Losing Weight After Baby.

Hi M., I teach food healing and have some advice I feel you will find helpful. It helped me regain my ideal weight after my daughter was born (I lost 50 lbs and have kept it off). First cut out all white flour, rice and refined carbs as they inhibit thyroid function and impare your metabolism. Sprouted grain breads and Quinoa are the best to use. A major help is to avoid combining carbs and protein, as they will slow weight loss. Good Example Protien: Fish and Veggies or Veggie Omlet no cheese. Good Example Carbs: Veggie stew & Sprouted Grain Toast or soaked almonds chopped apples, berries and plain organic yogurt. It's great that you are walking, also add some front neck stretches (chin to sky) and neck rotations as this will revitalize your thyroid and give your metabolism a kick. You can do it!!

M.,

I know that it can be discouraging. I have 3 boys, 13, 5 and 2 1/2. I gained more than 70 pounds with all of my pregnancies. I am now back to my pre-pregnancy weight of 135 and proud that I am there. Here is how I have done it. I have stopped drinking anything with caffiene, no soda, no tea really the only thing that I drink is water. From time to time I drink crystal light. Then I really changed my diet, nothing fatty, all lean meats I have been eating turkey and chicken for the most part and once a week I will make something with red meat and for a special treat I throw some sort of seafood into the mix. Whole grain breads, rice, potatos. When I cook I don't use vegetable oil, I only use olive oil and I try to use extra virgin olive oil, it is much healthier. If you do have chips, try the sun chips they are delicious and they are whole grain and they are baked not fried. I go to the gym at least 4 days a week if I can, on the weeks that I can't, I make sure to get my heart rate up. They key for me is cardio work. What seems to work for me is alot of water and cardio.

However everyone is different.

Good luck. If you would like to chat further or would like any other advice you can drop me a line at ____@____.com. I am always willing to help out another mom that is in the same boat that I was recently in myself.

S.
soon to be 35 y/o SAHM of 3 boys

M.,

It sounds like you are doing things the right way but you just are not seeing a difference on the scale. Currently trying to lose 24 pounds myself I'll tell you what I've been doing and some tips I've gotten.
1)Green Tea helps you lose weight.
2)Drink a minimum of 48 ounces of water a day.I have found that if I put bottled water in the fridge it's much easier. When you feel hungry drink 8 oz. before you snack/eat; drink 8 oz. before each meal. Don't replace food with water because your body needs the nutrients - this just helps you feel full faster.
3)Exercise is the key - Check out a spinning class where you can burn up to 500 calories per class; If you are a stay at home mom you might look into the mom group that goes walking/exercising with their kids (stroller moms? I can't remember the name); Or record the exercise shows that come on early in the morning or splurge and purchase an exercise video that interest you. Just getting the exercise in each day/every other day will help you shed the pounds.
4)Watch your calories and pretty much stay away from white (rice, potatoes). A trainer once said "If it grows out of the ground or you can pick it off a tree you know it's going to be good for you" so eat lots of fruit and veggies.
5)Eat more than 3 times per day. Our bodies think we aren't going to feed it again so it stores fat. If you eat 3 meals a day + 2 healthy snacks in between you will get your body to understand that it is not going to starve and it will stop storing the undesired fat, which means it will be a little easier to lose weight.
6)Most importantly - Be realistic about your weight goal and the length of time it will take you to reach it. This has been my biggest mistake before.
7)Reward yourself - I've decided to try on a dress I haven't been able to fit into for the past 6 years once I'm back to my old weight and I'm 5 pounds closer to my goal!

Best Wishes,

A.

Hi M.!

My name is C. & I live in Pembroke Pines, FL. I KNOW from experience that it's HARD to get rid of your baby weight. I gained 70 lbs. during my pregnancy. My Doctor recommended Juice Plus+ Thins®, a healthful, whole food based snack. These specially formulated chewable wafers contain a carefully balanced blend of soluble and insoluble dietary fibers that help reduce hunger – without the use of any stimulants or drugs. I personally lost my baby weight & I know you can too! www.juiceplus.com/+cu87329 Hope this helps & Take care!

