Working Out!

Weight Watchers worked for me. They have the flex plan that helped me keep track of what I ate everyday. I also found a this personnel trainer that I work out with. She does it out of her home. I found that when I workout with just her and I, I do more then I would if I just went to the YMCA. She is in Grove City. I joined Weight Watchers on line. I didn't go to the meetings.
S.

A.,
I completely feel your pain. I nursed for an entire year and everyone told me how much weight I would lose by doing so. Well, I, in fact did not lose the weight. It stuck on me like glue. It wasn't until I stopped nursing that a LITTLE bit of weight came off. When I say little I mean maybe 7 or 8 pounds and I gained almost 50. It seemed like every girl I knew that had a baby lost the weight somehow except for me. In fact, my best friend had a baby six months after me, she gained almost 80 pounds and still lost almost all of it by her sons first birthday. Talk about depressing! And I was exercising. I have a membership to the Y, I watched my caloric in-take, my carb in-take, and blah blah blah.
I would cry to my husband, my mom, my sisters, I threw clothes down, I ripped clothes (sad to say) and I was so frusterated. I looked terrible in clothes, in pictures, and in my own mind, I didn't like me.
I was only a couple of weeks ago that I decided to do South Beach Diet. I have always been a healthy eater, always exercised, but something had to give. The first two weeks of the program is all about "detoxing" and realizing what your bad habits are. I was eating way too much and too often, basically snacking. It was hard for the first three days, but then I realized how much better I felt. I used to eat because I was bored, now I eat because I am hungry. Immediately, I lost my "love handles." I was so excited to see that, that I started exercising at the Y and at home. Simple things like squats, sit ups, and lunges. You could even get a tape to do while your daughter naps.
I can't say what will work for you. But I can share your pain. It is sooooooooooooooooooo frusterating when you're not happy with weight. Something that also motivated me was watching other people lose weight. My parents went on South Beach and they lost weight. Plus, I would watch shows like "Biggest Loser" and think, if they can lose 100+ pounds, then I can lose 20!
Try, however, not to concentrate so much on numbers. It's about your heart being right, your mind, and your body. You had a baby, it might not be the same.
Best of luck to you. I am sure you are a beautiful and loving mom and whatever weight you are, you are special. Just try to be happy while you are losing the weight...it will happen. And remember, it's about being healthy.
Have a wonderful, positive day!

Hi A.! I wouldn't worry about your weight... I was 125 when I found out I was pregnant, didn't gain any weight until I was 5 mos. pregnant. By the end I had gained 50 lbs. I couldn't seem to get my weight down, I thought I'd never wear a bikini again! Took me about a year after the baby, but I lost ALL of the weight and then some. And I rarely worked out... now my son is 2.5 and I'm at 115, now trying to gain weight! So don't let your weight get u down, it will come off! And 155 is never heavy unless your 3 feet tall.
-Nikkol

My husband and I are joining the ymca too. I weighed 120 before kids and after 3 kids in 4 yrs I weigh 165. ahh yes it does take time but we can help to I think. My youngest is 10 months and I know I can help it.. lol I am doing Arbonnes Figure 8 line and like I said going to start working out. My mom has done well with the two.. she lost 15lbs so far. I am also doing the Arbonne Hybrid Supplements as they help your food digest better.. plus it is all pure, safe and beneficial!! Botanically based and good for you!!
Let me know if you want more info and I will pass it on to you.. Here is the Figure 8 site.. www.gofigure8.com and here is mine.. www.passion4more.myarbonne.com
Good luck!!
K.

I did Tae Bo for 20 mins and worked up to an hour. Weight fell off, and I never had to monitor what I ate, well within reason.

