This Is a Two Part Question

Hi ther,

Have you had a physical with complete lab work......I have a similiar situation, but am at the 160 mark now....Went to the doctor and found I am hypothyroid.

A.,
Please do not do what most women do, which is to rely on their Gyn. for all of their medical advice. You need to consult with an Endocrinologist or an Internal Medicine doctor to find out what is wrong. If I were you, I would ask to have my thyroid checked. Some of your symptoms sound like you may have a Thyroid disorder. Then, you need to determine how many children you want and ask your husband to have a vasectomy. I say this because all birth control methods (not to mention child birth) causes weight gain. As for your high blood pressure and heart condition, that should dimish when your weight falls. Try keeping a record of what you eat, when you eat it, and how you are feeling at the time. Do this for one week and see if there is a pattern. Then, try to take your children out on a walk every day for at least 30 minutes.

You have become tired because basically you are carrying the weight of one extra person on your body. You did gain that weight overnight, so don't expect to loose it overnight. Try to cut down on fats, sugars, and caffeine and try to walk every day for at least 30 minutes. I am willing to bet that you will see a difference. Do remember that permanent weight loss is at an average of 1 to 2 pounds per week.

Good luck!

A.,

I can help you- seriously! Check out this website: www.vfl.com - you get your money back simply for logging in everyday with your progress. You'll lose weight and you will learn how to live healthier.. I can share with you how you can take advantage of this amazing offer.

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C. W.

hi girl, i'm a new member and started to read yr prob. i came 2 about da' same sit. i had just lost my baby who i only carried in my womb 4 3 lovely mths. sadly God decided it wasn't time.i already have a 7 yr. old but i really wanted another. so...after da' D&C my doc suggested 4 me 2 wait and i took da' depo too. before i used to weigh 115, then i gained 5 lbs. in a wk.---FREAK OUT! i told myself that it was okay. 2 wks later i gained an xtra 10. i was wondering what was going on. i decided 2 motivate myself and would start walking 30 min a day, 4 days out of a wk. i believe in order to lose weight and 2 want 2 look yr best U have 2 have self-motivation. yr husband might tell U,"I love u just da' way U R." but do U love yrself.in da' end i came to a nice round number of 147. when i started running i came down 2 128.but only a mth. later i got preg. and now ready 2 POP i weigh 186. and i'm happy. but it's all my intention 2 lose it again. i really understand and i hope u start by telling yrself yr are pretty da' way U R but do tell yr self u can do better and later all that "lovely fat" will go away! remember SELF-MOTIVATE YRSELF! good luck. please watch yr health, yr too young and yr kids always need a mother who can 'keep up' with them.

i kinda have the same problem so i have started walking 2 times a day with my son if you would like we could meet and walk together im kinda losing faith in doing it by myself

Hi A.,

I think the advice Doreen gave is great. In addition to seeking medical advice I would recommend Weight Watchers. It helps when you have a support group. I know it might sound corny. It did to me when I first started. They will help you learn to cook and eat healthy. They ask you to write down everything you eat each week. What really helped me was that I had to look at someone (other than myself) and be accountable for my weight gains or losses. Even when I only lost 1 pound it was a huge celebration. And if I gained weight it was ok too. It just made me try harder the next week.
There were 2 parts to the program that I really enjoyed. First, knowing that there were other people going through the same things I went through and hearing their stories. But also, it got me out of the house for an evening. It was my night where I got to work on my self esteem and self confidence.
You've gotten a lot of good advice and now you have a lot of choices to make. I hope you find something that helps. Please keep us posted on your progress. Good luck!
A.

Pre-Married: 130
Married in OH 3 years later: 150
Pregnant: Topped out at 220 the night we went in to deliver.

6 mo later - Today: 150

So. Here's the deal. Drink as much water as possible every single day -- that's probably where the headaches are coming from. Go get a really good multi-vitamin and take it religiously. Have a small, well balanced breakfast within 30 minutes of waking (it kickstarts your metabolism). I have 2 eggs, 2 pieces of dry wheat toast or apple, and coffee with milk. Eat at least 4 small meals a day - last one at about 7:30pm. The working out makes it go quicker, but you need to focus on regiment and getting your metabolism where it needs to be.
I also go to Curves, and you can request of printout of your progress - something I post on the mirror I get ready in every morning.
Good luck! Remember: It's more state of mind than anything. If you KNOW that you ARE DOING IT, you will. (not WILL do it, cuz that could still mean someday) If you believe in your heart of hearts that your destined to be fat -- you will be.

A.,

I don't have an answer to your energy/weight question, but I am in the same boat. I took the shot starting 6 months after my child was born. I took 3 shots. I had a period for the first 3 months, then had to be put on medication to stop the bleeding. I also had a voratious appetite. Some thing that the doctor did not tell me is that it could take up to 18 months until you are fertle again. I was and still am wanting another child. I stopped taking the shots 1 year ago, I still have the spotting, but not as heavy as a period. The appetite is still out of control.

I have tried some different diet pills/plans. So far, I have only experienced short-term effects. Personally, I am looking for more energy first, then the weight loss. I have to constantly switch my stimulants to keep from getting used to them. I am not a coffee drinker, so it makes it more of a challenge. I seem to be good for the first 2 hours after I wake up, then I need a nap.

My situation is probably a little worse than yours as I had gestional diabites and weight gain runs in my family. I am 5'5" and my weight is up around 250. I am 39 years old. I had my child at 37.

Sorry I don't have a solution, but we seem to be riding the same bus. If you find any do-able answers, please let me know.

S.

Good A.M. A.:

Given your family's health history, I would strongly suggest talking with a doctor or two about some sort of prescription for weight loss, and perhaps Weight Watchers.

I'll pray for you!

