Wanting to Lose All Baby Weight Including 3 Yrs Ago Baby Weight HELP

I highly recommend Weight Watchers. I have been on the program since December and I've lost over 35 pounds. The rest of my family is on it as well. My husband and in laws have each lost over 50 pounds and my parents have each lost about 30. I have been exclusively breastfeeding this whole time.

I have begun to live my life by this quote and it helps!

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right." Henry Ford

Good luck!

H.,
Weight Watchers has a program for Breastfeeding moms. It always works. I haven't met someone that followed the program that didn't lose weight. I gained 65lbs with my first and it took me 3 years to lose it. I finally joined weight watchers and it worked (nothing else did). Now I am preggers again, 1/2 way finished and have gained about 20lbs so far. Hoping to keep it to a minimum, but prepared to join ww as soon as I can after the baby arrives.
Good luck!

First, be patient. Second, try Weight Watchers. I did the Points system and it was great. Plus they adjust it for breastfeeding moms and you can do it online.

I would say you need to determine what your strengths and weaknesses are. I personally don't eat on a schedule and I don't live to eat. I eat to live. That being said, my daughter is nearly 2 and I have about 8 lbs left to the weight I want to be. I was on the toddler diet... eat what they leave on the plate... DON'T DO THIS. There may be people starving in other countries, but you can't ship them what your child leaves on their plate. Just toss it.

There are several categories of eaters...
Stress eaters, Bingers, Starve and Gorge, etc. When you determine what your patterns are, you are better suited to determine your plan of attack. (http://www.topdiets.com/)
I suggest no matter what you do, every other week, give yourself a free day to eat whatever you want.

As for exercise, I have a balance ball in my house. I sit and bounce on it with my daughter while she watches Dora. That gets the cardio done. I do push ups on my counter tops. I do lunges down the hall. I even do butt squeezes while I rock her to sleep. You can work in exercise anywhere. If that laundry bottle feels a little heavy, lift it ten more times with each arm. Anything works as long as you keep doing it.

Just be patient with yourself! Get a scale, but only weigh yourself once a week. Reward yourself when you reach goals with a new outfit or shoes... whatever.

Lastly, if you CRAVE something, go ahead and indulge a little. If you don't, it could sabotage you.

Take care and enjoy those kids! *big hug*

No Diet will help you. You must learn how and when you are hungry and how to stop when you are full. I found out through a book called the weigh down diet by Gwen Shamblin. I found the book at the 1/2 price book store and it changed my life and size. I needed to loose 30 lbs, but the great thing is I have kept it off. Old or Young lots of exercise or a little you can loose the weight and keep it off. You can also look it up on line~ WeighDown.com. May God bless you greatly!

H.,

You have gotten so many wonderful responses. I have struggled with my weight all of my life. When I got pregnant, I did really well and didn't gain but about 20 lbs. with each of my girls, but I sure didn't lose it in between my daughters! After I finished nursing my 2nd daughter, I said "enough is enough." I started exercising again - just walking and using the elliptical (my husband let me buy one for the house). I lost less than 10 lbs. in about 6 months. Then, we started a weight loss program at work call "Naturally Slim." It has changed my life! You can do their program online, but it's not cheap. Basically, we kept food sheets for everyday, met weekly for a weigh-in and class, and avoided sugar. The first 3 weeks, we completely cut it out. It was really hard, since I was a 32-ounce/day Coke drinker! But, I did it and in 10 weeks, I lost 20 lbs! I have kept it off, plus another 6-8 lbs. in the last 6 months. It's a lifestyle change, but it has made such a difference. And, it helps me make better choices for my kids as well. If you'd like to chat about it, just send me a message. Don't get discouraged. Your primary job now is to get through the pregnancy and delivery safely. After that, then you can begin to focus on Mama again! You can do it:)

Hey H.,

Congrats on the coming boy, they are handfuls but tons of fun! So, if you are really serious about wanting to lose the weight and get in shape, the following workout program will guarantee you AMAZING results. It is really the most effective workout program I've ever done and though it takes some commitment you will be so pleased with the results and feel so good, that you will begin looking forward to your workouts! I now consider my daily workout times to be my little escape each day from the duties and responsibilities of motherhood :)

The program is called Body for Life. It seems kind of overwhelming when first looking at everything but after a week or two you really get the hang of it. You can find all the information at bodyforlife.com but a quick run down is this: 12 week program, 20 min of intense cardio 3 times per week and 3 days of weight lifting per week (about 45 min each time). The "diet" (though it's really considered to be a life style change) is 6 days a week of eating 3 balanced meals with 3 balanced snacks in between (the site goes into details about this - you don't order food or anything it's really just eating healthy) and the best part is you get one free day each week to eat WHATEVER you want with absolutely no restrictions which is nice so that you can still fill those chocolate, soda, or junk food cravings each week.

