Dieting and Frustrated

Good job breastfeeding and keep it up. Hey, that's about 500 calories each time, so that actually helps you lose. Remember life time weight loss that is permament is SLOW. Do it the healthy way as you are, it's slow, but better for the long term. Also remember muscle weighs more than fat, so you may be losing fat, have more energy... but weigh more. Ignore the scale.

Hi R.,
I am sorry that you are frusterated. Having a baby is a lot of work on the mom, physically and mentally. i am so proud that you are trying to get that weight off. My question is, what kind of exercise are you doing? I am a pilates instructor and i deal with prenatal and postnatal moms.One the main keys to remember is to get moving. With pilates resistence is used which helps to build the muscle and burn the fat. You might also want to consider getting you thyroid checked. I had a hard time getting the weight off with my 1st one and found out my throid was not functioning properly. i hope this is helpful.

I hope you don't stay discouraged. Your weight will change throughout the month and even at different times of the day. It's better to go by size measurements and how strong and healthy you feel. You should expect to gain some weight during the course of your slim-down because muscle is heavier than fat. Don't get down on yourself because the more muscle you have, the faster it will burn away those extra fat pounds. Keep up the great work!!

Hang in there! It's like a two steps forward, one step back process. First, I would say, have your blood checked the next time you visit the Dr. My friend was getting discouraged about lack of weight loss, even after trying really hard, and it turns out, she had a thyroid issue.
Then, I would go to your local library and check out a few books about raw diets, detox methods, and even books about processed food (like Twinkie Deconstructed or Omnivores Dilemma). I'm not a vegan, or even a vegetarian, nor do I follow a raw foods diet or fast or detox, but I find that reading these books really help me remember to make better food choices. Think of it as research.

Good luck! Stay focused and stay away from the cookies! (that last line was for me:)

please don't get discouraged and give up! If weight loss were easy we'd all be skinny!

At several times in my life I have been faced with having to lose 40 lbs or more. After having each one of my kids (I have 3) and once after a lagre weight gain when I was put on beta blockers for my heart.

Each time I began dieting, there was an intial loss of oh, between 5 and 10 pounds right away and then it seemed that that I would hover at the same weight for about a month. All the times that I kept with my program, shortly after working through that period the weight would begin to just melt away. I think it takes time for your body to get into "fat burning mode" and there just simply is no short cut.

Reaching out for support is a wonderful way to say focused on your goal! keep it up and you will be there before you know it!!

Didn't read all the posts, but Maura had some good points.

The thing is, going ONLY according to the scale....can lead to disappointment and incorrect realities.
In other words, I would go according to how your CLOTHES CURRENTLY fit... and by that, you can tell if you are losing weight.

And yes, if you are gaining "muscle" you can indeed "weigh" more...BUT it does not mean you are "fat." It simply means that your body is healthily gaining muscle and getting toned and that you can be indeed be getting "smaller" in bodily shape and the way your clothing fits. If your belts can be notched smaller...then I would be happy!

AND, that once a month water retention due to PMS and periods, can temporarily make you SEEM like you gained weight. PMS can add even up to 8 lbs. of water weight/water retention. So keep that in mind.

Good luck,
Susan

You are not alone. When my daughter was 2 mo. old I signed up for WW too. I followed all the rules and still gained weight! Argggg.... It was soo frustrating. My body held on to what it needed to support my daughter. So much for losing weight when you nurse, I wish that was true for everyone but it isn't. About a month after she weaned herself I tried another weight lose program and was able to lose 45 lbs. Don't get down on yourself. You managed to nurse her for this long which is fantastic. Keep up the healthy eating, lots of water, and excercise and the weight will come off at some point. Just keep focused on keeping yourself healthy for your child. You don't need to worry about the weight. Just do what you know is right for your daughter.

Hi, R.,

Your pattern of weight loss/gain doesn't sound alarming; it sounds normal and healthy.

