Having Problems Losing Weight....

After many many years of dieting, I finally joined Weight Watchers and I have able to loose weight. This program makes you accountable for every bite you take. It worked great for me.

T.

I want to first say that breast feeding does NOT always promote weight loss. I've given birth to 6 children, and everytime I did not lose the weight until I finished breast feeding. No one could explain that to me, but the weight just wouldn't not come off while I was breast feeding.

I am NOT saying to stop breastfeeding. I'm just saying maybe that is one of the reasons. You just must be one of those people who have to wait till you are done breastfeeding.

I have several friends who don't loose all their weight till after they wean the baby, at which point it melts off them. I'd give it a few months after weaning to see what happens. Every body is different.

Go to www.sparkpeople.com IT'S FREE!!!!

Remember that a pound of fat is about 2500 calories. So to lose a pound you have to burn 2500 more calories than you take it.
Drink plenty of water. And count the calories with everything else. You may still be eating foods that are "calorie dense"

M.,
It's great that you're dealing with this now. The longer you wait the harder, especially as you get older.

I am doing eDiets.com so I can record everything I eat. I love it! They have tons of items recorded in their database (Starbucks, McDonalds, Chili's, Lean Cuisine, etc etc and regular food) so it's easy for me to select what I ate and record it. So that helps me be aware of what I need to cut out and cut back on etc.

Exercising is hard, but you have to do it. I've increased my exercise time by 10 minutes since I started eDiets (from 30 to 40) and it's really helped. I'm working up to 50. But you have to find the time. There are all kinds of things you can do at home too and eDiets gives you work outs for whatever you situation is and gives you a schedule, goals etc.

If you're interested, send me a PM with your email and I'll refer you. I get a $10 for referring friends that join. Which I'm assuming they'll apply to next months charge. I joined through my health insurance, Aetna, so it only cost me about $15 for a month. I think it usually costs about $20 a month, I'm not certain.

Drink lots of water too and just bump up the exercise to something a little more vigorous than strolling with your daughter. Maybe fast walking or dancing in your living room. And the weight will come off.

M.,
I didn't read what everyone else wrote, but I had the same problem when I had my daughter. Everyone else I knew had lost all their baby weight and then some, but I couldn't get lower than 155. I was 125 before I had my baby. Anyway, I spoke to my sister who was in med school at the time (and is also a mother of four) and she said that the hormones your body produces while breast feeding can sometimes prohibit weight loss. It has something to do with the fact that your body burns calories trying to produce the milk, so your body freaks out and tries to keep itself from starving and begins to hold on to the weight. So, my daughter ended up weening herself shortly there after and once I stopped breast feeding I lost 10 pounds almost immediately and then it just gradually all began to fall off. It's definitely something to try. After all, you can't breast feed her forever. LOL. Good luck!
-F.

Join Weight Watchers!!!!!

Like you I tried everything other than DIET pills.....

then my mother introduced me to ALLI - www.myalli.com

Its not the cheapest thing but it works and there are others out there that are more exspensive. It teaches you to eat what your body needs to be healthy. It pushes you to do whats right for you - and it becomes second nature to eat that way even when you go out to eat.

there is also a book I bought separate that has tons of recipes for desserts, main course, side dishes, breads, sauces, soups etc... and it gives you a guide of tons of fab restaraunts and choices that work with the pill.

read the booklets that come with the program because if you dont eat right there are definite side effects - but I weighed 169 when I started and in about 3 months was down to 140 already......

good luck and I hope this helps.

Dear M.,

Hi, my name is Gladys. What I think you should do right now is enjoy your daughter, especially if you are nursing. We all are different don't compare yourself to others.
After you stop nursing, my advise is drink a warm glass of water before breakfast this will get your bowel movement going. Eat a papaya in the morning for breakfast or pineapple or you can have 2 eggs and 1 toast or live active cerial 1 cup with soy milk fat free or lacose free milf 1% is not so watery like regular milk. In between meals a red apple or 1 90 cal. special k bar, a good lunch and your last meal should be before 6pm a salad dressing olive oil w/ lemon. You are doing grate all ready, for you, and your baby. By not drinking sodas breads and so on, please no fast foods. You can do exercises with your baby on the flour for your ABS, by rocking her crawling with her or holding her in the air with you hands and legs. If you can not walk jump rope for 30 sec. stop a few sec. this x3, it brings a good sweat. Good luck and remember if you are happy your baby Rhiannon is happy too.

