Losing Baby Weight - Midland,TX

I have 2 boys, 1 and 2 years old. With my first son I gained 61 pounds. I lost 30 but I got pregnant again so I gained that 30 plus 4 more back. I lost about 25 after him and was stuck until March. I started going to a weight loss clinic [they have them all over] and am on phentermine. I've been on it a little over 3 months and have lost almost 30 pounds. Sadly, I don't get much exercise [live in a bad neighborhood so I can't go walking, can't afford a gym membership].
I've heard some people say that they gain the weight back but they also said that they didn't change the way they were eating so I don't know if it'd do the same if you ate like you were SUPPOSED to. lol.

You can contact Keith Ahrens. He successfully lost a lot of weight after years of failed attempts.

http://www.keithahrens.com/

Dear A. Sue,

I have not been very successful in the weight loss department yet... However I did just see an endocrinologist. She told me I was deficient in vitamin D and that recent studies show that people who are deficient in vitamin D have a very hard time losing weight. I had never heard that before! She has recommended that I take 2000 IU of D3 per day and continue watching what I eat and exercising and come back in 6 months to get my blood work checked again.

I came home and read a lot about it on the internet. Below is info copied from one of the links (naturalnews.com) that seemed to explain it the best. I saw a comment after one of the many articles online where a practitioner said he has had patients with chronic illnesses on 4000 IU to 6000 IU per day doses of D3 (checking vit D levels every 3 months) and that they had experienced a lot of weight loss ranging from 30 to 80 lbs and that they were all very happy with the weightloss but it took them a while to figure out it was linked to the vitamin D supplement. Not very scientific but I am hoping if I do the same it will help me. Vitamindcouncil.org is a great resource and I think you can order vitamin D tests through them. (It takes a finger prick, few drops of blood on a card and you mail it in to get results.)

Here is to Hope!
~K.

Vitamin D Promotes Weight Loss
by E. Huff, staff writer

(NaturalNews) A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Minnesota found that overweight people have better success in losing weight when their vitamin D levels are increased. Dr. Shalamar Sibley, the researcher who headed the study, placed 38 obese men and women on a diet program and discovered that those whose vitamin D levels were increased lost up to a half pound more than those who followed the diet plan only.

When combined with a reduced-calorie diet, it appears that supplementation with vitamin D helps to promote increased weight loss among those whose levels are low to begin with. For each nanogram per milliliter increase in vitamin D precursor in the blood, it was observed that an extra half pound loss in weight was able to be achieved while the diet plan.

A study published earlier this year in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that 75 percent or more of American teens and adults are deficient in vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency is linked to all sorts of serious illnesses including cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Researchers in the weight loss study are unsure whether vitamin D deficiency causes obesity or if obesity causes vitamin D deficiency. Nevertheless, there is a clear connection between the two.

Vitamin D, in conjunction with calcium and sunlight, helps to properly assimilate food and regulate normal blood sugar levels. When there is a lack of calcium, oftentimes due to a vitamin D deficiency, the body increases production of synthase, a fatty acid enzyme that coverts calories into fat. Calcium deficiency can cause synthase production to increase by up to 500 percent, explaining the correlation between low levels of vitamin D and obesity.

Mainstream research has only begun to scratch the surface about the importance of vitamin D in general health maintenance. A clinical study conducted in April of 2000 revealed that patients who were bound to wheelchairs because of chronic fatigue and body weakness became mobile after just six weeks of supplementation with 50,000 IU of vitamin D per week. Other studies are showing remarkable healing from all kinds of diseases when vitamin D is brought up to proper levels.

Although current guidelines suggest daily intake somewhere between 400 and 600 IU, recent research is suggesting that this may be too low. Getting between 4,000 and 10,000 IU a day will have a much more therapeutic effect, boosting health and fending off disease. When natural sunlight is not an option, supplementation with vitamin D3 is the next best option.

Sources for this story include: http://wcco.com/health/vitamin.d.we... http://www.scientificamerican.com/a... http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/art...

