What Works?

Well one thing that worked for me was breast feeding. Breast feeding was very uncomfortable for me so I went with the pump. I lost all the weight that I gained before I went back to work. It was 25 pounds in less then six weeks. If you werent breast feeding then it's probably a little late to try it now.
Another option is to switch to the pill, and dance to the music on the radio like crazy.

I have a 4 month old little boy too! Before getting pregnant I was 5'1 115 LBS. I gained 35 pounds while I was pregant (and he was 7 weeks early!) I joined weight watchers and I have lost 6.8 pounds in 3 weeks. It is really easy and as long as you follow the program you will lose weight-guaranteed! I'm starting to feel like myself again. I found it really works-give it a try!

I was also on Depo and then got pregnant. I lost the weight by running on my treadmill (started at 15 minutes then slowly worked up to 30) about 3-4 times a week and by eating very very healthy. Salads, fruit, chicken, fish and veggies mainly. And I went for lots of walks with the new baby.

I agree with Shannon also. I found sparkpeople a few months ago and love it. They make every thing so easy. They have amazing tools and resources. You can keep up with everything from calorie intake to exercising. The one thing I like about it the most, is they calculate what you want to loose and say if you do this then by this such and such date you should be close to this. You can set long and short term goals which makes it easier. I have found if you do what they say it will work, I have only weighed once since I've started but when I did I was where I was suppossed to be. The support there is also awesome.

i love pilaties so much i tell everyone about them not only do they tone up your body wonderfully they really increase your flexibility , coordination, and energy you'll notice big changes within the first two weeks (i noticed i was going to the bathroom a lot more regularly and waking up earlier and feeling better) every workout you do has a specific zone you work on that targets like your buttox stomach thighs and so on but even tho you're targeting those areas it really still works every muscle in your body its great you dont have to go to a gym and spend lots of money and you can start out by getting the beginners dvd's or tapes and work your way up they're not hard just keep trying if you start to feel tired or sore give it a day to rest but dont quit!!! also dont forget cardio its a huge part... going for walks/jogs are imparitive or just try jumping some rope in the back yard, the diet that most worked for me was cutting out junk foods and replacing them with fruits not eating a lot of bread, definitely cut out pop its HORRIBLE for you try vitamin water or propel i also tried eating more chicken instead of hamburger and fatty meats low fat cottage cheese or yogurt are great snacks!!! and do not forget your veggies i have so many healthy snack breakfast and dinner ideas if you need anything message me

dont forget pretzles and chips and salsa are so much better then doritos or cheetos and things like that

Hi A.! One very important thing to look for is high fructose corn syrup. Its in almost everything! Its made of a very sticky fat and makes cells that are hardest to get rid of! I gained 50 lbs during my pregnancy and have lost almost all of it by 5 months. I would also recommend purchasing foods that are closest to their original source. That means fresh or frozen fruits and vegetable. Things with no additives and preservatives, organic meat and eggs. Ive also stopped eating dairy and I found that I felt tremendously better and lost weight faster as soon as it was gone. And pilates is the best way to wittle down your waist FAST. Good luck!

Everyone I know that has been on the shot has gained weight. I would recommend another form of birth control. I had my tubes tied so I'm not formular with what is out there now. For the weight you should try Denise Austen. I know, she's a little fruity but she has good workout on Lifetime TV every morning from 7 to 8am. I have lost 20lbs since I started and don't really watch what I eat all that much. The palates is the best work out I've ever had for my abs and she does some in almost every show. Give it a try. Congratulations on your wedding! Good Luck

I lost 40 lbs with Weight Watchers, over the course of 4 or 5 months. :)

Depo is evil on your metabolisim. Stay off it. It also caused my ovaries to harden, it took us 6 1/2 year to conceive our first child and 2 1/2 for the second. The weight gain was also monumental. I went from being 103 pounds to 186 pounds even with dieting and excercise.
You may need your Dr to prescribe something to boost your metabolisim to lose the weight again.
Good luck!
C.

I lost 30 pounds between october of last year and about march of this year. The first 15 came off after I got a kidney stone and my doc said I needed to drink more water, so I stopped drinking pop completely. Just cutting the pop out of my diet made me lose 2 pounds a week for almost 8 weeks! The loss stopped just before christmas, so after the new year, I started eating better and exercizing every day. I lost another 15 pounds between the middle of January and the middle of March. Since then my weight has fluctuated about 5 pounds, but I haven't tipped back over 155 yet. I'd like to lose about 25 more pounds to get back to my high school weight.

One thing I found worked for me was writing down everything I ate. If you write it down, you are holding yourself accountable, and you'll find you eat less.

I found a really great website if you're interested. It's got a food journal that tracks any and every nutrient and has thousands of foods stored in it, an exercise database that tracks your calories burned, articles, a great message board, etc. It's better than any website I've every seen for diet and exercise, and the best part is that it's totally free! I've talked to several people that swear it's better than any site they've ever used, even the ones that charge a fee.

It's www.sparkpeople.com. If you decide to sign up, I'd appreciate if you'd use me as a referral (user name is shenanigan) It doesn't get me anything but points, which aren't good for anything really (no prizes or anything), but it lets me see how many people have signed up thru me.