Hi M.,

I have a daughter who just turned 5 months and I am glad to say that I have shed all of my pregnancy weight and would be more than happy to share some advice on some things to maybe changing your lifestyle. You may also want to check your stress levels and see if you are having any thyroid issues. In your post you stated that you are a single mother of 4 and although you may be loving it I know that it can still be stressful at times.

You may not eat fast food but you may need to look at your overall sugar intake which is most likely the culprit. I can tell you to stay away from, white bread, cookies, cupcakes, cakes, even granola bars. These things are filled with white sugar and cause you to store more fat than you desire. Contrary to what many people think stay away from margarine or imitation butter spreads. You can use butter all day to cook whatever you desire to cook. Drink plenty of water and if you may not like the way water tastes(ofcourse because there is none) then add a bit of lemon, lime, or honey. You can eat as much meat as you like as long as it does not include, pork ,shrimp, lobster and other scavengers and fish without scales(If they do not have scales then do not eat them). Take cod liver oil, sounds gross but this will help your digestive system quite a bit and aid you in your vitamins A and D intake(you might notice your skin glowing more). No more fried foods, it may sound hard but once you stop its hard to go back to deep fried anything in the beginning. Eat real fruits and vegetables nothing in a can or those sugary fruit cups with all of the syrup fresh or frozen is best.

These are just some of the basics so let us know how you are doing in about a week or so. Remember that you have to make the decision to actually follow these things and I guarantee that you will become a different person. Continue to walk everyday and keep the faith. We are cheering for you!

Do the South Beach Diet to the Letter. That worked for me. I just also read up on something interesting that I'm planning to try. Go to akavar.com

Gisselle
Miami, FL

Hi M.-

Congrats on your baby. I am a mother of two. One boy, 28 months and one girl 14 months. I have had amazing results with Weight Watchers. I also walk everyday with my kids in the stroller. I also do some at home excercide DVD's. I did loose all of my baby weight from my son with Weight Watchers the first time around and it worked so very well that I got pregnant again...haha. You are on the right track with watching what you eat but honestly portion controll is the very most important. You can have anything and everything on Weight Watchers, but you have to stay with in your Points range, it is all explained on Weightwatchers.com. You can go to meetings or even do it over the internet. I go to the meeting because I love to be around other people going through the same issues and hearing their success stories has helped me. I am 11 pounds less than my very first OBGYN appointment when I found out I was pregnant with my first baby. I look better now that before I had kids. I am still nursing and Weight Watchers has a plan for that also. The best part is that I can still have friends over for dinner, have a drink and dessert and still loose weight, but it is a lifestyle change. Another thing that has helped me is that I do not think of it as a diet, that is when I feel deprived and then cheat. If I want something that is not so great for you, I just have a few bites of what I want and then after the third bite I am done. It really does not taste any different than the forth....That is my motto. I hope this helps you!!!!! Good luck. All the best- H.

As we get older, our metabolism starts to slow down a bit. I would try eating smaller portions every three hours...do not skip meals, incorporate some protein bars and or shakes to supplement. Eat lots of fruit and vegetables, continue the seafood and add lean meats, try to cut some of the sugar and processed foods out of your meals. Its important to incorporate a healthy amount of protein daily. Drink lots of water. Start working out by incorporating some light weights, don't rely solo on cardio workouts, building more muscle mass will help you to burn fat.

My sister had a C section, at the age of 29 and 32 and lost all of the weight without any problems. I think everyone's body and system is a bit different, so its hard to tell if it was the C section that contributes to you not losing the weight.

