Diet

Exercise and portion control. You won't lose a lot of weight in two weeks that way, but it will stay off.

I don't know about the working at home, but the dieting, I've gotten good at. I do a combination of FitDay.com and South Beach Diet. I count my calories and nutrients with FitDay, a VERY good program, and eat South Beach foods. I can tell you that Phase 1 of South Beach will help you to lose a huge chunk.

I hope that helps!

Don't have much advice about the diet issue, but as far as the work from home part of your question, I've found a yahoo group that offers links and suggestions as to various legitimate work at home jobs that is actually very helpful. You have to fill out a brief questionaire beforehand, but that's mainly just to weed out the spammers and to make sure the group stays legit. Anyway, feel free to take a look - the website is http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/RealJobs_FromHome/ I haven't found anything yet for myself, but there's a database that lists a ton of telecommuting companies, transcriptionist companies, etc. Hope this helps!

Hello J.! I know exactly how you feel. I wanted to be a stay at home mom when I had my daughter but I was so young and I couldn't afford to stay at home with her. She is now 5 and in school. So when me and my husband had our son I told him that I wanted to be a stay at home mom. I do Pearl parties on the weekends when my husband is home or when my family can help watch the kids and I make really good money to stay at home during the week with my son. Who is now 11 months old. I work with a company called Vantel Pearls and if you like jewlry or know anyone who does then it would be perfect for you. It does cost money to start . It is $149 set-up fee and a $100 deposit that is refundable if you quit, but it is a decution on your taxes and you can get all that money back in the fist couple of parties that you do. If you are interested in getting more info. you can e-mail me at ____@____.com and I would love to tell you more about it.

The Sonoma Diet works wonders if you stick to it and you can probably lose about 5-6 lbs in two weeks. The fruit diet is good for losing water weight but the weight will come back on as soon as you start eating real food again. If you can walk for some exercise and follow a 'smart' food regimen for a couple of weeks you should feel better in that dress:) Good Luck!

I don't have any suggestions on loosing that baby weight, as my daughter is almost four and I still haven't lost that weight!

I do however have a suggestion for a business for you. Have you heard of Partylite? You don't have to pay anything to start up, and it's fun! You make your own hours and earn tons of money as well as free product. Contact me if you'd like to learn more about it.

First off, if you can find a good stay at home job I would LOVE to know about it too!!!

The diet thing, I joined Weight Watchers, the first week I lost 5 pounds and the second week I lost 6. I am right with you on trying to lose the weight. My daughter was two years old and I was heavier then I was when I was pregnant!!! It was horrible because I hav never been heavy. After my son was born I lost a little weight but then gained it back when I went back to work. It is soo hard. Anyway I here that every 10 lbs. is a size. Drink lots of water, no soda. Maybe a cup of coffe or tea a day (lots of empty calories). Even if you stop drinking soda, if you do, will help you lose weight fast at least for the fist couple of weeks and that would be perfect!! Myabe skip eating pasta and breads for the next two weeks and eat chicken or fish and vegetables. I can't believe it's not butter light is absolutely AWESOME!!! It has saved my life ans it's yummy (i am a true butter fan, like a little potato with my butter fan).

Good luck and remember to eat, otherwise you could gain more!!! Also, you know your body, make sure you listen to it.

Oh, i also go to a web site called sparkpeople.com. It is a free weight loss site. This is also a cool place. You can track what you eat and it calculates your calories, fat everything. Check it out!!

As far as a crash diet I am not sure... I would go to GNC and get a body cleanser pill or drink. Once that flushes your system I would drink alot of water and cut down my food intake to small meals 6-8 times a day. That will keep your body from storing everything you put into it if the body thinks more food is coming. You need to avoid NOT eatting! Good Luck!

Hi J.,

Do you exercise? It's a chore but I think it's key to getting back your body. One thing that always worked for me to drop weight pretty quick was not eating after 8:00PM. But make sure you are eating multiple mini meals throughout the day. You don't want to slow your metabolism. I am always trying to think of ways moms can stay at home, raise their kids and also contribute to the household income. I do real estate but it takes a long time to establish yourself. I also opened an ebay store. Right now, I am selling my stuff or stuff my family wants to get rid of. But I have read info from other ebayers who make a living selling products on ebay. I may expand one day into selling wholesale products just to suppliment my real estate income. You sound internet savvy. maybe you can look into that. Let me know how it goes. Good luck and don't worry. My weight dropped off as soon as I stopped thinking about it:)

N.

well anything "crash" isn't healthy. I joined weight watchers and lost 10 pounds in two weeks. You could also try to walk and do different cardio work outs. As far as staying at home to work I can't help you. I work part time and go to school full time. Good luck!

