Myself Weight Loss Help

www.sparkpeople.com !!!!!!!!! HANDS down! You input your stats (height, weight, eating habits, exercise habits, etc) and they personalize a diet and exercise program JUST for you! You can set a weight loss goal and they'll adjust your daily calorie intake to reflect that goal (and the same goes for fitness...the more you exercise, the more calories you get to eat! woohoo!) They have optional meal plans (I turn those off because that's just too much for me.... I simply track what I eat normally)

It is absolutely FREE and I've already lost 18 pounds over there without even really thinking too much about it since September 30th! I even lost weight through Thanksgiving!!

If you have any questions about getting set up over there, let me know. ;) It's awesome and I'm amazed that it's free! :)

3 moms found this helpful

I used sparkpeople.com to lose 73 pounds from October 2007 to August 2008. It's great and it's free!!! Now I'm pregnant with twins so some of that weight loss is out the window, but I'm back at it once they're here!! Good luck!!!!!!!!!!

2 moms found this helpful

C.,

I am new to mamasource and have just been reading about the kinds of topics discussed on this forum. It's so cool to connect w/ all the moms out there! I checked out a link that another mom posted about weight loss. The title was like flat stomach or something, but I found a very cool, informative, and useful ebook on that site for FREE! I believe it was written by a personal trainer and nutrition consultant. Check it out (the ebook) and see if it may help you with your goals. I surfed the site too and it does have some good info as well.

http://www.flat-stomach-fitness.com/

I'm not done reading it yet, but I love what I've learned (or should I say "re-learned") so far! Good luck!

2 moms found this helpful

Hi C., well I can tell you that I start my weight loss by joining the YMCA. The membership is not that expensive and you can get a discount depending on the company you or your husband work for. Now to the weight loss. I joined the Spinn Class and let me tell you that I have loss 18.5 pounds and PLENTY of inches within 6 months. It may not sound like a lot but it looks like a lot. I have dropped a pant size and almost 2 dress sizes. Basically I burn anywhere from 450-630 calories each class. I see so much form in body that I am pleased and too hear others say don't loose too much weight well that is just icing on the cake. (that I had to cut back on).I suggest that you do some research on this and see if this is something that could work for you. Good luck.

D.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi C.,

I hope you are doing well. I read you post on needing some help loosing your post-baby weight and gaining more energy!! My name is J. and I am a CrossFit certified coach/personal trainer based in Austin, TX and would love to help you. I work with people one on on, in boot camps as well as online so even though you are based in Houston I could still work wonders for you. I even have a client based in Austrailia.

I can provide you with detailed nutritional and workout information tailored to your specific needs plus accountability. I offer an 8 or 16 week package that has 3 detailed workouts a week plus nutrtional information and reviewing weekly food logs. Since I am not actually in-person working with you the rates are of course considerably lower. The 8 week/2 month package for workouts and diet accountability is $300 total and the 16 week package is $500 total. I have worked with many pre-natal and post-natal clients and know the added stress of weight gain and no energy and I'm sure you have enough on your plate without the worry of diet/exercise.

If you are interested you can visit my blog http://jessicasharratt.blogspot.com/ and website www.crossfitcentral.com to check me out further. Let me know if I can be of assistance!

All the best,
J.

1 mom found this helpful

I've recently discovered Nexagen and even became a distributor to get the wholesale price. It is a weightloss patch. You stick it on wear it for 24 hours then put on a new one. You lose weight, gain energy, maintain muscle mass, increase muscle mass, sleep better, curve cravings and even helps with stress levels. And the best part is it's all natural. I put my website below if you'd like to check more into it or give me a call. I have tried it all and this is the first product that I can't stop talking about. Let me know if you have any questions.

www.nexagenusa.com/startthepatch
###-###-####
M.

1 mom found this helpful

C.,

I am pregnant now, and I am planning on doing the Reset program that my sister told me about to get back in pre-baby form. She and her friends lost weight and they swear that it was the best thing ever! Her doctor recommended it to her. It consists of shakes and bars, and even has a home workout dvd. Of course you need to eat a sensible diet. I ordered the Reset kit through their website: www.healthrep.usana.com Oh and put it on autoship because it is cheaper that way. Good luck to you!

M.

1 mom found this helpful

I had 60 lbs to loose after my son almost 28 years ago. My best advice is to loose it now. It DOES get harder as the years go by.

I made up my mind & just did it. I started with 10 each of certain exercises in my living room. The next day I did 15, the next 20. As I went along I added one more exercise a day. Within no time I was working out an hour every day.