I feel your pain. I have three kids and gained 40-50 lbs with each of them. My youngest is now 18 months and I am skinnier than I was before I had kids. What's my secret....eat healthy and exercise. You have to make a schedule and commit to it. Crash dieting or exercising vigorously for a short term isn't realistic and it definitely is not healthy. Being at a healthy weight (which is different for everyone) is a way of life. Find out how many calories your body needs on a daily basis based on your height/weight/age/activity level (this is your Basal Metabolic Rate). You should eat no less than 1200 calories (women need at least 1200 calories to properly function) but less than your daily amount of calories. By creating a calorie deficit you will lose weight. When you exercise, you are burning calories and creating a calorie deficit. Also, exercise helps create muscle which burns calories even when you are sitting...and muscle looks/feels good.

Bootcamps, going to the gym, exercising with a personal training all work. Bootcamps are good because they are scheduled, they are led by a personal trainer and are a cheaper alternative to one on one personal training. If you are disciplined to stick with a self-run gym routine, then this is definitely cheaper! If you stop exercising (whether is walking around the neighborhood or going to the gym) but still eat the same number of calories, then you will stop losing weight and possibly gain weight. The key is to get moving and keep moving.

It is not a question of diet OR exercise. You have to do both if you want to see real results. Set small, attainable short term goals. Stay committed...don't give up. Losing weight and toning your body takes time. Oh, and it is hard at first. The first month of any new exercise regime is painful. Trust me...it gets better. It takes between 8 to 12 weeks for your body to start showing the results of any exercise program. Many people lose heart before this time and give up. You are already on your way to a new healthier you...you are motivated and willing to make a commitment. You can do this!

Side notes:
A. Go to your doctor and get a full blood work up done. You want to make sure that you are all clear to start exercising. Also, have them check your thyroid and cortisol as issues in these areas can cause weight gain.

B. Drink green tea. So many benefits to list here....google it :)

C. Drink 8-10 glasses of water a day. Add lemon if water is boring to you.

D. Eat 4-5 small meals a day. Eating more frequently prevents blood sugar spikes and helps keep your metabolism rev'd.

E. Eat Breakfast! The longer you go between meals, the more your body thinks that you are starving. If it thinks it is starving, then it is going to start storing fat.

F. F is for Fiber. Increase your fiber intake slowly until you are at 28-30 grams a day. Make sure you are drinking your 8-10 glasses of water a day to ensure that the fiber is dissolving correctly or you will have gas. Fiber makes you feel full and will prevent you from overeating. Fiber one bars, greens and apples are great sources of fiber.

G. Eat Protein. Chicken, pork, fish, almonds...helps you build muscle and prevents you from overeating by making you feel full.

I have recently started using. Weightloss Patch. My mother has used it for about a year and a half and has lost 60lbs and has gone from a size 24 down to a 14. My son is now 14 months and the weight would not come off. I have now worn it for going on 3 weeks and I've lost 5lbs and an inch in my waist already and I haven't changes anything. I don't work out and I haven't changed what I eat. Let me know if you want to know more. I have a pamplet on the ingredients and how it works. The great thing is it's all natural. Along with weightloss it gives you energy and has a whole list of health benefits. Feel free to give me a call or shoot me an email. ###-###-####
M. T.

I also used Weight Watchers online after each birth (I have 3 kids—11, 6, and 4). It took roughly 12-18 months to get rid of all the weight plus some. I have maintained the weight loss for 2 years now. It is nice that you eat what you normally would with WW; but portion control is the key. Also, drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day helps you lose the weight as well. Try to cut back the cokes (if you drink any). You would be surprised how much weight you lose if you do this. Don't give up wanting to lose the weight. WW has an online chat and maybe a blog which helped me when I started losing hope; the moms on there were a great inspiration. Hope this helps and good luck!! -- L.

Try the Mediterranean Diet. Its not really a diet but a way to maintain a healthy eating lifestyle. It is a healthy way to lose the weight and Europeans have some of the best health ratings. Plus its free. You won't have to pay like at Weight Watchers.

