Weight Loss Tips

Simply put:

Sugar is the enemy, not fat.(read labels)

Meals should be based on a triangle, one protein, one vegetable and one fruit or complex starch. Don't forget figure drinks into that.

Portion control is very important, try using a salad plate.

Sit down and eat.

Small bites.

Water, water, water.

Eat regularly, so your body knows what to expect. It runs more effeciently that way.

Get a good nights sleep, or at least as much as any mother can.

Sounds like you are on a good path, keep it up! It is worth it.

Have you tried Pilates? The best way to lose weight and keep it off is to build a friendship with your body. In other words, care for your body as you would your child... guiding, nurturing, and building it's strength and security along the way for long term results.

As someone who's struggled with weight and eating disorders for over 15years, I can honestly tell you that a better relationship, or what we call "body awareness", was the only thing that worked for me. I have also seen positive results in all of my clients.

~Liz

For months I have been trying to loose a few pounds and nothing seemed to work until now. I started Weight Watchers for the first time and after six weeks I have lost a little over 9 pounds. Here are a few suggestions that maybe help you, try to have your last meal by 6:00 pm or so, take daily walks; 30 minutes if possible and workout two - three days per week. Another thing that is working for me is whatching my portion sizes. I love to cook and I have found ways to create easy dishes that are great and fun for kids. I hope this information is helpful.

Best of luck to you,

J. H

First off, I am a personal trainer for AMerican Family fitness. I would recommend keeping with the exercise. THe diet has to be in place to lose the weight. I am not trying to sell you personal training but, in general it really does help. Also, the nmber on the scale really isn't as important as the number around your waist. Healthwise as well as appearance. I also would recommend getting in and doing some strength training. It really helps to burn up calories and to help keep burning calories throughout the day. Not to mention when you have the next baby it really helps with pushing and returning to your original shape afterward. I worked out during my pregnancy and before. labor was easy and my recovery and return to my original shape was quick considering I was not able to workout for about 9months after the pregnancy due to low milk production. I hope that helps
ReneeA

That is great you are going to put exercise into your life. Be consistent in your exercise and eat small meals with an emphasis on vegies. Also, reward yourself in small ways so you will be more liekly to stay on track. Best wishes to you!

R. it would be nice if you could join WW again. I have tried zillions of diet and the food on WW is reasonable and you can eat everything (of course in moderation). I believe you can do it. Start getting excited about it! I am currently on WW and it feels great to be back, for good this time! I have made up my mind that this plan really works, if you work it. Thank goodness for a supportive husband, it helps. I have a thousand pounds to lose,(not really) but if I don't quit now it might be too late for me later. The best weight loss tip is to do 1-plan, 2-be committed, 3-be consistent 4-don't beat yourself up when you get off track, just get back on immediately and continue on with the plan, forgive yourself. 5- never diet 6- drink plenty of water and exercise at least 3 times a week or more. I really wish you well. You can do it!

R., i have never dieted. in my family growing up, we had small meals throughout the day, and a glass of water to drink during food, although i found that drinking water before eating food fills you up. also, as the other poster mentioned eat until you feel your tummy is full.

I recently lost twenty pounds by eating a "healthy heart" portion of Quaker 1 minute oatmeal for breakfast. A piece of fruit midmorning,a Slimfast shake for lunch, a piece of fruit late afternoon and an early dinner consisting of protein, vegetables, and a salad. I did feel hungry sometimes but a cup of hot decaf tea helped me get through to dinner. All the excercise your doing will really help. Good luck!