They also apparently have a sister site you can use if you're pregnant. They won't even let you sign up for sparkpeople if you're pregnant, they refer you to the other site (which is also free).

Hope that helps! Good luck!

S.

I have to agree with the Weight Watcher votes-it worked for me as well. Keep in mind that you even if you don't lose huge amounts of weight right away, if you can manage to lose a lb/week, this time next year you'll be 52 lbs lighter.....the concept is simple enough (portion control, healthy foods, etc.) but changing eating habits aren't so easy so take it one step at a time so you don't get discouraged...good luck....

Get off the Depo...bad stuff. Try asking your doc about the nuvaring. I and my friend have been on it for over a year now, with no weight gain. Seriously...get off the depo. There are much healthier and easier BC methods out now.

I'VE NEVER HAD A WEIGHT PROBLEM BEFORE, MY MOM STOPPPED DRINKING POP AND EATING ALOT OF SUGAR. THE SHOT SEEMS TO MAKE PEOPLE GAIN LOTS OF WEIGHT. MY SISTER IN LAW WAS ON IT BEFORE SHE HAD CHILDREN NOW SHE CANT SEEM TO GET IT OFF AND IS PREGNANT AGAIN.

Eat healthy cereal for breakfast (along with some fruit) have a BIG salad for lunch, tons and tons to fill you up and eat anything you want for dinner ( keep portions in mind) If you are hungry through out the day, try to snack on healthy foods (easier said than done i know). I have a friend who lost over 40 lbs using this meathod. You will REALLY look forward to dinner and make sure you enjoy it every night. Also, I was a partial vegetarian for years (eatng only chicken and turkey ) NO RED MEAT!! I maintained my 117 lbs for years that way, but now I eat meat again (for healthy pregnacies) and the weight isn't coming off as easily. If you like things like nuts pay attention to how much fat/saturated fat you are consuming. I've found that just by reading labels I'll stop craving the foods that are really bad for me, because I feel guilty and I know that I want to be skinny again. I'm having trouble with finding time and ways to exercise with 2 little tikes around, but that is the # 1 key to looking and feeling better. (also if you are in need of a new form of birth control try an IUD I'm getting one implanted shortly and it is not only the best form of birth control, but you can breastfeed with it and it will not cause weight gain like the pill/shot/patch/ring. Good luck, let us know how you're doing in a few weeks~!

I have used the slimfast plan twice to lose weight and both times I lost two pounds a week for as long as I was on it. It takes a little time, but they say it is healthier if you lose the weight slowly, after all you didn't gain it over night (also I think it helps you retain what muscle you have and your skins elacisity). I also combind the diet with running or walking and weight lifting. That is how I got the best results because my goal was not necessarily to hit the 117 I was when I got married, but to tone up and tighten some problem area's. So as I lost the weight I began to not only get slimer, but to have muscle, my husband absolutley loved it!
The slimfast plan worked best for me when I was working 40+ hours because I didn't have time to think about the food I wasn't eating. I also didn't follow the plan on weekends, just during the work week.
I also only weighed myself once a week, every Fri morning on an empty stomach.
Hope you find something that works for you!
M.

I have been following the biggest looser diet, and it seems to work the best. I didnt have the money to go to the gym, so i bough an exercise ball and some resistance bands, and you can do most of the same exercises at home that way. walking is very good for you as you can take the baby with you, especially now that it is getting warmer out. In the winter time what I do is not buy all my groceries at the same time so that I have to go to the store a couple times a week and just make sure I am walking for about half and hour. Also if you can find an exercise buddy you will see better results.

Good luck

A regular exercise progam during your week helps our a lot. I'd suggest going for walks with the wee one in a stroller but since it's getting cold do a work out in your home. My problem was finding time to do it. I have two wee ones myself, a 2yrold and an 8month old. So, I went and picked up those 10 minute workout DVD's. I can do as much or as little as I need to while both kids are napping. One thing that bugged me was that when I had my youngest I'd grab junk to eat because it was fast and I didn't have to cook or prepare it. Don't do that. Make sure you get your three meals a day and a healthy snack. I'm still not at my target weight goal yet, but I will be. The last pounds are always hardest to take off....when it is you should step up your workout program because your body is changing and needs the extra challenge. If you can't work out while the small one is asleep, try doing it when they go down for bed at night.

diet and excersize. maybe take a mommy and me excersize class. but get an areobic workout for 20 mins at least 3 times a week. try to knock out the saturated fats and trans fat, and get more protien and iron. oh, and water, drink lots of it. LOTS OF WATER!!!!! on cut out the pop, even the diet pop... ummmm but you really need excersize to lose the weight. Oh and vitamins... oh and the depo shot is not the best for losing weight. try something different. like, ALEASE or something... but the depo shot is known for the weight gain... definetly try a different birth control...

