bottles (16oz) of water a day.
2nd Eat more fruit, veggies chicken/fish.
3rd Pay attention to your body - stop when you feel full.
Its ok not to finish your food.
4th When you start to get hungry again reach for a fruit or a veggie and a bottled water first.

Just what I have learned.
L.

I was breastfeeding, so I did the weight watchers lactating diet. worked great breastfeeding actually helps you lose weight. Also, be careful not to finish what's left on your eight year ols's plate. Thoses calories add up. also, be kind to yourself, you just had a baby. Give yourself some time.

The best way to lose weight is by strength training because it increases the metabolism. If you exercise in the AM it is even more effective as it lasts throughout the day. Make sure you know how to do the training -- slow, with proper posture and build up with increased weights. Warm up for 15-30 minutes with yoga or aerobics to get the muscles ready for the workout. Eat as much raw plant food as possible -- fruits and vegetables. Cooked, concentrated foods have little to no nutrition and high fat content, both of which zap energy. Consider this a lifestyle change, not just a temporary way to lose weight. Good luck, you can do it! L. www.TutorResourceCenter.com

Hi V.. I am a 30 year old mother of three boys. I gained an extra 25 lbs. after my last pregnancy and had a very hard time getting rid of the weight. I have lost half of the weight over a period of 2 months with great results. The key to losing weight and keeping it off is losing it gradually. Weight that falls off quickly because of some fad diet with be regained on a vacation or a splurge-eating when you are eating less than healthy and perhaps not getting your regular exercise routine in. First of all, calories count! In the beginning, it is important to write down everything that you eat and count the calories to see how much you are really getting per day. After to get a feel for how many calories you can have and the caloric value of foods you eat often, you can stop writing it down. Second, if you are eating more calories than you burn then you will not lose weight, period. Even if you are working out 3 times per week and you pig out, you will not lose weight. I dropped my daily caloric intake to about 1400 and did 20 minutes of cardio and 20 minutes of strength training (light weights)3-4 times per week. Make sure you skip a day between strength training to give you body a day off to repair it self and build lean muscle. It is proven that muscle uses more energy at rest than fat. That means that if you have 20 lbs of muscle and are not doing any activity, your body actually has to burn calories to sustain that muscle. Where as 20 lbs of fat burns nothing to maintain. That is why strength training is so important to jump-starting your metabolism and keeping it up. This is a proven strategy to lose the fat and improve your shape, heart and health.

Portion control is vital. I love food! I enjoy going back for seconds. When I cut my calories and did some research on the web about actual serving sizes I found out I was eating way too much food at meals. At first, it was so hard to eat smaller portions, cut the calories and get rid of the fatty food I loved. I completely cut out simple sugars like white sugar, corn syrup, and white flour. It was hard but it is so worth it if you are determined to get your body back. It took my body about 3 weeks to get used to eating smaller portions. I was always hungry and my body was throwing a fit. I was getting enough nutrition but the process of retraining your body to a level of caloric intake that is healthy is not easy, but it can be done in a relatively short period of time. Right away I found that I didn't have that carb-coma feeling after meals nor the bloating and gas afterward that is a result of filling up too much. Drinking lots of water is a absolutely required because fat is water soluble. You need the water to help get rid of the fat. Make sure you get plenty of lean protein like chicken and fish, a wide variety of fresh veggies and fruit. Limit your intake of pasta, bread, sweets and fats. I hope this helps.

Kindly,

B.

Hi V.,

Having to lose 5 or 500 pounds is always depressing and challenging. I battled the bulge and yo-yo'd my way up to 472 pounds. Through sheer will-power I've lost 144 pounds and still yo-yo'd back an forth for the last year. I have finally found a permanent solution that a friend of mine, who is a biatric doctor, recommended these two products that are life changing. These products will make any healthy diet and exercise program 90% more efficient. My hubby and I, (we are both morbidly obese so your own results will vary) lost over 31 pounds and I lost 7 inches off my waist in our first 28 days. Go learn for yourself the science behind these products:

www.FitAndFatFreeForever.com

We are eating a low glycemic way of life. We eat nothing white. Half our plate is veggies. A quarter is low fat meat, and the last quarter is brown rice, whole wheat, sour dough, pumpernickle, corn tortias, or pasta al dente. You can either walk 3 to 5 times a week or do what I do, I use videos by Jody Stolove "Chair Dancing" series. Since I am wheelchair bound, these are the best I can do for exercise.