Gladys F. I'm 50, single mom, 1 daughter 27

Hang in there, and don't quit breastfeeding. Make walking fun and take your baby on a stroll. I even got a bike seat for my kids when they were older and able to sit on their own. Walking strengthens your stomach and back. Start out 20 minutes at least every other day then work up to 30 minutes a day and so on. Exercise will give you more energy too and you'll feel better. Keep with the diet changes. Just as long as I was walking I could at least lose inches. I'm like you the baby weight did not come off too easy. I had friends that came on in the jeans they wore when they got pregnant. I couldn't get into them till 6 month to a year till I decided to make that diet and exercise change. Some people just have it more easy. Good luck.

I tried for about a year to loose weight after I had y daughter - I then went to weight watchers (with my mom as my partner) and lost 20+ pounds (she lost 30+). It was worth every penny of it - I was not breast feeding, but they have a plan for that as well. GIve it a try - it really works and helps your whole family learn better eating habits.

First of all, I feel your pain. I am battling the same situation...all of my friends have already lost their weight and I am still strugling with mine.

About a month ago, I started eating 5-6 small meals a day and have lost 5 pounds! My doctor suggested this because apparently when you eat like this, it forces your body's metabolism to speed up. Also, I drink a ton of water and try to at least walk everyday...

I know its hard, but dont get down on yourself...stress is a big factor in weight gain and I find that if you think/stress about it too much, it is harder to lose weight than when you just relax and take things one day at a time.

I also focus most of my attention on my son and it makes everything I have gone through (stretch marks, weight gain, etc.) so worth it...

try and be easy on yourself--you are giving your baby the most presious gift--your milk--your body is still in that production mode...i dropped the weight months after the last feeding (i stopped at 6 months and by 10 months i started to notice big changes)...try not to compare yourself to other women...you sound like you are doing a great job...

I highly recommend the Body for Life program. It is quick - the longest workout is 45min and you get a free day every week to eat what you want. I did it but had to modify becuase I am a SAHM with no gym membership. The main thing is the eating. I got my book at 1/2 price books. and bought a set of dumb bells. You can start with can food and stuff around the house including your daughter to get the exercises done. i am starting it again after having appendix removed. let me know if you need any support. you can also look at their website. Oh I don't do the supplements because i don't want to be dependent on anything to keep the weight off later and they are expensive so don't feel you have to buy them. i am all about saving money!!

you sound like you are doing everything right... could you maybe get your thyroid checked? i say that because a new friend of mine told me about how she had thyroid issues after her first child, and it affected her weight-loss. don't feel badly though... i am sure you look fabulous. yoga is wonderful at this point, why not try it? it became a balm for me when i had my first kiddo... hang in there!

I found a really great website at www.thedailyplate.com
On this site, you can track what you eat and any excercise that you engage in. It helps you to stay focused and hopefully create a routine that will help you in your endeavor. It will calculate and tell you how many calories you should eat a day to reach your goal for each week. Check it out, you might find it useful.

Best wishes for your success! Kiss your child every chance you get, the time is fleeting.

Your doing the right thing by changing your eating habits, but you really need to make time for the exercise. It is what increases your metaboism and helps release the "feel good" endorphines that will keep you on track.

My doctor told me that some women drop the weight immediatly and some hang on to it for awhile but the body takes almost 2 years to completly recover from giving birth. That being said, you are doing fine.
You have to take time for yourself and your health first. Your little one needs you to be healthy.

Good luck :o)

With my son I lost 20 pounds by cutting back on food and also walking 1 hour before I would eat--you can burn like 1000 calories doing this. I pushed him in the stroller and he loved it and I didn't need to get a baby sitter!! You just have to stick to it and do it! good luck--I am back to doing this now after my third!!!

Hi M.,
My friend after she had her baby was just like you and could not lose the weight. She got on Weight Watchers and it is taking a little while but the weight is really coming off. She also nurses so she couldnt use diet pills. She says she feels full and does not feel deprieved. I know she is in a lot better spirits now. Good luck!

I cannot begin to tell you the importance of exericse AND a healthy diet. You need to increase the amount and strength of your muscles and you will burn more calories 24-7. A great way to make time for exercise and some great interaction with Rhiannon is Stroller Strides. It is a total body workout that combines cardio and strength training as well as support from other moms! Check out www.strollerstrides.com for a location near you. I participate in the Arlington classes and my son and I have a blast. Plus I lost the 15 lbs I had been holding onto since he was born. He is 17 months and we are still nursing twice a day, and this made all the difference in the world for me!

