Have Never Been a Dieter

I agree with the second poster Jessica D I too used Sparkpeople.com and they helped me to loose 50lbs and track food and exercise among all the other helpful tools and groups on the site to help you stay motivated. It is completly free.

It look's like you have had a lot of great advise. So I wasn't going to reply, until I realized I didn't see keeping a food journal mentioned. It's a great help!
I also had great luck with South Beach, which can be a bit expensive with all the meats and produce you will buy in the first few weeks. I lost the 15 pounds I wanted to loose and now try to make good choices daily.
Your best bet is to eat healthy and exercise. You wont see great results without doing both. Think about what you put into your mouth, but don't deprive yourself a treat once in a while. If you cut back too much, it will lead to binge eating. Then the feeling of failure and lack of desire to get back at it. My friend who lost over 100 pounds with Weight Watcher's still allows herself a day once a week to eat what she wants.
Good luck finding what works for you!

Unfortunately, trimming your stomach is more diet related than exercise. You definitely need to do ab-work, but you have to trim the fat in order to see any results from all that ab-work. So you MUST change your diet from processed foods and high carbs TO fresh simple foods with lots of protien and carbs from whole grains and produce. Keep up with your exercise and probably increase it to 45-60mins / day. You may also want to start a fat burn supplement - Apex has a great one called Fat Burn 1 - all natural. It gets your liver functioning again so you will actually metabolize fat and your body will start using your stored fat as fuel.

You may also want to check out this site: http://www.mccombsplan.com/
I did this program and lost 14 lbs in my first month (And I only weighed 140 when I started it). 4 friends of mine also had fantastic results. It's a cleanse, but does not wreak havoc on your body like many cleanses do. You'll have so much energy that you'll have to exercise to use it up! You will have to buy new food - but about 2/3rds of the way through the plan you add most foods back into your diet, so you don't have to throw anything away. You also don't crave things when on the McComb's plan - it really is life changing. I am speaking from experience. I have nothing to gain from telling you about this - just sharing a wonderful thing. Also, you can get amazing prices on produce at Superstition Ranch Market (Mesa/Apache Junction).

Good Luck!!!

Have you ever looked into Transitions lifestyle system?

Hi M.,
I also am a chocoholic and love my sweets too. I am 45yrs and have 2 kids, 10 & 6. I was never able to lose those last 15 baby fat lbs. from my 6 yr old. I tried watching what I ate, and exercising and walking but nothing seemed to work. Then I found a Nutritional Supplement that is ALL NATURAL, fruits and vegetables that I mix with water or juice or make a smoothie with. I DID NOT change the way I ate(chocolate and all) nor did I start a new exercise program. In 3 months I lost 18lbs and my husband lost 30 lbs. That was back in February and I haven't gained any back either. In fact, I haven't checked yet but I think I may have lost 2-3 more lbs. I also do not experience cramps, bloating or face breaking out due to PMS and my husband does not have any more arthritic pain in his back or feet from an accident in 1994. The product is called Nautre's Virtue. Go to www.internalcreations.com/rob to find out more about NV. It worked for me and I have turned other friends onto it too. Check it out and respond back to me to let me know how you feel about it.

M. Ann

I highly recommend Weight Watchers. Sounds like you need some help on what to do and weight watchers can help you with that, support you along the way, and keep you motivated. You also eat your own food, so you don't have to buy anyone else's food. Good luck.

My husband and I both gained weight during our 2 pregnancies. Him more than me (about 35 lbs). We DO NOT diet either!!!! We cut back our portions, stopped going back for seconds, and always have fruit or vegetables with EVERY meal. We aren't snackers but always have real meals. We drink water pretty much solely...coffee in the AM's. We do have desserts/chocolate but just in smaller portions or we share 1 dessert. I am back to my pre-prego weight though still need to tone up. My husband has lost 20 lbs doing ONLY this. We still have not gotten back into a workout regimen. Keep up the cardio...that's what burns the belly!!! Hope you have the success you are craving!!