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Sharing is Caring so Good Luck ~ F.

weight watchers!! It is the one that works. You need to make the time to join and attend a meeting once a week. You will see results. It may only be a pound a week but, it will not come back after you "stop" dieting beacuse Weight Watchers isnt a diet it is a way of life!!! Even if you are breast feeding, there is a special plan to follow. It allows you more points to accomidaate the extra nutrients you need for your baby (that is the one I follow). I joined Weight watchers 8 years ago and I follow it almost every day of my life. It teaches you good eating habits, and it is also great for your family too! Good luck

Hi V., I know it's hard sometimes after a baby- because you're so tired, you can not feel too pretty. V., you're only post new born 5 months. I think that it takes most people a while for the body to get back to pre pregancy weight. Try not to be so hard on yourself. If you're able to exercise 3 times a week, and are eating correctly- the weight will come off. You're probably at a plateau. As you well know if you've got some hypothyroidism, weight gain happens among other symptoms. It'll work out.

I started The Fat Flush Plan after my second. Great info. You can find it online or at Borders. Check it out. Good Luck!!

Hi V.! Isn't it depressing having all that baby wieght? I gained 40 pounds with my daughter, and I exercised and ate well my whole pregnancy. Afterwards, I lost twenty pounds but no matter what I did, I couldn't lose another pound. But then when I stopped breastfeeding, I was able to lose the additional twenty pounds (with a pretty strict healthy diet and a couple of long bike rides a week during my lunch breaks). Don't despair! The weight will come off, it just takes time and a little elbow grease.

V.,
Congratulations on your baby and don't get discouraged. You are doing the right thing by working out and sometimes the results aren't apparent immediately. Just remember that your body had to gain that weight for a reason and it took 9 months to gain it, so it has to take just as long to lose it - right?
I have a business with a company called Arbonne, I don't know if you've ever heard of it but they have phenomenal products to help aide in weight loss and keeping you healthy. Please check out my site @ ____@____.com. I personally use the Protein and Fiber shakes (vegetable protein), the Chews (delicious), Detox Tea (no caffeine) and the Hybrid vitamins... the change in my body has been amazing. Not only how I look but how I feel is extraordinary. Please email me if you're interested and I will help you.
Making a Difference every chance I get ~ N.

SP6 weight loss patches by Lifewave. I lost 6 pounds my first week (with out exercising) and 3 pounds in the second week. The patches are non transdermal. No drugs or chemicals enter the body. These work awesome and if you don't like them, the company will give you your money back (but you'll love them!). For more info or to order go to Lifewave.com/kherihealth I would happy to answer any questions you may have.

First, cut yourself some slack and don't freak out too much because if you just gave birth 5 months ago it is natural to still have weight to lose. Try not to get depressed. Also you're smart to resist diet pills -- or anything else that's gimmicky. Do not try something fast/gimmicky -- you're better off losing the weight slowly as it will seem less stressful and you're less likely to put it back on later. What kind of exercise are you doing 3x/week? If you have truly reached a weight-loss plateau, you will need to burn more calories than you're currently burning. Remember that as you've lost weight your body burns fewer calories during exercise because it has a lighter load to move! Make sure you are getting regular cardio exercise -- ideally, some each day, even if you can only squeeze in 15 or 20 minutes. Do this IN ADDITION to whatever 3x/week workout you're doing now. Also, whatever workout you're doing 3x/week, make it harder. That way you burn more calories in the same period of time. The workout has to be truly strenuous to be effective; a casual stroll will not burn enough calories. If it's walking, walk faster or start to jog at least part of the way. If it's swimming, pick up your pace. If it's weight lifting, shift to slightly heavier weights while doing the same number of reps, etc. If you're pushing your baby in the stroller, add weights to the stroller and go faster. Etc. Meanwhile if your 3x/week workout does not already include strength training, you MUST start this kind of exercise. Either add it to your 3x/week workout or do strength training on the in-between days. (Working out three times per week is probably not burning enough calories for you overall regardless of what kind of exercis you're doing.) The strength-training builds MUSCLE (not bulked-up macho, muscle either, -- it's very difficult for women to get to that point, so don't let that fear stop you. Muscle gives you that lean, sculpted sexy look to your arms, abs, legs -- you want this!). Muscle tissue burns more calories at rest, just by existing, than fat does, so the greater the proportion of muscle you have on your body the more calories your body will burn at rest, which in turn makes fat loss easier. You cannot build muscle through cardio work (though running, for example, helps tone your legs -- but it won't add muscle to arms or abs!) A GREAT workout program for new moms is Stroller Strides. (see wwww.strollerstrides.net for classes in your area). But if this doesn't float your boat, find a way to work in strength training -- either at the gym, or find a strength/body sculpt video you like at the library, whatever will make it easier for you to get this in regularly. Trust me, cardio burns calories while you are doing it but strength training creates muscle that burns calories all the time (not to mention it will strengthen your bones which helps prevent weakness, injury and more when you are an old lady!) You gotta have both. Good luck and hang in there. You can do this.