Good Luck,
M. :)

My sister had great success with Jazzercize. She was an 8, went up to a 16, and no I think she's a 10 (she's tall and still has some belly flab that won't go away without surgury.) They have childcare. The YMCA has discounted rates according to income and they also have childcare available while working out.

you might want to ask you DR to check your thyroid- that can affect your weight loss.

I lost a lot of weight prior to get pregnant (18/20 down to a 10/12.) Then I was on bedrest with a constant IV and when I got out of the hospital I was back to an 18/20! I was just sick about it, and haven't been able to loose the weight either- that was 5 years ago! But we have had three more children since then, which is one reason why I never get to loose the weight.

S. in Houston

I was having problems losing the final few pounds so I joined Baby Boot Camp. It's an exercise program where you bring your baby and exercise with her in the stroller! We work every muscle in the body so you get toned and fit while losing weight and getting healthier. I love that it's presenting a good example of getting healthy for my daughter! www.babybootcamp.com
You can also find several of the franchises under Local Business Reviews - Beauty & Fitness - Yoga/Pilates/Exercise Classes.
I'm a member of the Denton/Corinth franchise and I can't give it a high enough referrel - it's awesome!

Totally know where your coming from. Im "He's 5 months old and Im still FAT" When you find a cure let me know. J Davis

I had the same trouble with my first and second pregnancies, and I found out later that I had a thyroid problem (hypothyroidism). I just COULD NOT shed a pound, even with diet and exercise, water, and breastfeeding! I had a family history of it. Worth checking into.... Ask you doctor.

M.,

Don't give up or get discouraged. I am a personal trainer and have been for over 10 years. You have to find that right balance of eating healthy, exercising and portion control. Walking is great but adding some additional activities such as lifting weights would be great. I can help you but most of all stay postive and don't give up!

H. V ____@____.com

My best friend did great on Weight Watchers and they have a point system for nursing moms. She always had trouble losing baby weight too, so this might work for you. You can do it online too--so you won't have to worry about the meetings! Good Luck and hang in there!

hey girl, bless your heart, don't beat yourself up about the weight. every woman i've ever met has all gone through a heavy period in their lives, it happens some times. i think that's great that you've decided to take control & cut out the sweets. good for you! you should be proud. most people just throw in the towel without even trying, but you haven't that's what's important. losing weight doesn't happen over night, it takes time. remember you were pregnant for 9 months, that's a long time. it's not unreasonable that it'll take some time to lose it. what matters most is your committed attitude. you can do anything you put your mind to... that's what i tell my kids. we don't say "can't" at our house. we asked for help if we need it, but never say "can't." i'm an independent consultant with arbonne & we have an amazing results oriented weight loss program. i just ordered some more sample products. i'd love to send you some & see what you think. just let me know. curbing your eating habits is a good start. combine that with eating less & exercising more & you'll be on your way to a slimmer you! i just know it! i know that exercising is hard with a 14 mo old, but just little things like parking your car further so you walk more, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, doing some exercises at night before bed, all of that adds up. you can do it, you just have to believe in yourself. i believe in you & any way that i can help you, i'd be glad to do it! you take care & have an amazing day! T.

Exercise is the key! Make it a priority and do it. Walk, bike, do yoga, swim. Whatever works for you. You'll feel better, too, because of the endorphins. Your baby is old enough now for you to make yourself a priority. If mom isn't happy and healthy then she can't hold up the family!

M.,
I hear you! After my second, it was bad news. I did everything I was suppose to. Eat right, no sugar, blah, blah, blah. I was training for a half marathon so I was running 20 miles a week plus cross training and weight training. I would lose 5-10 pounds and then gain 6-10 pounds back in a week! It was so frustrating. I've had thyroid tests and blood tests. I've had my eating, etc evaluated by nutritionists, etc. I've been on all kinds of meds including injections 2x daily (they thought maybe it had something to do with my blood sugars)...none of it worked.
I have recently started using Arbonne's Figure 8 weight loss program (there are 2 products that I don't use because I am nursing my now 7 month old baby - our 3rd) and I've lost 6 pounds in 3 weeks! I'm very happy. I would be happy to show you how it works. You can also look at the their website www.gofigure8.com. You can also look around on my website www.foravibrantlife.myarbonne.com. You can email me from there. I would be happy to show you what I am doing. Hang in there. Even if the scale isn't showing you what you want to see, remember that you are making healthy choices for you and your baby!