You didn't mention what how much and what type of exercise you are doing. You might want to try to increase the intensity and duration of your exercise. If you are not lifting weights or doing some type of muscle-building exercise, I highly recommend you start. (A lot of people don't realize how much fat they can lose by doing weight-training exercise.)

I'm a 43-year-old mother of a two-year-old and a one-year-old. Going into the pregancy with my first live child, I was 5'3" and 112 pounds. I gained 35 pounds (went up to 147 pounds) in that pregancy. In the six months between the birth of my first son and my second son, I struggled to lose the 35 pounds I gained between conception and delivery. I worked quite hard to lose 25 pounds and hit a plateau. In my second pregnancy, I gained just 21 pounds (went up to 143 pounds). After the birth of my second son, I got so busy nursing my younger son, trying to care for my elder son and studying that I lost 26 pounds without trying.

Sometimes not thinking about losing weight and not setting a "deadline" can help. If you want to focus on something, then try focusing on FEELING healthy rather than attaining a certain number (weight, inches, dress size). That might help your body reach its optimal form.

Good luck,
Lynne E

Hey R.,
First, it sounds like you are doing all the right things. Just keep in mind that muscle does weigh more than fat, so you could very well be gaining muscle. I, too, do WW, and have done it before. I find that there are so many factors that affect our weight: time of the month, our salt intake combined with our fluid intake, etc. Are you eating your exercise points or not? (Does that make sense?) I know it's hard (my son is 2.5 yrs old and I've still got about 17 pounds to lose....), but stick to it the way you are, know that you are not alone in the least, and you will continue to see results. =0)I've a lot of experience on WW, so if you need any tips on good, low point foods, let me know. =0)
My guess, too, is that you look better than you think you do. =0) This is usually the case. =0)
Be strong and laugh often,
L.

Please don't get discouraged! I held onto most of my weight while I was breastfeeding. It wasn't until I stopped that I lost weight. You may have put on weight because your exercising and building more muscle mass. Muscle weighs more than fat.

First, a couple of tricks to help the scale each week at WW.....try to weigh-in at the same meeting time each week and wear the same or similar weighted clothes.....i've been told that ovulation can actually affect your weight by up to 5 lbs! keep that in mind.....keep your sodium down the day before you weigh in, it can cause you to retain a lot of water impacting your weight loss. watch out for soups, pre-packaged meals, and other foods that contain a lot of sodium.

Next, a couple of things I've learned about losing weight that works best for me.....I have to "eat back" my exercise. I've learned that when I exercise really well, but don't eat back my points/calories my body goes into starvation mode and slows my metabolism way down totally defeating my goals.....I eat something about every 2-3 hours to boost my metabolism. If I eat several small meals, then my body gets used to having the regular intake of food and my metabolism speeds up because it knows it's going to get the food.....I always eat an orange before I work out to raise my blood sugar and I always eat something high protein after my workout to save my muscles.....I've almost eliminated processed sugars out of my diet (a biggie for me!) and rely on natural sugars from fruits meaning I also avoid meal replacement bars/shakes and all those other processed sweets WW promotes (it just doesn't provide me with the nutrition I need to keep my metabolism up).....I chew sugar-free gum on occassion to help curb cravings.

FYI - I'm not doing WW now as I'm trying another program on my own. However, I successfully lost 30 lbs. on WW after having my son. I'm now trying to lose weight gained after having my daughter and then some. I have about 45 lbs. to lose. The program I'm doing is similar to WW, but it counts calories rather than points. I'm using all the same strategies I learned at WW and some additional strategies I have recently learned. I've been on the program for 6 weeks and have lost 14 pounds...a perfect rate of loss to keep it off.

Good luck. It's easy to get discouraged, but you're doing it right. You have realistic goals and are seeking help. Hang in there and you'll figure out what works for you. Before long, you'll start seeing the pounds melt away!