The website (and the book, Body for Life, that you can find at most bookstores) will also tell you to do protein shakes and protein bars but I've never done any of those things and have still seen great results so just disregard that (really all that excess protein is for people who are wanting to be like body builders!)

Anyhow, go to the site and the first thing I would recommend is looking through the before and after photo galleries to get inspired! The transformations are truly remarkable will hopefully give you the jumpstart you need to get going after the baby arrives. It is safe to do while breastfeeding but I would definitely recommend waiting to start the program until you have fully recovered from your delivery and until you are getting sufficient sleep.

Until then, I would try to start walking 30 minutes 3 times a week and doing some kind of simple strength training circuit that you could do with some dumbbells at home (there are tons of these kinds of workouts in Fitness and Shape magazines).

The best of luck to you and if you have any questions please feel free to let me know!

I have tried pretty much everything suggested here and they are all good suggestions. The problem is you have to do what you will stick to and that's the hard part. If you can eat healthy and exercise and you do it regularly that's great. My problem is I get bored or discouraged with everything. It's a lifestyle change, not a temporary change. That being said, Jenny Craig was what was easiest for me. The food is really good and it's all laid out for you. This is what you eat at this time. Easy. They do have a program for breastfeeding moms as long as your doctor approves. Mine did without hesitation. I exclusively breast fed for 6 months and continued to breast feed after she started solids. My milk was not affected. It was great.

Good Luck!!

I waited until I was done breastfeeding so you may want to check it out with your OB, but my family went on the 6 week body makeover last summer and each of us lost about 30 pounds in 8-10 weeks. THe four of us that did it range in age from 29 to 64, male and female. Give it a shot. The thing that helped us was to prepare big batches of marinated chicken, rice, vegetables (anything else you would eat a lot of) and then it only took a minute to heat up what we were supposed to have. We are not as strict now but have still been able to keep the weight off pretty well.

I was the same way. I gained 85 lbs. with my first and lost 40 of it before i became pregnant with my second one. I gained 65 lbs. with her. My oldest is 3, my youngest is now 15 months and I only have 30 more lbs to go. soon all the baby weight will be gone. The only thing that has worked for me is weight watchers and believe me i have tried everything. You have to change your lifestyle their is no quick fix. I can still eat anything I want i just have to be accountable. The key is writing it ALL down. Even if you don't want to go to meeting which I do not, you can go get all the info and books you need (you really only need a point calculator and get started book). It will tell you how many points you get for your weight brackett and the basic points for basic food. I weigh myself everyday it helps me be on top of what I am eating and if I cheat it will show. I only use 10 flex points each week and if I want to loss more that week I will not use them at all. I don't workout often I really need to start, but I still loss weight without it right now. I usually loss 2-4 lbs. a week. So Good Luck and I wish you well. You'll do great, remember you can do it. I like to watch the biggest loser for motivation too! Oh yeah I am 28.

Ditto on the Weight Watchers. You don't have to go to meetings unless you want to. I do it online and love it. It is not hard to follow or stick to. It teaches healthy choices and portion control, but you can still indulge in some of your favorite foods. It is not expensive and it incorporates exercise gradually. Try it.

You really shouldn't focus on trying to lose weight right now, but trying not to GAIN much more. talk to your OB and they should be able to give you safe recommendations until the baby is born. After the baby is born try to get out for daily walks and be mindful of what and how much you eat. If calories in > calories out you are going to gain weight. THe goal is to burn more calories than you consume and your body has no choice but to lose weight. You may find a group where you can work out with your children like Stroller Fit classes, or some other mom n me class in the area which would be a great support group to keep you interested. Best of luck.

No diets will keep the weight off of anyone ... ANYONE ... cutting out yeast from your diet is a great start. I have some really good advice on all of it, if you really would like to hear it you can email me at ____@____.com.

Congrats on your second!!!

Exercising more helps, cutting out carbs/starches, even counting calories/keeping a food log will help you monitor everything that you intake and keep you on track. Any kind of vitamin, etc. in a pill or tablet form gets absorbed only 10-15% by the time it breaks down in the body. The best delivery method for any supplements is an intra-oral spray (over 90% is absorbed immediately into the bloodstream).

In case you haven't heard of adaptogens, they are a category of herbs that help the body deal with stress, restore balance, and support normal metabolic processes. (A lot has been discussed recently about adaptogens, even Oz on Oprah). Often times STRESS causes us to overeat as well as produce excess cortisol (causes the body to store fat). Adaptogens support weight management by regulating blood sugar, insulin metabolism, and cortisol levels; aid in digestion; and increase energy. In fact, adaptogens have the ability to shift the body's metabolism to a greater use of fat for energy.