No crash diet ideas but I had been on a low carb diet before I got pregnant and had lost about 20 pounds. I wasn't strick like the Atkins tells you to be in the first two weeks but I cut out all bread products and everything with sugar (refined sugar). I still try and eat this way but breastfeeding you need all the extra stuff. Good luck even 5 lbs will help you feel better and fit into that dress better. Just keep a positive attitude and it will happen!

Hi J., I don't have any crash diet ideas, but I do have a suggestion. Have you tried FitDay.com? You can track your calories and I have lost about 10 lbs in 2 wks. I have the software which has more to offer...it calculated the number of calories I could eat in a day in order to reach my goal. The free online version doesn't have that, but it will keep track of your calories. Counting REALLY helps. You will be amazed how fast they add up. To lose weight quickly, I would suggest a 1500 calorie a day diet. 2000 calories is the reccommended day count. You will probably be hungry, but you will lose weight. If you are excersising you will lose even faster. Good luck!

I don't have much avice on the whole diet thing. I have 2 boys, 5 & 2, and I'm still trying to lose the weight from my 2nd pregnancy. It's very frustrating. The one thing I did do, which I noticed has helped, is to stop eating after 7:00 pm. Also, eat several small healthy meals throughout the day.

I am a SAHM, and I started a home-based business with a health & wellness company called Arbonne International. I do one or two shows a week, in the evening or on the weekend, and am able to be home during the day with the kids. It cost me $29 to sign up and become a consultant...well worth the money, as far as I'm concerned. As a consultant, I am able to purchase the products at a 35% discount. The website is www.arbonne.com, I would encourage you to check it out. What makes arbonne different, is that all of the products are vegan certified, botanically-based, pH correct, Hypoallergenic, Dermatologist tested, Never tested on animals, formulated without animal products or by-products, formulated without mineral oil, and formulated without dyes or chemical fragrances. Arbonne's premium skin care products are formulated in Switzerland, and made here in the United States. The products are consumable, and are results oriented with patents pending on several of our systems in the U.S. and in Switzerland. The products are second to none.

This company has been an answer to my prayers.

The only word you need to know is "SPANX". They saved my life! I was the maid of honor in my best friends wedding six weeks after delivering my second child. You would never believe how wonderful they are...They really are a womans best friend. You can get them at high end stores like Neiman Marcus or on line direct from the company. I came across them on afternoon when Oprah was saying she wears them every day...hey, I am not a talk show person but they really do wonders and are totally worth the money. F.Y.I I was a Fitness Instructor and trust me everyone thought I should "bounce" right back and I just couldn't. Your baby changed you in every way and that is a blessing.

I heard eating an apple before each meal( yes, 3 a day) can help you lose weight fast.

I am prego, so I havent' tried it yet, but just adding one a day so far has helped me to not only lose 15 lbs (before I got prego) in about 2 mos, but has helped me not to gain too fast with this one till now.

I hate to tell you this but dieting is going to set you back big time. You will lose muscle not fat if you crash diet. I know you are desperate but you are going to make things very difficult for yourself to lose the weight permanently if you crash diet. I am a personal trainer not a nutritionist/dietician but I have seen too many people doing crazy diets to lose the weight and they end up gaining it back and then some. The quickest easiest way for you to lose the weight safely is to eat more smaller meals. And, of course, workout. And don't tell me that you can't because of your baby, there are programs like Baby Boot Camp where you can bring your baby with you. In most areas they have indoor classes for inclement weather. www.babybootcamp.com And the scale may go up because you are gaining muscle but you will lose inches. If you can't get to a class then get yourself a few videos and get busy. As for the eating, you will find that if you eat 5-6 smaller meals per day you will not be hungry and the weight will come off. Do NOT let yourself get hungry, the idea is to stabilize your metabolism. You will notice that when you eat this way if you miss one of your meals you will overeat at the next meal. Don't do this. The yo yo eating will set you back so try to avoid letting yourself get hungry. Eat a piece of fruit or a vegetable with every meal if you can it will help you fill up and keep you fuller longer. An example meal/snack would be a half of a tuna sandwich (light on the mayo) on wheat bread and an apple for lunch and then the other half and a yogurt for snack two hours later. You should be eating every two to three hours. At first this may be difficult but you will find that you will never be hungry once you get your body used to it. You have to stick with it. Take fruits and snacks with you at all times. Keep crackers/snacks in the car so that if you are out and can't get something you can snack at least. Always have something in your purse just in case you are stuck somewhere longer than you thought. This doesn't mean that you should overeat. Depending on your size and if you are breastfeeding you will need more or less calories but don't starve yourself either. This causes you body to store fat not lose it!! And if you are breastfeeding you need 500 calories more not less. So please never diet when you are breastfeeding. If you have more questions just send me a private message and if you try this let me know how you make out. Good luck.

