What Did You Do to Take the Weight Off

After my first baby, we took him hiking every weekend. The weight melted off. The weather and the then two year old didn't allow that after I had baby #2. So now I'm trying to lose some pounds by strapping my boys in the bike trailer and pull them around the neighborhood. I can't do anything too strenuous because I have fibromyalgia--if I overdo it, I'm limping and in pain for 4-5 days and I feel like I never want to exercise again! So it's a fine line I walk. But I think pulling 75 pounds (and that's just the boys, not the trailer!) ought to help a bit!

I recommend swimming if you have a place you can go. My doctor told me it's the best exercise because it works so many muscles. I swim laps for twenty minutes and then tread water for ten to cool down. Good luck with the weight loss!!!

Don't forget weight training. I am a cardio addict but I have gotten amazing results from adding weight training and swimming to my workout regime. Don't fear bulky muscles . . . they are really hard to get! Good luck and as they say in Runners Magazine "waddle on friends . . . waddle on!"

H., I am also a 32 year old SAHM. At 5'2" I weighed 163 18 months ago. And now I am down to 115 and holding steady. It sounds like you have a good amount of time dedicated to exercise. I would suggest adding some strength training. By building some muscle, you will actually burn more calories throughout the day. I prefer the machines as opposed to free weights but, whatever you like. Start low on the weight and do three sets of 15 repetitions. If you do higher weight and lower reps you will be building more muscle bulk. What you should be going for is lean muscle mass by doing lower weight and higher reps. I work out four days a week for 1-1.25 hours. About 20 minutes on weights. 30-40 min on cardio machine (bike, elliptical trainer, etc.). 10-15 min stretching. One day a week I take an aerobics class to vary my workout.
Don't forget to watch what you eat and drink plenty of water! You can easily eat/drink as many calories as you burn and not see any results. I used a computer program to keep track of calories. I don't like the word diet. I am more of an "everything in moderation" person.
Most of all: Don't give up! Your on the right track. You will feel so much better about yourself. And, you can enjoy updating your wordrobe as the weight comes off (my husband enjoyed it, too).
Good Luck,
N.

I really love to walk. it is so simple, costs no money and enjoyable! I go a minnimum of four miles every day with quite a few hills in between. It takes me about an hour and if I can I will go twice a day. I lost weight a year ago with weight watchers and have kept it off for a year. The walking works because I enjoy it and I take my kids with me if I have to( although if I can I like to go by myself for some nice me time), I have a jogger stroller and my older kids can walk or ride their bikes along with me. Good luck to you and stick with it, it takes awhile to lose the weight in a healthy way but I highly encourage you to do this, for your health and for an example to set for your kids.

I'm going to echo the comments about using some type of weight-training in addition to cardio. Also I have found Pilates to make a huge difference for me! I was just hoping to tone up my abs after my last baby, but ended up losing all of my weight as well-thanks to 20min of Pilates a day, with about 20min 2 or 3 times a week on the elliptical thrown in. It was really nice to not feel like I was consumed with the amount of time it took to workout!

I just had another baby, and have just started training for a triathlon, so we'll see what the cycling/running/swimming can do for me this time. I'll throw Pilates back in there too once I make it past the 6wk mark.

Hi H.!

I am your same height and when I focused only on cardio work, I had a hard time keeping my weight down and my figure looking as I wanted it. Currently I'm 9 months pregnant, so my weight does not apply! LOL! But a few years back, I was at about 145 and flabby. I was unhappy not only with the 145 but with the flabbiness. I worked with a personal trainer for a few months to learn how to lift correctly (hold your abs in on every kind of lift) and what the different muscle groups were that I should work on (legs, arms, etc.) and what specific exercises I could do for each group. I wound up working out each of three muscle groups twice a week so each muscle group had a couple of days off between lifts and my whole body had a day off each week. I only wound up losing 10 lbs., but I have to tell you that I have never been happier with my muscle tone and body shape. Since I was gaining muscle while losing fat and muscle weighs more than fat, I had to be patient while waiting for the weight number to go down because it happened slower than if I were just losing fat and not gaining any muscle. But I absolutely loved the results on my body shape from weight training. I still did some cardio (the trainer recommended 15-20 minutes per workout session) and spent the rest of the time on weight training and loved it. I hope to use some of that training post-baby to get back in shape! Good luck and all the best to you.