A.,
I was in your same boat! I am 28 and after having my son, developing high blood pressure and a weight problem, I was losing all hope. I also had problems with birth control. I did not try the shot, but I have friends that had A LOT of problems with it. I really suggest you use an alternate method of birth control if you have not already. The shot causes hormonal imbalances in some people, which can contribute to weight gain. Also, having a baby and having no energy, as you know, contributes too. I joined LA Weighloss as a last resort and it is working!! I still have minimal time for excersize and VERY rarely excersize, but am still losing weight. This particular program does not require excersize. Trust me, i am no spokesperson for this program and you should chose whichever one works for you. I think they all work if you stick with them. However, I researched a lot of them and this one lets you eat quite a lot and also requies little or no excersize. I have lost 25 pounds in just a few months and I feel great and my blood pressure is down and I have a lot more energy. I'm still exasuted being a full-time work-at-home mother, but it helped tremendously. This is the only diet I have ever been able to stick to. It is pricey, but it's not that much more pricey than other plans and it is worth every penny! Please don't give up. Hang in there!

I found for me weight watchers really worked. I lost about 30 pounds doing it. The catch for me is I must have a partner doing it with me. Not my husband, but a friend. I am not one to exercise. To be honest, I dont like it, dont enjoy it, and think it is a waist of time. I had to do something so I changed the amount of food I eat. You still can have the same foods, just different portions. The friend I was doing it with, lost 50 pounds. She did not exercise much either. She has a neck injury and couldn't. Hope this helps!

Hello there A.,

First of all let me start off by saying dont worry. If you put your mind to getting healthy you will. But it wont happen over night. Start with vitamins. B complex vitamins are very high in energy and helps maintain a good metabolism. I have lost a lot of weight from B vitamins. Just all of them combined are a metabolism booster and an energy booster. Also start a light exercise, walking, a few jumping jacks a day etc. Every little bit helps also in time your energy will get stronger and stronger. This is coming from someone who worked out all her life for 3 hours a day. Since I had my boys ages 2&3 back to back I have not worked out, just a bit here and there. But slowly I have gotten back into it too. One thing that has helped me is the birth control Yasmin. It is actually said to help in weight loss and weight maintenance. So needless to say I am back to the same weight as I was before I had both of my boys. I hope this helps. But like I said the vitamins help a bunch in getting your body back on track. This is what I take. 1 Multi vitamin, 1 B 50 complex and 1 calcium. and start slowly on your activities.
Email me if I could help anymore
Julie

I would like to offer more encouragement than a possible solution because I do feel your pain. I wore a size 4 suit to work the day I found out I was pregnant with our first baby. Now I wear a size 16. I do not recognize the girl in the mirror. My doctor said something similar to me and I wanted to say, "Brilliant, thanks for nothing." Although I have not had experience with the shot that you took, I do sympathize with the health issues. The only thing that has ever worked for me was suggested by an acupuncturist who advocated Eastern medicine. The diet had nothing to do with calories or fat grams. We eliminated things like wheat, dairy, peanuts, vinegar/anything fermented, alcohol, mushrooms, peanuts/anything grown on the ground or underground...etc etc. The point was to clear out a fungus called candida albicans which grows in the intestines and then wreaks havoc all over your body. It can be caused by oral contraceptives, antibiotics, hormonal changes, stress...all the things we are experiencing as mothers. It was such a difficult diet but it worked like magic. Check out candidasupport.org.

Blessings and best of luck!

A.,
You sound like I did at this time last year. Since then I have dropped 102 pounds. A little background...I have had weight issues since I was 4 but I could usually keep to within 10-15 pounds of my ideal if I stayed super active and ate very little. Once I hit college the pounds started packing on even though I was hardly eating and was still staying active. I continued to gain weight every single year regardless of trying every diet known to man and exercising for hours daily. Finally, after practically holding my doctor down and threatening him I got my thyroid levels checked and sure enough they were very off. So I went on Synthroid to correct the problem. The weight gain stopped for a while and I was even able to lose a bit and then I got pregnant with my daughter. By the end of my pregnancy I was sitting around 220. After I had my daughter via c-section I couldn't do the same exercising for a while so the weight gain started again. In the mean time I have kept telling my doctor that something is wrong with my hormones but again, I'm not a doc so how could I possibly know anything right. Anyway, last year after being on an 800 calorie diet for almost a year and documented strenuous aerobic exercise for at least 1 hour every single day my new primary care doc said oh, I think you have a hormone problem. Sent me to the gyno and I found out I have polycystic ovarian syndrome and sure enough one of the things is it can cause weight gain. So after getting treatment for that I started slowly loosing weight...like 5 pounds a month. I was at about 250 at that point and miserable. I had high blood pressure, borderline diabetes and always felt tired and depressed. So I made a decision, I went to a information session for bariatric surgery and made up my mind before I even left the meeting that I was having surgery and I was going to get to a healthy weight before it killed me. I had surgery in December and have had no problems what so ever as a result. It is by no means the easy way out. I have to eat so carefully now. No sugar, no fat, no caffeine and no carbonation. Not only that but I have to exercise just like everyone else to make it work. I also have to follow a strict vitamin regime. The trade off is I feel better than I have in 15 years. I'm wearing normal sized clothes (a 10 or 12) and my high blood pressure and problems with blood sugar are gone completely. I've still got about 25-30 pounds I'd still like to lose and I'm working hard to make that happen but I thank God every day that I had surgery. I did it for myself, my daughter and our futures and I will never regret my decision. I realise surgery is a drastic measure and a last resort but I wanted to share my story with you and let you know that you're not alone and you shouldn't beat yourself up...losing weight is a very hard thing to do. Feel free to email if you need any support :).
Liz

Determination and will power make a lot of difference. You have to make the decision to change, then discipline yourself to actually follow through with it. Wieght watcher helped a few of my friends. Or ask your doctor to recommend a diet and exercise plan for you. Then stick with it. You can do anything you put your mind to. Keep your children on your mind as your incentive. Post pictures of yourself at the lower wieght around your house for reminders of your goals. Whenever you are tempted to eat something not on your diet, tell yourself that it's not worth how good being thinner will feel. Good luck.