Hi R.! The key to loosing weight is keeping your lean muscle mass while dropping the fat. Our Lean muscle mass is what keeps our metabolism going (the more muscle mass the higher the metabolism). Many people loose weight then gain the weight back plus more...b/c they have lost muscle mass along with fat while dieting. And, that's why diets don't work. And, that's why men loose weight a lot faster than women b/c they usually have more muscle (not fair, I know). I am an at home Mom of two children (17 mnths/5yrs). I trusted Shaklee's Cinch Weight (Inch) Loss program on myself and have seen many others succeed. Cinch works b/c it's powered by Leucine which has been scientifically proven that you will keep 100% of your lean muscle mass while loosing inches/weight. There is no need to take a multivitamin while on this program b/c you will receive head to toe nutrition while taking the Cinch products. The program consists of (Yummy) shakes, mealbars, snack bars, tea and 3 in 1 boost (Boost metabolism.* Help keep blood sugar steady.* Get the vitamins and minerals you need) It's a super easy program! Shaklee is a science and a Global Health and Wellness company that's been around for 53 years! They are the Leaders in the Nutrition industry. I am proud to present them and would love to send you more information on their Cinch program. Check out my website at www.shaklee.net/rodjenhoward.
You are AWESOME for doing the Monument 10K. Keep it up! Healthy Nutritional easing habits and Exercise are the BEST things you can do for yourself and your family!!! You can contact me thru my website anytime! And, b/c you are a Mamasource member ask me about my Mamasource special!
Take care!! J.

Go walking and stop using the word diet.
Walking is really good exercise. I use
walk away the pounds DVD and it works.
Also do some outside walking with your child
it good to get some outside air. Don't eat after 7pm.

A.

Hi R.:
Congrats on making a commitment to improve your health! I know it can be super frustrating. I struggled to lose the weight I gained after my second child w/o success until I found "Cinch" by Shaklee. I lost 20 lbs (3 sizes) in 2 months - that was over a year ago and the weight has not come back! Cinch is a great program. It's super easy to follow. It's healthy. And because you build muscle while losing fat, after you reach your goal your metabolism is higher and it's easier to keep the weight off. If you'd like to learn more, check out my website www.juststarttoday.com or drop me an email and we can set up a time to talk. ____@____.com.
Goodluck reaching your goals! - T.

Have you considered Nutritional Cleansing? We all carry toxins that cause our bodies to surround them with protective tissue, ie - FAT! If you release the toxins, you will release the fat. I lost 12 pounds in 9 days with the Isagenix system and feel incredibly energized and more focused mentally. There are many testimonials for people losing significant amounts of weight with this program. Read them here: www.harmonyhealth.isagenix.com
Feel free to contact me with any questions at ____@____.com Luck! W. L

Hi R.!

You don't seem to realize it yet, but you're already doing what you need to do!! You said things are "firming up," which tells me that you're burning fat and increasing muscle mass. This is why the scale isn't moving. I say throw out your scale and listen to what your clothes tell you.

That said, if you feel like you still want a boost, I can tell you about the program I'm using called Cinch. It consists of all-natural shakes, bars, and other stuff--great for busy moms! I won't throw another long-winded commercial at you; contact me privately if you want to hear the details.

Way to go!

C.

Hi, R.. Get Bob Greene's Best Life Diet book. It's all about eating healthy and retraining yourself to eat well rather than a diet. It's really common sense techniques. I was truly unmotivated as well, but after reading his book and trying some of the techniques it has truly motivated me. What he says makes sense and he paces you through everything so that you're not defeating yourself by giving up everything at once. Also, exercise is the key. I don't know if you've heard of Leslie Sansone (Walk Slim and Walk Away the Pounds), but her dvd's are great. She does 1, 2, 3, and 4 mile walks. My husband (he's doing it to support me) and I have been doing them together and we both feel great and like we've had a great workout afterwards. I wasn't able to fit into any of my clothes and am now getting back into my smaller sizes. Good Luck.

Lots and lots of drinking water.Lay off the gatorades, powerade and any other sucrose or fructose laced drinks. Caffiene also stimulates appetite so keep it to a minimum.Try Ginseng which naturally peps you up.

I have found that seeing a nutritionist is most helpful. One learns a healthy way of eating, how to read labels correctly, the benefits of keeping a food diary and is accountable to yourself and the nutritionist. Insurance does not always cover (costs are not that high considering the cost of medicines etc. for being unhealthy). However, ones doctor can sometimes write a letter to your insurance company to request that it is necessary for your health to go. I too tried weight watchers several times. I found that yes one can eat whatever they want, but and that is a huge but, the right choices are not always made. My family and I are eating more whole foods, fresh, but very tasty and certainly healthy. We are feeling better, walking and feeling much less tired. Our daughter is now going to see a nutritionist and learn the proper way of eating. She is on her own and has noticed how much our health has improved. There are cds available at Walmart and Target by Leslie Sansone and it is a walking routine that one does at the tv within the home. No excuses about weather etc. and they are GREAT! Give it a try and good luck!