Good luck! gll

Hey M.,

Talk to your Doctor and have your thyroid checked out. Sometimes after hormonal changes you can have changes in your thyroid and that can affect weight gain/loss. Stay positive and try to know that you are a beautiful woman no matter what size you may be right now. It has taken me almost 3 years to take off my baby weight. I had 2 babies a year apart (unplanned)and loosing weight has not been easy for me. I just started to fit in my pre-pregnancy clothes and some how now they are loose on me over night. I struggled for so long and poof woke up and now I need to go a size smaller.
If seeing a size label bothers you and gives you a sense of lower self worth just cut the damn tag out. It's not the size of the clothes it's the fit. Wear things that accentuate your assets and masks problem areas. As women we have to do that no matter how thin we are..this is nothing new.
Good luck....scissors can be a womans best friend when we are feeling icky about out appearance.
You can do it....it takes time.

If you are doing everything you say that you are doing and still not losing the weight, perhaps you should visit your doctor and have your thyroid checked out. Sadly, women, more than men have problems with that and it can wreak havoc on your body. I have not had a C-section but from my friends who have, some have said it is harder to lose but not all. I have 4 children, 8, almost 6, 3 1/2, and 19 mos. I had lost a lot of the baby weight after # 4 and sadly have regained some since last summer. I was blaming my age, I am 41. I think my biggest problem is that I need to stop the soda drinking! I also know that walking and drinking lots of water is what helped me drop the weight before. Seems like the fast food thing and perhaps cutting back on your walking didn't help. Try getting a pedometer and doing the recommended 10,000 steps a day. This is what is equivalent to about 5 miles. You'd be surprised how quickly you can log on that many steps just be walking around inside your house. I am starting my lenten promise tomorrow and will ditch the soda for good!! Good luck to you.

I tried every thing also and then joined weight watchers. you can do it on line or go to the meetings (I do both) I have now lost 45 pounds in 6 months and am below my pre-pregnancy weight!!!

After 3rd boy, I had to lose a lot of weight because of 5 months of bed-rest. I lost 50 pounds doing Jenny Craig and the treadmill EVERYDAY at home. First I started walking then running. Then I added weights and yoga. I still need to lose 10-20 more so I'm back to doing what worked before. Just keep exercising whenever you can. Getting a treadmill at home was the best. Or find a gym with good day care. Good luck!

First of all congrats on your beautiful family. After I had my second child, I also had problems with losing the weight. What I did was, eat the same but cut down on the portions. I did it gradually, each time I would make the portion slightly less than the time before. Also, I cut out salt (also gradually), all soda (which you have done), and drank lots of water. It takes time, but I lost all the weight that I wanted to and it really wasn't too hard. Lots of luck!

Hi M., It sounds as if you are making a lot of healthy changes. I remember having a lot of fast food too after having a C-Section even though I knew I shouldn't. I found a very healthy plan that actually flooded my body with nutrients made me feel great. I had more energy and my thoughts were clear and it allowed me to release weight. Basically I felt more balanced as the pounds melted away. It is safe which is important. Basically super food. I would be happy to share more if you are interested. You can email me direct at ____@____.com and I can explain further or leave me your number if you want me to call you. I realize how frustrating this can be. I imagine with 4 kids now that you can use all the help you can get:) Take Care, D.

Hi M.,

Sounds like you are doing everything right. Have you had your thyroid checked? Sometimes that can be the problem.

M. C,
I have 3 children, all c-sections and I nursed full time and ate well. The thing I did do was work out 3-4 times a week with my first two. Walking is great exercise but if it's just a leisurely stroll, don't count on losing weight fast. If you are not elevating your heart rate for a consistent period of time (30-40 minutes) you won't be burning very many calories. With my last child, who is 18 months now, I've been actively exercising for about a year now and I've lost all my weight. I work out 6 days a week (yes, it can be done, even with caring for 3 children). The thing is this: how bad do you want to lose the weight? Make working out a priority for yourself and you will see results. Good luck and use the internet to find yourself some workout dvd's to help motivate you.

