Help Losing Weight

K., my name is Anita. I am older than you and I struggle with my weight also. I have found that weight watchers is the best you can do. Hope this helps you.

No, you are NOT alone. Just this week I started back on Weight Watchers. I've been walking 45 minutes each day and counting my points. I lost 2 lbs. my first week. BUT I know the first week is the most lost week. My problem is my husband of 32 years still weighs what he did the day we married and can and does eat anything he wants. He eats constantly. NOT FAIR!!! But I'm determined to get it off and keep it off this time. BTW, I weigh 47 pounds more than I did the day we married!! But, then, he didn't have 2 babies either!!! HA! Best of luck to you! Drink lots of water. My favorite snack food this week has been celery sticks stuffed with peanut butter. Celery is free!!
C., MS

Hey K.!
I didn't get a chance to read the other responses, so I apologize if this is a repeat, but I wanted to tell you what my friend and I do. We go to this program at a local church called BABES. It is a weight-loss program, and I lost 25 pounds with it before I had my children. They just started another session last Monday and it is 12 weeks long. It's not too late for you to get in on it. It does cost some money, but as long as you stick with the program, doing things like reading your workbook (very short chapters), eating right and losing any amount of weight at each meeting, you get to reduce your cost greatly, PLUS win prizes!! I'm talking good stuff like gift cards, jewelry and luggage etc...
It also feeds your soul, and helps you know who you are in GOD. We all help and encourage each other and it's wonderful! I've already lost another 3 pounds in just the first couple of days now. Email me back if you're interested! ____@____.com
By the way, I'm not getting any kickbacks by mentioning this other than helping someone, and making a new friend. :)
Let me know if you're interested!

I understand how you feel. It does make a difference if what you are eating is filling you up. You need really good protein and fiber. If you don't get enough fiber lot of times food gets backed up in our colon. Also, a suggestion would be to detox as well. Your hormones is another thing that will affect you losing weight. Are you taking birth control pills? Arbonne has great products that haa helped me in all areas. Ck out website at www.successfromtheheart.myarbonne.com and click on products. Give me a call for questions.

Hey K.,
I feel your pain. I just became a life member at WWatchers and thought I would share with you that they've changed their plan. They are using Flex and Core programs together, really cool and livable! I know it's hard after that last baby, my last baby is 13 years old and I decided that it was time to get that weight off and WW saved my life and I'm never going to gain that amount again. Good luck, just go back and visit one meeting and get a feel for things now. Tues 7 or 9AM or Sat mornings @ Brixton square have AWESOME leaders! I don't have to attend meetings every week but love going and learning. It's all about different choices of food (you can still live)....just learn some new ones and you'll be well on your way girl! Decide that you're not losing 40 lbs just 1 or 2 a week & by summer tada You did it.

I would like to think that you and I are not the only one's going thru this... I to nursed all 4 of my kids and the weight came right off and since I have qiut nursing I have gained back 30lbs and can't figure out why because I am a stay at home mom with a 28 month old and a 16 month old and am on the go 24/7. When I had my older 2 children (when I was 21 and 23) the weight came off and stayed off but I just truned 30 and I keep gaining weight. I went to the dr because I thought I had a thyroid problem (because it runs in the family) she checked it out and told me that that was not an issue. She also told me that being 30 my metoblism is slowing down and the trick is to not quit eating but to eat more often, she suggested 7 small meals a day whick to me sounded like alot, but it seems to be helping. I also have found a exercise video that I enjoy and that my daughters can pretend to do with me (I use hip hop abs because it seems like my tummy is where I am storeing all the extra weight) its a 30 min video so it don't take alot of time out of my day. Good luck and is you get any good advice please forward it on because I am open to other options.