A.,
You want help? You want motivation? Look at your daughters faces and thank GOD for them and them get on that treadmill for an hour. You can take your kids to the park and just run and play with them it will help. Watch what you eat. Try an apple instead of chocolate. There is no miracle pill nor would I suggest taking anything. If you find a pill to help you loose weight there will be some sort of side affect down the road. Good Luck.

A., hello. First off you need to find another doctor. You have developed high blood pressure, over weight or not you need to be on blood pressure medication. Your headaches may be from your blood pressure. You appear to have a history of medical problems that can or are family history. Yes it takes energy to do exercise, though you do sound depressed. Deression can lead to no energy, lack of sleep, weight gain and etc. Please find a different dr. With the way you are feeling going down hill is your BODY SAYING HELP ME. I have been there. I take depression meds and I have the mitral valve prolapse. I have just had surgery to open my arteries up in my legs and a heart catheter check up. A lot of mine is heredity.I am 51. Your thyroid should be checked out. That can cause the weight gain. To do exercises people think of an hour of high arobics. Start out small, take a walk around your block, if its a city block take a walk to the end of the road. Start small then you can expand. You will get tired, you will hurt but it will get easier. But with your best intrest at heart you do need a phsical first. Find a new dr. I wish you well J.

I don't have any weight loss advice to give you, but please contact a doctor, maybe a different doctor because the weight gain might be due to something out of your control. A girlfriend of mine had a thyroid disorder, which seemed to have happened right after she had her baby. She breast fed, ate well and not a lot, and still gained weight. A doctor did some tests and found out that her thyroid was all out of whack and was the culprit. She is now taking daily meds to control the situation, but at least she found out that it wasn't just baby fat or BCP. Please keep looking for a doctor who doesn't just dismiss your concerns. Good luck to you.

The truth is you do have the time. Take care of yourself first. A year ago I was weighing 168 now I weigh 143. 2 years ago I was weighing 180. Take the time to go out for a run/walk. I started by just walking then I started running for one minute during my walks then 3 min, then 5, then 8, and so on. Now I can run 3 miles or more, I've ran as much as 8 miles. You can find the time. I join 5k run/walks around the area to keep myself in shape. My sister in law was weighing 239 a year ago and now weighs 200 lbs, she too is running and exercising. I have 2 kids ages 3 and 2. If you don't take care of yourself you won't be able to be the best mom and wife you can be. Take small steps, eat one healthy meal a day and eat what ever you normally eat the rest of the time and take a 10 to 15 minute walk around the block, or get on the treadmill. The speed does not matter at this point, what matters is that you take that step. Give yourself that time. You need it and deserve it.

A.

I am also a little over weight and I am in the military so it is hard for me. I know you have heard it many times but exercise is the key. And diet of course. There is no quick for fat. Either you diet and exercise or you get fat...period. Please take this into consideration and take care of yourself...you deserve a good life.

Hi, A.! With my pregnancy, I gained 86 pounds and found it impossible to even begin to try to lose the weight afterwards. Soon, I began to feel sick, and tired and really thought I was going to die from the way my body was "taking over my life". I didn't recognize myself--I felt like I could unzip myself and the REAL me would step out and everything would be fine.
I finally went to the doctor and was told to diet and exercise-- I just laughed and told them that sounds great-- but how do you even begin. At my next visit, I was put on Cymbalt for depression (post partum-- diagnosed a year after my baby was born). Cymbalta has changed my life. I am happier, have more energy and do not feel that impending doom any more. I joined a gym ( free child care- two hours a day!!) and now only have 15 pounds to go to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight!)My husband and I made an easy lifestyle change-- no more canned foods, no prepackaged meals, no fast food-- just fruits, veggies, lean meats and dairy. It is so much easier now. I have been slowly weening myself off of the medication-- I take a low dose every five days now! I have taken control of my life again and it feels wonderful.

I think after most women have children they feel differently about their bodies. I have heard of the shot making quite a few of my close friends gain weight! Have you tried doing the high protien low cab thing? Like cottage cheese? Don't get discouraged..remember you have to give whatever you try time!!
Good luck

Hi A.,

I just want to say that I totally understand your dilemma.
Finding the time to exercise with little ones can be very hard.
Trying to eat right is also a task when you are a busy mom.
But, you have to do it because diet and exercise is the only way. Those little children are your 'why'.
I find that if I will just make myself exercise I'm not near as
hungry all the time.
Eat less carbs, drink lots of water and exercise.
Let me know how you're doing!
Good luck. Do it for your family and yourself.

R. D.
____@____.com

You might also try your local YMCA. The rates are reasonable, they have great childcare and exercise advice and programs for all.

I didn't have SUCH results from using a Pill of a Shot but after my son was born I decided not to use hormones at all (yes, they say that Pill contains a bare minimum, still). So...just take it slow and give your body a chance to rest and go back to old, pre-pregnant self. My wonderful boy is 15-month old and I still have 5 pounds to lose!

A.,

I am responding to your statement about your diagnosis of Mitral Valve Prolapse. I too was diagnosed with that at age 21. I am not overweight, in fact used to be somewhat underweight. I was told MVP was very common in young women and was not a huge concern. However, I did have to take certian medications for the pain in my chest along with a pill every time I went to see the dentist. I lived with what I thought was a condition for 7 years until the birth of my daughter. Right before she was born I had another eco and it was determined that I was mis- diagnosed 7 years earlier. which I couldn't believe since I had had almost every type of test done to determine what was wrong. My mother who is a nurse for a top cardiologist said that often when women complain of chest pains (which might be related to stress,etc..) they are mis diagnosed as having MVP because it is basically what they use to diagnose women that they really can't even diagnose (does that make sense). I might go get a second opinion about the MVP. It is typically not a life threatening disease but its always a relief to know for sure if you have something or not.
Good luck`

A.: It sounds like you need to see a new ob/gyn as well as a nutritionist and maybe a cardiologist to help you sort out your medical problems. You've got to get yourself on a low-calorie, low-fat diet too and get some of the weight off. It really helps to give up meat and stick to fish, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. But I'd definitely start with seeing another ob/gyn who understands how those shots work and can give you advice on how to proceed. Good luck.