For exercise, try walking where its hilly. Going up and down hills is the same as interval training and works different muscles than if you were walking on a flat surface. You don't have to over do it. Just do 30-45 mins a day or every other day. 3-4 days of exercise a week can prove really beneficial to weight loss. You don't need a gym to lose the weight. Plus walking is one of the best exercises you can do. Oh yeah, its free also.

If you stick to both of these consistently, don't beat yourself up if you falter, you will lose the pounds at a rate that is healthy. Crash diets and boot camps aren't realistic for most people and as soon as you stop you gain the weight back. Plus did I mention that the stuff above is FREE.

Hi there,
I totally understand how you feel.
Recently I bought a book called "The belly Fat Cure". I got it at Costco for like $12, less than the book stores. What the book talks about is reducing sugar intake for about 15 grams per day, and 6 carbs per day. You also need to eat three meals a day, plus to snacks in between .
It absolutely works, I have lost 7 pounds in about 2 months.
The more weight you have to loose , the faster it will happen.
You need to be committed and give up all those sweets!!!
You can do it, do it religiously for about two weeks, and you will see the weight going by by!!

I am in a group run by the most fantastic whole body coach named Kratai(sounds like kuh-TIE) Albert. She is a trainer and has a program called the Power of Six. Google it and google her name. She's rated on citysearch, etc... Six women. Six areas to focus on. The only trains women, and she focuses on your WHOLE health. What you eat, definitely what you eat, how you move, how you feel about yourself... Let me tell you, she has transformed some of these women (from a plus size to a size 6 or 8).

Plus, she and her team are some of the sweetest but toughest motivators I've ever been around. I needed a coach - someone to guide me through the exercise, and being in a team of women who are depending on you showing up is a huge motivator for me. I know now I must eat clean, I must drink lots of water and I must MOVE my body every single day. Get used to the idea of it being a part of your life, just like that sweet kiddo of yours, and it'll change your perspective.

Good luck!

I hear your frustration.
The only scientifically proven method, if you can stick to it, is Weight Watchers.
I tried a lot of things and frankly, I try to exercise but it's hard. The main problem I have is getting hungry and having the energy to do what I need to do.
The only way I could control my hunger and eat things to sustain my day was to eat a meditarranean style or Dr. Mirkin style diet. Two completely different diets but quite similar in philosophy. Dr. Mirkin is one of a very few doctors board-certified in four specialties: Sports Medicine, Allergy and Immunology, Pediatrics and Pediatric Immunology. His wife develops the recipes.

There is a lot of free info and recipes on this website:
http://drmirkin.com/

I lost 30 pounds, gained back about 5 when I slacked off but working on losing that 5 again. I just need to get back walking 30-45 mins a day. Hope this helps.

Interval training.

It is any exercise... where you 'sprint' or do an exercise at a high pace for like 2 minutes, then slow it down for 2 minutes, then kick it up again and slow it down again... in 2 minute intervals.
It sounds easy right? But it is quite challenging... interval training, is one of the most effective ways of increasing your metabolism and toning and increasing stamina as well.

It can be running in place, then walking... doing squats then walking in place, going up and down steps, then walking it or in place.. but the key is to do it in those intervals for SHORT durations... and 'sprinting' it, then keying it down and keep it up for as long as you can. Even just 10 minutes.

I read a study recently, that also said that this is one of the most effective ways of improving metabolism and weight loss or improving stamina. Athletes, also utilize this method, for trainings.

It is not easy. If you do it right. For some people, even sprinting at full throttle for 1 minute is hard.... then key it down for 1 minute. Then kick it up again for 1 minute etc.

My Husband does intervals... and he gets mega winded and sweats like as though he ran a marathon.
It is quite effective. He lost weight that way. It does not take up much time. You can do it in the living room while watching the news or tv.
Anywhere. No equipment needed. Just your body.