Hi A. i teach fitness classes at the JCC and some other gyms in the area,and do soem personal training, and have been where you are with the weight gain, ( i gained about 60 plus with my son) my advice is to invest in a heart rate monitor and to keep your cardio sessions in your target zone, 65 - 85 percent of your heart rate max. they can be fairly inexpensive, i have seen them at target for like 30 or 40, but def try to get yourself one, there is no sense in spending all that tiem on the cardio machines and not using your time wisely. Also incorporate the weights, usually they have staff their that can get you set up on the machines. There is a lot of info i could give you if you want email me: ____@____.com and I would be happy to get into more detail with you
C.

I think it's great that you are working out! I wish I could get motivated, but by the time I drag 3 uncooperative children to the gym and put them in childcare, I'm too tired! The good news is that I'm not overweight, but the baby news is that I have very little muscle tone anymore and a saggy stomach to boot.

Really, I didn't write to talk about me. I just wanted to let you know that I have studied weight loss after pregnancy as I have a MS in Midwifery. The quickest way is through diet. It can take a year or more of exercising before you notice much weight loss. If you are not breastfeeding, you can restrict calories. But, most moms I know don't eat enough of the right kinds of calories and really just need to change what and how they eat.

You need to be eating small, healthy meals and snacks throughout the day. Eat lots of veggies and lower fat protein options (Not McDonalds Hamburgers for instance). Drink lots of water also because dehydration can make you feel like eating. Your grains should be whole grains, not made out of white flour. White flour is junk food and just clogs your system. Whole grains help clear your system, taking fat and bad cholesterol with it.

You might want to consider joining a support group also like Weight Watchers. There's also online support groups.

A.,

My OB/GYN says "40 weeks to put it on, 40 weeks to take it back off." My cousin, the mother of a beautiful girl (and a nearly-professional runner) says, "Eight years. It took me 8 years to get the weight off." And she runs 5 miles/day.

Eat healthy and often. Love yourself no matter what you weigh. Count all the blessings you have -- your baby, your health, your love, whatever is positive. Keep in touch with me. I did the 115 to more than I want to be (172 while in labor with my second--I have 2 boys), and have settled at 135 right now. Baby will be 3 in February, so I don't know when those last 15 - 20 pounds will leave. Honestly, I'd be happy to just lose 10.

Best wishes,
K.

do you have cable? fit tv is a channel with different workouts on it throughout the day. the are versatile and fun.

I wish that my problem was the same as yours(!) but I do have some advice. I've been chronically depressed for years and went from 145 (which is great for my height) to 230 after I had my baby 9 months ago. Tired of being this size and afraid that my compulsive overeating would lead to obesity in my daughter, I finally got off my butt and tried some things. I tried the Leslie Sansone "walking" dvds but they just weren't very fun for me. So after seeing an infomercial (I know, I know!) I ordered the Slim in 6 program and have been using it for about two months (with a downslide around Christmas). I've lost twenty pounds so far and plan to get back to my goal weight in this year. The workouts are FUN, and you can track your progress online at WOWY.com. The online support is terrific and the program only costs about 60 bucks. I'll probably order Turbo Jam for my reward when I get down to 175 :) to take me all the way home!

Hi A.,
Congratulations on your wonderful new addition. I understand how not being pleased with your weight is depressing. Rather than start a die-t plan, why not start a "live-it" plan. Check out www.cinchplan.com/changinglives. My husband and I have lost more than 40 inches and over 60 pounds. But if you can get your thinking changed to realize that lean muscle weighs more than fat, just losing pounds might not be the best in the long run if it was muscle that was lost. It is difficult to not lose muscle if you don't have proper amounts of the right kind of protein.
Hope you find what you're looking for and achieve the "look" you've lost.
S.