Hi there! First of all, your weight needn't depress you. You just brought a LIFE into the world with your beautiful body!!! How amazing is that? You didn't mention if you are breastfeeding or not. Usually breastfeeding will help speed up the process. If you are not breastfeeding you can always try what is called a "slow carb" diet. This isn't a crazy Atkins type of diet and it is easy where ever you eat. (Do check with your doctor before beginning any diet, however.)

It goes like this: 6 days of the week do not eat anything that is white or could be white. (For instance: sugar (containing sugar), flour (with the exception of whole wheat), starch (potatoes, rice).) Replace these items with vegetables and/or whole grains.

Now comes the fun part: 1 day a week you can go all out and eat whatever you desire.

Most men when they do this diet also cut out dairy, but you need that for your bone health.

So why does this diet work? It takes many more veggies and whole grains to make up the calories that the empty white foods contain. So you will actually end up eating more (of good things) and will therefore not be hungry. These foods (eggs, meat, legumes, tofu, beans, vegetables), will speed up your metabolism. So why the one day of feasting? When you diet your body has a built in response from ancient times where if you are taking in less food (aka a famine comes around) your metabolism slows to help make the most of the little food that comes in. By feasting one day a week, you tell your body that there is no famine and to keep burning at a fast rate.

I usually pick Saturday as my all out day because then I'm more likely to be with family eating yummy things. After a few weeks though you will notice that even on the feast days you will not want to indulge as much from the great results you are having. If you keep up with it you will lose a pound a week, sometimes 2 in the beginning. In restaurants like Mexican food ask to skip the rice and replace with either just beans or with veggies (if you are breastfeeding please watch the gassy foods.) Ask for corn tortillas instead of flour. Simple. Now you don't have to eat a salad and drool as everyone else has their yummy fajitas.

Good luck!!!

Hi V.

My name is C. Im not a mother but my friend sent me this site I guess cause Im a mother of animals... :)

Anyways I saw your post on losing weight and I know I have struggled with it for YEARS. I have found a web site that is FREE it is called Sparks you can sign in and they give you so many AWESOME Ideas and they have boards that you can talk to people who are going through the same issues as you.

www.sparkpeople.com Try it out and see if you like it they have meal plans and excersice plans also help you to track your calorie intake and have articles to help you know what is going on with your body.

I have lost about 13 lbs and a lot of inches Im still struggling but I really do like sparks...

Well good luck and rememeber it isnt a diet it is a life style change

C. Giovino

I am 57 and never was able to stick with a diet or lose weight when I was on one. Last year my doctor gave the the following diet. I lost 40 pounds in 7 months and by continuing to keep my meals in smaller portions and eating more often I have kept it off now for 6 months.

BREAKFAST:
IRISH/STEEL CUT OATMEAL WITH NON-FAT MILK – MAY USE NUTRA-SWEET OR SPLENDA
OR
1 SCOOP PROTEIN POWDER PLUS 1 CUP NON-FAT YOGURT, ½ BANANA OR 2 TBS BERRIES (BLENDED – SHAKE)
OR
1 OMLETTE MADE WITH 4 EGG WHITES PLUS 1 PIECE OF WHOLE WHEAT TOAST OR TOASTED MUFFIN WITH PEANUT BUTTER OR NON-SUGAR FUDGE. (I personally only ate a piece of toast with Peanut Butter for breakfast as I am not a breakfast eater. My husband added the egg white omlette adding vegetables like spinich, mushrooms, onions)

2 HOURS LATER:
2 TABLESPOONS TOASTED NUTS SUCH AS ALMONDS, CASHEWS OR WALNUTS (OR SMALL HELPING FRUIT) (Raw almonds are very good for you)

NOON:
1 HALF SANDWICH ON WHEAT BREAD WITH CHICKEN, TURKEY, HAM OR TUNA, LOW FAT CHEESE (Jalsburg at Costco’s) LETTUCE, TOMATO ALFALFA SPROUTS AND MUSTARD (PILE THE GREENS HIGH).