The best advice I can give you would be to eat smaller portions. It sounds as though you are eating really healthy foods so you may have to cut back on how much you eat. Even if you are eating healthy foods, if you eat a lot, you still won't lose weight. Maybe try to eat 6 small meals rather than three big ones. If you eat more often, if speeds up your metabolism so that will help you lose the weight as well. Exercise is also pretty important. You don't have to walk everyday. Three days a week should be enough to help, but when you do walk, make sure you are going at a fast pace. It shouldn't be comfortable. It's important to get your heart rate up. Intervals workouts also work great. You could walk fast or run for one to three minutes then walk comfortably for a minute and continue that for 30 minutes or so. I know that it can be frusturating but don't give up. It is important that you feel good about yourself and also important that you have a support system that can help and encourage you. There are also little things you can do throughout the day. Dance with your kids or do some situps or pushups while you are watching tv. A bunch of little burst throughout the day adds up. Good luck and stay positive. And remember no matter what weight you are you have four beautiful healthy kids that love you.

I have three children and all three were C-sections. With each pregnancy I was stuck with 10-15 pounds that I couldn't get rid of close to a year after each was born. I breast fed for the first year and generally ate healthy. With each pregnancy I was successful getting back to my pre-pregnancy weight by doing the same routine. Exercise is important, although I usually can only get to the gym, or go for a jog, 3-4 times a week. I found that a full body work out was more effective than just cardio workouts. Eating whole grains and dropping the extra sugar (ice cream, slurpees, candy, etc.) made a huge difference. Lastly, I ate more often. I know it sounds crazy and that is what I told my husband when he suggested I eat more often but it has worked with each pregnancy. You need to eat healthy but you also have to eat often. I had a healthy snack between each well-portioned meal and that helped shave off the last 5 pounds with each pregnancy. I hope this helps! You can get there, just stick with it!!!

Hi M.,

Congratulations on your new baby. I have 2 sons. Sounds like you have your hands full with 4 kids, but I'm sure the older ones are very helpful. I'm a nurse and also a wellness counselor/consultant. You are on the right track with changing your diet which is not only important psychologically for your weight loss but general health and well being. Eating MORE fruits and vegetables and cutting back on cooked meats - especially red meat is essential. Sometimes we need an extra boost the older we get. I couldn't lose the weight easily like I could when I was younger either. That is normal for all of us as we age. So to get my body readjusted safely, I use the GO CLEANSE system with excellent results, losing inches and significant weight with their 9 day cleanse. I guarnatee it will take the weight off as your body detoxifies.

You will lose the baby weight and more. It is safe, easy and most importantly, VERY good for general well being.

To get the product and have it explained to you, please contact Nicolas Jacobs at ###-###-####. He will personally coach you through out the 9 day cleanse to assure your success. I loved it and continue to enjoy the benefits.

To your health.
L.

Try doing pilates 3 times a week (hour long classes), I dropped 2 sizes within 3 months. It is very relaxing, as well as very good for your body. If you are a member at a local fitness club, see if they offer the classes. Being a member at a fitness club, is the cheapest way to do the classes. Classes are usually included in the monthly membership fee. Otherwise, if you try to take pilates as private sessions, it is very expensive.

M.,
I don't have a lot of advice but as a mom with four kids myself I feel your pain. I am also battling the weight of the last baby. She is three now and I am still 10 pounds over my "normal" weight. I do know however that I didn't loose any of the pregnancy weight until AFTER I stopped nursing. I nursed my last one 16 months. Once she went to solid foods I dropped 15 pounds with in four weeks! Now... the last 10... that is another story! Good luch and don't loose faith... burn off more calories than you take in!! Drink LOTS of water!!

Hi there.
it took me at least 1 year to lose the weight. i lost the weight when i stopped breastfeeding completely, 12 months later. the weight came off quickly. when i was breastfeeding - i was always hungry - ate healthy - but hungry, food never look so good!!! Breastfeeding makes you tired and way hungrier - you burn 500 calories - but you need to eat well to maintain your supply.
additionally - it's takes you body just as long or more to lose the weight as it did to gain it.
Can you drink green tea while breastfeeding?
don't stress it. wait until you stop breastfeeding, it should be easier.