Hi R.,
Dont worry just keep going forward.
Ive had 6 babies
with every baby it seemed to take longer to loose the extra me. when Our last baby (8 now)was diagnosed w. autism I than gained about 30 lbs on top of the 30 I hadnt lost
I say all this to let you know I only have 20 lbs to go.
muscle wieghs more than fat but helps to fight the fat away.
dont get hung up on the scale just keep going forward.
whieght watchers is a very wise move... just keep going!!!!
I dont know about you but discouragement makes me want brownies!!!!!be nice to yourself.

My body holds on until I stop breastfeeding, it is very frustrating, but like anything I think of them first and figure the weight will come off later. As far as weight gain, are your measurements going down, are your clothes looser? If so don't worry about the scale, muscle weighs more than fat. Good Luck!!!!

Hello R.,

I'm a lactation specialist (28 years). To breastfeed successfully, when it comes to nutrition, you really only need to maintain an extra 300-500 calories daily ... a sandwich and a piece of fruit, for example.

I know you are diligently following the WW program, but understand that many people (women, especially) tend to "plateau" during dieting and even go up and down like a yo-yo. You're not alone!

Want an easy solution? Add a brand new fat burning product called "TAIslim" to your WW plan. Just drink 2 ozs before breakfast and another 2 ozs before lunch. That's it.
TAIslim fights all 4 problem areas of weight management, it's healthy, natural, and you can look it up on http://www.pubmed.gov No need to take my word for it.

Be sure to read the part about "cortisol", the hormone that causes fat build up around the abdominal walls ... once again, especially in women.

You'll be dropping inches and pounds long before your reunion!

Blue Skies!

~M.
Watch a video here: http://melaniekissell.gojiteam.com/go/taislim

Hi R.;
Don't worry about your weight right now. I am in the same boat with baby #2. With my first baby I didn't lose any weight(tried Jenny Craig) until I completely stopped nursing (at about 8 1/2 months)- then I lost 39 lbs. gradually over the course of 10 months or so without hardly trying. I was so frustrated that I even went to my Dr.to find out if I had a thyroid problem or something. Dr. said that it is almost impossible for some women to lose weight while they are nursing. I have 40 lbs.to lose now after having baby #2 three months ago, and am starting weight watchers in a few weeks. At the very least, I figure I will get back to eating a correct portion size as well as elimianting poor eating habits while eating a more balanced diet. One more thing, I read a study awhile back (can't remember which one or where I saw it) that said moms who nurse will lose more weight from their belly and hips than moms who don't. Your body is just doing what would have been an advantage to you centuries ago when food was hard to come by - it is holding onto all the resources it has to make sure it can provide for the baby. Your metabolism will return to normal once you are done nursing and all the traditional diet guidelines that you ahve been following will start to pay off. Good luck, K.

Hi R.

The same happened with me. I was on Weight Watcher's and lost 10 lbs. and just stayed there. From all the reports I keep hearing they say you need to bump the exercises and change it often.

Hope this helps,

I am using this: www.providia.com/makeover. When you buy the kit, there's a bit of work to do, so set aside 2-3 hours just to go over the whole kit. I've been pretty happy with it, of course, not as good at sticking to it though, maybe this will motivate me to exercise more.

One rule of thumb that I don't know if it mentions in their agenda, eat w/in the 1st 45 minutes of waking up.

Always eat breakfast, but if you have a hectic morning, make sure you eat w/in that 1st 45 minutes. That jump starts your metabolism for the rest of the day.

Good luck!

S.

Stick w/ it!

yes, your body is holding on to the weight. And exercise can cause weight gain due to muscle mass, muscles weigh more than fat!

I was pregnant at my 20th-thankfully, I could blame my fatness on the soon to be baby...so, you could go that route.

Hi R., Just do what the Weight watcher people tell you
they know the plan works and will help you. Plus you are paying them. No results in another two weeks, then go to the MD and get a blood test for thyroid.
good luck, D.