Don't give up! Hang in there, most women don't lose much weight during the first year postpartum. My midwife told me not to even get on a scale for the first year. You may be okay to go back to work after the first six weeks, but your body is actually going to take the first eighteen months to fully recover from pregnancy. Remember too that pregnancy has had a permanent effect, slightly altering your body shape. Be less concerned about the numbers on the scale and the size you wear, and more concerned with how your clothes fit and how you feel about your body.
I am now within fifteen pounds of my initial pre-pregnancy weight of 135, and I never have time to exercise. (I have two daughters, aged 13 months & 2y7m) The way you have already changed your eating habits is a good start, but I have suggestions that have helped me. First, drink lots of water. If you keep you body hydrated you won't retain water weight, thats a free five-pound weight loss. Eat lots of whole grains & fresh fruits/berries & vegetables. I know that they can be a little more expensive than the canned variety, but they are much more beneficial to your body. Also, low-fat dairy is good. Yogurt, cottage cheese & skim milk are staples in our refrigerator. When buying groceries, check your labels. Don't buy anything that has any transfats, or that lists hydrogenated or partially-hydrogenated ingredients. Transfats occur when oil is hardened by the addition of hydrogen, which is even worse for you than cholesterol. Speaking of which, it is also a good idea to replace eggs with an egg substitute(which are made of REAL EGGS). A single large egg contains 78% of the daily recommended intake of cholesterol- there goes those three-egg omelets at I-HOP! When frying or sauteeing something, use canola or extra virgin olive oil. Neither one contains artery-clogging cholesterol, both are very low in saturated fat, and each has their own benefits. Canola is rich in omega-3, which is good for your heart, joints & memory function, and olive oil is rich in antioxidants that may help prevent cancer & heart disease. Also, stick to poultry & fish, cut out all forms of pork, & red & processed meats- cold cuts, lunch meats, hotdogs of any meat variety, bacon & sausage, and yes, turkey sausage & bacon counts too. This change was the hardest to do, but was comparatively easy after reading all of the articles (around Thanksgiving)on the conclusive study that linked excessive consumption of the meats listed above to lung cancer. Just cutting out these meats alone will make you feel physically & mentally better almost immediately, I promise!
I know it may seem like i just dumped alot on you, but sometimes the big change needs to happen in the refrigerator/pantry. Don't forget too that your daughter will also have long-term benefits of eating healthy from a young age. Let her cheer you on & be your motivation. If you want, I also have some simple recipe ideas to help get you started.
Good luck with everything!

Hi M.,

Is there a "Curves" in your area? Curves works for many women. The only problem maybe a sitter for the baby.
Find someone to watch the baby and head out to Curves.
Good luck!

Hi M.,
Well, lets start off by saying, the worst thing you can do is give up. Secondly, losing weight comes easier to others at times, so that means you're gonna have to work hard and make sacrifices, make time to get some form of exercise and drink plenty of water, too. What's helped me in the past was to wear some sort of support hose or to wear one of those workout wide waist bands you can find at any retail store, that way you can remind your body that it needs to go back to it's smaller frame. Sometimes our body is still asleep and it needs to be awakened and reminded of what to do, so don't give up.

M. just keep doing what your doing, but walking is the best thing. You may never go back down. One thing I do is not worry about the actual pounds, but how your clothes fit on you. Your body may be different. Like if your hips spread during childbirth they may not go back the same way as before. drink lots and lots of water and keep in touch with friends for support.....start a group to workout with...L.

Hi M.,

Get your thyroid checked!!! I had the same problem and it turns out I was hypothyroid. I got on synthroid and the problem was resolved. Lots of new moms experience thyroid issues- mine started after I stopped nursing. Good luck!

Congratulations to you for still nursing!!!

Diet pills can be dangerous. If you do choose to go that route, talk to your doctor first. May ask the doc to have your thyroid checked too. I am in the same boat as you. Its hard for me to lose weight. I watch what I eat, I exercise. I hate the idea of taking diet pills. Maybe join a program like Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig. Go to the gym and get a personal trainer and also ask them for help with your diet.
160 lbs. is nothing, I've been at 180 for a long time. Now down to 175 and staying there after this ordeal with my gall bladder. Yeah, the liquid and no fat diet they had me on only dropped 5 pounds. Will not get to go to the gym for a while because I just had surgery. They have a lot of things you can do at the gym. There are classes, personal trainers, raquet ball. I love going to the gym. I figure if I keep at it and watch what I eat, I will get there.

