Weight Loss Help - Laurens, SC

As a pre-k teacher I can sympathize with you. I am exhausted when I get home. When I first started working out I forced myself to do it and discovered it helped me have more energy. Now I enjoy my daily workout (usually) because it helps me feel better. Also eat healthy (whole grains, low fat, and no HFCS), and eat less. I lost over 50 pounds quickly doing this.

I am a working mother of a two year old and a 7 week old. I get up at 4:15am and work out before anyone is up. It is really hard but you will feel so much better if you get active and eat healthy. No processed foods - fresh foods and the weight will come off.

Good luck.

Hello,
Losing weight can be hard when you don't have much time for yourself. The distraction of working full-time could be a plus because you're not sitting around the house snacking & watching TV. If it's convenient, you could use half of your lunch to take a brisk walk. It will help boost your metabolism and give you a little more energy. You can find some dieting tips on this website. http://www.findurdiet.com All that being said, I'll bet that you are georgeous just like you are.

Hi H.,
I do have some suggestions that may help. I also work at a desk job and don't get to move around too much. I had gotten so "fat" that I couldn't stand it. I was in a size 16 and I had to do something. I started out with some workout videos, only 30 minutes, and I made myself get up early enough in the mornings to do them. I got some of the popular walking videos, and I do love them. I also changed out my "snack" drawer with healthy snacks. Nuts, 100 cal. packs, sugar free candy, and I purchased some diet drinks and yogurt for the fridge. I bring my food to work or put microwave meals in at lunch instead of going to fast food places. If my co-workers go to a deli or sandwich shop I order salads...and sometimes a sub. I cut out a lot of the "fatty foods" I would eat at work and changed my eating. Now I'm in a size 12-14, depends on how the clothes are made, and I feel great! I've been doing this since late January- early February....so it's taken me a while to get the weight off and I've really lost more inches than weight,but I feel great and my co-workers even say I look smaller!
Sometimes on my 15 min. break I walk around our building or run up and down the stairs, just to give me a little boost! Good luck in your efforts. Remember, try not to be a scale watcher, just judge your efforts by the way your clothes start to fit. If you lose it slowly then you will most likely keep it off longer.

Weight Watchers helps give you a healthy lifestyle with group support to get the diet, exercise and rest you need to thrive.

Dear H.,
Oh, I feel your pain!
I have 3 that are under 7 years old.
When I was working, I just kept gaining more and more weight because I was exhausted and stressed.
I struggled to lose weight for the whole past two years since my last child was born.
However, I finally started to lose weight again.
I was able to tap into some nuggets of wisdom that were effective for me.
If you would like more details on what worked for me, contact me with a private note.
God bless!
--D.

Try the low glycemic lifestyle.I have insulin resistance and it's worked well for me.You don't give up carbs.You learn the good from the bad.You can have Chocolate.read the new Glucose revolution.Low GI has been used for diabetics in Australia for years.

Hi H.,

I know it is sooooo hard to get to a size that you are comfortable with, when you are a full-time mom and working full-time.

For me once I had my youngest child, I started counting calories and eating healthier foods. It takes 3500 calories to gain 1 pound a week. Therefore, if you want to lose a pound a week, you would have to burn an additional 500 calories a day. You can do this by instead of drinking soda, replace it with water, and instead of a candy bar or bag of chips for a daily snack, replace it with carrot sticks, pretzel sticks or an apple.

Exercising too can burn extra calories. I am not sure how old you are, but for me, I have been working out since 1991, and have done all types of exercise routines. Now that I am older, I find that doing something that you love, will make you want to dedicate the time to do it and to be consistent. What I like to do for exercise is dancing (Ballys in Stone Mountain and Gwinett have a great cardio fusion dance class that I love going to) and waking at the park. If you are married, have the DH watch the kids while you take some time out to do what you like to do. Or take the kids to the park and have your 4 year old ride his/her bike while you take the 2 month old in the stroller and walk at the park. This works for me when my husband is out of town working and I cannot get to the gym.