N. P

Hey R.,
Good for you for wanting to be healthier! It is never easy to make changes. Bottom line to losing weight- Increase activity and decrease intake. The other biggie is being totally committed to losing the weight and getting in shape and it sounds like you are. Well I would recommend you check out www.figure8.com website. It is an amazing resource. Have you heard of Arbonne? They are a Swiss formulated Health and Wellness company with the most amazing Pure,Safe and Beneficial products that actually work. The Figure 8 Weight Loss Program is wonderful. You don't feel hungry, you have energy and actually lose weight (and no counting points). I have 3 friends who have stared it and have lost anywhere from 5-8lbs in the first month. I'd be more than happy to share the program with you and explain the details. Please feel free to call/message me about it. Best of luck and I look forward to hearing from you.
Take care,
M.
###-###-####
____@____.com
www.mbcrooks.myarbonne.com

I agree with not using the word diet. I lost 40lbs last year and have kept it off for 6 months now. I jumped started my weightloss using the southbeach plan for 4 weeks religiously. I also walked 30 minutes (hilly course) 3 times and week and did 30 minutes of weight training two days a week in my house (I reccommend the core secrets videos). I have a 2 1/2 and 1 1/2 year old so I dont have a lot of time and have to use it wisely. AFter 4 weeks of southbeach I continued to maintain the principles of the plan which are to avoid added sugars and refined carbohydrates.(Try to limit high fructose corn syrup and hydroginated oils in your food intake--they are in everything so it is tough but good to be aware of what you are putting in your body) I talked to my doctor about a reccommended calorie intake for someone my age, height and activity level. Then I created an account at thedailyplate.com (its free) and started tracking what I ate every day and my calorie intake. It really makes you focus on portion control. I started measuring my food to know what an actual portion is and how many calories I was eating daily. I did that religiously for about 5 months until I was really comfortable that I could do it without tracking every little item. I have also taken up running and joined a bootcamp type program to increase the intesity of my workouts. I spluge every once in a while and get the cheesecake for dessert. I just don't east it everyday. I also try to eat every few hours it helps to keep your metabloism up along with the weight training and aerobic exercise. Good luck--stay positive---you may hit some roadblocks but keep going at it--if you fall off the horse get right back on!!!! Its worth it to change your whole quality of life!!!!

Dear R., Even though I am a personal trainer/nutritional counselor - as a mother of 2 - Garrett 4 almost 5 and Marlea 3months, weight loss as a mother/female can be frustrating and almost seems impossible at times. The thing to keep in mind is small portions of protein and carbohydrates every 3 hours, lots of vegetables and water. The other rule of thumb is to not eat within 3 hours of going to bed at night. I also practice no fruit after 1pm because the body really has a hard time processing sugar in the afternoon AND if my last meal of the day is at 6 or 7pm - NO CARBS. When Marlea was 6 weeks old (Jan. this year) I ran in the Disney 1/2 marathon and it was an amazing experience - the 2nd time I have ran it and I can tell you - stick with your goals and run that 10k - you'll feel so good with all you have accomplished!

The best weight loss program that I have come across is Body for Life (www.bodyforlife.com) by Bill Phillips. You can also check out www.bodyforlife-tracker.com to see the results of everyday people who are using this plan to lose weight. It conviced me and I've gone from a size 15 to 10 in 3 months. Good luck!

I too am trying to lose weight. I record what I eat everyday and work out for about 30 minutes 3-4 times a week during my lunch time. I never realized how many calories I was taking in until I started record it. I use leancuisine.com but there are many sites like this that are also free. I still enjoying eating all the different kinds of food but just don't eat as much.