3 PM:
1 HALF SANDWICH – SAME AS ABOVE.

5 PM:
SMALL HELPING OF FRUIT/NUTS OR A GLASS OF WINE

7 PM:
SALAD WITH BALSAMIC VINEGAR, OLIVE OIL, GOAT CHEESE, WHITE MEAT SUCH AS HAM, TURKEY, CHICKEN OR TUNA.
(After a month we began making Chicken soup using fat free broth, one chicken breast cubed, and all the fresh vegetables you like. We also used one chicken breast cubed and vegetables and made a stir fry using 1/3 amount of stir fry sauce recipe calls for)

8:30:
1 INDIVIDUAL CUP SUGAR FREE JELLO WITH 1 TBS LOWFAT WHIPCREAM
OR
LOW FAT ICE CREAM (like Skinny Cow)
My daughter used this diet after having her second child and she was able to lose. After getting to your ideal weight, you can eat what you want but keep to the pattern of smaller portions more often.

Hi there, with both of my children it took me a little over a year to lose the weight I gained during pregnancy...it takes time. good luck

Hi V.,

Almost 7 years ago I joined Weight Watchers. In one year, I lost 60 pounds. By attending the meetings, eating the right foods and simply walking in my neighborhood, I have managed to keep it off for almost 6 years now. I also went down 12 dress sizes. 4 years ago I had my daughter and 15 months ago I had my son and kept the weight off afterwards both times. Basically, the meetings motivate and inspire you to keep the weight off. The other members in the meeting give tips, advice, etc. Weighing in every week keeps you accountable. They have Mommy & Me meetings whereas you can take your children to the meeting without worrying if they are going to be too noisy. They have toys play with, and you get to enjoy they meeting. They also offer a plan for nursing moms.

Prior, I had tried everything else and this was the only thing that worked because it is not about being on a diet but more about changing your lifestyle. It absolutely changed my life and now inturn I am teaching my children how to eat healthy too.

I hope this helps.

K.

Hi V.,

Sorry in advance this is so long!

I totally understand your struggles and have been there before! First, don't let the fact that you haven't lost much weight discourage you from working out at all. It's easy to slip into the thought process of "what's the point?!" But, even if you can't readily see the results, it's definitely doing more good than harm to work out!

Second, what about doing little things in your day to stay more active... taking the stairs, parking further away at the grocery store, flexing the glutes at red lights, doing some lunges during commercials while watching tv, taking 10 mins here and there to go for a walk or dance with your baby. Sometimes the little things add up.

One thing I've done too is to have some other way to measure my progress instead of just on the scale. I've never been a runner, so I decided to slowly and steadily work up to doing a half marathon. (There are lots of great training schedules online). Having a goal and slowly working towards it gave me a great sense of accomplishment. I didn't lose a ton of weight (*sigh*) but my legs looked great I felt so good about seeing my progress every week. I went from barely being able to run for 30 mins at a time, to running 13 miles!

Lastly, support can really help. There are lots of places online to get support from people. Even an exercise class or buddy can help improve morale.

Best of luck to you, stick with it!

-M.

Hi V.,

Try Weight Watchers...it really is the best! One thing that people do when trying to lose weight is cut calories. If you aren't eating enough then your body goes into starvation mode and holds on to all the weight it can. Weight Watchers will help you balance it out...it's really worth it!

Weight Watchers is the only thing that ever worked for me. They teach you portion control while allowing you to eat whatever you want. Check it out when they have free membership... They even have an on line program to follow.

Good luck!

Hello V., I have a weight problem. Up and down constantly. I guess I should ask you first how long you've been working out and for how many minutes a day?? It usually takes me about three months to see results, depending on what I looked like before I started. I just started a treadmill work out about three weeks ago and things are starting to go back where they were, so to speak. I dont use diet pills either, but I do take a vitamin B suppliment (for energy) and an Omega3 suppliment because I dont eat fish very often to get these "good" fats in my system. Dont get depressed about it, get angry. It fuels your work out. AND remember everyone is different and you just had a baby. Dont be too hard on yourself and you'll do just fine!! Good Luck.

Hi V.,
When you are excersisng are you changing it up? I know that when we do the same thing our bodies get "used" to it and we don't see the results that we want. I found that when I do cardio and throw some weights or strenth training in I see results pretty quickly.
I would also recommend throwing out your scale...or at least have your hubby hide it. The number is always discouraging and we can't always go by what the scale says. Muscle weighs more than fat. I like to judge my body on how my clothes fit.
I hope this helps.
Good luck and Good Health to you and your family.
L.

V.,

I only have one little monkey, but it took me almost a year to get my 'figure' back. I started with walking around my neighborhood with my son in his stroller, great for the AM nap for him and got me doing some cardio. Then, I took into account portion control, something I forgot about when I was pregnant. I started eating smaller meals and snacks in between, those meals to prevent hunger pains or cravings for junk food.

