Weight

I had a gym membership for two years and went faithfully for a fairly strenuous workout 3-5 days a week. I didn't change my eating habits, however, and never lost weight. I continued with a strenuous workout 3-5 days a week and changed my eating habits and lost 10 pounds in two months. I have been told that it's 30% exercise and 70% diet, and now I'm a believer that it's true. For me, the diet change was adding a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables and eating about every 2 hours. When I go to the grocery store I buy 1 cucumber, 1 red or orange bell pepper, baby carrots, grapes, pineapple, cantaeloupe, whatever and then as soon as I get home I cut it all up and put it in a ziploc bag. That way it's all ready for me when I need a snack. BTW, I've never eaten fresh raw vegetables before I started doing this. Also, I LOVE to eat out, but do you know how many calories are in your favorite meals at fast food or sit down restaurants? You'd be surprised, and it's a very sneaky way to be getting way too much when you think you're not eating that much. Check out www.dietfacts.com. It has an option to look at the nutritional menus of your favorite restaurantsa nd then you can makea better food choice when you go there. I'm telling you---you'll be surprised! Good luck and don't lose heart!

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I HIGHLY recommend this FREE website:
http://caloriecount.about.com/

Tools to do things including (but much more): track your food, track/chart your weight loss, get prompt answers to any question you have from other members, get support from other dieters, join ongoing threads where you can post your weight loss weekly (great for accountability) with other members, plus SO MUCH more. They even have a forum especially for younger dieters like yourself.
And again, they get paid by advertisers so its FREE!

PLUS the focus is on healthy, long-term weight loss. I joined August 2007 and have stayed on track ever since, losing over 100 lbs. The tips and support I got from other members was critical to allowing me to stay on course with my diet.

Different diets work for different people. South Beach has dramatically helped me control my appetite - the first 2 weeks are strict but it really adjusted my hunger for the rest of the diet.

** If what youre doing isnt working, try other things until you find what does, assuming youve ruled out medical issues **

My other suggestion would be set goals - even use a calendar. Make sure they are reasonable and know you just need to hang in there because the passing of time will take care of the rest and those losses will add up.

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basic formula: less calories in than out! exercise! eat right! there is no magic pill, no matter what people tell you! it's worked for me every single time i've wanted to lose weight.

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Hi A.,
After 2 kids I know how hard it is to looe weight. I finally lost my baby weight after working at it really hard for about 6 months. I excercised daily---treadmill 30 minutes a day/5 days a week. I would alternate 2 minutes fast and 2 minutes slow/ 2 minutes running at least 3 days a week and then just 30 minutes of medium pace 2 days a week. It breaks up the just walking and while you are going fast and running you can't wait to slow it down to walk. I also started adding some strenght training in after I was comfortable and use to the walking. Don't overdue it take at slow and work your way up.

Also keeping a food diary is the best idea in the world. But don't just write down what you eat...look at what you are eating before you eat it. Check out the calories...start noticing that you could eat an apple for 80 calories or 3 cookies for 120. The apple is going to last a lot longer and be more filling than the cookies. Think portion versus calories. Write down what you eat and how many calories you are eating. Start out with 2100 calories a day and gradually work your way down. On top of watching calorie intake drink 8 glasses of water. Keep track of that as well. The water really does help fill you up and keep that hungry feeling gone. So whenever you just need a snack in the day drink water instead or grab you some fruit and your water.

I also felt it really helped to clean out the junk food from the house. Go shoping and really look at what food you are buying. Look at calories per serving and keep away from the high fructose corn syrup. The Kashi cereals are excellent source of fiber and lower calories and taste great. Stay away or at least limit yourself from Coke's and caffine.

But also know it's ok to cheat. Limit yourself to at least one night a week that you can cheat and eat what you want. If you know you are going to dinner that night...eat a smaller portion lunch like an apple/yogurt. Look ahead if you are going out to lunch with friends look at the menus on line and look at calories for the foods you like at all the restaurants you like to eat. If you stick to at least 600 calories per meal that will leave you 300 calories of snack foods. You can eat at your favorite places as long as you watch the calories intake.

example....
Whataburger you can get a justaburger for 290
small fries for 260
drink water
that gives you a 550 calorie lunch and you still get to eat a burger and fries. Add cheese and it will add about 90 calories.

