How to Tone up and Lose 15 Pounds Quickly

I would strongly reccommend Pilates/Yoga. It is a great way to tone up with a low impact workout, plus will leave you feeling relaxed!

Hi S.

I was just going through the mamasource archives. I noticed your question about toning up.

I have been there with you, the weight gain with my first son I had toxiema, I gained about 75 lbs. I lost that then got pregnant with my daughter. I struggled to lose weight after that I started taking Herbalife and I got down to size 3/4, I was thrilled I started selling Herbalife. I sold it for about 2 years then my kids got into so many school functions I had to free up some time, so I quit selling herbalife. I have gained weight and tried everything to lose, I looked and looked for an herbalife distributor, knowing these products are awesome and they worked for me before. Well it was to long after I started looking an Herbalife Distributor walked into my office, I have started herbalife again and I have so much energy it is almost undescribeable. I am back to selling the products again, they are really awesome. Herbalife is not just about losing weight and toning up. Herbalife products are supplements that work from the smallest cells in your body, they actually help they body get into a healthier state. Here is what I do I take the Vitamin, Cell Activator and drink 2 shakes a day. They are really good they have chocoalte, strawberry, vanilla, cookie and cream. I have a shake for breakfast and one for lunch with a healthy snack in between. My chocolate cravings are gone, I was craving candy bars everyday, I had to have a candy bar, not anymore!!! I have lost 15" in the last 6 weeks. I am going to be 45 this week so it is much harder for me to lose weight than it use to be. I eat what I want , but don't crave or want to eat like I use to, because my body is getting into a healthier state and I am not craving food like I use to.

I think you should just be happy with you as you are first. 135 isn't too shabby. You sound a little obsessive about your weight. Just my opinion!

if you want it, I can give you a one week free pass to the gold's gym at Eastgate over on the east side. I have a membership there & also volunteer in the kidzone. I was given the voucher when I joined but don't need it since my husband joined also.

After my 2nd child, I had about 20 lbs I wanted to lose (not to mention baby belly), and my husband and I used Body for Life. It worked very well for both of us. We did one 12-week session, and I lost 16 lbs (and gained muscle!), and my husband lost around 25 lbs. I gained about 5 back when we went off the diet, but that was before Christmas - and I REALLY enjoyed the holidays. :) The other 10 I've kept off. We are planning to try again after the 4th to knock off the rest of the weight we want to lose.

I think you can find most of the info you need to do the program at www.bodyforlife.com.

The trick, though, is that you HAVE to have some support. If I had tried to do this diet without my husband, I would have failed miserably. If you can at least get your family to eat the same foods for family meals, it will make everything much easier.

When I wanted to lose a few pounds, i worked out with tao bo, also i would eat more small meals aday to boost up my metabolism. It worked great for me. I did that for a couple of months and lost about 8 or 9 pounds.

Drink lots of water...that helps you lose weight, because your body is made up of 30% water! Plus, water is no calorie. It really does help you burn calories faster. Eat more fruits and vegetables, lay off excessive fast food. Also, walk daily. Work up to going 1/2 mile, then 1, maybe 2 daily. For your middle, stomach crunches are going to be the best to firm it up. Cardio excercize (Like walking, running,bicycling) is what will burn off the fat over your belly. It all takes time, patience, and attitude. Whatever you do, DON'T go back to the cigarettes! They will greatly decerease your lung capacity, which you'll need when excercizing! Also, smoking to lose weight is the 'easy' way out, and not healthy at all. You might get skinnier, but you'll be an un-healthy skinny, and you want to stay healthy for your child! (And you!) Do you really want to risk your life down the road for a mere 15 lbs? I think your son would rather have his mom around, extra 15 lbs. and all, for years more to come. He loves you unconditionally, and you should love yourself the same way. Cigarettes are not the answer! Good luck!

I would recommend the south beach diet. I have always weighed between 110 and 115 (I am 5'3) after having my daughter I gained weight instead of losing it (So much for that nursing myth). After I weaned her when she was a year old, I did this diet. I lost 11 pounds in 2 weeks- I lost a total of 20 in one month. That was 3 years ago. I weighed in at 113 yesterday.

I joined the Y last year and I workout 3 times a week. I simply refuse to be out of shape or overweight :p

R. :)

I completely understand!!!
Quitting smoking was a huge and healthy step for you and you should commend yourself every day for making that choice.
I gained a LOT of weight when I quit smoking the first time (I had also just found out I was pregnant) but I have just recently quit smoking again and have been able to take off weight as well as keep it off for a few months now.
I now exercise which I have always hated in the past but it kept me busy and my mind off cigarettes.
I bought a yoga mat and have really just set aside 45 minutes every other night to work out. I put the mat in front of the tv (gives me a chance to get control of the remote too) and watch tv as I do crunches (another thing I hated). I found that if I just kept moving for that amount of time (I even made up my own exercises) that I could lose weight. I moderated how much I ate but not what I ate. I still enjoy chocolate as much as ever I just make sure to include something good like rice cakes or steamed veggies. I think it's not as much what you eat but how much. I eat a ton during the day, just not a lot at one time.
Try to go online and see if you can find descriptions of exercises that you might not mind doing. Once you do it for a little while, you feel more limber and motivated. And if you think about it, it really only takes up a tv show.
I love it because it's one of the few times I can take that's just for me.
Everyone has their own pace and everyone has a different formula that works for them.
It might be something as simple as going for daily walks or stretching but it will help you at least keep weight off for the most part.
Try to stay confident. I know it's hard when you are used to be being a certain weight and size, but your outlook determines the outcome so it really helps to try and maintain a positive attitude.
Good luck and best wishes!!!!
R.

The ABs diet works wonders for you mid-section and I just heard that the author came out with a version geared toward women. I'd check that out.
Good Luck:)

You can't tell by looking at me now, but back when I was in better shape (before baby) I did Tae Bo to keep toned up. I would do the videos at home. They are only 20 to 30 minutes, but you get a really good whole body workout. Also, watch your fat intake. Eat more fruits and vegetables. And go for walks if you have time.

By the way, kudos on the quitting smoking. I quit within a week when I got pregnant and have wanted to start back up for the same reasons ever since my daughter was born. Since I will not smoke around my daughter, not wanting to choose between spending time with her and smoking has helped me not start back up. Not smoking does get easier!