I also had issues with the Depo-Shot I gained a lot of wait within a very short period of time. I am not sure if you are on birth control right now but my suggestion is to stop all oral birth control. I expressed my concern to my husband and we decided to use condoms. Sometimes it is a pain but we look past it and we both realize the benefit not using birth control

Hope this helps
G.

Hey A.,
I know what you are going through. I am 58 and have been there and am still there. Except, now I am an old lady and have problems walking and doing anything. I have been going to La Weightloss and have been learning what to do. It really works but it is expensive. I know the doctors are insensitive to our problem, they just think it is so easy to push back from the table and exercise! But we need help! They offer none. Go to La Weightloss and see if they can help you. They are wonderful. I go to O'Neal Lane one and it is so convenient. If you can not afford it, get in a local weight watchers club. That is cheap and worth it too. I am planning to do that to. I really can't exercise because it hurts me but you may be able to. Walk away the pounds is a good program. Just start with the first step and do it over and over again. It takes 20 min a day. I would be happy to lend you the tape if you would like. It is a breeze and it works. 3 times a week is plenty. Just do it!
Call me if you would like to talk. D. ###-###-#### I am in Southeast BR.
D.

Hi A.-
Sorry I have never taken the depo shot, so I can't respond to that. But can help you out with the weight thing if you like. Finding time to diet and exercise is hard, but you have a wonderful motivation- to watch your girls grow up. Weight Watchers is a great program that has helped many people drop the weight. Jenny Craig is also a wonderful program. These programs teach you the right foods to eat and portion control, all things that you need to loose the weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle after you do loose the weight. A word of caution- there are a lot of fad diets out there (Adkins, Sugarbusters, etc). Any diet that is so restrictive to cut out entire food group (such as fruit) are not good and they don't lead to a lasting life change.

As for the exercise, you say that you are having trouble finding time to exercise. Remember exercise doesn't have to take place in a gym. You didn't say how old your girls are, but you could always ride bikes together (if they are older). If they are younger, I am sure that you have a stroller for the girls, so you could all do daily walks. Walking is one of the easiest ways to ease into exercise, especially if you have a heart condition. Once you take a step to start changing your health Iam sure that your self confidence will come back. Good luck and God bless...
K.

I HAD THAT PROBLEM A FEW YEARS AGO. EVEN IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS. I SUGGEST THAT YOU TAKE A MOMENT TO FIND YOURSELF FIRST. LOOK AT THE DIET OF THE FAMILY, CUT OUT THE SNACKS THAT IS HIGH IS SALT,FAT,AND HEAVY OILS. I KNOW SNACKS TASTE GOOD. I TRY BAKED CHIPS AND THOSE FRUIT SNACKS WHEN I NEED MY JUNK. MY PROBLEM WAS EATING IN BED BEFORE GOING TO SLEEP TO GET TO SLEEP. AND BELIEVE ME IT'S HARD TO BREAK, JUST EAT FRUIT OR A SALAD INSTEAD. MY MEALS INCLUDE FISH AND CHICKEN WITH SALADS. A LESSON I LEARNED WAS DRINK A GLASS OF WATER BEFORE YOU EAT ANY-THING! WHEN YOUR BODY SAY IT'S FULL STOP EATING DRINK ANOTHER GLASS OF WATER. JUST BY DOING THAT I LOSE 15 POUNDS IN A MONTH AND A HALF. THIS WILL MAKE YOUR STOMACH SMALLER, AND YOUR EAT LESS AND LESS IN A FEW DAYS. BREAST-FEEDING WILL HELP ALOT WITH THIS. IF YOU GET HUNGRY FROM BREAST-FEEDING EAT A FULL MEAL. TRY THIS AND LET ME KNOW IF IT WORKS. I HAVE A FEW MORE THINGS YOU CAN DO. I KNOW IT'S HARD I HAVE 5 KIDS MYSELF AND I KNOW THAT THERE IS NOT A LET OF TIME IN THE DAY. BUT TO TAKE LITTLE TIME FOR YOURSELF IS ALOT IN A DAY WITH CHILDREN.

If you want to see what's wrong after you have a physical, you might check out Dr. Phil's weight loss solution book. It deals more than just dieting. What's going on in your life to make your environment and habits condusive to living large? You have to have a lifestyle that supports being overweight. Can you honestly say you eat healthy? I know it's hard...I gained up to 250 when I was pregnant with number two. I am down to 180, but that's even a 7 pound increase from where I was almost a year ago. I'm busy now with work and school and have let exercising go by the wayside. I still bike ride, but weights are out. I joined Curves for about 2 years and while it probably helped me drop about 6 pounds alone, it was the Atkins diet that helped me drop the other 12. Basically...diet and exercise. There's no magic pill. With Curves, I noticed a plateau. While it's a good place to start, be prepared to get stuck. The more weight you have to lose, the quicker it can come off. Also, water...drink plenty of water!! At least 10 eight ounce glasses a day.

A. Hi, do you work or go to school it seem to me you need to refind yourself, what do you like to do/ do you draw write sing find something you like to do any time you need a friend i'm here for you take care & remember life is good J.