Also, do some light weights.... 3 pounds. And do high reps. You can do it in that interval manner as well. Or in circuits between 2 different resistance exercises.

hope this helps.
Good luck,
Susan

Check out the Alternate Day Diet. I started on it last June, and by Xmas had lost around 25 lbs.

After my babies, I did a low carb diet (be sure to eat enough protein is the secret to the low-carb diets). I lost all of it pretty quickly, but I got tired of missing out on bread and pasta, etc. It DID work though. Just took a lot of willpower.

I have found that the Alternate Day Diet takes a LOT LESS willpower.

I understand how you feel. I too felt it hard to take the weight off and hated Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights when I had to actually put on something "nice" for church and not just shorts and a tee shirt like most days! I checked out Jorge Cruise's book "8 minutes in the Morning" from the library. I liked it so much I found it at Half Priced books and bought it! I did not follow EVERYTHING he said, because I knew I wouldn't continue with it so you really have to decide for yourself. What I did do and five years later still do EASILY, is the excercises he recommends which I never got down to 8 minutes, because I am a goof, but honestly did get it down to 10. Really, 10 minutes. After two weeks I added power walking, which he recommends for cardio, for 28 minutes 3 times a week. - not the stroll where you can still talk, but the really fast walk carrying 10 pund weights in each arm. (I started out with family size soup cans- really!- but I was walking at 6 AM or 10 PM in my neighbor hood so no one saw THAT! ha ha) I borrowed my sister's 5 pound hand weights next, and then bought the 10 pound for myself. I still only walk three times a week. The time varies, sometimes the morning, sometimes at night, depending on my family's schedule, and once in a while I will walk 4 times. I now only do the 8 minute excercises 4 times a week. As far as the diet goes, also discussed in the book, I cut out sugar for one month which was VERY hard. I put it in my coffee, cook with it, it's in ketchup (corn syrup) etc. but stuck with it. I used sweeteners like stavia, Truvia, but NO sweet n low, etc. I ate only Ezekial bread (it's in the freezer section) including tortillas- which, living in San Antonio was a HUGE sacrifice for a month let me tell you!!!, and Ezekial cereal etc. I upped my fiber by eating those things and other fibers/carbs like potatoes to 6 servings a day, again I did that for a month. My daughter likes the bread so that wasn't a problem, but my husband hated it. However, he too wanted to loose weight so he jumped on the band wagon with me. I made sure I had at least 4 glasses of water a day which is realistic for me. I know all about 8, but I don't drink 8 glasses of anything a day so I knew I had to set a goal and a lifestyle that would work for me in the long haul. I cut out fruit juice unless I juiced it myself because it's all basically sugar and your body doesn't process it any differently than refined sugar or corn syrup. Now true, it is good for you, but if you are trying to loose weight the goal is health, true, but first it's weight loss so you have to address that. You will live for a month without orange juice! I also added flax oil to my diet a few days a week. Ground it and sprinkled it on salad (with dressing without sugar like Neuman's own balsamic vinagerette and ranch no low fat stuff) and cooked meat in it, added it to yogurt smmothies- plain yogurt not flavored as that has sugar, but you can sweeten it with stevia and some fresh fruit etc. After a month I noticed a huge difference and had lost 16 pounds. Now I watch the amount of sugar I use and still have lots of fiber and avoid corn syrup whenever possible. I do eat the Ezekial bread and cereal, but not the tortillas!, but don't always have 6 servings of fiber/carbs a day. I really recommend this because it worked for me and I've never been on a diet before, but my husband has been on a million and this has really worked for him. It is easy to incorporate for the whole family- do your kids really need more sugar from ketchup, salad dressing, bread, cereal?? corn syrup and other sugars are in everything- yet still give them the calories they need. And yes, I let my daughter have candy and fruit and some yogurts with sugar. I was the one on the diet, not her, but we all switched the bread and cereal. To be honest, we were already eating 12 grain bread and fiber cereal so that wasn't too hard a stretch. And instead of chips for occasional snacks, we stick with Triscuits and gold fish and cheese sticks, and again during that first month my daughter still had lots of fruit whereas I limited it at that time. Sorry this is so long, but I really stand by this. Losing weight is hard, and you want a lifestyle change you can live with so why not find one that suits your family as well. Making two dinners, one for yourself and one for everyone else is not feasble, or fun in the long run. Making small adjustments- your kid gets grapes and you don't while both of you have Ezekial bread sanwiches with mayo or mustard and triscuits is very doable. I would recommend it to anyone, and like I said, I didn't do everything in the book, but modified it for what I knew would work and made sense for our family and have seen amazing results. Good luck!!