I have an anti-aging website that discusses nutrition, diet and exercise feel free to click on this link: http://www.anti-aging-tips-online.com/nutrition-guide.html to get more info.

You can also use this link: http://www.anti-aging-tips-online.com/exercise-tips.html to get information about exercising.

I hope this will help, and if you need to, feel free to e-mail me if you need additional help.

To your success,
L.

Hi H.! I know the feeling! I managed to get back two times, although it was significantly harder the second time around. I cut out sugar-sodas, sweat tea, processed foods. If you can focus your energy on eating majority fresh foods-NOTHING packaged,pre-prepared- it will DRASTICALLY cut your calories and you will drop weight quicker. Fresh fruits/vegetables, beans, rice, only grilled meats and only small portions of meat (4 ounces or less per serving- 4 ounces is about the size of your palm). You have to be concious of everything you put in your mouth. No crappy snacks. Only water. I know you are dog tired when you get home. Your best bet is to try to get up before the kids do and do 30-45 minutes of exercise. Cardio is going to do it the quickest. I suggest a workout video or a walk (high enegy walk/jog). It is no way easy, but those skinny jeans are waiting. Feel free to give me a call, I own a women's fitnes center (opened in October of '07) and I have a 3.5 yr old and a 17 month old.
J.
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Hi H.,
I am just now reading your request.wow, I have an excellent line of protein weight loss shakes, weight loss chews (like having a piece of candy) and a new energy drink that all increase energy, increase metabolism, and decrease appetite. Sure to get you back into your jeans!!! I had a baby 4 months ago and I am already back into my clothes and I know it is from the protein shakes I've been drinking, I actually use them to supplement my diet since I need extra energy staying home with 2 kids, but what I've noticed is they decrease my appetite and helped me dropped those last few pounds that took almost a year with my first child!! The products are fantastic and they are natural/vegan/no artificial sweetners or additives. I also take my vitamins that increase my metabolism and help me to digest my food better.
Would love to help you, there is a 45 day back guarantee if you try and dont see results, but I know you will be pleased with getting back to the shape you want!! i can send you a sample of my vitamins to try, hard to send sample of protein shake, if you want. Or, check out my products on my website: www.karapfau.myarbonne.com.
Ive had my business for almost 3 yrs and my customers love the results they see, one man lost 40 lbs with the protein shakes!!
K.

Hi H.!!

I have been on MSN.com lately and in their health section I have noticed a portion called desk workout. It gives all kinds of ideas for activities at your desk. This might help!!! Good luck!!

Are you kidding me! You have a two month old! Give yourself a break! It took me a lot longer to lose the weight after my second baby, even though I worked out a lot more. It took me until my second baby was almost 8 months old and having the flu. Relax and do the best you can - you'll get there eventually.

Hi H.!
Start with your food intake...How much water do you drink? Plain water that is, not in tea or other drinks? If its not much, make it at least 60 oz. a day and that will give you a few pounds off right away. If your drinking soda, stop. Esp. if its diet!! The thing about diet soda is that it has a chemical in it that 'tricks' your brain into holding onto fat cells. This makes it impossible to shed the unwanted pounds. If you HAVE to have a soda to get you through, try bringing it down to one a day, but let it be a regular one, not diet. The chemical i'm refering to is what the artifical sweetners are made up as. Do not use ANY artifical sweetners as they all have the same effect. Google 'dangers of aspartame' if you want more on this subject. Taking the sodas out will also give you a few more pounds off right away! You will be amazed! Do you eat breakfast?? If no, start right away! The key to losing weight is not skipping meals but eating less at more frequent times during the day. Have something for breakfast, even if its small... Your body goes into a 'cycle' at night that holds onto sugar, almost like using it for reserve, just encase it doesnt get more in a few hours. Once you eat breakfast, you take in glucose and the cycle unleashes so to say b/c it knows its getting more. If you skip breakfast, your body holds on to the reserved sugar and stores it as fat... Making it simple, you have to eat small meals to help your body burn more calories. Yogurt with fruit and granola would be a great start if you cant have an egg and toast. You can snack on fruit, pretezels, popcorn, walnuts. The key is the portion size. Make yourself little baggies with a handful in each one. Give yourself variey throughout the day. Make sure you have protein and fiber with each meal. All of these things with increase your metabolism and do it rather quickly. Exercise is very important but wont make a difference if you dont change whats going in your body. And with your schedule, this is your best start. To get a few more steps in without effort, park farther away from the store when shopping, walk to get your mail instead of picking it up in the car? Little steps is where you have to begin but will make a world of difference. Just know your NOT alone, we have all been unhappy with our size at one point or another! Anoher thing that would help is getting a really good multivitamin. You can find this at your local healthfood store. Nature's Source is great, and it is from whole food concentrates which is what our bodys need and absorbs. I know this is long but I sure hope it helps you:) Best of luck. Remember, regardless of your size, I'm sure your a fantastic mommy!