You're definately not alone. I think that you described the majority of women out there including myself. I have struggled with my weight my entire life and as a result ended up suffering from bulimia and anorexia. You're lucky that you lost weight breastfeeding!! I didn't drop a pound. :( I believe that the only way to be successful and to stay that way is to change the way that you view food. One of the best gifts that you can give your children is to live a long and healthy life so that you can always be there for them and the best way to do that is to take care of your body. Anyway, I have a lot of experience in diet and exercise. I've done diets for clients and friends for the past serveral years and if you'd like I'd be more than happy to help you (of course no charge). It's something that I really enjoy doing especially when someone is super motivated and willing to put in the hard work. It gives me a great feeling of satisfaction to watch someone succeed!! I'm finally to a place in life where I'm not controlled by food. So, it is possible. It just takes work over time. There are NO quick fixes. If you're interested just send me a message. I'd love to help. I just hope you're willing to put in the work. And if you are I think you'll be really happy with the results!!

Hope to hear from you!

Stop eating meat and drinking sodas. Learn some low-fat recipes to substitute the 2 or 3 least-healthy meals that you and/or husband make every week. Find some healthy snacks that you like. Don't focus on calories so much as grams of fat. Eat as much as you need to feel satisfied - don't deprive yourself - but just eat healthier things that you also enjoy. For treats, this means fruit bars of So Delicious instead of ice cream. Junior Mints instead of straight-up chocolate. Pretzels instead of chips! Meals: whole-wheat pasta with marinara instead of regular pasta with alfredo. Start with a few substitutions, get yourself "settled" with them, then add a few more. This way you get used to them and don't feel like you're just eating a bunch of boring stuff, then slip in due time.

Oh! Also, what I do is drink herbal teas sweetened with KAL brand Stevia powder (just a tiny bit is all you need) for enjoyment. Add some soymilk or soy cream for flavor, it's really wonderful! This way, your brain still gets the "I'm getting a treat" feeling, and you're filling up some, and you're probably getting some very much-needed hydration. Most Americans are chronically dehydrated. In fact, we're so out of touch with our need for water that we can misinterpret our thirst signals for a desire for food! (Generally wetter food.) If you find yourself craving soup or cereal, you're probably just thirsty! Drinking water/fluids also helps move food along through your body, and of course the longer food sits in your gut, the longer your body has to sponge up every last calorie and gram of fat from it.

On that note, by the way, skinny people tend to eat breakfast. It is important to snack frequently on healthy foods and have 4 or more small (small!) meals a day. This gets your metabolism working in your favor. So, even if you don't feel hungry, and feel like you can get away with snacking on more unhealthy foods later if you just "skip a meal," don't. Your body is then signaled to cling to every calorie as a result, under the assumption that food is scarce. Also on this note, eat a small dinner and don't eat much at night. It will just sit in your body and digest slowly because your body slows down so much overnight as you sleep.

Of course, eating less at night will mean that you will wake up hungrier and ready to eat. And breakfast is the most important meal of the day! Just think, you are eating to care for and nurture your body.

If you think you are dealing with an actual food addiction, see a neurofeedback therapist. Neurofeedback is excellent at breaking up addictive patterns in the brain. No struggle.

Good luck!
L.

PS oh, and do what skinny people do. Straight-up ask them how they stay so fit. And ask the really glowy, healthy-looking ones with good, shiny hair and that look energetic and happy. "Everyone is different," like they have different metabolisms, but these things are affected by our habits. Like metabolisms, described above. Or energy levels, leading to more or less exercise. Vegetarians have more energy. See for yourself - observe how much energy you have during the day after eating a meat-heavy meal, and how much you have going a few days eating vegetarian options. The difference is vast, and makes an equally vast difference to how many calories and fat you expend doing things like cleaning the house, playing with the kids, and doing "official" exercise.

weight watchers works real well that way you eat almost every thing everybody else does just smaller sizes my daughter went from 286 to 145 on it also you can eat out on weight watchers and it doesn't cost a lot cause you don't have to but their food you can weight regular food you just pay a monthly fee and now you can do it on line good luck

Hi K.! I completely understand what you are saying! I also shed all of my weight with breastfeeding and have gained considerable pounds over the past couple of years. Try this website: Sparkpeople.com
It is an amazing resource to get you living healthy, rather than just dieting! It helps you set goals and track your successes! It is very user friendly and you can be motivated with and by others who are using the site to meet their health/weight loss goals!
I would gladly buddy up with you to help encourage one another! My user name is SMF1274 on that site!