Chick-fil-a
you can get a 6 count nugget meal for 200 calories and small fries for 280...that gives you 480 calories. Watch your condiments though and limit them as well. Of course mustard had no calories at all.

I found that getting to eat the foods I like helped a lot but your just eating smaller portions and avoiding the cokes/tea..ect.

I hope this helps. Good luck to you and I hope it works for you like it did for me. And remember loosing weight is a lifestyle change you have to continue to watch what and how much you eat even after you loose the weight.

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Hey A.! I agree with Cheryl. I have cut out fast food, sodas, candy, and basically any other fried greasy food. I'm only eating fruit, vegies, chicken, yogert, cheese, soup, and WATER! The key is the water i think. I've lost about 20 lbs in just over a month. I feel great and have so much more confidence. I've tried all the silly pills and weight loss food, and i'll tell ya. In my opinion, this is the most reasonable. Also, just some advice. Cut all the fruits and vegies up as soon as you get home from the grocery store. that way you have easy access. I've found that if i wait til i want a snack, i'll go for the easy stuff (chips, cookies). Give it a try!

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A.,
Although older, I had the same problem as you, and couldn't seem to find anything that worked. I started on Herbalife, five years ago, and in the first six weeks lost 34 lbs and went down 3 dress sizes. Herbalife is a meal replacement, is very cost effective (about 2.50 per meal), and provides all the nutrition your body needs. There's a product called Total Control, which boosts your metabolism and begins your weight loss immediately.

Due to my weight loss, many of my friends asked what I was doing, so I became a distributor. I would love to help you too and offer a 10% discount for mamasource members!

Give me a call and we can talk about how best to help you lose your weight! ###-###-####

D.

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For size around your stomach, there's actually a muscle separation in one of your stomach muscles that occurs in about 90% of women who have had babies, most women don't even realize they have it, but it makes losing that stomach almost impossible. There's a book by Julie Tupler called Lose Your Mummy Tummy that did wonders for me and helped a ton with some lower back problems I was having, she has specific exercises for the muscles that are affected during pregnancy. It's almost more like physical therapy, but it's amazing. If you're planning on any more, she also has a book called Maternal Fitness that explains how you push during labor and helps strengthen the muscles you use, it's great also.

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I understand your pain. Before I became pregnant I had the same problem. Not only would I gain weight no matter what I did, I was also tired all of the time. My doctor and I discovered that I had a thyroid disorder. So my doctor put me on medication that would help me regulate my thyroid levels. I immediately became pregnant after my disagnosis so I never had the opportunity to find out what dose should be, when not pregnant. So during my pregnancy I was on a high dose, however after I delivered my doctor dropped my dose way down and I immediately gained weight despite breast feeding, eating right and working out daily. It is so frustrating. So if I were you I might ask your doctor about checking your thyroid levels. Sometimes thyroid problems don't get diagnosed because it could be something else.

I hope this helps.

I have been a lifetime member of Weight Watchers for some years now. I lost my weight and now I stay accountable by weighing in once a month (for free). It's a commitment going to weekly meetings, but very worth the time
Learning how to eat is the key to success. Start taking your wonderful little girl for nice walks, which really helps to build your metabolism.
Good Luck
J.

To lose weight and keep it off don't (diet) eat vegetable and fruit first before the rest of your meal, try to eat a regular amount & not seconds, if it tastes real good tell yourself you can have more at supper, & save it. Try not to have a lot of fried or fast food, and take your baby for a walk with his stroller so you get some exercise. You don't have to go to a program thatyou dread and won't do, but a little will really start to help. It may seem slow at first, but don't get discouraged, as it will stay off. good luck. Try drinking water first too.

Hi A.,

I'm an Arbonne International Independent Consultant and we have a great weight loss line that has given great results. You can go to www.gofigure8.com and check it out. This website is very useful for someone working on losing weight. The products are great...if you use the products, start walking/working out and watching what you eat you'll see results. This website has recipes and meal plans, etc. If you want more information or you would like for me to contact you with more information or samples of the products here is my information:
T. Ebbinghouse
Arbonne Independent Consultant
###-###-#### (cell) ###-###-#### (home office#)
www.TerriEbbinghouse.MyArbonne.com
I'd love to help you with questions or your order if you are interested. The websites will give more information on the products and the difference in Arbonne's products.

Good luck!
T.