To learn more about fast acting, natural adaptogen sprays (Slim is wonderful for cravings and weight control) and watch "The Story of Adaptogens Documentary" 10 minute video, go to www.TunguskaMistNow.com

You'll have more energy and endurance to work out with adaptogens. Are you weight training? Lean muscle mass will help speed up your metabolism, thus you'll burn more calories! Avoid fast foods, processed foods, and all soft drinks, (if you're not already). Drink plenty of water and eat smaller portions throughout the day.

2 great books that I recommend are: Living Lean, by Larry North and Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief by Winston and Maimes.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions, or need further advice and/or encouragement. I've studied health, wellness, and Kinesiology for many years and have a passion for helping people change their life:)

Weight Watchers has been the only way I have lost weight in the past and kept it off for any length of time. And like the other responses said, they make adjustments to the program if you're breastfeeding. I highly recommend them. Some people are able to do it online successfully, but I need the meetings for accountability and weekly weigh ins--it's the only way it works for me. Most importantly, enjoy your son and cut yourself some slack for a while--you'll have more than enough to keep you busy with your new little one. Good luck!!

Hi H.,

Check out www.gofigure8.com and let me know if you are interested. I'm an Independent Consultant for Arbonne and I know lots of people have had great results with this program.
Good Luck!
T.

H.,

I will love to share information on effective and safe wt loss supplements. Let me know if interested.

Best wishes with your new baby's arrival.

HI H.!

HAVE YOU TRIED JAZZERCISE? IT'S BRAND NEW IN KELLER, LOT'S OF MOM SUPPORT THERE AND A FUN FITNESS THAT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE FITNESS WITH LOTS OF HEALTH AND NUTRITION SUPPORT AS WELL! CHECK OUT THEIR BUSINESS LISTING ON MAMASOURCE AND GIVE IT A TRY! THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP! YOU AND YOUR HEALTH IS WORTH IT!

;) A.

H. - There are only two things that have worked for me and I lost over 130 pounds. A program called CEA-How. It is free, the website is dallasceahow.org. It is a 12 step support group. The weight loss and maintenance is amazing.

I also use Nutrilite supplements and food. I am an independent business owner. I've included the link and a blurb about nutrilite. Let me know if I can be of any help on either. I've struggled with my weight for a lifetime.

http://kmiller49.qhealthbeauty.com/

Nutrilite® is the world's leading brand of vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements.* Nutrilite is the only global vitamin and mineral brand to grow, harvest, and process plants on its own certified organic farms. *Based on a 2004 study by Euromonitor International.

Hi H..
The first thing to remember is that you didn't put the weight on overnight, so it won't come off overnight. Also, when you start losing weight, be proud of your progress and dedication, try not to focus on the road ahead of you. Just be proud of yourself for making better decisions daily to get you to your goal. With that being said, you have to lose the weight from proper diet (meaning food intake, not a fad died) and exercise otherwise, the weight will come back. It has to be a lifestyle change. The best way that I found to stick to a plan was to have a support network. Do you have a friend or family memeber that would also like to have a healthier lifestyle? Schedule a time to meet to take a walk, join a yoga class(which is my choice of exercise and I love it), go to a gym, and talk to each other every day about your food choices so that you are accountable for your actions. Do not keep items in your house that you have a hard time resisting such as sodas or powdered donuts (these are my weakness). Instead, purchase fruit to satisfy your sweet tooth. Another thing to remember, you will not eat healthy 100% of the time and you will miss an exercise opportunity occassionaly, but that does not mean that you are a failure and cannot jump right back on the right path to getting rid of the weight for good. Good luck.

Hi! This is a bit of a different approach, but I would highly recommend having your neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, epinephrine, etc.) tested. If traditional diet plans aren't working, it's certainly worth a try for you. If your neurotransmitters are out of balance you could try any diet and exercise plan and still not see the results you want. There's a company that provides this testing and, if you'd like to read about it before considering it further, the website is www.neurorelief.com. There are several practitioners in the area who can help with this. It's a noninvasive urine test (you can test your hormone levels, too, via saliva) and it's totally worth it. I know of several people who have been able to feel better in general, which can help with weight loss, by having their neurotransmitters balanced. Please let me know if you'd like more information. Good luck!

Everyone has great suggestions, but one option that is more tailored to moms is a book called LEAN Mommy (Learn Eating Awareness Nutrition), it is focused on changes you can make for you and your family and also discusses the other half of weight loss, exercise. It is a very realistic program.

I would also recommend surrounding yourself with those with similar goals. You can find such a group with Stroller Strides, and they are located all over the metroplex. Check out www.strollerstrides.com. You get a chance to workout with your kids with you and also get a great support group of women that have similar goals! Let me know if you have any questions! Good luck and congratulations on the upcoming birth of your son. I have two boys and it has been great!