Hey M.--
For some motivation, meal ideas, nutrition info, exercise info, and overall support I reccomend sparkpeople.com
It's a free website that has all sorts of resources and supprt to keep you motivated and on track. Before I got pregnant with my second daughter using the site helped me lose 25 pounds. Good luck to you!

I too have gained weight over the last few years. Once I decided to get back in shape, I needed the same type of guidance you seem to be looking for. I have had great luck with a trainer named Dave at Infinity Fitness Academy in Tempe. He trains individual people or you can join a "boot camp". Either way, you receive the diet information (how to eat, how much to eat, when to eat, etc.) in addition to the strength training to tone muscle and burn fat which results in amazing loss of inches! I agree that 5-6 meals seemed like a lot but was amazed at the results! Dave is professional and compassionate at the same time. You can reach Dave at ###-###-####. Good luck and hope to see you there!

Hello M.,
I had the same problem until I started training with Wendy. I have worked with her on fitness for almost 6 months. She does in home training which is very conventinet and her prices are very reasonable. I tried using the gym trainers, but they mainly have males and I feel they don't understand what I need to work on. She's very motivating and also gives me tips on what I need to eat. Let me know if you are interested and I will give you her number. She does have a website. It is www.shapeuptraining.com.
Good luck!
LC

You should take acidopholous to balance out your intestines. If you crave sugar, it is a good indicator that it is out of balance internally. Get Bio K plus (at whole foods or sunflower mkt) and get the six pack and see how you feel. Your hunger should diminish and that would help you see more results.

I agree with everything people have said so far, but I also want to add that a dietplan that works for you is not a bad thing. I have had good success with both weight watchers and south beach (different diet after each baby...) they are very different in their suggestions, however both support lifestyle changes. SB has immediate results which I found very rewarding, but you do have to give up sugar for the first two weeks. Be careful with lowfat, often the fat is replaced with sugar to help the flavor and is ultimately not as satisfying or filling. You have a great attitude and I think you're off on the right foot. Good luck.

Hi M.,

Congratulations on your initial weight loss and commitment to being healthy! Going on a "diet" is difficult for most because you are depriving yourself of foods you really want. Weight loss and being healthy is really about learning a new way of living...one that is still exciting; but healthier. It is a "process" and not something you opt to do for a period of time and then go back to your old ways...which is why so many people fail.

Be careful of "low fat" foods because they often compensate the lost flavor that comes from fat with sugar and salt, causing more problems than the fat. You should opt for "good fats" versus low or no fat because good fats are an essential part of good cellular health.

Best of luck to you in your journey! :)

Warm Regards,
G. Van Luven, H.C.
Healthy Habits Wellness Center, LLC
www.HealthyHabitsWellnessCenter.com
###-###-####

I recommend the Body for LIfe book/program. The eating is very easy-he has a chart of "approved" foods that you choose from. The cardio program is only 20 minutes a day for 3 days each week. He also has a weight training program which can be a little difficult to follow, but I suggest on your -off days of cardio do some sort of weight training because you burn more calories. I am also reading the Flat Belly Diet right now, and it's not necessarily a diet, but a life change. I've known a few people who have done it and had great success. It's about the good fats that we need in our body to get rid of the bad fats. She has recipes in it, too, and the foods you should eat called MUFAs. Good luck.

Hi M.,
It really sounds like you have had an awesome start so far: no kidding. 5 Lbs in six weeks may not seem like much, but it means you are losing gradually enough that you are less likely to gain it back (if you stay on the right track, with the occasional sweet-treat), and after 40 weeks (the time it takes to have a baby) you'll be at your goal weight - that's a bargain, considering you had 3 kids, LOL!!

Don't buy into the "diet" thing (Goodness knows there are enough bulls***ers on the internet and TV), you are making a lifestyle change, and in time enough you will be feeling (and looking) wonderful... and your motivation will grow even more.

This doesn't mean you can never have sweets again, either. What about rewarding yourself every few pounds with a special treat? Then you won't feel like you can never have what you love again? Just keep your goals in the LONG TERM. Don't look a week or a month down the road, but think how healthy you'll be a year from now (!?!)

Good luck! The Mamas are rooting for you :)
T