Hi A.,
Congratulations on the new baby!!I know how frustrating it can be to gain weight and then trying to lose it.Personally I love Fit tv they have alot of different things you can try.Ive lost some weight and still losing more.Be positive and give yourself rewards,like special time to do something you love like a hobby or getting your nails done.I love to exercise with friends,just taking a walk and talking its like not exercising at all.Try to be consistent with exercise even if its just 10 minutes at a time.eat in moderation,breakfast really does help to.Good luck!!Dhess

i didnt read all of the advice so forgive me if i repeat things you've already tried or heard. but i work out at home. just get that heart rate up and keep it there for 20 mins. i do pushups, crunches, leg lifts, butt-ups, and pretend the first two or three stairs are a step machine. my son is 7 months and he loves to watch, he thinks its funny. when i do crunches i put him on my legs and get my face up to his. when i do butt-ups i put him on my belly and he 'takes a ride.' also, your baby can be great for weight training. just lifting in different ways in different directions.

anyway, i feel your pain, i was about the same weight before preg and now i seem to be stuck about 140. and thats with daily working out. i'm just looking foreward to summer because this year the baby will be ok in the sun with sunblock and we can hike and bike and really get back into shape.

oh yeah and are you breastfeeding? because that burns an extra 500 calories a day.

hang in there girl, we'll both get back to almost normal someday.

I went thru the same thing after my twins! I have lost all the weight I gained with them and some...Here is what I did...First off, I wrote down EVERYTHING I ate in a log...I started to count my calories, sticking to between 1200 and 1400 per day...drink lots of water, cut out any pop or any other empty calories..I also started working out on my treadmill when the boys would take their nap. I started out real slow and worked up to my present workout of a 40 min run...this has taken me almost 2 years. I actually hit my first goal of weight loss last Christmas. Since them I have set 2 more goals and hit those also...Try and do the workout every day for yourself...As a Mom sometimes we let other things take place over ourselves...take out 30-40 min and take a walk (with baby in stroller) or when baby goes down for a nap take a walk or run on a treadmill (If you have one, if you don't they are pretty reasonable these days...) Don't forget that this will not happen overnight, but if you do it this way it will be a change that will stick with you and you will see results...I also keep a log of my workouts, my runs and if I get a chance to do some weights...Good luck!

A.,

I had the same problem that you have and my daughter is 16 months and I have just started to loose my baby weight. I weighed 110 before my daughter was born and now I am down to about 125. The first thing that I did was join myfooddiary.com. You sign up on this website(I think there is a monthly fee) and enter in your height, weight, target weight etc... and you track your calories by entering in everything you eat. The website tells you after each meal how many calories you have left to eat for that day to loose weight and it also tracks your daily weight and exercise. This website really helped me because I realized that I was almost over my daily calorie count by just eating one meal of my favorite fast food. After I started tracking my calories then I started working out at home doing exercise videos. I use the Billy Blanks videos because I don't have time to go to the gym but if you can then that's much better.
Good luck!

Hi, I read some of the advice given, but what some are telling is not everything, If you go on a low carb diet you really have to stay on it forever, you go off for awhile you;ll almost always gain it back, ask a doctor, same with weight watchers the reason why it's now offered on menus is because if you go off you gain back, again ask a doctor, or better yet a dietician. Drink tons of water, if you get thirsty you're already dehydrated-fact-. Eat 5 SMALL meals-healthy- throughout the day, not 3 big ones, snack on carrots or friut. If you drink coffee in the morning fine , if you use sweetner switch to sweet n low,-no empty calories. send me a message and i'll give you a web site and pass word and you can put in all your #'s and the desired weight loss and it will tell you what YOU need to eat and how much, plus you can pout in what you eat and it will tell you how much of everything you are getting. This site is based on YOU with your weight height sex etc. let me know if your interested. 1 more thing pilates- you'll see a difference in 2 weeks my husband sure noticed!

Hi A.!
I weighed 115 before baby and 144 after. How funny is that? I carried that weight until after my daughter's first bday and then I was sick of it. I was already a member of Bally's - so I started going three days a week - four when I could work it in. I tried to do a minimum of 30 min cardio - 45 is better and then about another 30-40 min of weight training. I found the exercises on the exercise balls and bozu to be MOST helpful - as well as incline walking. I also increased my protein intake with a protein drink, more yogurt & cottage cheese and cut my sugar intake - no soda, no candy - until the weight was gone. I am now at 120 - but wearing a size 0-2 again. I feel much better and now I do induldge myself with treats - just not all the time. Drink a lot of water and keep a positive mind set - the exercise may hurt - but it is worth it - and remember - nothing tastes as great as being thin feels! Good luck! N.