H.,

This is really hard and I understand what you are saying! With my first I didn't do anything to loose the weight and I thought it was going to just go away, well, it doesn't! Now I just had another one...so one is 2.5 years old and another that 6 months old. I am on a special diet, that I didn't chose for myself, but because my baby is allergic to milk and soy (and I'm breastfeeding) I had to cut out ALL milk and soy products. I know that doesn't sound hard, but milk and soy are in EVERYTHING! Milk is found in everything from bread to cereals and soy is in everything from spices to pork n' beans. I mean you really have to do some research on the different names that milk and soy can be found under. You can't eat out at ALL! I have lost about 15 lbs in a matter of about 3 months or so. I also started walking about 4 miles a day 7 days a week when my 6 month old was just 6 weeks old! So, between walking and this diet I am only about 7 lbs from where I was before I had any babies and I feel so much better about myself!
Now, you need to be careful and make sure that you are getting everything that your body needs, so you might check with your OB to see if you need more vitamins or minerals. Good luck and hang in there! Let me know if you have any questions!

Go for it, H.!

Get a walking buddy and start walking! If you have to walk by yourself, try to start listening to books on CD or tape from the library so you won't get so bored! Unless you're on doctor-ordered bed rest, you can walk.

Exercise - I find it easier with a buddy! Keep it simple and safe.

Watch what you eat!

If you can't stick with something it's usually a sign that you need a buddy to help you keep on keeping on. Join a group like Weight Watchers that will keep you encouraged and interested in sticking to the program.

Have you thought about joining Curves or something like that? - An exercise place just for women, so you won't be self-conscious about how you look.

Good luck!

A.

i've been there with all 4 of our kids births (i'm currently losing weight from #4). my problem is i hate diets...i feel you need to make your eating habits a way of life so you can maintain your weight indefinately. after having our children, i didn't concentrate on loosing the weight because i was breastfeeding. i know people say you can loosing more weight by breastfeeding but i couldn't cause i was hungry all the time. after weaning, i always waited until i was mentally ready to make the commitment to loose the weight because all that does is create more stress and pressure on yourself. i realize everyone is different but the only weight loss plan i could stick to was the Somersize diet. i used this plan after the birth and breastfeeding of all 4 kids and was very successful. you can go to http://www.suzannesomers.com/Community/Forum/ and find a discussion board from lots of somersizers to get help and recipes. i am successful on this diet because i don't feel deprived and i feel so much better without all the sugar in my system. our baby is 1 1/2 and i starting this time 2 1/2 months ago. i have lost 30 lbs so far. i hate to admit it but i haven't started working out yet either. the basic thing is the timing of your meals to keep you metabolisim up. No sugar, white carbs or caffeine. but you can have whole grain carbs, proteins (even bacon, cheese, etc), and also eat fruit. it's just all in the timing of when you eat it and the combinations of food types. my biggest weakness is for chocolate and i found making a sugarfree chocolate mousse kicks my cravings--you can introduce this in your diet after you start loosing weight. GOOD LUCK! YOU CAN DO IT!

You can follow Weight Watchers while breastfeeding. It focuses on eating healthy, portion control & exercise...you don't have to buy "special" food....they teach you how to eat real food so that you can turn your weight loss into a way of living healthy, not just a diet.

I have been blessed and have never really battled much with weight so I hope you are not offended that I am responding but I felt I needed to reach out to you. Anyway... I have a minor in phys ed and have been into helth amnd exercise all my life so I can help some. The main thing is being active. I definitely would not diet persay, but eat nutrtious while breast feeding. I eat a bowl of whole grain cereal and fruit with a glass of OJ and milk for breakfast. mid-morning snack have fruit, yogurt, nutri grain bar or Pb on a graham cracker for protein or handful of nuts and lots of water (water fills you up so you could drink more water and skip snack I do that sometimes and still have plenty of milk for the baby.) Lunch eat a sandwich with multi grain bread or my love whole grain tortilla with turkey cheese veggies and a little ranch along with fruit or yogurt and carrot sticks or pretzels (key is a healthy adn light lunch. Snack sensibly again in the afternoon (veggie sticks, whole grains, nuts for protein, fruit) Keep junk food away I am guilty of it BAD!!! Rember lots of water again!!! Then for supper cook sensibly but eat what your family is eating with WATER cut out cofee, juice all day, cokes etc. I don't have any caffeine what so ever. Try to not have night snack, but if you need one choose sensibly and do it no later than 7:00. Then try to do atleast 30 min of cardio a day (take the kids for a brisk walk in the stroller and build up to running) Anyway, I hope this helps. By the way, start now, this will work while you are prego, you may not drop necessarily, but you may not gain as fast. With my second (7 months now) I was ashamed b/c I was gaining more and faster, but I started taking my daughter for walks and not sneaking in the sweets as much toward the end and slowed down the gain. I even dropped a few at the end. Good Luck!!! Keep us posted!