HI A.,
I have struggled with my weight since my early 20's. I will be 44 in a few weeks. Just this year I read an article that took the mystery out of weightloss & calories and helped me to lose 20 pounds. To lose 1 pound, you have to avoid or elimminate 3,500 calories. 30-45 minutes of fast paced walking or upbeat exercise burns 300-500 calories. By skipping just 1 McDonalds meal a day and eating a Lean Cusine (sp) saved me another 300-400 calories. Any of the prepackaged meals like that from the grocery store are the perfect portion and have a good balance of carbs, protien and veggies. I work from home, so it was easy to incorporate those meals into lunch routine/diet without impacting my family. Just doing those two things allowed me to lose 1-2 pounds a week. Doesn't sound like a lot, but consistently losing 5 pounds a month looks really good in a few short months. Once you get your mind around the fact that you are going to change your eating and exercise routine, you will succeed! Do it now and save yourself 20 years of frustration. God Bless you and your family.

Hello A.,

My name is M. and I have a skin care, health and wellness company. All of our products are botanically based.

A couple years ago I was working out real hard and lost very little weight because I did not change my eating habits.

The beginning of this year I started using some of my business' products and lossed 16 lbs in about 3 months. It's a very healthy way to help change your eating habits and lose weight.

Let me know if you'd like more information.

Thanks and God Bless!

My husband and I have been on weight watchers now for 16 weeks. He has lost 17lbs and I have lost 16lbs. Yes, it has been slow, but then we didn't put on the weight over night either so I am ok with it coming off slow. Weight Watchers is teaching us to take control of the food and not let the food control us. The address all the issues around being over weight.

Besides getting your thyroid checked, I would also ask your doctor about being insulin resistant. It is a pre-diabetes condition that can be helped by medicine. Once my OB diagnosed me with that, it became easier to start losing weight. He has also recommended the South Beach Diet which helps clean up your blood chemistry. I lost about 14 pounds with it before I got pregnant with my daughter and now I have lost 18 pounds on it again. Good luck, believe me, I know it is hard.

A.

I noticed a lot of people have suggested Weight Watchers. I will second that suggestion. I have been on Weight Watchers going strong since February and have lost 27 pounds (5 lbs away from my goal!!). Going to the meetings makes it a success though, for one it makes you accountable. You need a good leader you can look up too as well. My leader is wonderful. I go to the meetings in Grapevine off Park and 114 7am Saturday mornings. I am a definite advocate of Weight Watchers as this is the second time I have used it. My first time around I lost 45 pounds (I was 28 years old). I was 5 pounds away from my goal and got pregnant with my daughter. What I like best about Weight Watchers is it's really not a diet, it teaches you a healthier lifestyle. I would definitely be wary of all the diet pills on the market. None of them have ever worked for me. I believe we don't need the pills if we just change our lifestyle.

Ok, so what exactly are you eating? Are you still eating like you are pregnant? Are you getting exercise? The key, which I am sure you know, is that you need to expend more calories than what you take in to loose weight. If you are having trouble getting to the gym I highly recommend doing work out DVD's while your baby is napping. I do this every morning while my girl is sleeping and my body is healthier and stronger than it has ever been! The best website to order them from is called CollageVideo.com. I do the Firm videos and also have the 30 Day Shred by Jillian Michaels. Each of her workouts are 20 mins and they kick your butt! I consider myself in pretty good shape and they are hard for me. You really need to pay attention to what you are eating... start writing it down so you know when you are eating things you shouldn't be... it might keep you from eating those things. Let me know if you need anymore advice... I would love to help you out if I can! I have lots of great healthy recipes you can make for you and your family.

A., you didn't specify what you were doing to lose the weight, but if you have been trying and still seem to be gaining, you may want to get your thyroid tested. After the birth of my son, I waited until breastfeed was done (4mths) and then began to eat healthy & started to exercise. Although I am 34, I have always been pretty thin, so when I started gaining weight instead of loosing, I didn't know what was up, after several months of gaining plus some other issues, I finally went to the doctor and they ran lots of test, found out I had hypothyroid, which makes you gain weight (no matter what you do). Just a thought.

Mom to wonderful 20month old boy.

I recommend Weight Watchers. I have lost 80lbs on it!!! It works great, and you can have anything you want. weightwatchers.com can give you more info on locations near you, and you can even do it online!

hey look at this web site -
WWW.BFL.COM

I completed a 12 week challenge before I got preg and it works! I am currently going the challenge again.