I wish I could do that now. I've been planning it for 3 years. DUH. Take your own advice grandma! LOL

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

Hi C.,
I have a wonderful weight loss company which provides over 40 meals to choose from which are high in protein, low in sugar & low in calories! The average weight loss is 3 to 7lbs weekly! The foods taste great and I am your personal supportive coach thru the process. I lost 30lbs so far myself and still want to lose another 15lbs. Please feel free to visit my website: www.RenuYourself.com and if you would like further info, please give me a call, ###-###-#### K.

1 mom found this helpful

C.

Try the Slim Shots, i lost 15 lbs in 5 weeks.

Oly

1 mom found this helpful

Hi C.
Something that helped me was weight watchers. i am not one who needs to go to meetings so i did it all online. if you are motivated by accountability, i definately recommend the meetings. i lost majority of my baby weight with both boys doing that. also, you need to do at least 30 mins of cardio 5 times a week, getting your heart rate up to where you are breathing heavy but not uncomfortable. it could be as easy as pushing the baby stroller in a hilly neighborhood. also, you MUST weight train 2x a week. that is the key! you build muscle, that is going to make your metabolism go up. so even when you are doing nothing you are still burning calories. another idea is if you have time warner, use the exercise on demand and find jillian michaels workouts. they are 20 min and kick your butt!!! best of luck! :) ps. a workout/health partner is also nice to have too!

1 mom found this helpful

I gained 50 pounds from my pregnancy. It took a year but I did lose all the weight and am back to my pre-preggers clothes. I did not do a diet and honestly, rarely had enough time for dedicated exercise (running after my child instead!). I cut out *all* products made with High Fructose Corn Syrup... not just junk food made with corn syrup, but yogurt, bread, crackers, salad dressing, etc. You'll be amazed at what is manufactured with corn syrup! Start reading the labels of what you're eating. Your body processes corn syrup and man-made sweeteners differently than foods made with natural sugar; you just don't burn those foods/calories as efficiently as foods made with cane sugar. Good luck!

C.,
I feel ya knockin'!!! I recently joined LA Fitness. I belonged to 24Hr before marriage and the kiddo. For me, lifting weights is what works. I do not weigh myself. I track my progress with my overall fat percentage and dress/pant size. The impotant thing to focus on is what works for you. I do not believe in "majic" pills or "lose ten pounds fast" fads. The only surefire way to lose fat is to burn more calories than you consume. Many small meals is better than two or three big meals. Many women are sucessful with pure cardio. It does not work for me. When you incorporate any resistance training, such as weight lifting, your muscles are torn down. When the body "repairs" these torn muscles, it uses fat to do so. Hence, fat loss. And just an added fact, women who lift weights for fat loss and toning the body DO NOT turn into those women you see that have big bulky "man" bodies. Those women lift professionally and they train for hours everyday. So, if you decide to lift weights, dont worry about bulking up.
Good Luck in your adventure,
M. :)

My aunt lost 45 pounds on Nutra System in the past 6 months. She said the food was good and she did not have to give up Chocolate! Of course you can't stay on that forever, but the plan teaches you a schedule of when to eat healthy stuff (every 2-3 hours) to keep up your metabolism and also teaches you portion control. It's nice if you can afford it.
I also used to work for Quick Weight Loss Center. I would never send anyone there and I will probably get sued for saying this, but it is a rip off! They start you out with eating only green vegatables, grilled meat and lots of water for the first 5 days. You will lose 3-5 pounds of water weight right away. They also teach the every 2-3 hour small snack bar or drink thing to keep your metabolism up.
There are so many diets out there and different things work for different people. When you start a program to lose weight I think you have to understand it's not just a short term program, it's a new way of life and a new way of relating with food.
You mentioned your midsection. Some people believe in "spot" training, but if you don't get rid of the fat in that area but build the muscle underneath, it just makes that area bigger. Cardio exercise will burn fat and then light weights will build muscle. Careful not to use heavy weights, that will build bulk.
Best of luck to you! Im proud that you are taking the steps to a healthy you and being a good role model for children!

i am 37,i have a 5yo and almost 9 mo. workout wise i recommend cardio. especially for midsection and fun factor try a dance based format like cardio groove or zumba -- you really work the waist and hips. i taught cardio groove before my daughter was born. after 6 weeks off, i spent 4 weeks taking class before i went back to teaching. with 2 kids the only time i am at the gym is for the 3 classes i teach, which is a HUGE departure from the 6 days i used to go before having to negotiate around naptimes and homeschool and just plain busy-ness. anyway, just teaching cardio groove 3x a week, all baby weight and more was gone by the time baby was 6 mos old.
diet-wise i don't really watch what i eat, but i was given some great advice by a family member who is a nanny: DO NOT EAT OFF THE KIDS' PLATES! not the food they've left, do not nibble as you prep. it adds up fast, even if the foods are healthy. eat only the calories you've prepped for YOU, and it's easy to eat a bite here and there as you are cutting apples or cheese or whatever, but before you know it you've eaten 2 lunches worth of food or munched down half your son's lunch b/c we were all taught not to waste food. i didn't even know i was doing it till she gave me this advice and it HELPS! like i said, i don't count calories or cut out carbs or make myself separate meals, i just only eat MY meal or MY snack.
best of luck to you! you are making a great step to fight stubborn weight gain. i know too many moms who gained a ton of weight, only losing some or none before the next pregnancy. you are doing what's best for your health and your energy will improve, which is good for you and the kids.