Probably what the last post said, you are gaining muscle and losing fat and muscle weighs more. I know weight watchers focuses on the number on the scale and of course you must consider that. But try to notice how you FEEL and how your clothes are fitting. That is more telling if you ask me. If I focus on the numbers I get obsessed. But if I try to notice the little changes in my body or my energy level I feel good about it! Good luck!!!

Yeah, it is hard to lose weight while nursing. If you let your calorie count get too low you will lose milk. I believe I was told it takes 500 calories a day to make a day's worth of milk, so whatever the weight loss diet was, I had to add 500 calories to it. Don't worry about it too much, it is more important to be a good milk producer while your baby needs it than to look like a model. I was your age when I had my first. I went on Jenny Craig and it took me a year to get the weight off. Then in three months I was pregnant again. That weight is still here, 17 years later! Just do it (lose the weight) before menopause, it is much harder to lose after that, and really hard to exercise. Let your kids have your body for what they need it for when they are babies. The child rearing years are over in the blink of an eye. I am not saying don't stay on the diet, just keep things in perspective. You won't have the kind of results you would have if you weren't nursing.

Dear R.,

You may want to consider NOT eating the amount of points given to nursing mothers. The extra 10 points per day may be required to make the amount of milk a new mom needs. But since your son is eating solids as well as nursing, you probably need to also cut down on your nursing points. I lost weight with WW and think their program is basically healthy. Good luck to you and consistency with diet and exercise is the key. Try to take the focus off the negative and realize what a great thing you are doing for yourself now.

Hello R.,

Congratulations on your weight loss! that's all I wanted to say. already great advice given here. I just wanted to encourage you to keep going! ~C.~

p.s.: if you have any allergies, make sure you're not eating foods in that group. for example, I was eating lots of salads...well, lettuce is a ragweed and I'm allergic to ragweeds.

It's normal to hit a plateau at some point, though after 5 weeks of effort that seems a bit early to plateau. The weight gain could just be from normal fluctuations in body fluids due to hormones, monthly cycle, etc. Or, if you've been doing consistent strength training, especially if you weren't doing it during pregnancy, you've probably built up muscle you didn't have before. Muscle weighs more than fat. So you could've lost fat, gained muscle and gotten heavier as a result. Don't freak out too much over the number on the scale. Instead pay attention to how your body looks and how your clothes fit. If they feel a bit looser and you're starting to see more muscle definition, that could be the explanation for a bit of weight gain. ... If that's NOT it, then start paying extreme attention to every single morsel you eat to be absolutely sure you're not somehow sabotaging your eating habits without realizing it (nibbling off your kids' plates? Wine with dinner? Letting portion sizes drift upward? whatever). Try reading "10 Habits That Mess Up A Woman's Diet." I forget the author's name but you could find it online easily. It's a very eye-opening book about all the ways women take in more calories than we think we do -- because of subtle little behaviors we're sometimes not even aware we're doing. Meanwhile, keep it up with WW and the steady exercise. Regardless of the reason for this little bump in the road, you are heading in the right direction. Yes, your body needs 500 extra calories a day to breastfeed, but that should be an asset to weight loss at this point and not an obstacle. Good luck.

Hi R.,

Don't be too hard on yourself. When you have your first child in your later 30s, your metabolism is typically slower to bounce back than in the 20s.

You might also be undergoing hormonal shifts postpartum...I see this a lot among my own patients. If you like, I can help you find a good acupuncturist in your area who has experience with women's health issues. It can help restore the hormonal and metabolic balance that could make weight loss less of a challenge.

Best,
S.

Hi R.,

You could be eating too much salt. You body sometimes fills your fat cells with water and you can appear to have gained since water weighs more then fat. If you're not keeping a food and exercise diary, one can just stray just a little too far. You may have too much Leptin in your system which is the main cause of obesity.

I too am a fellow dieter and have "yo-yoed" back and forth all my life. I have discovered a wonderful product that has helped me to lose weight and maintain it even when I'm not actually "dieting," not that binging does not register on the scales. What I mean, it is easier to return to a healthier pattern of eating if one strays off course. The secret is reducing the LEPTIN which determines how much fat you store and where you store it.