Good Luck!

are you on birth control? here's why i ask...i was able to lose 30 lbs after the birth of my first daughter (i did the turbo jam workout dvd's - they're absolutely wonderful, and i ate well). the only birth control i used in between my two children was condoms. after my second daughter was born, i had lost almost all the baby weight in the first two months. then i had mirena put in. i didn't just stop losing, i actually gained weight back! i just had it taken out on june 19th and have already lost 8.5 lbs.
if you're not using birth control, then my suggestions are to
1. RUN - best way to burn calories
2. get a heart rate monitor..it helps make weight loss more visual when you can see how many calories you are burning.
3. check out sparkpeople.com

good luck

Hi,
I highly recommend "Isagenix". It was recommended to me and I have lost a lot of weight since last August. If you would like to know how to purchase the products wholesale just let me know or you can look at my web site with the company: www.castledecor.isagenix.com

R.

I am doing the Arbonne 8 week challenge and love it, I am also mixing in some stuff from the book Finding Your Perfect Weight, I have lost 2 lbs. this week and just started on Sunday. Contact me if you want more info, M.
www.m3vno.myarbonne.com

Hi A.,

My name is J. and I am a Health Consultant in Hurst, Texas. I have worked with dietary changes and nutritional supplements for over 20 years. If you would like you can give me a call, the consultation is free, that way we could go over your diet, snacks, water and other liquid intake to see if you might be sabotaging yourself without even knowing it. I have my clients journal what they eat for a week and it is usually easy to break the code for weight loss. Back after my daughter was born I followed these same diet tips and also took a metabolism booster and went from a Size 10 to a Size 5 in two months and now I am in my 40's have been able to keep the weight off. My number is ###-###-#### and I can be reached am or pm.
Blessings,
J.

Exercise is the key -- and being consistent with it. I realize with a 7 month old baby this is not easy, but if you really want to lose weight you will need to exercise. Also make sure you're eating right, and that you're eating enough. If you are starving yourself you'll slow down your metabolism and it won't work long term. Eat a few small, healthy meals a day (5-6 mini meals- this works for many people) and drink LOTS of water. If you do this plus exercise regularly and you will lose weight. Good luck!

Eat nothing white--or that has white in it, i.e. white sugar, white flour, white rice, white potatoes, etc.
Nothing fried.
Walk, Run, Swim or Exercise 30 mins a day
Eat smaller portions at meal time, and eat more slowly.
Fruit snacks between meals.

It has to become a way of living rather than a temporary diet. Once the desired weight is achieved, you can give yourself an occasional dessert or treat, but it can't go back to the old way or you are right back where you started. There are tons of good books, too, that discuss the psychological reasons we eat--like for comfort, etc.
Find your triggers if you are a compulsive eater.
Oh, and don't drink diet sodas. The artificial sweetner in them only make you crave more sweets.
Good luck.

You have a bunch of great advice so far, you may want to check out a cleansing program. I did isagenix and it was amazing. I lost fast, but not only that, it was all healthly and I felt better than ever.

Check it out..... www.kristinestell.isagenix.com.

Feel free to email me and I can answer more questions you may have!

Weight Watchers!!! I know it sound cliche, but it really works.

Weight Watcher is great and teaches you how to make a life style change which is what you have to do to keep the weight off. Also Alli is an over the counter medication approved by the FDA that really works by blocking half the fat you eat from being absorbed. It took over 9 months to put the weight on so relax and realize it will take a while to egt the weight back off. I encourage you to trty Weight Watchers though and you can take the Alli as an extra boost to help lose the unwanted weight.

I have a couple suggestions - WEIGHT WATCHERS is #1 - I tried losing weight on my own but couldn't do it...joined Weight Watchers and lost almost 30 lbs!!! Love it! It just teaches you how to eat right - I notice a big difference when I'm not eating the right combinations of good food now! However, I'm 37 and my metabolism is not as good as it used to be :o). I do have a niece that is 22 and kept gaining weight until her OB diagnosed her with PCOS (not sure what exactly that is, but it does make you gain weight). My last suggestion is, your baby girl is still so little - give yourself some time, enjoy her, take it easy and relax, then try to lose the weight. (My little boy was 2 yrs when I finally decided to join WW - look at it as you earned all those precious pounds with that angel you have - she was worth every one :o)).

God Bless!