Honey..you need to detox your body. If you are breastfeeding then you can't do this because the toxins will seep into your milk. Here's what you do...it really works. Drink water any time you feel thirsty or hungry. Many peopled misinterpret thirst signals for hunger. Take mega doses of vitamin C to help boost your immune system and flush out toxins in your blood stream. Of course, check with your doctor before you do this. During the first week, go vegetarian you will be shocked at the weight loss. No canned veggies, only fresh and frozen...no dairy, no eggs only fruits, veggies, soy milk, water and whole grains. You will have so much energy after your body gets rid of the toxins that are slowing you down...most of which come from unnatural additives and preservatives and animal proteins. I hope this helps. It helped me. My normal weight is about 140 and I gained 70 lbs with my first son. I nursed him for about 5 months and tried to eat more organically and drink more water and I lost it all in about 10 months, which is a safe rate. Good luck! Oh yeah, slowly start adding meat to your diet with lean meats first, like turkey and chicken. A good protein shake is a good alternative to breakfast as well...you can find yummy ones at GNC.

I have no real advise other than sometimes you just have to take the first step. If I wasn't pregnate I would offer to be of some suport in working out... I know with me it was somethingI just had to get up and do something anything. What intrests you? do you like weight lifting? aerobics? biking? swimming? dancing? There are so many things that are fun that are actually a work out. I at one time had bought some tapes to try to learn belly dancing...now that is a work out... but it is something you have to want to do, and something you have to deside everyday to do...
do you belong to any fitness clubs? I belong to bally right now, but once that membership expires (in like a year and a half :( ) I am probly going to look into a curves or something like that... my mom swears by curves.

Have you had your thyroid levels checked? About 10% of women develop hypothyroidism after giving birth (myself included). This can cause weight gain, lack of energy, depression, headaches, etc.

If everything is ok healthwise, it really helps me to look at exercise like brushing your teeth. It's just something you do every day without question. You have to develop the habit.
Can you hire a personal trainer at least temporarily? It may be well worth the initial investment if you have an appointment you have to make. Good luck.

A.,

I can relate entirely with your weight gain after having the shot although mine was a long time ago. I started with the norplant which caused numerous health problems and 2 surguries. I too have headaches (migraines) almost daily so I didn't want to take the pill. The shot was fairly new when I started receiving it about 12 years ago but it literally felt like a dump truck pulled right up to me and dropped a load of about 40 pounds on me overnight. I've never been skinny but I'm 6' tall so I can carry a lot more weight than most women. Getting the shot sealed my fate. After I had my daughter in '98, like yourself, I felt like my health was spinning out of control. I gained even more weight from worrying about it. All in all, I am about 110 pounds over weight, and again, most people don't believe it when they see me because of my height. As far as what works? Unfortunately, exercise is just something you will have to fit in. But don't think that you need to do arobics or kickboxing or anything formal and high impact like that. A simple walk around the block for an hour 3-4 times a week really does work. You'll be amazed. It is also something that you can include your children in that they will enjoy too. Another thing is weight watchers. I started last summer in July and by December I had lost 42 pounds. It has been the most realistic attainable diet I have ever been on. I lost my job and decided to just stay at home again so I couldn't afford to go anymore and have put about 25 pounds back on. I also quit walking. :-( One other thing about weight watchers, after I started to loose the weight, my headaches got better along with a few other health issues I was experiencing. I am looking for another job and once I find one I intend on starting weight watchers again, and I know it will work. Get in touch with me if you'd like to talk! C.

I've heard that Curves and 1,2,3 Fit are great for when you're just getting started and learning how to prioritize and find time for exercise. You go at least 3 times a week, and you do a circuit of the machines. It's only 30 minutes, so it's easy to fit it in. My friend brings her daughter - they usually have a little corner for the kids to read or color while you work out.

I know exercise is hard, especially when you have young ones. The good news - it does get easier as the kids get older and more independent. So even if life is crazy right now, just hang in there - it will get better. And you do sound concerned, so the willpower and determination must be there. Don't get down on yourself the days you fail, and just KEEP TRYING. That is the most important thing. We all fail - all of us have slumps. You just gotta get right back up and keep going. :) Best wishes,
M.

NUTRISYSTEM!!!! It is the best diet I have everbeen on! I was about 130 before daughter #1. (she is 12 now) I was 185 after I had her! I went on lots of diets, none worked! I got pg with son (20 months) I was 170 when I got pg, and 205 after I had him. (I am only 5'1") I went onb nutrisystem and lost 40 pounds in 5 months! It was the easiest diet I have ever been on. And the support them from their bb is great, you should go to nutrisystem.com to check it out. Go to "community, and "support board" and read some the posts. They are so helpful adn supportive!
Anyway, I bought their food that 1st time. It was about $250 a month. Which was less than I was spending on going out and fast food!
So then I got pg again. (daughter is 4 months)Of course, I gained it all back. So I started again 4 days ago, with my own food...their diet...this time) and I have already lost 3 pounds. I feel great, have energy, and am full after meals! It is really an east diet if you get their food, and not hard if you do it on your own. You can email me if you have questions.

btw- I also nursed my kids for 1 year and am still nursing daughter. You just do the diet for men with 100 or more pounds to lose. You you get a few more carbs, fruit and one more fat serving a day than wemon qith less than 100 pounds to lose.

Good luck,
K.
____@____.com

Dear A.,

Birth control can do such a number on our bodies - I'm sorry for all of the trouble you are having! I'd like to encourage you to try an alternative therapy - our family has found NAET to be highly effective! NAET is short for Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Techniques. I know it seems strange, mentioning allergies. But basically, the treatment gets your body to correctly deal with a substance (permanently - for life). In your case, I'd bet that yeast is totally out of whack - and who knows what else, due to the synthetic hormones.