S.

It took me realizing that I am only 15 pounds lighter now than when I was 9 months pregnant to get motivated enough to do something! My son will turn 4 next week - but I had lost all of my baby weight by the time he was 3 months old!

I lost 40 lbs last year by journaling and watching calories. I started by sitting down with a 1500 calorie diet plan I got from my doctor and personlized it. I don't buy a lot of varieties of foods, so I used the plan to guide me. I wrote down what I should eat (breakfast, 1 cup Special K 1/2 cup skim milk 1 banana. lunch....)and then I stuck to it. When I got hungry, I took the doctor's tip and at celery. With the celery, you clean it ahead of time and put it in a dish of water in the fridge. When the munchies hit, just eat a stalk or 2 and drink some more water with it. Anyway, there are several diets. You'll have to do some research to personalize something for you.

One of my friends lost weight by eating 3 lean cuisines a day and eating salad with each one, and drinking water.

Stick with it, you can do it!

Hi! Im moving to Conway here very soon and so would love to have a workout buddy if you are interested. I started going here one because of struggling with my weight just like you and two to have a little me time from the kids since my hubby works so many hours. I too am 30 and am a SAHM of two little ones. Im bummed to leave my work out buddys here as they keep me modivated so if you are interested in a weight loss buddy let me know! :) My email is ____@____.com too. Im also on facebook and myspace with that email address if you have either and would like to add me. :)
-A.

I am not trying to sound harsh, I've been where you are. I was depressed but not really ready or willing to do anything about it.
If you can't stick to it you need to evaluate what the reasons for that are. Are you just not ready to commit to becoming more healthy yet? Is there some other things going on? Is it a money issue? Only you know what the real problem is. You can't and won't succeed on any program unless you commit to a lifestyle change (not a diet)and stick to it.

It took me 3 years to figure out why I was not losing the weight from my last pregnancy. I gained over 80 pounds in 6 months. My twins were 6 weeks early, so if I had gone to term I probably would have gained a lot more.

I just kept feeling sorry for myself and instead of doing something about it I just because depressed and kept it all inside, and stayed fat.

I am not sure when, why, or how the turn around took place, but one day I decided I wanted to change. It was my birthday and I was turning 28 and I thought if I don't get this weight off before 30 I'll be stuck here forever, miserable, feeling sorry for myself, and fat.

I joined Weight Watchers that month as a birthday gift to myself. that was a year ago and I have lost 1/2 my weight so far. I am halfway to goal. WW is a good program because you have to be accountable, but can eat anything you want, and it is healthy unlike some of the diets around.

I have about 35 more pounds to go to get to goal, and I plan on doing it this year. My new years resolution is to get more exercise into my routine to try and speed up the weight loss.

If you are ready you can do it (whatever way you decide to lose weight, not necessarily Weight Watchers). If you are not ready, it's not going to happen.

K., start running or doing some form of exercise. That is one key. I know it is hard with kids. I have two and have trouble finding the time but I try to get thirty minutes to an hour in before I pick up the kids from daycare. Next, its okay to eat. But eat right and Healthy and eat 5 to 6 small meals. You can snack on almonds and a 100 calorie pack snacks, bananas. Its a lifestyle change. It take 21 days to form a habit. So start something new and stick with it..it will become a habit for you and you will feel so much better. See if there are any free clinics in your area. I live in the surrounding area of Little Rock and in February there will be a free walk/run clinic start in Bryant on the 22nd. There are the same ones all over the state. They meet three time a week for 12 weeks I think. They teach you to run if you choose to do that and at the end of the 12 wks you run a 5k. Its really neat because it is just for women. I didn't see where you are but you could check around. I started running in one last year and I have kept running. I am getting ready to do my first half marathon. You can do anything that you set your mind to. Just tell yourself that you want to be more fit so you can run around with your kids. You can google so much info on the internet. I wish you the best of luck. Just stay focused and find support. Its so much easier when you have it. Husband, friend, sister, mother...just do it!!! Stay strong..and smile.