Dear A., I would stop worried about weight and start focusing on be healthy overall. Start practice yoga regularly and learn about healthy eating, it will help a lot in your transformation. Besides being happy mom, find joy in your personal space, stimulate it, celebrate and nourish women in you, learn how to love yourself and enjoy yourself. Being upset with your body is not helping, instead except what you have today, love it, take care of it. With that in mind here is several tips: Use good quality seaweed soap like (http://www.vitacost.com/Reviva-Labs-Seaweed-Bar-Soap) when you shower, use natural brush instead wash cloth, make circular motions, do not rush - enjoy. Always finish with contrast shower 3 or 5 times ending with cold water. It will "exercise" your skin on molecular level and tone your skin, it's crucial when you loosing weight. Water doesn't have to be cold, start from what you can enjoy being relaxed(1), then make it hot, also to the degree that you can relax and enjoy, than switch to cold again(2), then hot, then cold again(3). In time you will want more contrast between cold and hot. Besides all the health benefits it feels amazing!!! After shower don't use towel (maybe just partially), use little of Dr.Hauschka Rosemary body oil ( http://www.drhauschka.com/holistic-products/body-care/bod... ) on the wet skin every day. You might be surprise with the result as fast as couple month. As a healthy eating education I think Hallelujah acres people doing great job! Check there site ( http://www.hacres.com/testimonies/testimonies.asp?strterm... ), subscribe for their monthly magazine (it's free). Exercise advise - who've done it will agree with me - there is no better exercise then power yoga from all different aspects. We are lucky to have here in Texas this type of yoga in several location - beautiful studios and amazing instructors. Here is the site http://www.theyogaproject.net/ or http://www.yogasportdallas.com/
Wishing you amazing journey.

my mom and dad eat oatmeal or malt o meal type food for supper and my dad has lost several pounds and inches in a matter of months.

For me it is all about living an active lifestyle. It seems that my diet doesn't have as much as an effect as that. An hour or two or three of exercise a week doesn't cut it. Go for walks every day - for an hour or longer at a time. Take your daughter to different parks and such. Walk malls if it is too hot outside. Different people need to do different things to lose weight. Just up your activity as much as possible and see how it goes from there. Good luck.

I agree with the other posters... doctor...exercise...eat healthy.

But in exercising do two things... add weight resistance training, build muscle, at least 2xweek and exercise for an hour (cardio) at least 4 times a week.

Good luck and congrats on the baby girl!

A.,

I haven't read the responses, but I am a HUGE advocate of Weight Watchers. I am 36, and I could not lose the baby weight. I worked out a ton for over a year with little to no movement on the scale. I don't really have time for weight watchers meetings, so I joined online. I lost 25 pounds in 3 months. This puts me 10 pounds below the weight I was when I got pregnant. And, I am working to losing 10 more pounds. I feel that eating to a weight watchers plan is a way of life for me. I will not have to diet any more. It is very reasonable, but it did take some adjusting to. I hear the meetings are great too. They just weren't for me. Feeling good about yourself is so important. You have more mental and emotional energy. I hated how I felt all of the time. Good luck. Feel free to email me if you decide to join, and I will give you a TON of tips.

A.

I have stuggled all my life and I know now that had I appreciated my body at 21, I would have been a lot more motivated to stay thinner. So the first order of business is to work at learning to love your body, or at least parts of your physical being. Don't diet. It never ever works. I am 46 and have done everything. Exercise a little every day, eat fresh foods and drink water - you will lose slowly but you will feel great almost immediately. Don't deprive yourself of the treats you love, just try to cut them down a bit and get back to fresh foods for the most part. Don't diet. You are too young to start on that path!! If you need a support group, Weight Watchers is the most successful and guess why - they tell you to exercise, eat fresh foods, and drink water! J.

Everyone has their method. I have a 5 month old and I'm almost back to my pre-preg weight. I gained about 30 lbs with him but I still want to lose another 40 or so. I don't do WW, and I don't count calories or follow any "diet" and I can't watch DVD's at home becuase its too easy to cheat. You just have to change your eating habits by replacing the bad stuff with good stuff, and then after a while, you won't even miss the bad stuff. I don't even buy crackers and bread anymore, because I had a problem with portion control. Just educate yourself as much as you can. If you can join a gym or take an aerobics class at your rec center then do it. It has to be enjoyable though if you want it to work. If you're not nursing, then you might try appetite suppressants that don't have drugs in them, if your problem is snacking all day long. But don't rely on those or take them too long.

last week I was watching a morning show "Mike and Juliet" I think (I'm not too sure now) and they had the best diets count down. I know the guys name is Mike so maybe you can look it up? I do know that if you eat a lot of healthy foods and eat as early in the day as possible and stop eating 3 hours before you go to sleep, & do aerobics with weights you're on a good start. I have had surgery recently and I've been swimming ( not to mention I'm 34 and loosing weight kind of slowly but surely) so hang in there, even if you don't loose weight. I gained 5 lbs at 1st then another, and just now started to see a difference in my size and just barely saw a change on the scale, but it has started.