C.,
After my second I got back in shape with Tai-Bo DVD's at home. I liked working out at home because it's easier with the kiddos schedules. I found a couple routines that I liked that were only about 20-25 minutes long and did them a minimum 3 times a week. After my third, I bought a used treadmill on Craig's list and that has been great! Even if you just do a minimum 20 minutes of fast walking on it every day it will help. I also take 1 pilates class a week and that will get your tummy muscles strong again. Find a good instructor who has the pilates machine to work with. That has made such a difference for me and I just had my third 3 months ago. I have more energy. The hardest part is motivating yourself to get up and JUST DO IT. Think about using that great will power of yours that pushed out two babies to help you. You can do it!!!!!
-D.

I have been the most successful when I limit my portions and I drink a LOT of COLD water every day. I drink a glass of water the first think in the morning and I have at least one glass in the morning, one in the mid-afternoon and one before dinner. The cold water seems to help-and someone told me it helps your metabolism. Eat healthy, small portions and with exercise (I walk with my little guy in the stroller)but most of all don't let food or lack of food rule your life. I know you are anxious to lose the baby weight, but if you go slow it is less likely to come back. There are a lot of us in the same boat!

It really comes down to watching your portions when you eat and try to eat healthy with a few rewards here and there. As far as fitness, to lose weight...it's all about cardio and sweat. I got what I call a "sweat suit" from Academy which I wear over my clothes when I work out on the treadmill. This increases the calories I burn and how much fat I sweat off. It's hard work but you can do it as long as you keep trying! Don't give up. Good luck.

Here's what I do. I either walk outdoors for about an hour or walk indoors on my treadmill for about 30 minutes with an increased slope. I usually watch a program that I recorded while on the treadmill. Also, a friend suggested that I purchased leg weights and small hand held weights to increase the workout level. Works great!! Ask some friends, maybe they can join u. We have a walking group that communicates by email of about 7 people with set walking dates. Usually at least 2-4 people are able to join in each time. It is much better to walk and talk at the same time!! This provides a great excuse for some "me" time with friends. Also, u can bring the kids with u on their bike, heeley's, or stroller.

The best combination of weight loss and exercise I've ever come across is Weight Watchers (online is only $17/month) and Curves (runs about $34/month). If you want to change your life, not just diet, I highly recommend these two.

The South Beach Diet worked for my family and still does. We've been using it for about 2 years now and love it! We've been able to take off weight and keep it off!!! Whatever you decide it needs to be something that you can stick to for the rest of your life. South Beach is not only easy and delicious it is healthy. All you have to do is get the main book and maybe purchase some extra recipe books (I got almost all of mine at Half Price Books!). I hope this helps, God bless!

Just an FYI. I joined the YMCA on Queenston and Longenbaugh a couple of months ago. They have a ton of classes you can try out and the month of Dec. you can try it out for FREE!!! They are offering a free membership until Dec. 30.

They have child care also and my kiddos love it.

J.

Get you a wagon and pull the kids to the park or around the neighborhood. Thats what i do with my great nephew. Thats the only exercise I get and in a months time I have gone down 2 sizes in pants. I only do it monday thru friday and we go to the park which is about 5 blocks one way. I was amazed at the difference in my tummy. That has always been my problem. Had to get bigger pant sizes for the waist and then they would be too big in the legs. Now I am evening out. It feels great. I do not diet but I have cut back on portions and I eat 4 meals a day plus SOME snacks here and there, and I do not eat or drink after 8 pm. It doesn't always work out for me with the times, but thats ok. Try it. Hope it helps you like it has me......

all good advice so far (but i don't know what slim shots are) anyway, yoga is fabulous for your body, as well as the mental and emotional strengthening is does (we need that as moms!) it is wonderful for core strengthening. also check out nia. it is very aerobic, and very very dancy. you do not have to be a dancer to take a class, you move at your own pace, and it is non-performance oriented. there is a studio in the heights that even has child care! pm me if you would like more info about either of these ideas; i teach yoga and have some friends who teach nia. have a great day!