I've been doing weight watchers since Jan and have lost 41 pounds so far. We just moved here so I've been a little off track but it works and I'm not a big "get up and go" person who lives at the gym. I walk with my baby in the stroller, that's it. I should do more, but it's all I can muster some days. Weight watchers really works. You should try it! Good luck!

Try an all organic diet. It is amazing how much weight you can loose when you are not battleing the preservatives. Give it a try- what can it hurt? I did it. Lost 30 pounds with out trying.

SOUTH BEACH DIET BABY!!!! It truly works if you follow it to the letter. 8 pounds the first week and 4 or 5 the second. If you want to lose more than that just stay on the first phase until you get within a couple of pounds of your target and then move to phase 2. You have to follow the no alcohol, low fat, and portions for it to really work but you can look through the recipes and substitute other ingredients you are allowed to eat. At the back of the book it lists the foods that are ok and foods that are forbidden. If you cheat no big deal just get back on ASAP but it will take you longer to lose. When you get to phase 2 the SBD bars (Cinnamon Raisin) are delicious! 3 years later and I still eat one every morning. It starts me out with a good protein filled breakfast without the hassle of cooking. :) Good Luck!

I completely understand! I am a stay at home mom of a 4 year old and am in the process of getting a business up and running. Between taking care of child, hubby, and house, I barely have enough time - let alone energy - to work out. Try this - first pick something you LIKE to do. I enjoy anything aerobic, i.e. kick boxing, step, etc. But if those aren't your thing, pick something that is. Walking is great too, JUST DO SOMETHING. Second, set aside a specific time for your workout. If you are a morning person get up earlier in the morning and do your work out before going to work. If not (like me) do it during your lunch time. This worked great for me when I worked outside the home. JUST SET ASIDE A SPECIFIC TIME AND DON'T MISS IT. Third, cut back on calories (i.e. processed, fatty foods), drink lots of water, and eat foods high in fiber. If you don't change the way you eat but workout, you won't see the changes you want. And lastly, tell someone what you are doing. Be sure to pick someone who cares. They will be your accountability partner. That way someone other than you will be checking up on you. I hope this helps, even though it was rather long!

I believe that u miss yr skinny jeans! But I beat yr kids find you the most beautifull woman in the whole wide world no mater what size you are! :)

Unfortunately, the answer is still the same: eat the right things and exercise. The strange paradox is that when we are too tired to move but move anyway, we end up in the long run with more energy. It's a hump -- once you get past this hump, you'll be doing well! Sounds like you have the desire -- now all you need is the follow-through.

Good luck!

buy bigger skinny jeans!
...or eat right, portion your food on small plates and don't get seconds, walk 5 times a week and lift 5 pound weights 3 times a week, lots of water.
Until it comes off, enjoy being curvy.

Try waking up a little earlier to do something. That could be your time to exercise, pray or meditate on what the day holds, and jump in the shower.