You can't just eat healthy; you need to BUY healthy. You don't have to shop in the expensive organic section if you can't afford it. If you can buy one thing from that section buy the Bear Naked Granola. It comes in a resealable bag. It's sweet and filling. Make subtle changes. Keep some chips or what you like around, but don't hide it. Buy more fruits and veggies. Avoid the cookie/cracker isle completely. Think and buy smart. Giant Eagle has a pamphlet at customer service with their isles broken down with what is in them. Get one, sit down at home, make out your shopping list according to the isles this will help you to BUY healthy. This will help!

Hi A.
I just wanted to say not to be too depressed about your weight gain. You can loose it if you put your mind to it. When I was pregnant with my youngest I gained 60 lbs while I was pregnant and another 40 after I was done nursing him. I was not watching what I was eating and had next to no exercise. I stayed at home for about a year after he was born. When I went back to work as a Nursing Assistant I badly injured my back. Finally last Febuary I decided to start eating right and working out. I less then a year I have lost 50 lbs. I have not dieted the entire time. I just recently started dieting again as I plan to loose another 50 lbs this year. What you need to do is count your calories. Go for low fat, sugar free diet. Plan for aprox. 1300-1500 calories a day. If you are Nursing you need to add an extra 500 calories to that. It really is not hard. My husband and I allow ourselves a "blow-it" meal usually on friday nights when we like to go out to eat.
I know it is hard to exercise at home when you are a mom. But here is a few things I like to do. Ball exercises are wonderful for the abs and can be done several times throughout the day. Taking the baby for a walk or jog is also a great thing to do. I know it is kind of cold out right now, but it will not be for long. I am not sure where you live, but there are several gyms that have child care available. Medina Rec Center has childcare as well. I used our income tax return last year to join the Rec. It was really worth it! Good Luck!

Always remember your body went through a lot. it took you almost 10 months to put it on it takes longer to take it off. I weighed 115 pounds before my kids and and with both kids went up to almost 170 pounds. After I had the kids I breast feed till I couldn't(my body stopped producing milk after about 4 months) When you are nursing I think it is harded to lose the weight because you have to eat enough so your body makes milk. So when mine were about 4 or 5 months I wasn't able to nurse. I went back to work full time after my six weeks and I walked and drank only water when I was hungrey before a meal I would drink a glass of milk. It makes you seem full. I would only eat till I felt full not over doing it. I also play with my kids from the time I get home till the literaly pass out from so much activities when I get home. I clean my house when they go to bed and I did by those teabo videos. I did do those for 30 minutes before bed. I never ate after 8 and from cleaning after the kids go to bed I was working off what I ate. I now weigh 105 which I did not intend on so now I am trying to gain 10 to 15 pounds. But you can lose it. Good luck

Hi A.! My best advice for getting on track with eating right is to join weight watchers. It's wonderful and it's not just one of those gimmicks. They really teach you how to eat the proper amount of food in a day and to control your portion sizes. Also, you lose the weight at a healthy rate of about 1 to 2 pounds a week. (You'll prob lose aroun 5 the 1st week). I know that doesn't sound like much, but if you think about it, you probably didn't gain the weight any faster.
Anyway, you should go check it out. The 1st meeting is free. And this time of year, they probably have lots of specials running! Feel free to contact me if you want to know more about it...Good Luck!

I swear it is a struggle afterwards isn't it? I have 3 kids and each pregnancy was different after.

Really, I weigh less than I did in high school after having 3 kids, BUT, my body is way different. I was so frustrated that my sizes were not getting smaller even though my weight was. Your body will be different after. Imagine what it did! Overall, just feel good about yourself is the bottom line...not what size jeans you can cram into after.