Learn why you're battling the buldge is so hard:

http://www.FitAndFatFree4ever.com

While nursing, you can still adopt a low glycemic eating pattern and exercising a half hour 5 times a week. Once you are no longer breast feeding, you can take this wonder product. It has helped me to maintain my 184 pound loss and take off tons of inches. I still have a lot more to lose.

The weight is over!

Good Luck, F.
____@____.com

Hi R.,

I did weight watchers as well and I too got discouraged after about 5 weeks as I too stopped loosing and seemed to gain a little. I was told that it could be a number of things - menstrual cycle, not drinking enough water, and if you eat the same foods everyday that could also be a factor.

If you have the same thing for breakfast everyday your body will start to get use to it, once I changed my menu up a bit I started to loose the weight again.

Congrats on the weight loss so far - it isn't easy to do when you have little ones running around.

HI R.,
Hang in there! I'm on Weight Watchers too. I always hit those times when I gain a little but then I stick with it and lose again. The most important thing is to measure your food correctly and write down everything you eat - all your points. Also attend the meetings and speak to the meeting leader. If you show her what you've been eating and explain what you've been doing to exercise, she may have some pointers for you to help lose the weight. Also, I know that they come up with some special programs for woman who are pregnant or nursing - so maybe discuss that with the leader as well.

That being said, my mom had trouble losing and it turned out to be a thyroid problem so that is something you can check out too.

Good luck and hang in there. Hope this helps!

Good Afternoon R.,

I have had a weight problem my entire life. I have tried just about everything on the market to lose and maintian weight. Nothing worked. Nothing.

In fact, some of the products that I've tried, I gained weight on. And it had nothing to do with portion control. I was eating less, exercising, taking vitamins, drinking 8-12 glasses of water per day. Nothing worked.

I started paying attention to what happened to my body after I ate certain foods. I found out after just really really becoming in tune with my body. Like going over it with a microsocpe and fine tooth comb. I deduced that I was allergic to the foods I ate. And to my confirmation,I went to a doctor and found out, I was absolutely correct. So as hard as I tried to loose weight my allergies manifested in weight gain!

I found a doctor who eliminates allergies. NAET.com is a group of allergists who eliminate allergies. They are the only doctors in the world who can eliminate allergies at this time. And drug free. Completely naturopathic!

I was about 70 pounds overweight when I started just going to allergy treatments. And not dieting. So far I've lost 20 pounds just treating allergies. I have allot more treatments to go, because my allergies are severe. But as you can see with a 20 pound weight loss without trying, this allergy elimnation process works.

I also have spend allot of time in nutrition because it is one of my loves in life. Two things that I recommend addressing when thinking of great health is 1. Allergies and 2. Deficiencies. When both are addressed, the body will normalzie, as what I am experiencing.

I highly recommend that you log onto site NAET.com and find an allergist close to your home and schedule an allergy test.
Also, you might want to pick up the books, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, author Balch, and Say Goodbye to Illness by author Devi Nambudripad. They both can be found on Amazon.com.

and if you have any questions, I can answer them - ____@____.com, but I recommend tht you just jump in the water with an NAET allergist and just get tested. Knowledge is power. The only thing scarce in this world is awareness. Once we know, then we can do.

Be well.

N.

I've never done WW but I've heard good things about it. As with anything, you need to stick to the plan and be consistent. Watch your diet. Are you eating empty points or are you eating high protein, low fat, complex carb points? Cut out any treats at all and fill that with fruits and especially veggies. I've found, after losing all my baby weight in 4 months, that exercise is a big thing, but diet is the key. Cut out sugar and desserts of any kind and you will see a difference. Be honest with yourself about your diet and it will make a difference in your weight.
On another note, yes muscle does weigh more than fat, but muscle also burns fat. You would not be gaining weight at this stage because you gained too much muscle. I know cutting out all treats is hard but well worth it in the end!!!