M.,

I lost weight quickly at first, but then things slowed way down and the last 10 pounds were difficult to lose. I joined 24 hour fitness and bought 10 sessions with a trainer (to keep me motivated. After I started I learned about the bodybugg. Go to www.24hourfitness.com to learn more. It has helped me so much because it calculates how many calories you burn every minute of every day. It is a devise that goes on your arm. I was surprised to see what it took to burn the calories I needed everyday to lose weight. It also has a plan online where you input all your food and then tells you what your calorie deficit is. So you know exactly what you are burning and exactly what you are eating (if you input it correctly). I didn't realize how many calories I was eating a day until I started this. I have lost 10 pounds in the last 4 weeks, but I have had the bodybugg for about 10 days and I have lost 4 pounds. So it really does work. It is expensive, but it is worth it.

I'm having a similar problem, but I've been told by 2 doctors to get my thyroid checked out to see if it's sluggish. I've even tried to stop eating carbs after 4:00pm (which was also reccommended by a doctor) and only eat whole grain carbs during the day with protien at every meal. Try it and see if it works for you.

First of all, your body will hang on to about 10lbs as a reserve while you are breastfeeding. I also have learned that the scale is no longer as important as what you feel like in your clothes. I am ten pounds heavier than before my baby and just recently started to workout again. I run 4 miles every other day, play tennis, and lift weights. I have not lost one pound but my body has definately improved...so for starts Do Not get on the scale....pick a pair of jeans you want to get back in to and gauge your weightloss by them...also, I suggest buying a calorie book, know what you are eating even down to the cream in your coffee. You will be surprised! Stay in a 1300-1500 range per day. Good Luck.

Hi, M..
Try to add some cardio into your work out. You will burn more calories and build your muscle which, in turn, brings up your metabolism. The walking is good but it sounds like you need something a little more challenging. During naptime, pull out a kickboxing video (TurboJam is awesome!) or something that will get you moving. Also, no eating late night. Try to avoid snacking unless it's healthy, eat a healthy breakfast (don't skip this meal), keep it low carbs, and most of all, be patient. Your body and your friend's body are different. Hope this helps. M.

an option is exercise videos, you can go to the public library and check out a few to try. another good source is www.collagevideo.com. they have loads of different kinds plus the way they evaluate them is clear and easy to understand. a great book, also at the library, is "strong women stay slim" by miriam nelson which focus on the importance of building muscle to help burn fat. increased muscle mass burns calories even when you are sitting still. hang in there, it takes time. like one of the other moms said, your body may never go back to the before baby state, but you can work at losing the extra weight and accepting your new mom figure.

Hi M.!

I am actually new to this mamasource thing, but I was looking over the site this evening and noticed the conversations about weight loss. I am actually a registered dietitian and have a private practice here in the Sugar Land area.

I think for most people, they know what foods are good and what foods are bad, but little about how to balance those good foods throughout the day. This is where meal planning comes into play. A balance from meal to meal and snack to snack throughout the day can yield amazing results. This is something that works best personalized to an individuals food preferences and schedule.

If I can be of assistance, please let me know. I would be happy to give you more information about the consultations.

Best Wishes!
H. (mother of 2)

M.,

Sorry for the delay. I haven't been checking my email regularly. Anyways, I would recommmend Weight Watchers. I too have had the same problem with baby weight and I let mine get way out of control. I have gained 60lbs. total from having 2 kids. Weight Watchers has been the only thing that has worked for me because I can still eat stuff I like and just count points. Plus they have a nursing plan as well so you don't have to worry about your milk supply or if your babies getting enough. I started after I had my 2nd child and lost like 15lbs. and never had problems with my milk.

Good luck and keep nursing! It really is the best!

Hope you have lost all the weight you wanted. If not contact me and I will show you what my husband did to lose 35lbs

It sounds like your doing great with your eating habbits and the walking is great too! After both of my children were born I turned to yoga - for my body and my mind. It gave me peace and quiet to myself (away from the breatfeeding) and I got my body back into shape gently. I teach yoga now and see many new moms come to class during pregnancy and postpartum with wonderful results. Hopefully my class locations are close to you but if not I'm sure you can find a good yoga class in your area. I teach in Cedar Hill, Midlothian & Waxahachie.
www.geocities.com/____@____.com
Hope this helps. Hang in there...you WILL find yourself again.

try weight watchers, I have lost about 20 pounds. Once you breastfeeding is over go to www.advocare.com/0402179 and check out the trim line. I do both and before either one I was in a size 18 and now I am in 8-12.(Still working on losing) and exercise either walk or bike will help.