What seems to work for me the best was 3 things. 1st: Exercise. Even if it is walking, which never made me ever feel like I was working much. I don't like it. But it is easy and effective. 2nd: Weight Watchers. The meals are easy and quick. Great for a mom with kids. You can eat fast food still. And the menu is easy even at a restaurant (salad, chicken, veggies, baked potato, etc.) Some places even have points on their menu next to items. Picking off of my kids leftovers is an easy way to gain weight quick without knowing it. 3rd: I did low carbs M-F for a while. Eating normal on weekends. You cannot deprive yourself completely. I found that I really never gained on weekends after low carbs M-F.

Best of luck! I go to the YMCA/JCC. Free childcare. Great place.

A.-

I waited until my son was about 9 months old before I started seeking help to get off the extra weight. Fortunately, I only had about 6 pounds to lose to get to my pre-pregnancy weight. Although I wasn't overweight, I had never been happy with my weight to begin with. I started Weight Watchers in June and am proud to report that I have lost 25 lbs. putting me 20 pounds under my weight when I got pregnant. It has been the easiest thing to fit in to my life even being a full-time working mother. I have also been able to do this with a very limited exercise routine. Exercise is important, but sometimes it just can't be a priority when taking care of your family. I exercise when I can, but not as often as I would like. I am not much for diets, but their program is truly a lifestyle change and one that is easy to incorporate into everyday life. I joined with my mom who has lost a drastic 42 pounds in 6 months. I highly suggest doing it with a friend if possible. It helps to have someone to motivate you and talk to about these things. I am also very happy to help. I hope you find what you are looking for. Take care!

C., mother of 15 month old son

Hi A.! I feel the same as you! But I try to remember my dr. said it takes almost a year to have a baby and it'll take at least a year to get yourself back. You body believe it or not is probly still getting itself hormonally back to normal. They say just that can take up to a year.

I go to our rec center to workout. So the Y w/your friend is an excellent idea. I also started Weight Watchers.

I also just discovered,if you have Time Warner Cable and you have on demand, go to Free on Demand and then go down to Exercise on Demand or maybe it's Fitness on Demand, but they have great exercise videos to rent and it's free. PLUS on a side note, check out the childrens section there for shows for your little one to watch, Teletubbies, Barney etc...!

Just try to be patient, it takes time. I know it's frustrating but you'll get there!

S.

Here's an article I recieved in my emails from one of my baby sites I go to. I thought you'd be interested to read it.

Why do I still look pregnant?
You may be very surprised by the way your tummy looks after birth. Your baby is out, but there it is, right around the navel: a big, round, squishy puffball that makes you look like you're still six months pregnant. Many women also have a dark line down their abdomen called a linea nigra and a web of stretch marks, which are actually little scars caused by the extensive stretching of skin. Those who had a c-section have surgical scars to contend with as well.

It takes time for your body — and especially your belly — to fully recover from pregnancy. Imagine your abdomen as a balloon, slowly inflating as your baby grows. Childbirth doesn't pop the balloon, it just starts a slow leak. But don't worry — it's a steady one.

From the moment your baby is born, hormonal changes cause your midsection to deflate, shrinking it back to something closer to its pre-pregnancy state. It takes about four weeks for your uterus to contract to its normal size. All the cells in your body that swelled during pregnancy will begin releasing their fluids in the form of urine, vaginal secretions, and sweat. And the extra fat you put on to nourish the baby will start burning off (especially if you're nursing and exercising). But it takes at least a few weeks to see noticeable results.

Stretch marks and the linea nigra, however, endure longer. The good news is that stretch marks usually become considerably less noticeable six to 12 months following childbirth. Their pigmentation fades and they typically become lighter than the surrounding skin (the color will vary depending on your skin color), but their texture will remain the same. The dark color of the linea nigra will gradually fade over a year, but that too may not completely disappear.

How long will it take for my belly to shrink back to normal?
We've all heard stories of new moms whose tummies are tight and flat immediately after giving birth. Although this does happen, it's rare. For most women it takes months to get rid of the "pregnancy pouch" — and sometimes it never goes away.