Another tip: My sister bought one of those corset things that you can't see through your clothes at JcPenneys and it worked wonders for her. Not sure if this is what the other mom is talking about. They have them for your lower body and the whole body. There are different styles. This would be so much better than crash dieting. No one will know unless you tell them.

Hi J.,
My name is E. and I have a 10 month old baby boy. I started my pragnancy at 160lbs., I am 5'8 so not fat but not skin and bones. I gained 48lbs and lost 30 lbs in the first 3 months after I gave birth. The last 23 would not go away so I tried La Weight loss, I used my friends program so I would'nt have to pay. In two weeks I lost 13lbs. The diet just consists of cutting out sugar and eating 6 meals a day. I love sweets so the first couple of days were hard but I ate alot of fruit and veggies and was still able to have carbs!!! I stopped the diet two months ago and have not gained any weight but I also havent lost any. When the weather gets nicer I will be back on it and I will exercise with the baby. Good Luck!!

I'm not sure if you like to babysit, but that's how I made extra money being a SAHM. We had friend of ours who have a son a month younger than ours. I started watching him for $20 a day. The summertime, of course, is a tad better when school is out. I had 2 other parents as me to watch their school age kids last summer. I hope you had find something. Also, I'm not sure what your situation is, but my husband and I actually "take turns" working. He works full-time days and when he gets home I go to work part-time evenings after dinner. It's nice beause I only have to work a couple hours and it gets me out to socialize with other adults. Good luck!

Smiles,
E. B.

Hi J.,

I am not any help with dieting...I have failed so many!!!! I can sugggest Noah's Ark Animal Workshop. I am a crew member with them . I have tried os many home based business....and they were mostly a waste of time and money....avon, tupperware,partylite to name a few...I have done. Noah's Ark is a little different because you provide a service! Check out my website, they are offering a limited time kit right now for $29. www.NoahsArkWorkshop.com/cindyfisher2320

Good Luck. With any stay at home thing please remember....you get what you put into it!

C.

After my daughter was born, I looked into home businesses also, and after MUCH deliberation, I decided to go with Mary Kay Cosmetics. I really agreed with the company philosophy of God First, Family Second and Career Third. Well, since my daughter was born, I now have 2 step children (10 and 4) and another baby on the way. I love the flexibility Mary Kay has enabled me to have (it actually paid my way through college and allowed me to spend so much time with my daughter I would not have been able to do without it!) If you have any other questions, please feel free to let me know!!

As for your diet questions- stick to a lot of water, protein (meats), chicken, fruits and veggies. I found the most helpful thing to do is to cut down on portions. Eat until you are FULL but not until you are STUFFED (there is nothing worse than the "oh my, I am so full I can not move" feeling!!) Good luck with the weight-loss, have fun in the wedding, and feel free to keep me posted with what works for you! I'm sure I'll be looking for advice once the new baby arrives- since I am getting married 3 months afterwards!! Good Luck!! ~Jenn

hi J...i don't know anything about stay at home jobs i wish i did i would do it since i'm a stay at home mom and loving it but i do know a little bit about dieting i've been through la weight loss i have taken diet pills and nothing seemed to work but then i was under alot of stress and i lost my appetite and quit eating for a whole mnth let me tell you i lost alot of weight my clothes started falling off but then i got really sick now i realize crash dieting is a no no keeping yourself healthy is all that matters if all you need to do is lose a few pounds drinking alot of water flushes your system out along with exercize good luck.

Are you still breastfeeding? I have SO much trouble losing weight until I stop nursing and my period comes back. I would recommend you try Medifast. My mom did it and it worked great! She lost like five pounds the first week and like two to three pounds each week after that. It basically cuts your calories down to about 900 to 1000/day, however, it is not safe while nursing. The food is not that great, but you do lose the weight and it is safe. You can even print out the diet and show it to your doctor. They actually encourage you to do so. Hope that helps.