Seeking Weight Loss Advice

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M.,
I am 28 yo mother to a 3-1/2 yo son. I, like you, could NEVER follow a strict diet or an excercise routine. Luckily I am blessed with a pretty high metabolism that basically just slowed down a little after my son was born. I was back to my pre-baby weight when he was about 6 months old.

My philosophy is gradual life changes and not sudden life altering "Go Crazy and Change Everything". To me, that just doesn't work.

Concentrate on the little things you can do to make a difference. If the option is stairs or elevator, choose the stairs. Let go of snacks like chocolate and fatty chips and replace them with healthy snacks that will not only be better for you but make you feel better. Often I crave chocolate but find that if I grab some fruit instead it can fill that little hunger I have and I will feel better after eating a handful of grapes rather than a chocolate bar.

I'm also a strong advocate of Snack vs. EAT. I cannot for the life of me finish a full meal. But that's okay. For breakfast I'll grab something small. Even something as unhealthy as a Honeybun. By 9:30 or 10am I'm ready for a snack. Fruit, veggies or some 100 calorie snack packs. At lunch I try to avoid eating out at "Sit Down" Resturants. Notice how most resturants serve Large REDICULOUS size portions. It can be tempting to finish the whole plate. One thought can be, I paid for it, I don't want to waste it. That's a great reason to avoid eating out.

When you are starving it can be tempting to order more than you should. Order LESS than you think you could eat. Eat slow, and you'll find that by the time you are done that was actually enough to quinch your hunger for at least 2-3 hours and then you can grab a snack later. This will help speed up your metabolism.

As far as excercising goes find something small to start with and don't go crazy. Maybe commit to a morning jog every other day. This might sound crazy but it'll be INCREDIBLY difficult for the first 3-4 days but then it'll get easier. It'll become part of your day. You'll realize how great you feel after doing it and it will no longer be a chore but something you miss if you don't get to do it.

BABY STEPS!!!

The weight will come off!

I have been on so many diets (from pills to programs) in my time and they all work and don't work in their own special way. Losing weight for good unfortunately requires a lifestyle change. Ill be frank with you, with 3 kids of my own (and you having the ones you have) on top of working a full time job, that kind of lifestyle is not always the easiest route. I have done the Jennie Craig thing, it worked, but like the diet pills if you don't change your eating habits for good you will just gain the weight back. To lose the weight for the summer I have several times, and again currently taken diet pills. The one that works best for me is Phentermine. Don't everyone freak out, the old "Phen/Phen" diet that was taken off the market was because of the Pondimin. If you want a quick "fix" to your pounds coming off I suggest you go to a medical weight loss clinic and ask them what they offer (prescriptions such as the Phentermine). This particular one works for me and many of my friends, I lost 10 pounds in 3 weeks it's great! It is a wonderful appetite suppressant, gives you the needed energy to keep up with the kiddos and makes you thirsty so you drink the needed water to flush your system out and have that healthy "glow" a mom should have. :)

Now, about you hating your body. STOP NOW

God gave it to you and the way it is for a reason. As mom's it is just one of those changes that sometimes happens to us and we can't always have it our way. You need to show your girls that weight is not a reason to not have confidence in yourself. You hold your head up and show them by example that it really is what is on the inside (how you deal with the hand God deals you) that makes you who you are. If you tell yourself you are fat and ugly then people will think you are fat and ugly. You tell yourself and know that you are beautiful know matter what size pants you wear and are a wonderful mom who does the best she can with what she has then people will get that vibe and agree (most importantly your children, step included). They may be faced with the same issue one day, while it may be from having kids or may just be natural. Remember you are a huge influence on them and they are watching and learning from every move you make. I hope this helps you in some way and hope you will start feeling good about yourself, you will feel so much better once you just accept you for who you really are not who you look like.

God's blessings to you and your growing family!
D.

try akavar they have a slimming gel and the pills or there is a product you can take by mixing it in water and it will give you enery and help you lose the weight. you can take it before bed time.

Five years ago my sister put on 20 lbs and could not lose the weight. She did try Quick Weight Loss and dropped back down to the size 4 she had always been prior to her weight gain but gained it back after a few short months.

Last summer she decided that for her 40th birthday in November 2007, she wanted to go on a Disney cruise with her husband and children but not with the extra weight. So last June, she joined weight watchers and by the time she went on the cruise in November she was back to her goal weight. She loves it and feels this time around she can maintain it. She follows the maintenance plan and is very happy.She did say that she will always be on weight watchers because otherwise she will gain the weight again.

M.,

I am 45 years old and only 5 ft tall, so I have tired it all ha! and the easiest diet that I have been on with the most long term success is weight watchers. It is important that you go to the meetings though and you owe yourself an hour a week. You can eat ANYTHING you want as long as you stay in your in you point range. Good Luck!
D.

I am a 46 year old single mother to 3 daughters, aged 15, 11 and 7. Their dad spends no time with the youngest two so I am mom and dad 24/7. My full time job is as HR Manager in a business with about 150 employees making me the mother hen even at the office. I have NO spare time. Over about the last 10 years 30 pounds crept up on me. I tried many things but nothing worked like weight watchers. We have an at work group making it easy for me to attend weekly meetings. So far I have lost 25 pounds and know I will lose the other 5. With a couple of "vacations" from WW meetings when my family's needs overruled even my time during work hours this loss has come over more than a year. BUT I have not had to work at. I have simply changed some habits and even though some weeks my loss may only be four tenths of a pound, I don't gain any weight. I am two sizes smaller than when I started and last summer went with my kids to Schlitterbaan, running around in public in a swimsuit! WW has a lot of online tools and even online meetings, if you are like me and getting away from the kids is difficult. Look them up online and you can find a lot of information about the program and available tools. Good luck!