My husband and I did a diet profile on ediets.com and have been doing the Glycemic Impact Diet. It does everything by 1 serving so I just double it for both of us. We get to select our menu weekly from a nice list of food. You are constantly eating because you get 3 meals plus two snacks. I got to the point where I was forcing myself to eat my snacks. You log your weight in every week and they keep track of your measurements once a month. With the exception of the holidays where we didn't follow it I have lost 30 lbs since August and my husband has lost more than 40. We are back on it now and joined the YMCA. You should check out the diet plans they have. They have changed our life! By the way, we only pay $17 a month for the plan.

Oh dear you are not alone. I too stuggle to stay on my WW123 diet. I can't afford to be a member but I do use the online resources. One thing I will say is I read somewhere that Success is not a destination, rather it is a journey. You fail one day, don't blow it off and gouge.. Just say ok... so what and pick yourself up ad dust it off... tmw is always a new day. Nobody's perfect ya know... I believe WW is the way to go. Everything else is a fad diet not a change for life. Email me privately at ____@____.com if you would like some more feedback. :)

Hi K.,
You seem to have lost your motivation and that's typical on our weight loss journey. We need food to live but make sure you are eating the right foods. I am a big fan of weight watchers because it does work; however I give myself a break from time to time then get back on it. We all tend to lose focucs, especially with little ones, but look at those little ones and know that you need to be around for them. Heck look at yourself and do it for you. Gaining weight can lead to other problems we would not ordinarily have. You can do it. I've lost 40 pounds. It has taken me a little over 2 years to do it. Of course it can be done much sooner, but 20 pounds a year and being able to keep it off is better than losing it fast and gaining it back faster. Since you've done WW before, I think you will do it again. Once you get focused. You can do it. I wish you well. Oh, and I am a Curves member and have been for a little over 2 years. Our workouts are set up for 30 minutes, 3 days a week and I love it!!!! Exercise, lots of water and healthy eating. YOU CAN DO IT!

Where do you live K.? I'm a personal weight loss coach and will be happy to help you get started. You can get my weight loss booklet online at susanjordanbrown.com, and check out my fat loss blog on that site. There are physical reasons you are turning to food for comfort. You are not crazy or weak! There are things you can do to change this pattern.
S. B.

I have been using an organic herbal tea called Mummy magic weight loss tea and lost my 34 pounds baby weight within two months while breastfeeding my baby.

I agree whole-heartedly with the Weight Watchers approach & healthy lifestyle. But, you also need to rule out any medical reason for the weight gain. Get your thyroid checked. I am hypothyroid and I have to get mine checked every 6 months. Just a little tweaking of that hormone can make a huge difference. Also, if you do require thyroid hormone, ask your doctor to prescribe Armour or Westhroid(natural)instead of synthetic like Synthroid or Levoxyl.
Good luck with all of it!

~L.

First you need to make the decision to do it and stick with it like it's your job :)

Remember it's not the plan that failed you...it was the inability to stick with it that did you in.

