Needing Help on Weight Loss

Hi,

I do callanetics. I love it and it works. Here is my favorite of all the callanetics, that works for me:

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I found it easier to workout at home while my baby is napping than to try and get out of the house to workout and find what to do with my baby.

Hi S.,

I was in this place a little over a year ago. I was a SAHM at the time and had gained weight before my second baby and didn't loose it after. I really hated how I looked and felt but didn't have the money or time to go to a gym. I found Barry's Bootcamp www.mybarrysbootcamp.com(a dvd set). It is great. I had tried a treadmill and walking and nothing was working until this. I was 135 lbs and 5 ft 2. In a year I dropped 25 lbs and over 18 inches. I watched what and how much I ate. You can do as little as 21 mintues a day to start with. The results were evident after as little as 3 weeks. I found if I got up before my daughters it worked well but I also use it with them there to. They actually like to try and follow along. I hope this is helpful.

I am in a similar circumstance where I can't afford to do weight watchers or join a gym etc.

What I have done, besides eating better is do workouts at home. I end up having to do mine after the kids go to bed but it works for me.

I don't know if you have comcast or not, but through comcast on demand they have a ton of free workout videos. That's how I started. I would try a new one each time. If I didn't like it, I didn't have to do it again.
The ones that I really like and that really work are the biggest loser ones. any of them. I don't do the yoga one just because I'm not good at yoga and I really don't like it.

And my local library has workout tapes and dvds. you may want to look into that option too. And if you find one that you like you may be able to find it on ebay or craigslist or amazon at a very reasonable price.

but I've lost 25 lbs by doing it this way.

I hope this helps.

You gotta get moving. Aerobic and weight lifting. Get yourself some 5lb weights to work your arms. Do lunges while having your baby on piggyback - that's real resistance!! You'll feel like eating better once you start moving also. You don't need a gym or any equipment. Push ups, sit ups, lunges, squats, leg lifts, jumping jacks, torso twists. Play tag with your daughter.

Hi S.,
Eating healthy and exercise are the best way to go. One or the other alone usually isn't enough. Ask your husband to help you by exercising together, such as going for walks. Combine cardio with weights (light weights with more repetitions), focusing more on cardio at this point will help with the weight loss and increase weight lifting later. You don't need to buy weights, soup cans work well as hand weights. I encourage you to use them when you walk as well to do bicep curls. Look for resistance exercises online. There are also exercises you can do with your daughter as your weight and is beneficial for her as well. Check out websites such as babycenter.com.
Good Luck!
S.

S.,

Watching what you eat is a good beginning, I would recommend weight training, or working out with free weights.
I am reading a very good book called "Strong Women Stay Young" by Dr. Miriam Nelson. The excersizes in the book require a small investment in some free weights and leg weights but it is very simple, can be done in your house at your own time and is guaranteed to work if you follow the program. Only two days a week. There are eight basic excersizes that only require a chair and the weights. I have been doing the same program at the gym and can testify to its effectivness in weight loss and toning when combined with a good diet. Not only does weight training help you slim down and tone up but it rebuilds bone loss. At your young age you aren't thinking about bone loss but as you age you begin to lose bone. I am there now, with osteopenia, and plan to use the weight training to help rebuild the bone I have begun to lose. Weight training helps on so many levels and is worth the small investment in buying the weights. Good luck.

S.

Hi S.,

Two things that worked for me.
1 - Track your caloric intake for one week. Simple pen and paper. You don't need any fancy software. If you don't know how many calories a certain food contains, do a quick google search. There are loads of websites that provide nutritional info on different foods.

2 - Follow an easy meal plan that limits calories. The Flat Belly Diet book was a great help for me. I did not follow it to the letter, but I used the principle of the 300 - 400 calorie meal. I eat three meals and two snacks per day. I try to eat every 2 hours. The book provides some very quick, easy and tasty meals. The book also lists out fast food options in the event you are need to eat on the run.

By following the meal plan and cutting out high calorie/sugar drinks, I lost 5 pounds in two weeks.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Hi S.,

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I don't think there are any secrets, the simple answer is the hardest. If you have your portions/calories under control and are not getting results you just need to get moving more. Put your daughter in her coat and stroller and just get out there and walk every day. She will love it.