I would work with your doctor to create a nutrion plan that works for you. Once you get your thyroid results back, then you can start focusing on resolution.

I know alot of people have said it, but thought I would put in my two cents about Weight Watchers. I thought it would be a fluke and wouldnt like it, but I love it!! I was in the same position you were in.. the weight wasnt coming off and I was getting frustrated. I joined Weight Watchers online (I am not really comfortable with the whole meetings thing and enjoy posting online..) it is pretty inexpensive at about 18 a month that way. I didnt realize that just the little things add up and it helps you eat and live healthier not just for you, but for your whole family. I started July 1st, and to date I have lost 21 pounds! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions..

http://liveitdontdiet.isagenix.com/us/en/areyoutoxic.dhtml

It is what I did almost 3 years ago, and o dropped 42 pounds AND KEPT IT OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will never be FLUFFY again!

B.
Family Nutrition Coach
Education not Medciation

I found a diet that I think really works. It's called Fat loss 4 Idiots. I bought the PDF file from a seller on Ebay for $6.99 through my pay pal acct. It was sent via email immediately for down load. It includes a handbook, The Diet Generator and helpful information. Fat Loss 4 Idiots also has a website--this will wind up costing around $70.00. I like this diet because you can choose up to thirty foods on the diet generator and the program will write an 11 day that combines foods, and you can eat as much of the foods to fill you up. I have been on the diet 4 days and lost 5 lbs. You do need to walk as recommended by the diet. I have tried many diets over the years and they have all failed me. Good Luck

Hi V.,
I know how you feel, I found myself weighing in at the same weight 4 months after the day I walked out of the hospital with my daughter!! I was so frustrated too! What worked for me was the Cinch plan from Shaklee www.cinchplan.com/mclemore combined with regular classes at Stroller Strides www.strollerstrides.com. I lost 15 lbs in about 2 months, just in time for our vacation...! Also, I was nursing at the time and my doctor okayed Cinch as being safe (and nutritious) to take while nursing. Good luck :-) C.

Weight Watchers. It works like a charm if you follow the plan, and there are several to choose from. You can go online to find a local meeting place, etc. You also might want to bump up your work-outs to four a week, and walk the other days. If you combine that with the WW plan, you'll be amazed at how the weight will fall off.

P.S. Are you doing a good work out? If you work out at home, I recommend "The Firm".

Hi, here is a program for you to check out at http://www.cinchplan.com/naturalhealthylife. Any questions let me know. I hear it is a great plan.
Y.

when you find something that works PLEASE tell me! I do have thyroid disease and it's so hard to lose the weight. I just had a daughter april 23rd and have not lost one pound!

Morning V.,

I still have baby fat that is 15yrs old. I have tried may items that have been listed on your responses. I found a great item and which I have became a Advisor for this company Advocare! I have 2 grown children in college an one in 4th grade. These items work and I have lost 15lbs and its all healthy items MNS kit which is metabolic nutrition system weight management timeline. Check my website ____@____.com/0808719 I have the business listed with mamasource check it out any question? Please call me @###-###-#### after 3pm...
Good Luck!

I lost 19.5 lbs on the Six Week Body Makeover without doing the exercise portion. Michael Therman said the food is 70% of the battle, so if you only have time to focus on one thing, focus on that. Good luck! db

Weight Watchers is a lifesytle change that really works. I had to lose 60 pounds after the birth of my daughter. I lost it and I have maintained my weight for years on their system.

Try the Special K diet. You have cereal for breakfast and lunch, and anything for dinner. (or regular lunch and cereal for dinner- doesn't matter) Then you can snack on snack bars, and fruits and vegetables all day. I think the most important thing is: try to eat at least 5 times a day. I set a goal for myself to start eating breakfast, and have at least two snacks a day, and cut my lunches and dinners in half. I did it, and I lost weight quickly. Your metabolism will increase; your stomach will shrink, and you won't even be able to eat big meals anymore...

try herbalife,
My son is 5, and I finally have lost 56 of the 80+ pounds I gained with him, I was on bedrest at 4 months pregnant due to premature, very premature labor.
I started it, lost 7 lbs and 11 total inches my first week! and now I am distributing it. My husband who was skeptical about it just started in last monday. I recommend the shapeworks weightloss advanced plus. It is all natural, you have 2 shakes a day, plus a healthy meal, and there is supplements, not diet pills, it's all natural and very healthy.
check it out on my website at www.debsweightlossmall.com
IT REALLY WORKS! It is safe, I just started my 15 year old daughter on it too!