The time I lost the most weight was when I was walking (reasonably fast) every single day, rain or shine, with my baby. The reason I did it was because she would ONLY take her morning nap in her stroller if I walked her. She refused to sleep in her crib. (Afternoon nap was fine in the crib though--go figure.) She had to take a nap every day, so I HAD to walk her in the stroller every day. I don't know if your 3-year-old would ride in a stroller (if he walks next to you, you will go to slow), but you might find a good jogging stroller if you're a SAHM and he's always with you.

Another idea is to get a friend to walk with you. The key is that you have to keep it up. I did 7 days a week, but some programs tell you to take some time off, so if you did 5 days consistently, that would probably be good.

When my daughter outgrew her morning nap, I stopped walking, and gained back every pound I lost, immediately.

So, it didn't have to be a major workout for me--just fast walking with a baby for about 30 minutes a day, but I had to do it every day to see results. Good luck!.

Here's another vote for Weight Watchers. Believe me when I tell you that I have tried them all. There are millions of various diets that will get the weight off, but it's almost impossible to stick to the regimen. I've done Atkins, South Beach, cabbage diet, etc., etc. I finally came back to Weight Watchers and it is working for me.

Weight Watchers is a sound nutritional program that you can follow forever. There are no "restricted" foods, no pills, no expensive supplements to buy. You can do it online, but attending the meetings is really beneficial because you hear wonderful advice from other people that are facing the same challenges that you are.

Also, check out Hungry Girl. She has a website with tons of great low calorie recipes.

Good luck!

I went on healthy eating diets twice last year about a month each time. I measured and stuck strickly to healthy food and drinks. Less than 2000 calories a day. Seems impossible when you first start. Now, on a daily basis I have to avoid eating becasue once I start I can't stop. Although you are suppose to eat to keep your metabolism going I have to skip eating anything until afternoon or just wait until dinner time. I don't put in the time to work out so I take the stairs, don't mind walking the parking when going to the grocery store, mow the yard, stay active at home cleaning. I think my method works for me because I don't eat sugar and keep salt out of most my food. Your body works as a chemical process and putting things in your body will change how it works(lose weight, gain weight, nothing). Change something about how you are eating for a couple of weeks and see if it works. If not try something else. I gain weight on the weekends when my hubby is off work. The easiest time for me to lose weight is when my hubby goes out of town for work. When he is at home I eat more and lounge more. That is not his fault but that is what happens. Look at your life and take notice in the things that may be holding you back. Good Luck ***It took me almost two years to lose 70lbs.

I also lost weight using Weight Watchers, and I did it all online - no meetings!

Their online tools really make it easy, and the thing I love about it is that you do not deprive yourself. You really can eat anything as long as you watch your portions and do it in moderation. It also made eating out really easy.

I lost 37 lbs and kept almost all of it off for over 2 years. I have also heard great things about Jenny Craig, the difference is you have to buy their food. Weight Watchers works with any food you buy. I think they offer a week free online and then it was $16 per month

Don't get discouraged, remember it took you 9+ months to put the weight on so it will take at least that to get it off. We are in a marathon not a sprint. Health weight loss is about 2-5 lbs a week, but you won't believe how fast it goes buy. It's not easy, it can be tough but you can do it!

Good luck and hang in there.
www.weightwatchers.com

R.