S. -
I feel your pain! My best advice is to start writing down everything you eat or drink. You don't even need to calculate calories at first. Just start tracking and you might find some extra stuff you didn't even realize you were eating.
Secondly, I'd reconsider Weight Watchers. I know you said you can't afford it (neither can I), but when I joined, they gave me all the materials to calculate points and such (which is so much easier than calories) and I think it was $14 for the meeting and no registration fee. The meetings are really helpful, but if you can't afford to go all the time, go when you can. I've stopped going since my husband and I are out of work, but I still have the materials to try to stay on track.
Good luck and I hope you find something that really works for you!
:)

I am in the same boat. I can't afford much but I found out the YMCA has a low income memberships for families and there is free childcare while your there and stuff for the older children to do too. I was so excited I can workout relax in a sauna and take dip in the pool to cool off or sit in a jacuzzi, its sweet and cost me 15.00$ a month : ) So look into it it's worth the time...

The only way to "watch what you eat" effectively is count calories. Don't put sauce or butter, etc on your veggies. Switch up your exercise routine, it might be time to step it up a bit, if you walk for 30 min a day, you might need to run for 3 of those min, in short bursts.

Check out Dr Oz website. Eating hot peppers, like jalepenos ups your metabolic rate, and he has some other neat tips like that.

I am right there with you, i have recently learned this stuff, but not tried it yet.

The key to loosing weight is: a balanced diet, fitness, enough rest (meaning - sleep when the baby does), and LOTS of water - this is the KEY to weight loss. I'd recommend (as does weight watchers) 64 oz a day -more if you drink caffeinated drinks as they dehydrate you (You need to drink more if you nurse to maintain your supply...) I have a 32 oz insulated cup I use and fill it often. Drink water first, then eat. You will feel fuller. Most times when we are hungry, it is the body telling us we are really thirsty anyway.

Some cheeses, crackers and cold-cuts are the wrong choice for snack foods. Stick with raw fruits and veggies. (No butter or salt, either.) Fruit juices contain sugar. You have to pay attention to the labels and remember that even low-fat foods are not always 'low fat' or even good for you. Energy bars are Candy bars in disguise depending on the ingredients.

Avoid diet pills as they are full of harmful chemicals - after keeping your system clear in pregnancy, do you want to harm yourself just for the extra weight?

I gained a ton of weight in my pregnancy, so I understand where you are coming from - plus I had arthritis slowing me down... but if I can do it, then I think you or anyone else can too. (Especially nursing moms - that helps tons! You do not want the effects or chemicals to cross into the breast milk for the baby.)

If you cannot afford any weigh loss centers, research some tips online or check your local library. Only you can force yourself to remained disciplined and keep your willpower - there is no trick to have that. No one can give that to you.
You have to want it and go for it. But you have to start avoiding some of the foods you are eating as well as measuring your portions.

In addition to following the above, you should begin to loose weight and support your immune system. Please note that depending upon your efforts, everyone looses weight at different intervals and just do not give up or constantly weigh yourself as that can cause you to give up if you do not see immediate results. If you are successful, you will notice in how your clothing is fitting you. :)

I go to the gym and that has really helped me. You should give it a try. Good luck to you. Trying to lose weight can be so frustrating.

www.workathomeunited.com/sassymom To request information on how to earn an income from home or just an extra paycheck for the holidays.

Hi S., I was just wondering where abouts you lived. I noticed you mentioned not having friends where you live. If you live nearby we could get together and walk. I too have been struggling with weight loss, but mine is after I had my hysterectomy:( I was blessed with one child though, so god was on my side. I could really use that extra push. Let me know, it would be great to get together with someone who has the same goal.

Thanks,
S.
____@____.com

I have to tell you that your in between snacks are very high in fat! Salami is the worst type of lunch meat you could eat if your on a diet Try turkey or low sodium ham or chicken and only eat 3 oz of it The only good crackers I have seen are called Ry Krisp They have no hydrogenated anything in them, no trans fat ,no sugar They are sold in the cracker aisle with the "healthier" crackers Most crackers have hydrogenated oils in them which are very bad for you and for losing weight Not sure what kind of cheese you are eating, but cheese is also high in fat Try the sargento light string cheese sticks only 50 calories And I know fruit is good for you, but also a big source of sugar So watch your fruit intake Oranges have the most sugar Try blueberries or strawberries Add up your calories during the day You probably don't realize what your real calorie intake is You may think your eating healthy, but those fat calories add up quick! Hope I helped a little Good Luck!

I joined this free web site that has really helped to motivate me. You can talk to so many people who are in the same situations you are by joining different teams with different goals. Here's the link. It's free why not check it out?
http://www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/register.asp?from=frie...