I have lost 81 pounds so far (I have to lose 55 more pounds to get to my goal) and I've been doing WW since May 2008

You can do it!! I suggest checking out the weight loss forums at www.3fatchicks.com It helps keep me in check :)

I think everyone goes through this at one point. I'm still struggling to lose baby weight and she's 3. I love Curves! If there is one close and you can dedicated 45 minutes 3 times a week to go, you will feel better and see the loss in weight and inches. Do the Curves Smart. All your results are tracked by the computer for you to see what you have accomplished after each workout (strength increase, calories burned, etc..). Also, what I have found for me is that a drastic diet change only lasts a short while, but changing a few things at a time has stayed. I started with drinking more water and moved on to fresh fruits and veggies. We all feel better and I have seen weight loss. As long as you lose something every month, be happy. Don't stress yourself to lose a certain amount because if you don't, you will feel like you've failed. That is the first step back into all the bad eating habits. Good luck and remember, you are not alone in the weight struggle.
J.

K.-I have struggled for years to lose weight and was only getting bigger UNTIL I started the Isagenix program so have a look and check us out! I have lost 25 pounds and 25 inches so far -it has been easy and we have SEVERAL different programs to choose-so look and then contact me and I will help you! For my web site go to www.inchesgone.isagenix.com and to look at the company and the products check out www.isamovie.com we have wholesale pricing available also!

I'm with you on this one. I've always had weight problems and it has been a big part of my life. I have a 13 yr old daughter and now I have a 2 yr old daughter. I get to stay at home with my youngest but I'm always tired, no energy, and always hungrey. My friend advised me to go see Dr. Blake in little Kansas, OK. I started going to see him about weight management and now I take a B12 show every 5-7 days, a pill at 10 a.m. to help me from eating all the time. I don't take the 3p.m. pill b/c I'm good with just the one at 10a.m. and I don't sleep very good with just one so i don't take the other. Anyways I started this almost 2 weeks before Thanksgiving and I lost 15 lbs. by watching my calorie intake. With this medicine you have to make yourself eat b/c you will forget. I did't have to excersize to lose that either. I just got back on it b/c my daughter had tubes put in her ear in Dec. and I couldn't go and get my meds. for 2 weeks.

the cost is around $125.00 for the first visit but I think it is a great boost to help you get started in losing.

Good luck

Hi K.,

As you've lost weight before on Weight Watchers, you may be interested in learning about a program that is actually about a lifestyle change that would really help you keep the weight off.

We have the "$100,000 Cinch Biggest Loser" contest starting this month. You can read more about it at:
http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/tools/view_newsletter....

If you'd like more info, feel free to email me directly at: ____@____.com

God Bless and Happy New Year!
~V~

Hey K.,

Try not to eat past 9pm. Snack on fruits, veggies, nuts. I try to snack on grapes, yogurt, nuts or anything low in calories, fat and carbs. Yeah, I know its practically nothing. I've started exercising too. Watching big fat loser helps to motivate me. I'm not one to count and totally stick to one thing. I'm just trying to burn more than I eat. Walking, working and trying to eat smaller portions and snacking healthier. Let's hope it works. I wish you the best of luck. Just think how good you'll feel when your clothes start getting a little bigger on you! Thats a motivation too. Getting started is the hardest part. T.

Hello, I know your pain. I too have three kids that I breastfeed. Weight was never an issue until after there third one. I exercise and never really would lose it. I finally had a test on my horomones. I was very low on adneral gland and estergon. However, I started taking the DHEA and also thyroid medication. Which when I got the thyroid meds at the right level, I started loseing and getting my hourglass figure back. So check with your Dr. and do some blood work. T3 test is what i think it is called. However, I loved this book "The midlife Miracle diet" by ADele Puhn. I also take the Supplement solution she talks about. It really helps. I feel happy with my weight now and I know I need to exercise more but it is just finding someone to do it with. Heck I pay for a membership- does that count.lol Well best of luck

this old 5'8" man weighed himself and was 212 pounds and felt miserable. Started exercising on my own and went down to 185#s. Just start slowly and increase a little each week. I started with two pound hand weights and went up to 25#s Started with weights of 50# and went up to 125# Biggest started crunches at 10 3x worked up to 100 3x.

However must admit now 195#s of muscle, which will increase weight.

Good Luck God Bless