Yup, make sure you do some weight training to build muscle. Muscle weighs more than fat, so you might drop the fat without dropping as many pounds, but you will see a difference in your clothing fit and your body! If you want to build sleek muscle rather than bulk up, do more repetitions with less weight.

Pilates is also amazing. It was designed to help dancers build sleek, lean, toned bodies. When I was doing Pilates every morning, I could immediately feel a difference in the way I stood. It is tremendously important to have a strong core muscle group, as that is what supports you througout your entire day. There are Pilates studios and Pilates machines in many gyms, but you can also get a pretty good workout with some stretchy bands and a Pilates DVD.

One final thought, diet is very important. However, you did not mention how old your baby is and whether or not your a breastfeeding. If you are nursing your baby, don't forget that you need to have plenty of high-quality food and a lot of water in your diet to make milk for your baby. Many moms who aggressively exercise and cut calories trying to "get their body back" have found that they lose their milk. It is something that is important to be aware of if you are nursing your baby.

Best of luck,
S.

You seem to be doing great on the cardio! How about adding weight lifting to the mix? Muscle burns more calories than fat, and everyone looks good with a little muscle on them. Do more reps with less weight on them to get toned without being bulky. Get help from someone who knows what they are doing first. Good luck!

I train for a triathlon, everything just started melting away! I swim, bike, and run differing days, with strength training 2x a week, and yoga whenever I can. Sounds like a whole lot, but it works since I've made it part of my lifestyle. My training site is beginnertriathlete.com, I highly recommend it!

Hey girl!! I am glad to hear you are excersizing! I am a 31 year old mom of three, and I was at a crazy place in my life about 1 year ago. I had tried excersizing at least 5 times a week, eating great, and I still couldn't seem to get the lbs. off or the energy I was looking for. I FOUND the coolest thing. I did a a full body nutritional cleanse and started to do strength training and running. It was and is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I was able to lose over 45 lbs. and 42 inches off my body. The cool part about the cleanse was the energy part. It was like I came out of a murcky daze..it was awesome. I recomend it to EVERYONE and anyone that wants to take their health to the next level! It has been a year since I lost the weight and it has stayed off. That has been the most important part of all.

I like to add in circuit weight training 2 or 3 times a week. If you can build more muscle mass, your metablic rate will go up which will help you burn more calories. I use light weights and do a circuit that hits all major muscle groups (squats, flys, v-lifts... the basics). Good luck!

Defintely check out website: slimbodycoach.com

They have a free website to chat with others for support and a GREAT product. I was the Round 1 Winner in 2007.

Also, I love more than any other workout, hands down, the Turbo Jame series. I love aerobics and Taebo, and it's kind of a mixture of both but I never get tired of it!

Best wishes, D.

It all depends on what you like... I love to dance and hate running because i have a very large chest. it took me a while but i have found that a combination of yoga and belly dancing can really whip you into shape. Belly dancing has wittled down my waist and helps me to feel sexy and confident with my body even though i haven't lost ALL of the baby weight just yet. The videos i like are Namaste Yoga and Shimmy.

I think what you are doing for exercise sounds great. Just remember that to lose weight exercise and dieting go hand and hand. If you really want to watch the pounds fall off you must make sure that you burn off more calories then you take in for the day. Other wise you will just maintain you weight.

I just met with a personal trainer yesterday.

As far as eating, you HAVE to eat a breakfast full of protein are carbs so that you have energy for your workout. If not, your body does not respond well to exercise. You burn muscle and hoard fat because your body is in starvation mode. You have to try for 25 grams of protein for breakfast- cottage cheese and yogurt have a lot of protein, and eggs, and nuts, so it doesn't have to be meat.