S.; everyone can loose weight at different rates what may work for one may not work for another, however i have found that the diabetic diet works pretty good, or more commonly known as the low carb, how this works, is you feed your body fats, or meats and cheeses, and your body does not burn these very well, so it needs sugars to breakdown these materials in our bodies, well, since on low carb or diabetic diet you are not eating sugars, your body still needs sugars to break this food down, but you are not giving it any, so it takes the sugars it stored as fat and uses some of that to break down the meats and cheeses, me and my husband both find it easy to loose weight on this diet, and pretty fast, but loosing weight fast can and will put it back on , so this kind of diet has to be a way of life, also on this low carb, diabetic diet, you must limit your intake of sugars, but we do need sugars, in our bodies, so you are allowed 20 grams of sugar a day for the first week or two, must have a salad a day , for fiber, or you will be constapated, also recommended is a multivitamin, after two weeks your body should handle a higher increase of sugar, go for 25 grams, then or 30 the following week, you should be able to train your body to burn off the sugars, in due time, for instance bread is 20 grams of sugar, your daily intake would be one slice of bread, no more sugar for that day, so like a half of meat and cheese sandwhich, but no more sugar, if you are willing to forgo the bread , and just eat the meat and cheese, then perhaps you can have like 4 hershey kisses or something cool, you would have to read labels, you also can have all the sugar free jello you want, you may also use the canned whipped creme, real stuff, not lite, on top of it, we would make cheese krispies, cut a one ince square of cheese, and bake it till krispie, these taste like cheese its and makes you have your crunch satisified, any way if you would like someone to talk to or a freind to talk about your weight please let me know, thanks D. s my husband lost like 40 lbs on this and i did like 20 over a period of couple months, i also found young ones can thrive on this, as well as it works better for menopausal women, when i was mentruating it did not work as well, but still worked, slower results, have a great day , contace me for more talking,

Hi S.,
I understand where you are coming from. I have stuggled with my weight- especially since having children. I have an endocrine problem that makes weight loss especially difficult. What I have found- and what people have always said, even though I wanted to find some other way around it-is that limiting the amount and types of food that I consume does very little to take pounds off. It wasn't until I became more physically active that things started to change. I know that going out for walks alone can be a bummer. I would suggest that you investigate the YMCA. The Y has income based scholarship programs for families that not only cover membership fees but class fees as well. After seeing my little girls in tennis lessons I wondered if I could still hit a ball after 20 years off court. I started playing again and love it! I get to focus on playing a fun game with friends that I have met there at the Y, rather than on the fact that I am running my **** off! I have lost 50 lbs. They also have other awesome programs that focus on the fun, the exercise is a bonus. Good luck and God Bless!

Hello..
Have you had your thyroid checked? I was having the same problems and just found out I have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)... One of the symptoms is difficulty losing weight/weight gain. Worth having your doc check just to be sure. Simple blood test :)

Are you actually measuring your food? ONE cup of cereal ONE cup of milk in it etc...

Its really a hard time right now to say this since I am one of those "hibernators" when it starts getting chilly... But if you have successfully limited your intake you need to up your activity. Bundle up and go for a walk... Do you own a decent pedometer? Pop one on in the morning and even if your just walking in place in your living room take the steps... Do an extra lap around the grocery store while shopping...

There are many different dvds that you can get and do at home.

Call around to your local churches and see if any of them have an exersize class open to the public... Our local church has had free exersize classes in the past during the winters...

And even eating salads can be over doing it if your putting on too much dressings. :-)

Good luck and hope you figure something out that works for you.

I just looked at where you are from... Is it the Coopersville next to Nunica? lol we used to live in Nunica.
There is an awesome paved trail that runs from muskegon to the coopersville area (I can't remember exactly where at this moment but can track it down for ya if you want me to). (Great for strollers... Especially in the warm months)

S. - I had baby #2 14 months ago and have been lugging about 15 extra pounds around since then. Not feeling so attractive and just "fluffy", I recently tried the South Beach diet (had used before with success) and lost about 11 pounds over the course of a month - still have some more to go to get to my "fighting" weight. If you follow Phase 1 strictly (measure portions, do not snack more or differently than recommended, do not improvise), I guarantee you will lose at least 8 pounds in 2 weeks. While it is not recommended that you stay on Phase 1 for longer than that simply because it is pretty restrictive (no non-complex carbs - bread, rice, potatoes, etc. in the first 2 weeks) it really helps you realize how many foods we eat that we just don't need other than to satisfy emotional eating habits - believe me, I love bread as much as the next person - and cake, cookies, Swedish Fish, etc. While "diets" are usually unsuccessful, just eating this way for two weeks and losing a minimum of 8 pounds in that small amount of time will help to jumpstart any other plans you may implement, along with a reasonable exercise routine. Sometimes seeing pretty quick results first helps get your excitement up and also gives you confidence that you can do it. There is nothing magical here - simple intake and output (exercise) are what it is all about. By the way, you can buy the paperback South Beach Diet book for about 6 dollars just about anywhere. Good luck and with just a little bit of discipline, you can do it!!! L.