Hi! I have four kids and, while not truly pre baby, I have made it to a very good weight and size. I started just by taking the kids for walks whenever I had a chance. With my husband, by myself, with friends. A friend of mine worked full time and on her lunch breaks would walk instead of sitting to eat. My husband used to go to the gym on his lunch breaks to work out. I started with 30 minutes a day and now, many years later, I can walk for what seems forever...all my kids just LOVE to walk and get moving! I have added more to it, Fit t.v. has tons of great workout shows all day and great cooking advice.

I have the belly yuck too and for the most part I have noticed diet works best for that. Try switching to less processed foods. I know they take way more time but if you have a crock pot you can make really great recipes and not really have to put forth too much effort. Just put it all in the crock before you leave in the morning and when you get home it should be ready. Allrecipes.com has great recipes and they are rated so you can pick and choose ones others have already tried. If you tend to eat large servings, you can even just cut your servings down. If you use oils to cook switch to extra virgin olive oil or canola oil.

And drink tons of water! I am working on this too and all is way easier said than done...really keep at it for at least one month, no matter what, and your body might get so used to it you won't be able to not eat healty or not work out. Sorry, there isn't an easier way. 8(

Good luck! If it helps to make it more worth it, all your hard work will teach your children to make those healty choices...

Look into Weight Watchers. I joined 2 months ago and have lost 14 lbs!! I feel much better and I enjoy going to the meetings because it keeps you interested and teaches you new things. The ladies share ideas, recipes and offer support. I thought I could not afford it, but it is reasonable. I am doing an at work program which allowed me to pay it out in 3 payments. I also got the etools online for free which is also a great help. You log in and track what you're eating. It has a daily check off of how much water, fruits, veggies, etc that you need. It is a great program that works!! Best of luck to you!! =)

I was in your shoes at this time last year. I finally decide to try Weight Watchers since my manager at work had such great success with it. I've lost 33 lbs since February of 2008. The last few months I've maintained this loss, but I haven't been trying real hard to lose any additional, but after the holidays I will get back on track. My goal for the holidays is to just maintain for now.

I have been doing Weight Watchers completely online, no meetings. This works for me, but I know lots of people who enjoy the meetings and there are plenty around to choose from. What is great about WW is that I can eat whatever I want as long as I stay within the plan so I never feel deprived. The plan forces you to make healthy food choices and change your eating habits altogether so it's not a diet it's a lifestyle change.

I also have been taking middle eastern dance (belly dance) classes for a little over a year. The classes really helped to tighten my mid section. Even though I have a back ground in dance I find it very difficult, but so much fun and I love the challenge.

I am sure you will find the right plan and fitness strategy for yourself!

Something to consider while doing any fitness program is that your body may not ever look the same as it did. My sister lost a huge amount of weight doing the Special K diet and going to Jazzercize. She's itty bitty now (yes, I'm jealous as I still weigh the same as I did post partum with my first child and I'm expecting #5!)

Anyway, although she is thin and fit her belly is still poochy. Not actually fat, but not flat either. and her hips are still much wider then they were because of the way the hips become disjointed to birth a baby (I had c-sections and yet my hips also spread in the last week.)

so, ultimately strive to get healthy but also learn to love your body however it turns out to be because it's a sign of your love for your children! :)

BTW, I take my children around a track several times a week. The 1 YO and 3 YO goes in a double stroller because they are too slow but also pushing the weight helps exercise my upper body while walking as well. I just started this while pregnant and although I am 28 weeks along I haven't gained ANY weight!

I also got a treadmill pretty cheap from craigslist. I usually record a program at night and then the next day I watch it on the treadmill. I find it is best to watch "fluffy" shows like reality shows/game shows/comedies---something fun and not too serious. Serious dramas are hard to watch becuz they require you to listen to the dialog and sometimes you miss something with your huffing. Good luck.

Hi C.,
The best thing that my husband did for me was buying me a treadmill. I have lost over 25lbs! He bought the treadmill 4yrs ago and he will tell people that the treadmill was the best investment ever. I watch television while I workout. I have lots of energy always. The day I don't excercise I feel guilty. Through the years I have done different types of diets and they work or most of them do. There is nothing like excercising. Workout the don't get seconds and cut back on desserts.

Good luck,
E. M

when you find out let know. i need some energy and weight loss i've tried everything.

C.,
I really don't have an answer for you, but I am hoping to get some help from the people who answered you!
J.

I see that you have had a lot of responses here! A quick run down on me, I am on the Herbalife nutritional products because I had such excellent results from them! I have personally lost 50 + lbs and have kept it off for almost 5 years now! I have 4 children and have been married to my DH for 18 years now and I had NO energy to keep up with any of them! I was fat and depressed and dealt with cysts on my ovaries. But since I have been on the products, I have lost the weight and I now have energy and wake up looking foreward to a new day knowing I do not feel like I used to!
Lemme know what you think! I'd enjoy talking to you about all of this!

To Your Health! ~ C.