Congrats on getting back in shape. Well worth it to be healthy for your husband and son.

Sorry you are struggling. I know weight watchers is big into weighing only once a week, but when i'm loosing weight, my monthly cycle, as well has time of day, and wether or not I've had a bowel movement can have a 3 lbs variation. Its possible you did loose weight that week but just weighed in heavier because of one of these reasons. Keep with it and see if the the next few weeks don't show better results. If it were me I'd break the once a week weigh in rule and keep a scale and weigh every morning. Try not to fixate in the slowness of weight loss but that you are going in the right direction. It took me 6 months to loose 15 lbs but boy was I glad when it was off. Glad I didn't give up because it was painstakinly slow and sometime I gained instead of lost. Take your bust waist and hip measurements once a week or twice a month as another form of tracking progress. You can sometimes loose inches but not weight if you are really building muscle. This might encourage you when the scale doesn't

Hang in there! Muscle weighs more than fat, so if you are working out, they may be the reason for your slight weight gain. Try not to concentrate on the scale too much but more on how you are feeling and how clothes fit! Good luck, you'll look amazing for your 20 year reunion!

Hi R.,

First I would not diet if you are breast feeding. usually you want to eat as much and just as healthy as you did when you were pregnant. If you are eating healthy, do not worry about it. I dropped some wait by 6 months an thought I would never go back down further than that, but I did eventually just after she was a year old or so. If your body needs the extra food for him it just might be hanging onto the weight. Sometimes it knows better than you do. Don't stress on it.

you will eventually loose it.

Please don't worry - that little bit of weight "gained" is just the natural fluctuation in your body. Right now it's all adjusting to your new way of eating. DO NOT WORRY about that silly number - it really doesn't mean anything. You know you're doing to right thing and that it WILL work. It usually doesn't take long til the scale catches up with the changes in your body. You'll see, but don't stop. Also, when you walk or exercise, do some intervals of faster walking or jogging for a minute, then returning to normal pace. It kicks up the metabolism.
Don't stress - it's a whole new way or being, it's not a diet.
It's very hard, so congratulations to you for actually doing something! I look up to you!
M.

Hi R.,

I'm a fellow Weight-Watcher--don't get so down on yourself! It's normal to pick up a pound or two during the time you're losing! It could be from extra salt in your diet one day, or hormone changes, or the weather, or even the clothes you wore to weigh-in--or, just because our bodies can fluctuate during the day by two pounds due to metabolic changes.

I would say 7 pounds lost in five weeks is pretty great, and will make for long-term weight loss. Just remember, you probably didn't put on the weight that you are trying to lose in five weeks--so try to be patient. If it's baby weight, then I'm sure that takes more physical changes into consideration.

Keep up the great work!
:-) D.

I did WW before I got prego and lost 65 pounds. Let me tell you! I definetly had my good weeks and my bad weeks! I used to get so upset but then my leader helped me view the overall picture. Now since my baby has been born I have to lose it all over again and this time it seem like a lot more work! I get so upset when I go in there and have a weight gain. All I can say is hang on. We are going for the overall picture and not just what we see today. I am on pound # 18 and have 47 to go!!!! We can do it!!!!!!!!!!
Try pumping before your next weigh in:) :)

Don't be discouraged... its happens to us all. I recommend "the abs diet for women" its a book & No diet ever worked for me untill i read that book & I don't feel its even a diet any more. I did ww jenny neutra system etc... you can get the book at a used book store for $7.00. I love it & there is a section for women who have recently had babies. Its very informative. Good Luck.