Then, he said you have to do a different cardio workout every day, not exerting yourself too little and not exerting yourself too much. So one day cycling, next day running, next day swimming, next day rowing machine, etc. Plus weight lifting 3 times a week.

Marci

First of all good for you, you sound like you are doing great and are committed. Everyone has given a lot of good advise. I would agree on mixing up your cardio a bit and throw in some weights. More muscle mean better metabolism. My hubby and I decided this year to become healthier people. We work out 4 to 6 times a week (at the beginning we went to the gym 6 times a week) We would mix it up by doing cardio 2-3 times a week, weights 2 times a week and yoga 2 times a week. We really paid attention to what we eat. Low fats, watching calories, avoiding simple sugars, adding in more whole grains. We do that 6 times a week. We give ourself one day a week to indulge in all the food cravings and go out to eat. There is a website called the dailyplate and its an easy way to keep track of what you eat and how much you burn. During this we have learned a lot about how we eat. Portions are a key culprit. I also had a habit of munching off my kidos food if she didnt finish it. Also as mentioned before your body will get use to a routine so if you start to stall out switch it up. Eat a little bit more for a week, switch what you do to exercise, or change when you eat such as going from 3 meal to 5 little meals. Also dont eat right before bed time. We've had to make this a lifetime commitment because we have failed in the past if we said we would diet. Its a lot of hard work and I still wake up sore some mornings but its worth it. We have both lost over 45 pounds since the first of the year. Good luck and keep going. Your doing great. You can do it!!!!

Hi H.,
My name is D., I'am a 35 Y/O and I used to be overweight a couple yrs. ago. After trying these amazing products, in the first week I lost 7 LBS and continued to lose 30 LBS and I've kept that off and I don't even have to exercise because who likes to exercise anyway ha ha. What I do know is that if your exercising already, do you really want to do that for the rest of your life just to keep the weight off?

I dropped 5 pounds by eating Cheerios for breakfast everyday. It is a very easy way to jump start a diet. I also started taking a kick boxing class too so lets hope more pounds melt away!!

Do some strength and weight training. One pound of muscle burns 50 calories. When you combine it with the cardio, it should do great stuff! Good luck and keep working at it!

Body for Life by Bill Philips. Love it.

This is going to sound weird but cut your cardio in half, either fewer days or shorter time each day. Either way, up the intensity for that time, and mix up what you do with new stuff. Your body gets used to what its doing and is burning a lot fewer calories. Go to the library and get some exercise videos to try out. You should feel tired after the work out but not so exhausted that you don't have energy for the rest of the day. Use the other half of your normal work out for resistance training (weights, yoga, pilates, those funny big rubber bands). Again, check out the library for videos. When you build muscle, your metabolism goes up (it takes more calories to maintain the muscle leading to fewer stored as fat). It also gives you a lean, strong, sexy look. Focus on the core (all the abdominal muscles, pelvic floor, hips and such) but don't neglect your arms and chest - you're not going to bulk up like a body builder unless you really go overboard.
Cut your calories back, but not in half. I would say take a week keeping track of what you eat (write it down). You may not even need to count the calories. At the end of the week look at your eating habits and find where you can change - portion size is often the culprit, also we all tend to overindulge our sweet tooth :). Add in more veggies, which are basically freebies, and make sure that your breads and cereals have as much whole-grain as possible.
You may want to consider a gym membership for a while. Several (24-hour fitness, Golds gym, maybe others) have personal trainers who can help you figure out the right balance of cardio, resistance, and diet. It can get pricey, but it can also help a lot.
Good luck -- You can do it!!

I know you wrote this in August and it is November. I am sure you have figured things out by now. I just thought I would respond anyway. My husband and I own a personal training company (I have struggled for years with my weight). The only thing that has ever helped me was food logging. I tried weight watchers and that did work for awhile. Then we invested in this food logging program we wanted to offer our clients. Little did I know that I was not getting all the nutrition I needed. Here is a 7 day activation code: R4QY69 Our website is www.phys1que.com on the home page click PHYS1QUE nutrition. I hope this helps! Good luck!