First of all, have your thyroid checked out. An underactive thyroid can cause you to gain or retain weight.

Skip any commercial diets. The real reason the diet industry is there is to make money. Once you go off the diet plan, you gain weight because you're going back to your old eating habits. The diet industry preys on those who will do anything to lose weight.

Here's what I did to lose the last 20 lbs of my baby weight: I added more fruits and veggies to my diet and started snacking on things like grapes, baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, or other things that are easy to munch on instead of chips or cookies. I cut back the amount of soda that I was drinking and substituted water for it. I also cut back my portions to about 90% of what they were before. Simply by cutting back, I was able to enjoy all those foods that I like (even the junk foods). This method was slower than the traditional diets that you pay for; but the weight has stayed off for the last 5 years.

In addition to cutting back on what I was eating, I also increased my exercise. I'm an avid runner. But I also added weight training to my exercise program. Muscle burns more calories than fat. In addition, the aerobic exercise of running (or whatever you'd choose) helps to speed up your metabolism, which burns more calories. If you don't have time to walk or run every day, do things like: use the stairs instead of an elevator, park in the far end of the parking area at the mall and walk, do a set of push-ups or sit-ups during commercials when you're watching TV.

Get a copy of "Shape" magazine and read the success stories. There are usually two or three in each issue. The women who successfully lost weight and kept it off started off by making small changes, which became permanent parts of their lifestyle. Their weight has stayed off because they did not go on a fad diet. These women slowly changed their lifestyles and adopted healthier lifelong habits.

Good luck with your weight loss!

I've always had a weight problem & have tried with little success, EVERYTHING! Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Neutra System, Slim Fast, a medically supervised liquid fast, optifast, soup for 7 days diet, I have bought patches to curve cravings & pills to make you feel full, I’ve had vitamin B12 shots the whole freggin 9 yards!!! Not to mention about 1 1/2 yrs ago i had a gastric band put in place which took off a total of 12lbs, see unlike you I don’t or didn't exercise or like eating right & had lost all hope. UNTILL my best friend talked me into this book & she really did talk me into it. I was fighting her saying “can’t I just stop eating why do I have to try something new?” (I have since told her Thank You for talking me into it & that I wouldn’t thank her for the rest of my life lol!)
"The Abs Diet for Women" & having been on a million diets, this is by far the best! I have lost 12lbs in the 5weeks & don’t feel I am even dieting. I found the book at Target for like 12 dollars & the exercise video (by the same name) at Best Buy for under 20 dollars. I can’t say enough great things about this diet & it’s not really a diet. The book is so informative & encouraging, I am eating healthier, taking better care of myself & my family, I have more energy & am actually exercising now! (Although I’m far from loving working out, I have the energy to do it!). I’ve recommended it to everyone I work with, family members & friends. You have to check out the book. My best friend found her book at a used book store for 6 dollars. There is even a section in the book for women who have recently had a child! I skipped that chapter because my son is now 6 & I can no longer use “Baby Weight” as an excuse ;) I am telling you about this book because I have done every diet imaginable & this one is the best. Good Luck.

Walk
Lifetime chanel Denise Austin's workout is VERY well rounded with great variety.
whole grains
non-fat dairy or soy
LOTS of fruits & veg
no preservatives
check yogurt, many are more calories and sugar than icecream

V.,

You have to call Keverne Collison at Balanced Vitality. I have trimmed down SO much since working with her! She checks what is working and not working in your body and makes it easy to get rid of fat!

Her office is in Corona del Mar...###-###-####.

She is smart and has helped several of my friends!

C.
www.momeezpt.com

Just a thought: are you breastfeeding? If you are, sometimes our body "holds on" to the weight to store for energy to produce milk. Thats what happened to me. For the life of me I couldn't loose it. Now that she's 8months and also eating solids, I'm starting to loose the weight. I also went to a holistic chiroprator who told me it was because I was eating the wrong starches. With his help, and weening from nursing the weight is FINALLY dropping.

Hello V.,

I am on a whole foods all natural nutrition program which is not considered a diet at all. It is foods to feed your immune system. Let me know if you would like me to send you a DVD that will tell you all the information you need to know.

P.

I am on an "inch loss" program that also helps with cleansing your body and repairing what is wrong with your body. If you have Thyroid problems, this should take care of it as to where you should not need a lot of medication if any at all.

The program is called Generate 1000. It is mainly made up of Colostrum. It is an all natural product. I have been on this program for about 6 months now, & can fit into a smaller size pair of pants and have lost about 10 pounds. If you would like to have just a weight loss program, there is a weight loss product spacifically for that.