Unfortunately, there is no magic bullet. Drinking those weight loss shakes worked for a friend of mine. I did two things. I did the South Beach diet which gives you a bit of a jump start with an instant weight loss the first two weeks. At the same time, I hit the gym. Between these two, I lost the final 20 lbs of baby weight and now I am back to my normal size. I did 20 minutes on the stairmaster and 30-45 minutes of weights 3-4 times a week. It was hard at first but you will see results within about 3 weeks if you stick with your routine. Your clothes will begin to feel loose and that will motivate you to stay with it. And you will feel great because exercise boosts your mental state too. Good luck!

5 months after my son was born, I lost 25 lbs. in 6 weeks on the Extreme Fat Smash Diet by Dr. Ian Smith. It consists of eating 4 small meals w/ 2 100 calorie snacks a day. It gives you 3 weeks of dialy menus and exercises. You repeat the weeks until you get to your desired weight. I think with any diet, you can be successful if you are dedicated. This is a healthy way to take off the weight FAST! They key is eating often & exercising to boost your metabolism. The meals are basically lots of protein and fiber (yogurt, salads, brown rice, beans & veggies)If your serious about losing weight, the book is only $12 and it's worth a shot. Good Luck!!

Make sure you get lots of fiber in your diet, cut the white breads and rice and pasta and replace with brown (wheat) carbs. Try to cut down on soda, even diet and drink water instead. Also, with the excercise, you could be gaining muscle and therefore not seeing the difference on the scale. I know it is very frustrating because all we want is to see the pounds number going down, but really your body fat is decreasing and you are getting more toned. Also, if you cut your food intake too much, you may end up gaining instead of loosing, so I would just concentrate on eating healthy foods instead of cutting altogether. Good luck to you. If you find the magic secret, let me know!

Only one word.......WALK!
I lost most of the baby weight from just walking. And this was before IPODS! If you aren't motivated to walk around your neighborhood or it's nasty weather, walk the mall. Looking at all the tiny summer clothes coming out now will also inspire you. Just make sure you avoid walking past the food courts!! And bring healthy snacks to munch on to fight the Auntie A.'s cravings.
Good Luck!

Hi R.,

Get you a personal trainer. D.

I lost 15lbs. in 6-8 weeks doing something very simple. I cut out all sugar, sweets, junk food, crackers, white breads and other white starches, artificial sweeteners, sodas and the like. It took about 7-10 days to get used to it, but after that I felt so much better and the weight was coming off. I had more energy, alertness, focus, etc. I also took vitamin supplements (Basic Nutrient Support by Dr. Reginald Cherry and Energy Support supplements as well) This is the link to Dr. Cherry's website... http://www.drcherry.com/. I also drank green tea (no sugar, no honey, no sweetener). Fruit is fine (except grapes--too much sugar).

I hope this is helpful.

R. -

I don't know that I have any tips but I first want to say, "You go girl" with doing the Monument Ave 10K. I too am doing it this year for the first time in my life. I am going thru spurts of motivation for training for it though. I am hoping to get some tips from your responders to help me too as a whole. I would like to drop some weight too and have come to a brick wall I feel like. One thing I want to point out to you is that you mentioned that you are not losing weight but things are firming up. Have you taken your measurements to track your inches lost? Just because you aren't losing pounds, doesn't mean you aren't losing inches. That can be a big motivator too. They may change slowly but when you see the results you may find some extra energy to go an extra 15 minutes which may help you lose the pounds too. As far as motivation for the Weight Watchers, is there anyone that you work with that you could do it with? Even just to just have a support system at work with healthy meals opposed to tempting fast food or high fat/calorie foods may help. Sorry I don't have any better suggestions but don't give up. You are going to do it.

Hello Rania,

I am a fitness instructor and I get that question a lot. This is about commitment and discipline. With weight loss, 50% is about physical activity, and the other 50% is about what you eat. So, what do to?

It is a good idea to go to a nutritionist to take a look not only at your diet, but also at you "resting metabolic rate" (RMR). RMR is the rate in which your body burns calories when you are not active. This number is highly influence by the amount of lean muscle tissue in your body. The higher the RMR, the more calories your body burns without much activity.

It is also a good idea to identify a physical activity that you enjoy doing. The idea is to do this activity for 45 to 60 minutes 3 to 4 times a week. This could be anything from swimming to walking to dancing.

I wish you the best luck, and don't hesitate to e-mail me with questions.

-M.