I think you have already gotten good feedback. I agree that a healthy diet and exercise go hand and hand. I caution you with the word "diet." Instead of jumping on the bandwagon with a fad diet --- make an appointment with a nutritionist to determine what is best for YOU. For example, I was having health problems this past winter. My friend is a natural health consultant. Based on my health needs, she put me on a low sodium/low carb diet. The direct result was that I felt better. In addition I lost a little weight and size. I think it's a good point to pay more attention to your inches as opposed to your weight. I also think it's a good point to take care of your baby/breastfeeding. Be patient with yourself as far as losing weight. It's more important that you're a good mom. Focus on your health as opposed to your weight. Good luck.

I am 35 and a mother of two. I started doing The Firm exercise program. In combines weights and cardio and it comes with the weights. I got it through Gaiam. My muscles are tone and I'm starting to loose weight. Give it time and it will make a difference. It's two days on three days off and each video is 40 - 60 minutes. Good luck.

I bike, walk, hike, run on occasion and make sure to hit up Body Flow (yoga/tai chi/pilates mix) and Spinning. I don't do weights, and probably should...I just feel goofy doing it for some reason...
Sounds like you're doing a great job already, I'm jealous!! Check out http://www.livebornfit.com/livefit.html or http://fitnessformommies.net/

Good luck! I know you'll do great!

H.,

Check out the book "Hot Point Fitness" on Amazon. It not only lays out every workout for 3 months, but also gives you a very simple eating plan.

I'm 32 with 4 kids 5'5" at 165ish after last child who is 14 months, currently at a thin 140 size 6/7. I am a firm beliver in low carb eating. I have 3 kids in three different schools and a baby and I am a SAHM with a busier schedule than I have ever had.

Low carb eating (I am reading Atkins for Life) is almost identical to a diabetic diet. I have started a nice moderate yoga routine as I can fit it in, but do not really excersie regularly. I can't wait to see what I can accomplish with a toning work out!!! Anyway, just thought I would add my 2 cents whatever they are worth, I am feeling great, eating well and have a little more energy and enthusiasm about keeping the weight off!

Good luck with your work outs and whatever else you decide to go with.

M.

H.--great job for even wanting to work out and get in better shape! I felt the same way you did after my son was born and started working out to lose the extra pounds I gained during my pregnancy. I used a calorie counter to keep me in check and logged all the cardio/weight training activity I did for four months. I ended up losing 35 lbs, which brought me down to my pre-pregnancy weight. I used the Body Bugg through 24Hr Fitness and it worked fantastic. However, you could go a cheaper way and get a pedometer with a calorie counter so you know how many calories you are burning. As long as the calories you are eating are less than what you are burning, you will lose weight. It's pretty fail proof, but you have to keep everything logged. You will be amazed how quickly the calories add up! Good luck to you!

this may sound really extreme, but if you are healthy and all I simply cut my food in half. I know that sounds really harsh, but it worked for me. I went from a size 22 to a 12 from abut 225 to about 179 but I am 5'10" and I am working to get to about 150 give or take. btw I have 3 kids

peace

C.

First I had to change my eating habits and I was able to work out afterwards. My body was so messed up from my pregnancy's. It was especially confused while I was nursing and would not allow me to lose weight but would gain weight if I exercised.

What worked for me was the South Beach Diet. It is a diet where the first two weeks you are reprogramming your body, so you avoid, sugars, carbs, and eat lots of veggies, cheese, eggs, and meat for dinners. I will not kid you, it is hard. But I kept on it because I would weigh my self each day and be seeing my numbers coming off on the scale. After baby #1 I lost 10lbs in 2 weeks and after Baby #2 I lost 8 lbs in the first week. Which is a lot of weight to lose for us short gals. Then kept on losing 2 pounds each week until I got to my "ideal" weight. Prior to my dieting I would start a week early with only cutting out the sugars and lost 4 lbs doing that (I am a sugar lover though).