I've been treated for SO many different things. Yeast, sugar, Vitamin C, calcium - these treatments built up my immunity system incredibly... Also, cats -- my cat allergy is GONE. Or - this is crazy, I know - but mosquitos!! I used to react violently, and now I can't even see where I was bit after 30 minutes (for me, this is a vast difference - I used to itch for weeks). If my children are sick, we go for a treatment, and they are treated for whatever bug they have. Seeing how quickly their bodies bounce back is amazing.

The nice thing about NAET is that it is safe and natural, and it builds up the body's immunities rather than tearing down the body by relying on medications. It is fairly affordable, too. The first visit is around $100, then it's about $40. Most issues only take one treatment. I will warn you that the treatments seem strange, as if they wouldn't do anything, but I'm telling you, they do!!

We love Dr. Barnett, off of 290 & Mangum - ###-###-####. He's a wonderful Christian man - very kind & gentle.

I pray you find the help you need - I can't imagine your frustration!

Blessings,
R.

Have you checked with your doctor or even another doctor if yours doesn't seem to help???

For birth control I use the NuvaRing and I haven't noticed weight gain from that for myself. Mine has all come from my love of chips/carbs!

There is a website www.flylady.net that is great in helping us reduce clutter in our lives (which is GREAT!) but the biggest thing for your situation could be that it shows how anything can be done just a little bit at a time (babysteps) even exercise. I've just started doing anything for 5-15 minutes at a time. I've started to feel better which makes me want to get up and do more. I have a stationary bike I started riding for 10 - 15 minutes while reading a book. I can't believe how fast my time went! They also have a book called Body Clutter (can be purchased on their website) that talks about not necessarily WHAT we eat but WHY we eat it.

Just something that is starting to work for me!

Good luck...

First of all, how tall are you? What is your ideal weight? It sounds like you have a heart history within your family. You are only 27 and still have time to try to fix the problem before it gets worse. I know it is hard to lose weight (I've tried) but it is imperative for your health and your children. You already know that. So, you need to really take a look at what is important. You have to psych yourself up to actually doing it. I understand that you have headaches and no energy but, the reason you have no energy is because of all that extra weight and nonexercise. Trust me, I know from experience. You literally have to MAKE yourself start exercising or you never will. Once you start, you will feel so much better and have more energy. I know it is hard to find time to exercise but you again, literally have to make time for it or it will never happen. I have tried many diets and exercise programs and what I have found is that you need to start slowly and work your way up. I mean, you should start by watching what you eat. If you do this for a couple of weeks then you can start slowly exercising. Start by taking walks. If you don't have the time to do that with your kids or don't want to leave them, then walk up and down your stairs, if you have them. Or, find a good workout tape. Or, make your own exercise program. I think just doing some situps, leglifts and pushups is good to start and your kids won't know any different. It doesn't have to be a big deal that mommy has to go exercise. You don't have to spend all that money and time away from your kids in joining a gym or anything. You can do so much at home. I personally have had great success with the low carb diets. Especially the Atkins diet. If you are not familiar with this, you basically don't eat any breads, noodles, potatoes or fruits or obviously sweets. You start out for two weeks in eating only meats and cheeses. Then you can start adding in green veggies. Then, once you've lost the amount of weight you want, you begin adding in fruits and whole wheat breads until you find a happy medium where you are not losing anymore but aren't gaining also. This diet is awesome. I did it after every child I had (total of 3) and lost 5-8 pounds in the first week. What happens is, your body burns carbs for energy, and if you don't eat any carbs your body begins to burn the fat. So, even though you are eating a lot of fat, your body burns it right away and it never gets stored. You cannot drink caffeine or alcohol while doing this diet and you need to drink lots of water--it helps the liver function properly in breaking down fats. I know it doesn't sound like the healthiest diet but it works and hey, what diet are you alound to eat all that fat? Some things that I liked to eat were, tuna salad, steaks (ribeyes), lunchmeat and cheese roll ups for snacks, eggs-eggs-eggs, sausage, bacon, fish, shrimp, chicken-chicken-chicken and when able, lots of salads with low carb ranch dressing. You have to be careful about the condiments and such because they can have a lot of carbs in them. The first two weeks you can only have 20 carbs or less a day. Look at your food labels even on condiments and spices though. If you do this, you will lose weight and you won't have all the extra bloating because you aren't eating carbs which make you bloated. You don't fart as much!! Anyway, the body goes into ketosis which basically just tells you that you are burning fat and not carbs. This is what happen when you don't eat at all because your body always burns carbs first for energy. If all you eat is carbs, your body will burn them for energy and store any extra carbs, calories and fat and that is how we gain weight. This was usually all I had to do to lose weight but if I added exercise to this, I lost twice as fast. You will go into ketosis after 2 days of doing the diet and then you begin to burn the fat. It's amazing. Again, you have to get psyched up for it though and stick with it. Everytime you are craving a sweet, just remember your three little girls and how important it is for you to lose this weight. I'll bet if you lost the weight, your blood pressure problem would go away. Also, all that extra weight can cause tremendous pressure on your skeletal structure giving you aches and pains, low back problems, knee problems and more. I learned in nursing school that every extra pound of fat that you have on your body puts an extra 10 pounds of pressure on your back. Scary huh?! Also, for every extra pound of fat you have, your heart has to pump an extra mile of blood vessels just to feed it. This is where the blood pressure problems and heart problems come from. It's a lot of extra work for your heart when you have more tissue for it to supply blood to. Anyway, if you have any questions or concerns, let me know and I will try to help you. Oh yeah, every time I did the diet, I lost 20 pounds usually in only a month or so. I really watch my weight and keep close watch on what I eat if I start to gain again. Good Luck!!

M.

The same thing happened to me. I took the birthcontrol shot and my weight shot up. I took it for 9 months and I gained 70 pounds. I know weigh like 220 also. I have just had my fourth child 7 months ago. I also get depressed and don't know what to do I started taking my son to his football practices. I take my 2 smallest daughters to the park while he practices. I take a walk with them. Try doing something with your children. Even if you don't have the energy, push yourself to do something active with your children. Maybe that will motivate us to get into a fitness gym after a while. We are in the same boat. email me at ____@____.com maybe we can motivate each other.