Weight watchers online! My husband and I have just started this a few weeks ago. It's not hard to follow and you can eat regular food. It assigns point values to foods based on calories, fat and fiber content. Stay within your points and you loose weight. I was skeptical at first, but it's really working. I lost my recent baby weight fairly easy after his birth, but I am still working on losing the baby weight from my 2 year old! :) I am much closer to 40 than early 20's, if its working for me I bet it would work for you since it's easier the younger you are to get your metabolism on track. Good luck to you!

Hi A.,
You might want to get your thyroid checked. If your thyroid is out of balance, you will gain weight no matter what diet tips you do.
M.

I joined a bootcamp at my local YMCA. It has done wonders for my figure & my mind! I have made such good friends there. You should see if you have a local YMCA & see if they have any fitness classes or groups. They are resonably priced as compared to a long term gym membership. I have tried every diet & pill on the planet. I have finally come to terms with the fact that excercise is the key to loosing weight! Without it, you are doomed to put back on anything that you loose with diet alone. You could always just go out and walk. Walking is a great way to get started. I bought a cheap MP3 player & put my favorite tunes on it & got out & got moving. I wish you all the luck in the world!

HI A.!! If you are eating healthy and exercising, it should work. If not, you should go to your doctor and have your thyroid checked.

Good luck!!

Hi! A., I am a 54 yr,old that has been up & down for years & I've tried every diet & diet pill with all success but they don't last. Last June I tipped the scale at 248 & I decided that I would try somethingelse. I cut out sugar for several months and haven't gone back to sweet tea or regular soda. 1 cup of sugar has 750 or so calories & I drink at leat a gallon of tea aday with a cup of sugar. But the main thing is I eat ground turkey instead of beef & try to eat grilled chicken often. I have also cut my portions in half as well as try not to drink a lot with my meals. Like I said it has been a year but I have lost 40 lbs. It has been a steady pound a week with an occasional skip but I'm getting there. The main thing is don't worry about it . My weight had been constantly on my mind & now I just know when to stop. Also when I get hungry between meals or at night I eat peanutbutter & crackers. It stops my craving for sweets & fills me up. You're young & I pray this doesn't consume you as it did me. Good luck & love yourself for who you are not what you look like. I'm sure you are a beautiful woman with a beautiful spirit.
Take care of yourself & that beautiful baby.

Hello!

You should try Weight Watchers. Everyone i know who has done has lost a ton of weight and got back down to their size and goal weights!! After my baby im going to try it! They have meetings about once a week and you can weigh in and talk with other people. It really is worth it!! Good luck.

A. -
I had the same problem after my son was born. I did everything you could think of (for 6 months (including Ali - which I suggest NOT taking) and I lost everything but 10 lbs of my baby weight. A couple of months before my son's 1st birthday a friend of mind introduced me to Max GXL. It's an awesome health supplement that I take now religiously everyday - having a toddler it helps me with my energy and a general overall sense of just feeling better. Well, they came out with a Weight Loss pill that is amazing!!!! It's totally all natural and it's simply a weight-loss accelerator that works naturally with your body to lower the leptin levels in your body. I lost those last 10 lbs in one month (I did diet, exercise & drink a lot of water as well). Not only did I lose the weight but I lost inches as well. Now I can fit into every single one of my pre-pregancy clothes. Thing is, I was doing that same thing for the past 6 months (dieting & exercising) with no luck. And I to in the past had no problem losing weight if I put my mind to it. I guess I just needed a little extra help. Anyway, if you are interested in more info, email me at (____@____.com) and I can forward you some reading information on it.
Good luck -
K.

Hi A.! I was just wondering if you have had your blood checked for hypothyroidism? Are you really tired all the time? Are you eating the same as you always have and still gaining weight? This happened to me after my third child and by the time I figured out something was wrong it had gotten way out of hand. Call your doctor and just ask to have it checked out, it can't hurt.