I hope this helps you or at least gives you something to think of. Good Luck

Good for you for excercising. I know it is neccessary for a healthy lifestyle, but I hate doing it, so I force myself to walk. What you are doing sounds like it will be very effective, especially if you combine it with a healthy diet. I have always enjoyed swimming (you can't feel the sweat!)--maybe give that a try if your gym has a pool. I wish I had that option, but I live in a tiny town, and unfortunately, we only have an outdoor pool, which is too crowded in the summer for me to lap swim.

StrollerFit SAVED me!! This amazing program has given me a new body(I've never been in this good of shape IN MY LIFE)and a whole network of moms with whom I have become friends. There's not competition, so I don't feel like I'm walking into a room full of Barbie dolls and being sized up. The moms are all there with their kids and we have a blast. We entertain the kids and the kids entertain us right back.

The instructors are all trained in pre and post natal fitness and they can modify the workout just for you. It's almost like personal training but with other moms who are going through the same thing as you.

For more information, visit: www.strollerfit.com I wish you the best!

Way to go to want to lose the weight. I jus had my third and was really nervous about getting the weight off so I've been doing Tae-Bo. IT's been great. I have 3 different videos. one is only 8 minutes for those days I don't feel like doing it or not enough time. I lost 4 lbs the first week. Then of course I am watching what I eat. I try to make sure I eat veggies every meal and I eat them first and then I eat my other food. That way I fill up more on veggies then I do the other stuff. It seems to be working good. I've lost 10 lbs in 6 weeks. Good luck!

I lost 25 lbs this spring (went from 145 to 120 - and am trying to get to 115) - by doing cardio but also by doing lots of strength training (for every pound of muscle you gain, your body burns 50 more calories a day) and by sticking to a strict diet that consisted of 6 small meals a day (totaling between 1250 and 1500 calories) - it is mostly lean proteins and whole grains. I try to eat 20 g of protien with each major meal (breakfast, lunch and dinner). I avoid processed foods (too much sodium) and try not to eat after 6:30 pm.

Try Sparkpeople.com - it is free, has a whole meal plan (with grocery lists), as well as a strength training program, cardio program - it has really helped me lose and leep the weight off.

Good luck! It is hard work - but it is worth it!

I have an Ana Caban pilates dvd 'beginning mat workout'. you can always find something on there at your level. there is a 25 min. workout and a 12 min. energy boost workout and it puts my back in place and strenghtens the muscles to hold it there.

I also do boys push-ups. If you hold your body tight enough, it is an allover workout for days you just don't have time for anything else. I generally do 50; do what you can and work up.

just reading your post you are doing a little too much cardio and not enough weight resistance. I just blogged about this, so check it out, 2nd article down:

http://S.-mcintosh.blogspot.com/

Visit www.fitday.com it is a food/exercise journal that will help you plan and track your daily calorie and fat intake and exercise as well as nutritional/dietary needs and weight loss. It is free, and when I'm serious about taking care of my body, it's been great for me. Keeping track of what I ate really gives me good feedback about how I'm doing and helps keeps me on track.

Weight Watchers is amazing and works.
Good luck, S.

Good 4 u H.! That is awesome! I like the elliptical machine for 30 minutes. I also do hands weights, use the balance ball for crunches, some running, jump roping, lunges, a little pilates, and walking. Keep up the great work!

First, great job on your commitment to exercise!
I'm a trainer and fitness instructor, and a couple of things you should keep in mind.

1) is your intensity up to par - you should feel winded, (on a scale of 1-10, 10 being absolutely unable to maintain your level more than a few seconds) you should work at about a 7-8 range for at least 20 min of your hour.
2)your diet. Exercise is important, but diet can contribute as much as 85% of the problem - getting rid of the refined carbs, lots of fruits and veggies and freshly prepared products. Stay out of restaurants as much as you can. Perhaps keeping a food diary will help - so that you can see where you can cut things out.
3) add some weight training to build lean muscle mass

HOPE THIS HELPS!