A.,
I joined the YMCA and did weight watchers. It is all about portion control. That is how I have lost almost 40 pounds. I didn't really even do weight watchers on the weekends but stuck right to it during the week. I work out about 3 to 4 times a weeek. And the great part about the Y is that they have a program called Tot Watch. You can leave your child there while you work out. It is no extra charge. When I first started working out I had no idea what to do to get the results that I wanted so I signed up for a program called Fit Start. It was an extra cost but it was well worth it. I go to the Westside YMCA and the fit start trainer that I had was Joy. She is great and is full of support and encouragement. Hope this helps!
D.

A lot of people make this oh so common mistake of forgetting breakfast; try eating something small in the morning to fire your metabolism and eat things evry 2-3 hours wether it be an apple, (or other piece of fruit) and try cutting down portion sizes to fist size portions of the fatty foods; also remember you should NEVER reduce calorie intake to less that 1000-1200 cals a day or your body will fall into starvation mode (which can make you gain weight); going for a small walk a couple times a week, taken stairs instead of elevators a couple times a week at first and of course 8-10 glasses of water; if you don't like water, try adding lemon or crystal light; i lost 2 lbs a week with these little tips; it really does work; if you would like extra help get a hold of me and we can do a diet buddy thing; GOOD LUCK!! remember you are not dieting and refusing foods; you can have your cake and eat it too... just in smaller sizes and you are choosing to eat healthier!! i also have lots and lots of food combos that blow your metabolism up!! and the 3 a day dairy thing works too.

Weight Watchers will definately do it. They have 2 different plans. Definately check into it. I had 2 children and lost the weight each time by doing weight watchers, I don't even really stick to it on the weekend.
Before I had kids I was on the depo shot and gained weight as well.

i was on it and what i did was watched what i ate and wlked alot and went to the gym. plus swimming helps alot, hope all works for u. email me back and tell me what happens.

Hi A.,

I was once on Depo. Man, that stuff is evil! It did cause lots of weight gain for me also (and two other girlfriends that also took it). And it was nearly impossible to get rid of. One diet I found really worked wonders. Its called the 6 week body makeover. The basic gist of it is, you eat 6 times a day. Drink lots of water (minimum of 100 oz), don't cook with any oil or butter and don't drink milk or eat cheese. Also, you can't have any salt.(only what is found naturally in foods) I lost 10lbs in my first week on this diet. It really is amazing. Its kind of an expensive program, and it really is a lifestyle change. An exercise program comes with the diet, they literally send you everything you need.
Anyway, you can send me a message if you want the website to get more info about it. It has worked for me and another one of my friends (she lost 60lbs in a year!)

The thing is, you have to have good nutrition and a good exercise program. Whatever diet you choose, you have to exercise too. Unfortunately, its the only way to lose weight and keep it off.

Good Luck!

This sounds very weird but it worked for hubby and I. We stopped eating meat. We still made it for our kids of course but we had bean burrito's instead of meat, we would have grilled cheese and soup, salad for dinner......He went from a 3x to a 2x in 3 weeks and I lost 16 lbs. in 1 month. As everyone will tell you, everyone is different but that is what seemed to work for us. And you can still eat what you like.

Hope whatever you find works :o)
Best of luck

~~~~E.

I take ultra 90 and work out for 15 minutes after the baby goes to bed. After I had my son in December I weighed 214lbs!!!! Its been 9 months and im down to 165lbs from doing this. Thats a little more then a lb a week. Let me know if your interested.

Having been on Depo which is one of THE worst bc methods out there, you should go and talk to your doctor about the possiblity of having PCOS, poly cystic ovary syndrome. Then, find a good homeopathic dr to help you cause a regular MD will just medicate you. That is of course my opinion... Ruling out pcos would potentially make it easier to lose weight.

just a little of my own experience....
all of my friends who have gone on depo have gained atleast 30# over the first couple of years, and once off depo have slowly lost a lot of it, so just so you know you are not alone!! i am a bit opposite of you size-wise, i'm a bit over 5'11! I gained 65# during my pregnancy, and struggled for two years to lose the last 25# which I kept after losing 40# almost in the fist 2 months. of course you technically should check out diets with your doc, especially if you have any medical issues or past eating disorders, but i have to say that weight watchers worked for me. i'm almost ashamed to say it, because it seems so cheesy, but it really helped me learn about portion control. what i didn't like about it, was eating a regular lasagna and eating my "points" value for that meal, would end up meaning a couple of tablespoons of food only! then i tried the frozen meals, and though they tasted good, were not satisfying (but i am tall, and it takes a bit to keep my energy up throughout the day...) now i am eating mostly fresh fruits and veggies, and lean protein, and i cut out diet pop (it makes you crave carbs!) and refined sugar, and i am losing the weight that i had gained in the last year super fast(i gained about 20# back after doing WW, but i had dipped way-below the "goal weight" i had set when doing WW). one thing that i learned is that the average woman actually needs about 1600-1800 calories a day to maintain their weight, and more like 1100-1200 to lose weight. but i have also found (through MANY MANY trials and errors) that the quality of the food that you get calories from really makes a different in energy levels and the ability to keep the weight off (and to make sure you're not losing muscle mass as well as extra chubbies!)
hope any of this helped! i know i have struggled so much too, and it is NOT FUN!!!