Hang in there! You probably just put on a little water weight. Watch your sodium intake and be sure to drink plenty of water since you work out so often and are breastfeeding. (good for you!) Usually breastfeeding HELPS moms lose weight because milk production taps your fat resources. In fact, it is recommended to take in more calories while breastfeeding than during pregnancy! Also, remember that muscle is heavier than fat and all that working out you're doing is building muscle tone. Try measuring your waist to see the physical difference in your body. I'm a firm believer that it's what you're eating, not how much, that really matters. (although this is a hard one to tackle) When you're done breastfeeding, a liver cleanse could be very beneficial for your health ( and your appearance) You're motivating me to get back on track with my fitness regimen. Thanks!

Hi R., go get a copy of this month's SELF magazine, they are starting their self challenge and it gives you specific work out and diet tips and you can loose like 8 pounds a month, plus everything is doable and the magazine is just great, and positive, it makes you feel good to read it. 8 pounds a month till July and you'll be in gorgeous shape for your reunion. Good Luck!!! I'm about to give birth and I will have to loose about the same as you so I'm saving my mags to get started as soon as I can.

First of all, that sucks and I am so sorry and know how it feels! It is so depressing and discouraging! I absolutely did not start seeing an ounce of results until I stopped breastfeeding. Once the breastfeeding stopped, I was able to get the weight off pretty quickly. I had to exercise quite a bit, but it was worth it. Don't get down on yourself, nature is just holding on to the fat while you are breastfeeding so that you can make sure and feed your little munchkin. Why couldn't we be the ones who get that thing where the weight melts away when we're breastfeeding. Not fair! Hang in there!!! It will come off!!!

You are doing great work! Please don't get frustrated. I think it is normal to hit several plateaus while working to your ultimate goal. These are the exact times that you will want to give up, please don't! Make sure you give yourself enough time to lose the weight. Remember, it took almost a whole year to gain the weight, try to take it easy while it's coming off. Most of all, take care of yourself and your baby! You're doing a great job!!!

The first weight you lose is excess water weight. Also, your body goes in cycles;you'll weigh more as your cycle (when your period would be). Keep it up, remember to exercise. Try to take your baby out for a walk daily if you can. Stop eating at least one hour before you go to bed (including snacks). Cut out snacks next (or one at a time). Then cut desserts. Good luck!

It sounds like you're on the right path. Have you tried stroller strides? Great community orf Mothers and I hear women really lose the baby weight.
If you want recipes for you and your baby you could check out weelicious! There are tons of low fat and very easy recipes to prepare that everyone will love. -www.weelcious.com

I hear ya, it's not fun trying to diet.
Try and think of it as a lifestyle change. If you slip a day don't beat yourself up about it.
Also you might try to get measurements, don't go by weight alone, you are building muscle if you excercise.
See how your clothes fit, see how you feel. If you just be friends with the scale, the scale might be a bit deceptive.
Hang in there, be proud of the 7 you have lost and not what you haven't.
Be kind to yourself!!

Hi R.,
7 pound in 5 weeks is steady and healthy weight loss. You should not look to lose more than 5 pounds per month to make sure your diet is healthy while you are breastfeeding. I had very high expectations with losing weight from my first baby and was very disappointed which made me give up. I am in the progress of losing the weight with my 2nd baby and have found that these few things helped me:
1. LOTS of H20 - At least 1/2 gal to 1 gal a day
2. No processed foods - White flour, sugar, breads, etc....
If you really want a weight loss boost cut out ALL carbs (except for fruits and veggies) for at least 2 weeks then go back to only one meal a day with carbs that are high in fiber too

I have done the weight watchers by itself, but it needs more to it. I did not see any consistant results until I really changed my diet to mostly meat and veggies. It also makes your points go so much further. I hope this helps.

I've been on WW for about a year and lost 30 lbs - I have 10 more to go to goal. It's frustrating.. one thing I tried when I got in a slump - and we all get into this kind of slump is adjusting my point count each day of the week. Dipping into that extra 35 points you get each week.
Eat the minimum number of points one day, for the next two days go over by about 3-5 points, then back to minimum for two..kind of a cycle. I don't know why it worked, but it did.
I found it online somewhere, but can't quite remember the site now.