I understand where you are comin from. My little one turns 1yr on the 27th this month and I've yet to lose my weight (about 30lbs). I'm ashamed of my body, none of my clothes fit. I've tried diet pills---DON"T! They mess with your hormones and will do one of 3 things: Make you irritable, make you sick or make you have extreme mood swings. Trust me, your guy AND your kids won't like you too. And it seems like you are too busy for the gym, but do you have time to just walk? Take the kids and run around the park? I'm a fine one to give advice, but that's what I'm resorting too. I'm a SAHM, but still don't have the time to eat right or exercise. I too have a vacation planned for July and would like to wear that swimsuit hanging in the closet mocking me...so, good luck and try to walk at least 1/2 hr a day, Try to hold your tummy in to keep the muscles tight and just dance! It's a great way to stay fit!

I just signed up for the Biggest Loser club on the website (biggestloserclub.com) that sponsers the show on NBC. So far I am really enjoying it. It has alot of helpful tips and recipes you can try, also good inspirational success profiles. I love the show so I decided to check it out. Good luck and don't be so h*** o* yourself about your body. Be thankful that God blessed you w/ beautiful daughters and a loving husband-who I'm sure loves you no matter what size you are.
Hang in there and have fun on your vacation no matter what size you are.
S.

You would be surprised what little changes you make how the weight will come off. I was 401lbs. in 2006 I bought a stationary bike and didn't keep a specific schedule with it I just rode it when time permitted. I let cokes go for one year and I only ate "whites" bread,rice,potato etc. before 2pm daily my last meal was at 5pm my bedtime was typically 9pm I lost 111 lbs. so far. PS: before you shower/or take your bath do 100 toe touches it works!!!

Good luck!

Hey M.,

Remember you didn't put the weight on all in one month so it's going to take a while for it to come off. But try walking while the kids are in little league practice or walking during lunch. I just started doing that and I've lost 1 pound this week. and it might not sound like a lot but it's a healthy way to do it. Try not to eat after 7pm. Don't drink sodas, drink more water. Everyone is different but if you just start with little changes your weight loss will be more consistant. Good Luck! Work out at least 30min a day!

I have severe spinal injuries and needed to lose weight to relieve some pressure from my spine, but I couldn't exercise. My doctor prescribed me Adipex and I have lost 27 pounds in two months. Hope I was helpfull.

Many Blessings,
T.

What worked for me was Weight Watchers. Lots of people think that it means you have to buy their products, but that is not true. You just have to start reading the labels and figure out the points. It helps you to get used to eating healthy. I lost 40 pounds and kept it off for about 7 years, but then I gained another 20 pounds after some stress/life changes, but I went back and lost those pounds pretty quickly. So it works.
Linda C

M.- First, consult with a doctor. As for diets - they rarely work long term. I am 36 and have been long gone from having the very slim figure I had when I was 19-25. Like you, I am almost always 30 to 40 lbs heavier than I would like to be. Pregnant at the moment! I know when I am busy -eating healthy falls last on my priority list, exercising doesn't even make it on the list. Here are a few things that do seem to work for me though.

1. Keep lots of bottled water, low fat milk, low sugar juices on hand. I stay away from sodas and kool-aids - for me and my family's health.

2. Also, I have lots of healty snacks on me at all times - low fat granola, nuts, fruit, carb free snacks, healthy choice snacks, and water too. This helps me to avoid pulling through fast food places, Starbuck's, the convienent store because I am starving and in a hurry.

3. Plan your menus - weeks at a time. You will eat better and save money too. Don't deprive yourself of the foods you like but make small changes. Substitute - skim or 2% milk when cooking or in cereal, Eat dips with vegetables instead of chips, cook whole foods instead of boxed, prepared meals, combine ground turkey or leaner chuck in with hamburger, buy low carb pastas, and fat or sugar free desserts. If you plan it and watch for sales - you want spend more. I also double and freeze alot of my meals to save time.

4. Other tricks: Eat on a smaller plate, order half portions when eating out or split an entree with someone. Don't eat late at night. eat breakfast.

5. Be sure your meals are balanced. Eat Vegetables. For Me - it is the potatoes, rice, and breads making me fat.

5.Learn to Read Nutrition Labels - watch the fat, sugar, and carb counts. Promise me- this works. It makes it very easy to put things back on the shelf at the stores.

6. Take Time For Yourself- Even it if it is just 30 minutes once a week. You will look forward to this time and feel better about yourself . As moms and wives we come last alot, our health and confidence is important to our own well being and our family's. It has to be a priority! I use this time to visualize and plan my life. Find a source of motivation or personal growth help - I read- latest Vallerie Bertanelli's new book.

Best of Luck To You.

Cut out all sweets, dough products, colas.... YOu will be amazed at the weight you can loose by cutting out the aforementioned items. No carbinated drinks... Drink green tea, water, eat fruit/vegetables... Walk a mile or two each day. Do not eat anything pass 7:30 or 8:00 pm.