P.S. I was never hungry on this diet.

www.sparkpeople.com

It's free, it gives you ways to track what you are eating, it gives you exercises to do and sets a schedule for you to do them. You can use it as strictly or loosely as YOU deem fitting.

Once you sign up and make your own "sparkpage" you can friend me if you'd like. I'm kthartline. :)

Good luck!

Hi S.,

I tried the workout video
Slim in Six and it really helped me.

http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/best_se...

Cherie

I use a website called sparkspeople.com its free and it great. You put in your profile how active you are and it will tell you how many calories you can eat a day. The site also has nutrition track and fitness track. The nutrition track will give you a meal plan or you can plug in the foods you eat. It also has lots of articles on nutrition and health. They have support teams so you can connect with people who have similar interest or problems. It automatically set you up with a group in your state and city if it big enough. So maybe you could meet someone in your town. I have lots weight using this site and gained many online friends...

Weight Watchers does have an online program where you don't have to go anywhere. You can do it all from home. I forget how much it is but I want to say somewhere around $15/month? http://www.weightwatchers.com/ They have a daily/weekly points tracker, you can create recipes and it'll tell you how many points your recipe is, there's a weight tracker, and they give you all sorts of helpful tips.

Hi S.. Have you tried keeping a diary of the things that you eat and counting the calories? This is such a huge help in determining how many calories you're actually taking in. You may actually be surprised by the results. I know it's hard to get out of the huse and go for a walk, especially with the weather getting colder this time of year, but 30 minutes of exercise makes a big difference.

A little bit about me:
After my 2nd daughter, I just couldn't seem to lose the weight and keep it off so I started logging my calories and the food I was eating. I also started exercising and after about 2 months it started to pay off. I'm in the best shape I've been in since I had my first daughter and I'm on my way to being the size 4 I've always been. I eat what I want, but I keep it in moderation. I hope this helps! Good Luck!

Hi S., First...keep trying! I have found that WHAT I eat is way more important than how much. Just a few tips, ...NO "white" food meaning white flour, sugar, crackers have both. Watch your labels. Any of the "oses" are just plain sugar, high fructose corn syrup, sucrose, etc. For whatever reason food manufacturers think we need all that junk. Processed foods like lunchmeat and some cheeses have alot of preservatives that interfere too. As far as fruit is concerned stick with berries and apples. Melons have alot of sugar, even though it's natural sugar, it's still sugar. LOTS of veggies and believe it or not it's OK to put butter on them...as long as you keep the sugar at bay in the other things you eat. Meat...chicken and fish are best. LOTS of veggies AND NO POP! All the best to you!

I didn't think I could afford Weight Watchers either then found out my HAP insurance gave me a great deal. I have a friend who's on medicaid and food stamps who goes. You will save on carry-outs etc. if that's part of your life now. I have lost 93# in 14 months and am still losing! It is a wonderful program and worth its weight in gold if you ask me. My husband and daughter each lost 75# and have kept it off for over a year now. You have to make long-term lifestyle changes and get more activity. I don't think there's any other answer. People who come in with stories like yours are eating hidden calories they don't realize. You will learn many tricks and get tons of support and make new friends. It's worth trying to pull money out of some other place to do this. Good luck!

Sometimes stress will impact our abilities to lose weight. Are you struggling with something like that? If not, it could be the foods that you are eating. I would encourage you to learn about eating low-glycemic. In this approach, we are able to maintain lean muscle mass to lose weight and keep our bodies in the fat burning zone with our blood sugar.

I help people lose and keep off weight as part of my business. If I can offer more advice, let me know!

S.

Hi S.,

I had the same problem and the only thing that helped me was keeping a food journal to see how many calories I was eating a day and getting some kind of daily exercise. Whether its going to the mall to walk, the gym, etc. just getting out and being active is what really helped me. Also, make sure your doctor checks your thyroid to make sure that there isn't a problem with it.

Also, there are a lot of Mom's groups out there; there maybe a mom that lives close to you and you just don't know it.

Take care and good luck!

As for walking if you can get some Leslie Sansone DVD's you don't even need to leave the house. I have a few and I even have an extra one if you'd like to have it PM me and I'll pass it along.

I've also had luck with the South Beach diet and basically just limiting my carbs, but that's where I have my trouble it may not be where you have yours :)