A.,

I have 3 boys 9,7,6. The weight just built and built. I was always tired and wanted to do nothing but sleep. One day a friend of mine told me about doing these walking tapes in my house. They are called Walk the Walk with Leslie Sansone. They were wonderful. 1 mile only took 17 minutes. It really goes by fast. Finally for once I didn't feel so tired and run down. Then i needed to eat better and less. I have a very busy schedule with 3 boys involved in sports (we rush constantly). I started eating breakfast, for lunch I would have salad or a lean pocket (nothing too heavy or big) and for supper I would make the kids something quick and I would eat a lean cuisine, smart ones, anything under 300 calories. On days we didn't have practice I would make a healthy meal and not rush to get done first. Needless to say I went from 180 to 155 and have 25lbs left. I also want to say I DID NOT deprive myself of anything if I wanted Chips Ahoy cookies I had some, ice cream, chocolate cake etc., but I didnt overdo it. I think that by you starting off slow and doing something everyday you will feel better. Weight can cause so many health problems. If you dont want to do it for yourself do it for the children. I know you want to see your grandchildren and great grandchildren. Good Luck to you and I hope I wasnt to harsh. If you need someone to talk to you can email me at ____@____.com. I havent been on my diet in months but am starting again tomorrow. I could use some support myself. We could help each other. Hope to hear from you.

.

I feel your pain! I didn't have a shot, but I did have a lot of trouble loosing weight after my second child. My normal weight was 120 but I went up to 160 and stayed there for months. I finally lost the weight because I changed how I feel about food and I get only mild/moderate exercise into my routine just by playing with my children. Here's the skinny: if you reduce energy balance by about 1375 calories, you will loose 1 lb. That's fact! Doesn't matter if you're eating ice cream or lettuce; all you have to do is change the total calories you "keep". You can do that by exercising a whole lot to burn calories while keeping your diet the same or changing your diet drastically to reduce caloric intake and not exercising at all. But the best way is a combo of the two. So, since having two kids and working full time made me feel my weightloss plan would fail if it depended on exercise, I found ways of getting more "activeness" out of my normal duties (walking up/down stairs in my house, vaccuming and sweeping more often and more vigorously, rolling around on the floor with my kids). Next I kept a record of what I was eating for about a week so that I could calculate how many calories I was taking in that made me stay at 160lbs. Then, I gradually reduced my caloric intake by just not eating the things that I didn't really have to (eg. rice and other starchy foods). So dinner is now meat and something green. I don't ever drink soda unless it's diet and I drink lots of water. By controling portion sizes, I still eat most of the foods I really like (eg. I eat a CUP of cereal; I don't just pour it until it fills the bowl). if you'd like to hear more my take on the "science of weight loss" please type me back. Actually, I am a scientist and research in my lab deals with obesity and metabolic syndrome.
BTW...I now have 3 kids (10, 5, 3) and only weight 110 lbs, so this does really work without a trainer or expensive weightloss program!

Hello A., I have not been in your situation but I have 2 children and I have not lost the weight from the second one and it has been 2 yrs now. All I can say is watch what you eat and excerise at least 30 minutes a day. I did that with my first child and lost some, not all. I have been trying the South Beach Diet and it is helping me watch what I eat. You can buy the book(s) at Target. Maybe you and your husband and the girls can go fore an evening walk for 30 minutes, that would give you and your family a great bonding experience. I hope that everything works in your favor.

M.

A.,

The shot question is easy - it is notorious for making women gain weight, but it is not the only cause.

My best advice for weight loss is the Dr. Phil ultimate weight loss solution book. I was overweight from the time I was 6 years old with the exception of maybe 2 years of my life. I was diagnosed with cholesterol problems at age 18 and borderline diabetes at age 23. At age 29, I started showing signs of Meniere's disease.

There were things that I knew I was doing (like eating for emotional reasons) but didn't know how to control. And then there were things I didn't realize were contributing (like eating highly processed foods and white flour.) Long story short, I did the Dr. Phil thing at age 30 when I weaned my second baby and lost 35 pounds in 3 months. All signs of cholesterol problems, diabetes and other problems disappeared and I found energy I can't remember having even in high school. 16 months ago I went to the hospital to have baby #3 weighing what I did when I started the Dr. Phil diet and am happy to report that the weight came back off.

What I love about the Dr. Phil method is that it is two parts "diet & exercise" (and it is ideal eating during pregnancy and breastfeeding because it is simply very healthy eating) and five parts "psychology." He teaches you to learn why you overeat and how to stop. No one else gives you that kind of advice on cravings, emotional eating, cleaning your environment, etc.

To answer the exercise question, I do "The Firm" at home before my kids wake up - yes, at 5:30 in the morning. Because I eat right and go to bed early, my body wakes up without an alarm clock at this time and it gives me energy for the day. (The firm is a video/DVD series of aerobics with weights. They guarantee visible results within 10 workouts - I can always see a difference at 6. But it is not good for someone with bad knees. You get a very intense workout for the time dedicated and you're not wasting time and money driving back and forth to the gym.)

My condolences for the loss of your dad. My motivation was the same. I want to be around for my grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Best of luck,
S.

i know it's so hard to self motivate. But you have to take the responsiblity to help yourself. If you can, go totally organic and drink lots of water. Go for the long walks early in the morning.
I would snack on calorie free or negative calorie food.
http://weightlossinternational.com/newsletter/free-list-o...

There's nothing you can't accomplish if you make up your mind.
Have faith in yourself.