Good Luck!

Kim

I understand how discouraging weight gain can be. I am trying to lose weight too. A few tips that my doctor shared with me was cutting back on cholesterol, things like bread, pasta, potatoes, etc. and saturated fats found in meats, nuts and dairy foods. Also, though it is difficult with a new baby, squeezing in a walk or a 10-30 minute workout each day will help. Good luck!

I say WEIGHT WATCHERS, WEIGHT WATCHERS AND WEIGHT WATCHERS!
I was always thin as a child and started gaining weight when my husband got transferred to California and we moved. I had no friends, family. My husband was always gone so I ate and slept, I was depressed but then I relized my clothes weren't fitting and I went from 135 to 150 when I found out I was preg and went to 198 when I had my 1st child. It took me a while but I lost most but 15 pounds by the time my son was 2. I went through a divorce and started date and gained a lot of weight. I gained up to 345 when I meet my 2nd husband. I started weight watchers and lost 10 pounds but found out i was pregnant again and was going through my 2nd divorce, Argh! At the end of my pregnancy I was 263. I started weight watchers again, working out, going through a divorce AGAIN, depression and went down to 170. I've gone off weight watchers had major surgery w/complications went down to 162 then after recovery i gained again and now I am back on it and want to lose about 35 more pounds. You can do it. It takes comittment and motivation.

Good Luck and I hope this helps. I also Pray about it and that has helped.
M.

I have two fairly easy things that I have done that really helped me. First is to keep a journal of everything you eat and drink. It is really eye opening when you realize what and how much you eat every day especially when you are home with kids. The second is planning your meals. I have always been good about planning family dinners but I realized my problems were breakfast and lunch so I started planning all my meals. You know what you are going to eat and you are not snacking while you try to figure out what to have for lunch

Good morning A.. I am 36 years old (yesterday - my birthday:). I have three sons (20, 15, 13). When I was younger I was very skinny. After having my 1st son I was 100 pounds, after the second one I was 110 and after the 3rd one I was 120. I remained that way for a couple of years. I gradually gained weight and went from a size 7/8 to a 9/10. I tried everything but I found the secret is not dieting, it is eating better, smaller portions and taking out time to exercise.

I try to stick to eating fish, chicken, vegetables, salads, soups and exercising at least 10-30 minutes daily. I invested in workout DVDs for home because going to the gym was not working, besides if I have it at home I have no excuse. I changed my eating habits and started to workout and before I could notice the change everyone around me said that I looked like I had lost weight and that I really look good. I continue to eat healthy (I do treat myself from time to time) and I continue to exercise daily (I may miss a day or two out of the week due to school), but I do this to maintain and feel good about what I have accomplished.

I hope this helps.

Hi A.,
There was a news special a few weeks ago that they've compared low fat/calorie to low carb and found that low carb works better. I've had several friends who say Weight Watchers is the only way to go. They love it, and they swear by it. But I tried it and the ladies at the meetings were completely stumped. Only lost 2 lbs. in 2 months and was doing EVERYTHING by the book. I have done several other diets, (including 1200 calories a day, ensuring that I had 3 servings of meat, 5 servings of fruits and veggies, and 3 servings of milk, along with 8 glasses of water, all accompanied by two 45-minute workout sessions) all to no avail. The only thing that has worked for me has been low carb, but I tend to drop the ball about a month or two into it because my husband is a stick and "doesn't need or want to diet." I'm back on as of a week ago and have already dropped 5 lbs. (you lose fast at first on low-carb).

In my opinion, it's different for everyone. What works for me might not work for you, and so on. Find what works for you and stick with it. Get a buddy to go in on it with you, because longevity is the most important thing.

By the way, I had my son at 21 (I was 5'4" and 130 lbs. of muscle when I got pregnant), and I assumed it would be easy to lose weight...it wasn't. Not at all. I was 35 lbs. heavier after I had my son, and I haven't been able to get more than 10 lbs. of it off yet. So don't worry, it's not you. Your body has officially changed, and it will probably never be easy to lose weight again. I don't mean to discourage you, but if you get into the mindset that it should be easy to lose weight, you'll just want to give up. Don't. It's possible to lose the weight, but it's going to take a LOT of work, more than you ever imagined. Good luck, and don't give up!!