Just look up twinow.com/jlwagner and healthnow.com/jlwagner and the websites will tell you about the product. If you would like more information, just give me a call at: ###-###-####. I will be happy to tell you more about the product.

J.

hi V.,
Great topic.
I love to see all the awesome responses. You have some great moms advice here helping. So cool. I just wanted to mention a wellness company where I shop that offers delicious meal replacement bars and shakes that are TO DIE FOR.
ALSO, they have a top knotch line of sports nutrition products that are AMAZING. They access your bodies stored fat to fuel your work out. It's patented technology that you can't find anywhere else and these products have been a HUGE help to me (and they are low on points if you do weight watchers- but the company actually has their own website in place of weight watchers and it's much cheaper). Let me know if you would like to hear more.
Have a great day and HAPPY MOTHERING!
;)
S.
____@____.com

Hi
Yes, make sure you have your thyroid checked. It changes during and after pregnancy. I love www.babybootcamp.com
you get a good work-out, get out of the house, baby stays with you, you get to chat and socialize with other moms.
Good luck

Hi V.,

I also had thyroid problems with my first pregnancy and my Mom is hypothyroid so it runs in our family. My second pregnancy had no thyroid issues, however, and it is normal now. I decided to combine Weight Watchers with the Strollers Strides classes that I had been attending 5x per week since my then 2 year old son was born. I did the WW online program and lost 45 pounds in 4 months, ending up several sizes smaller than before I had my children. I still have 5 pounds to go but I think that I will be able to lose that when I am done nursing my now 11 month old daughter. I bought the WW calculator and continue to track my points daily. I hope that you find a method that works for you! Good luck!

The ONLY thing that works for me (I've lost 25 lbs. in the last few years) is to eat totally normally during the day because I need energy for my kids, then eat little or no dinner, and I do go to bed very hungry but the scale shows it the next morning! I even eat desserts during the day, but as long as I eat very little at night it works. Good luck!

I agree that you should not think of dieting, but think of making small changes daily that will pay off in the long run. There is a great book called "The Slight Edge" that talks about making those small choices each day that will lead you into a lifetime of good habits. It is written by Jeff Olsen, and it works in any area of your life.

I am currently doing it to lose weight (among other things as it is part of my business mentorship reading list) and it takes the heavy losd off making that 180 degree turn that most diets require.

The morning meal for me is yogurt with a half banana and 1/4 cup of granola. I use plain yogurt to get the probiotics, so it is about 1/2 cup out of the tub. If I want a snack I use a Nutrilite protien bar or even ONE oatmeal raisin cookie. Lots of water and I add Nutrilite fiber to it to keep me full.

I eat what ever I want for lunch, making it a good decision in type and amount because as a stay at home wife there is only me here so soup and half a sandwich or whatever. More water, no fiber this time.

For supper I try to keep it to brown rice and vegetables no matter what I fix for hubby but I eat smaller portions if I eat the same meal.

If I am out and about I take a Nutrilite protein shake with me for a meal, I take my XX vitamins and CLA daily and before I go to bed I take Nutrilite probiotics.

I use a Rhodiola (yes Nutrlilte) supplement for extra energy when needed or an XS energy drink which has no sugar and really tastes good.

Your body is not like anyone elses so see what works for you. If you are taking a GOOD vitamin and just make your meals smaller it will happen. A little bit every day and don't give up. YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Jacque

I know for me that I tend to hold onto a few extra pregnancy pounds until about 6-months post partum and then it starts coming off again. I'm not sure if it's because of breastfeeding, or just my body, but maybe you are similar.

Thyroid can be a major culprit for weight gain as well, so it's good you're checking it out.

You may also want to keep a food journal and record everything you eat. Sometimes all the extras (a few cheerios here, a cupcake there) really add up. Self.com has a great diet program for logging food.

Also, I found that I started losing more weight by upping my exercise to 5-6 times a week.

Good luck and you can do it!

V.,

I used www.biggestloserclub.com because it has a great menu and you can switch out anything you want. The recipes are great....there is support online and you also get an exercise regimen as well. I lost a lot of weight and always go back to it if I gain a little during the winter. My mother uses it as well....she travels a lot and goes on a lot of cruises. You won't be disappointed and you can cook for the whole family the same thing you are eating. It is 19.99 a month but it is worth it.

I gained 45 lbs. with my daughter (she's 21 months now) and had her at 45 years old. The last 10 lbs. were hard to lose. I did cardio 30-60 minutes 5 days a week and did a 1,200 calorie a day diet. It took about 2 months. I've been running and working out since I was 16 years old. Also, I've gone vegan during the week and vegetarian on the weekend. I try to buy mostly organic products, especially the meat for my son and husband.