Let me just say I am not in the same situation, but I wanted to share with you my experience. I gained weight on the shot. I got off and lost the weight. Then I got pregnant. I gained about 60lbs during my pregnancy! It has been very hard to loose the weight! With the support of my family and a strong relationship with the Lord I have lost the weight. You have to make a comitment to yourself and your family to be healthy. You don't have to be 145lbs, just healthy. Take a walk with your family every evening to start off. After alittle excercise you will feel amazing, and it will motivate you to exercise more. It is not going to happen overnight but be patient and you will see results. Once you loose some of the weight your good health will return. I will pray for you.

A little about me:
I am married and a first time Mom. My son is 8 months old

I took the Depo shot 7 years ago and had major complications. my body thought i was pregnant, menopausal and a man at the age of 24. it gave me facial hair - bad, and deepened my voice and the weight to boot. Im currently on the Mirena IUD and loving it. no weight gain, had it for 3 months or major mood swings, better than the pill. As for ur self,when u gain weight it takes more effort to get rid of it, all that weight is holding u back, phyiscally. all u can do is take it one day at a time, dont beat urself up, if u do something 21 times it becomes a habit. start by walking daily for urself make it a priority if ur weight makes u feel sad. dont except a trialthon mind set, yet, just a simple walk 20 min every day is a great start. JUST DO IT. is my favorite slogan, when i hold myself back from doing what i want to do. JUST DO IT. and it will b done with satisfaction, even if for that 24 hour period, u can spare 20 min, no excuse.

I can definitely sympathize with you as far as being so tired and feeling a complete lack of energy. I work full time, go to school at night, and have a 1 1/2 yr old. The last thing I want to do is exercise!!
I have tried a lot of different things: yoga, boot camp exercise classes, even infomercial exercise videos! What has worked out best for me is walking in the morning. If I get up even a half hour early and walk on the treadmill while watching CNN's American Morning, the time just flies and it really energizes me. I don't do it every day, but I try and do it most days. I supplement that with yoga classes whenever I can, and my workout videos once in a while (so they weren't a total waste...)
I find that when I attempt to stick to a rigid schedule or a really strict diet system, I just beat myself up when I miss a day or splurge on a cup of ice cream. So, I just try and go for moderation, and exercise at least 3-5 times a week. Even if it is just a half-hour of walking, I feel so much better about myself. So far I've lost about 10 lbs. I have another 25-30 to go.

I agree with the other ladies that you may need to get a full physical because you may have a thyroid problem!

Best of luck!

Hi A.,

I deeply understand how you feel and the desire to be in good shape, good health to enjoy seeing your children grow up. I have 2 daughters myself (one is 7 and the other one is 4 years old).

Few years ago my sister took a birth control shot and it made her gain weight too. So, she stopped the shot and has used IUD since then. IUD didn't work for me, and I did not want to take the pill either. So for the past 7 years, my husband and I have used natural birth control method and used CYCLEBEADS. You can check it out at www.cyclebeads.com to see whether it is suitable for you and your husband. The method is working for us. It takes some discipline on our parts to stick with the method. The shot, IUD and pills change our hormones, but the cyclebeads method doesn't.

My husband has lost almost 30 lbs within few months. Exercise helps our heart rate, tones muscle, strengthen our body.., but it has very little in helping us to lose weight. I read we need to walk for 16 hours per day to lose one pound of fat. Who has the time to walk 16 hours per day? especially when you have 3 kids to take care. First my husband did lots of exercise to try to lose weight, but it didn't help. Then, we took a trip to Vietnam for 10 weeks last October, we came back to the US and realized that he had lost almost 30 lbs. We figured out the key for his weight loss due to the changing of his eating habit. He used to eat a huge bucket of cereal and milk for breakfast, then he snacked on few other bowls of cereal and milk in the middle of the day or evening. While we were in Vietnam, he did not eat any cereal and milk. He had regular 3 meals per day (some noodles or rice with some meat and lots of vegetables). However, the dishes in Vietnam were served in much smaller portion compared to the dishes we have in restaurants in the US. It took our stomach few days to get used to smaller portion. Later, his hunger can be satisfied with small meal. When we were back to the US, my husband stick with the same type of diet he had in Vietnam. No milk and cereal at all. He eats tofu, fruit, vegetables (he likes raw celery) for breakfast. Lunch and dinner, he has rice (sometimes noodles) with some meat/fish and vegetables. We prepared food ourselves with fresh vegetables. We don't use canned foods or other packaged food sold in grocer stores. We have icecream or other favorite dessert on Friday night dinner only. He keeps his weight stay at the desire number 170 lbs and his height is 5'11. That's is my husband's story.

At the same trip to Vietnam last year, I visited my uncle. He used to be overweighed. I was surprised to see him skinny again. The last time I remembered seeing him with skinny body was at least 20 years ago. I asked him how he could lose so much weight. My husband and I were interested to help my husband to lose weight. My uncle told me he was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure. His doctor requested he had to lose weight if he wanted to live longer. Very simple diet method that the doctor asked my uncle to follow : eat just a little bit of rice (rice is main stable food in Vietnam) every meal, eat lots of vegetables, eat meat/fish but prepared in a low fat way (no dip fried, no cream, cheese..) Within 6 months, my uncle lost 66 lbs!!! I wish I could provide you with the picture of "BEFORE" and "AFTER" of my uncle. It is amazed to see him in good shape again.

In short, you can start a new diet program with very low carb (limit bread, cereal, pasta, and food contain lots of starch...), low fat, and low sugar, do eat lots of fruits and vegetables (green vegetables). It takes some time for your body to get use to new diet, but it will help you take off lots of weight. You don't have to eat less. My husband didn't starve himself. You just need to eat the healthy food for your body and stay full.

I really want to help you. If you need more details about my husband or my uncle's diet, please contact me at ###-###-#### or ###-###-####.

I really believe you can be in good shape and good health again. It takes some time and effort to do so.

Best regards,
K.