Patience is key. It took nine months for your abdomen to stretch to accommodate a full-term baby, so it makes sense that it would take that long or longer to tighten back up.

The speed and degree of this transition depends largely on your normal body size, how much weight you gained during pregnancy, how active you are, and your genes. Women who gained less than 30 pounds and exercised regularly during pregnancy, who breastfeed, and who have had only one child are more likely to slim down quickly.

If you're not breastfeeding, you'll need to watch how much you're eating in order to lose pregnancy weight. You need fewer calories now that you're not pregnant. (See our "Diet for Healthy Post-Baby Weight Loss" and our "Diet for a Healthy Breastfeeding Mom."

What can I do to make my belly look better?
Breastfeeding helps, especially in the early months after childbirth. Women who breastfeed burn extra calories to make milk, so they usually lose pregnancy weight more quickly than their non-nursing counterparts.

Nursing also triggers contractions that help shrink the uterus, making it a workout for the whole body. But many breastfeeding moms say they have trouble losing the last 5 to 10 pounds. Some experts theorize that the body retains these extra fat stores to aid in milk production. Science hasn't yet tackled this question definitively. See our poll on whether breastfeeding helps you lose weight to learn what other nursing moms experienced.

Exercise also helps. Whether it's a stroll around the block or a postpartum yoga class, physical activity tones stomach muscles and burns calories. A rigorous exercise regimen that includes an aerobic workout and movements that focus on the abdomen can work wonders. (But before starting an exercise routine, make sure your body is ready.)

Some baby bulges require more effort. A low-calorie diet can help you lose weight, but give nature and exercise time to work first. Wait at least six weeks (preferably several months, especially if you're nursing) before cutting back on calories. Dieting too soon after giving birth may reduce your milk supply and can make you feel more fatigued.

And don't go on a strict diet — women need a minimum of 1,200 calories a day to stay healthy, and most women need much more than that — between 1,800 and 2,200 calories a day — to keep up their energy and mood. To lose about a pound a week, cut out 500 calories a day by either decreasing your food intake or increasing your activity level.

If you're breastfeeding, losing more than a couple pounds a week can release toxins — normally stored in your body fat — into the bloodstream, increasing the amount of these contaminants that wind up in your milk. So if you're losing more than 2 pounds a week after the first six weeks, you need to take in more calories.

Okay I will make this short b/c of all that you have to go through and read. I have two children after my first child I had a very difficult time losing the weight. I ate healthy and I went walking at a mall or in my neighborhood when ever I could. I got stuck and could not lose the last 15 pounds. This time I have gotten all but a few pounds off. I keep dried fruits in the cabnet and fresh fruits on the counter. I have joined a class that makes me more motived to be fit. Strollerfit, some of the Y's have this class, you keep your child with you during the class and can interact with them, I enjoy the class and so do my children. Some prefer to not have their child with them but I did not feel comfortable leaving them in the nursery when I worked out. My son is 8 months old and I am still working on the last 5 pounds but I am much happier with the results. It is really hard to loose weight but if you have fun doing it it seems to come off easier. Plus I have the mind set that I am not going to weight myself every month and make me feel worse.

By the way my friend who is teaching Strollerfit class did thw Weight Watchers diet and loved it b/c she could eat what she wanted with points. Plus a lot of restaurants are offering a Weight Watchers menu. She is still following the points but does not go to the meetings. Just a thought

i found a workout plan that is You can find more information on it at beachbody.com. There are other sets there as well, if they would meet your needs better. Also, to start dropping the pounds I started on a low carb diet and it seems to be working pretty good so far. Hope this helps.

Hi anna i can relate to what you are saying. i gained 54 lbs with my first child and to get rid of the extra weight and get my body back into shape i worked out every day at the same time with (gil) (he used to be on espn) i did it for a long time. watch your food portions and drink plenty of water..