I would try to cut back on red meat (if you eat it) and dairy. (BTW, you don't REQUIRE dairy for your bones - there is plenty of calcium in veggies and other sources! see: http://www.soystache.com/calcium.htm) They are very fatty, even the 'lean' cuts and lowfat dairy options. Eat a lot more fruits and vegetables for a few weeks. The suggestion lately is to have your meat portion 1/4 of the plate and the veggies 3/4 instead of the other way around. Might be tough to do all at once, so go easy to start. And don't give up on yourself or cut yourself down for setbacks! Good luck!

i got a book called Peewee Pilates as a baby shower gift. at first i didnt read it, but it has turned out to be very helpful. it has worked for me far better than any of my other exercise experience. it is catered to moms with babies, and i have not only lost weight but my muscles are starting to look more toned. i also eat alot of fruits and vegetables, and try to avoid junk food. the book is by Holly Jean Cosner and Stacy Malin Ph.D. i gained 70 pounds in my last pregnancy and have lost 42 so far. my son is 2 months so i think its working pretty well. it took me 2 years to get back in shape after my first was born.

Hi V.;
Lots of good advice from everyone. You didn't mention if you are nursing and that will make a big difference in how you approach your eating plan. Whichever nutritional solution you decide on you may want to take a look at my link below. The science behind this is terrific. It works in conjunction with your eating plan and is completely safe - just put them on and go.

http://www.iact1.com/enikken/ShoppingCart/Shop.cfm?CurrPa...

Best of luck to you.
S. H

Have you thought about giving up wheat? I was getting terrible stomach pains & headaches so I gave up eating wheat products. Turns out I can't digest it very well. The result is a 20 lbs weight loss, without changing any other eating habits & no exercise change.

Hi V., first after having 2 babies the saying 9 month on and month off does hold true so give yourself a break. But I totally understand. I had trouble getting my last 10 off so i started going to this boot camp called wired fitness. It is held lots of different times at different locations, but mainly at missson bay in san diego. It is really hard but it changed my body completely. the key is doing somthing different so your body continues to change. Good Luck!

I've found the following to help immensely:
Whatever physical activity you typically have been getting, add a half an hour of focused exercise (could be 15 min. twice a day if you need to break it up)--walking the baby is great exercise!

Drop one item of fattening food from your diet each day (monday don't eat bread AND butter; tuesday drop the ice cream; wed drink tea instead of latte--whatever you can find to eliminate while keeping the rest of your diet the same.)

Keep an eating log including how you felt when you ate. For the first week, just keep it and don't judge; thereafter try item #2 (elimination).

I also find that eating pretty much the same kind of diet each day is very helpful, though many people thrive on variety and if you do, following the same basic plan all the time will be unpleasant.
Try to lose one pound each TWO weeks. Taking it slow is likely to help you keep it off. You can always speed up the process with harder work and fewer high calorie foods, but you have to do what you can live with long term.
Find someone to weigh in with (preferably not someone who is also weighing in--no comparisons with others).
I got strep throat after my daughter was born and that helped a whole lot, but I don't recommend illness!!
Remember weight is very different at different times of day and on different days, so just keep a log, don't let any single day affect your mood (elation or disappointment) but try to weigh about the same time with the same amount of clothing (none is obviously the most consistent).
Remember you CAN regulate your exercise and diet and that is the key--no matter what else is going on.
Been there through freshman 15, post two babies, and post menopause. It's always possible to get results at any age.
R. Gilman

I did weight watchers. They have it for breast feeding mothers. And the have mommy and me classes. Lost my remaining weight in about 3 months.

Actually, you will not lose weight with just working out, usually. You need to start keeping track of the calories you are eating and drink lots of water. If you driink soda, switch to diet or water. It makes a huge difference in daily calories. Eat 4-6 times a day, every 3 hours or so. It will boost your metabolism and your body will not hold onto the extra calories because it knows it will be fed in a couple of hours. Try to keep track of what you eat on a normal day. Write doen the calories. After 2 days of that, put yourself on an eating schedule of 300 less calories per day. If you are eating 2000, start eating 1700. I lost 25 lbs that way. Continue to work out. If you are not losing quickly enough, reduce it another 200 calories. You will lose a pound of fat for every 2400 or so calories you cut out of your diet, as long as you are also working out. This will help you lose about a pound a week. Keep track of cardio at the gym. For every 2400 calories you burn, you will also lose a pound.