Weight watchers is designed for slow, steady weight loss average is 1 to 2 lbs per week. The good news with Weight Watchers is once you've been on program for awhile your body won't let you over eat anymore (at least I've seen that).

Hang in there, you will lose the weight! You are doing great 7lbs is something to rejoice about!

L.

It will take time - you can either crash diet, which is temporary & bad for you, or you can take it slow and have it stick permanently. My baby is 9 weeks old and I have lost over half the weight, but it has taken me about a month to lose the last 5 of that. I am hanging in there like you, give it time & remember your body is doing what it needs to do, it will pass!

Hi R.,

Congratulations on joining Weight Watchers!!! It is a great program! I joined WW Jan 08 when my son was 2 months old and I hit lifetime in Nov 08. I lost a total of 57 pounds. DO NOT GIVE UP! It takes some time to get in the swing of things. Breast feeding is the best thing...at least for me it was!! What meeting do you go to and where? I'd be more than happy to help you, give you ideas on food etc.
First words of encouragement...you have made a lifestyle change to eat healthier and exercise.....don't use the work DIET....that word sets you up for failure. DIETS don't work.
Try your best not to change 12 things at once...concentrate on FOOD first...little steps, eat 5 small meals, drink your water, write down ALL your points.
I could go on and on. I would love to see you succeed and you can, really you can!!!
The meeting I go to is on Tuesdays @ 930am (it's a mommy and me meeting) at the ww center on Rosecrans by Bristol Farms. My leaders name is Cindy....if you can make it, I am going this Tuesday. :-)
Feel free to private email me and I will be more than happy to help you anyway I can.
:-)
E.

have you looked into coconut oil? Do some research on it, it's a natural way to speed up your metabolism and there's lots of ways to take it!

The great news is that muscle weighs more than fat. You are getting tone!

http://liveitdontdiet.isagenix.com/us/en/isavideos_cleans...

It works for me.

Hi R.,
I lost weight after having a baby (and while nursing) by reading and following Dr. Shintani's Eat More Weigh Less diet program. This is not really a "diet" in the sense that you eat little - you actually eat as much as you want, which is great when you are nursing. It's what you eat that matters. His books have lots of good recipes and I followed the diet strictly for more than a year. I lost 12 pounds the first month (which is pretty normal for this diet). It's changing to an extremely healthy way of eating and the way he explains it was very inspiring to me. This this day I still eat brown rice & 100% whole wheat bread and stay away from simple carbs. Being that it's so healthy and not restrictive, I have no trouble with milk production and my baby who was 10 pounds at birth continued to be at the top of the charts for weight and height all along. All the best to you. I always wondered if I used the "points" system with the Shintani food choices, how that would work out. I tried weight watchers too, but felt Dr. Shintani's program worked better for me. Keep going, keep the reunion in mind and make good, healthy choices and you'll do great!
Aloha,
C.

Not the breastfeeding for sure! If anything that will help you loose weight. Don't be discouraged, just keep doing what you are doing. The benefits of a healthy diet and excercise do not return instant results. It takes time. What you are doing now will show up in a month or two. The standard they say to go by is to ask how long it took you to gain the weight, it will take at least that much time to loose it. Don't be so hard on yourself mama, it will come. I am sure you will look like an amazing, beautiful, proud new mama at your reunion. Oh and if you are still breastfeeding just make sure you are taking in enough nutrition and calories to feed your little munchkin. Dieting is usually not advised during breastfeeding.

Hi R.,
I too am with Weight Watchers. I know for me I must, must, must exercise. I have to at least walk for 30 mins. and at least 30 minutes of cardio/weights. It is the only thing that works with the healthy eating plan. Also make sure you are eating enough and not leaving points at the end of the day. Try eating more protein also. I don't know if these tidbits will help, just letting you know that you are not the only one. I just weighed in tonight and had a +.6 gain. It's frustrating, but I know that I need to work harder at the exercise part. You'll do it. Just takes time! Good luck!
~~D.