Diet teas and herbal supplements

[ArmyPrincess819]

I don't have a nutrionist and I don't always believe everything I read on the internet. My son is 6 mos old and I have my last 30 to lose. The weather is not always the greatest and I don't have a gym membership anywhere yet. I keep seeing in the stores weightloss tea and herbal weightloss pills. Does anyone have any personal knowledge or heard if it really works.? Any advice would be great!!!!

Thanks,
AP

[ArmyPrincess819]

Thank you for all this information! It's going to be a long road the weather here really isn't cooperating and I feel a bit lazy too. I have been trying to watch my calorie intake along with fat I'm staying away from soda and for snacks a few pretzels here and there. I feel I'm at the point where maybe seeing a nutrionist and getting a really good diet and then going to the gym is really the only solution! I guess I took for granted I was tiny becoming pg I figured I would gain less weight....... Wrong almost 90 lbs I gained..Yuck! I'm proud tho I have lost alot on my own with just simple things like wheat instead of white no fast food etc. I just want to feel better all around about my body image! Thanks again!

AP

[Barb135]

We don't actually make up the diet for you.  That would be for you to do, based on your likes and dislikes, as well as the number of calories you need/day.  I will be glad to help you figure that out if you like.  It's based on your age, height, current weight and activity level.  

I, too, refuse to give up everything; however, there are a few changes that you can make relatively easily -- such as replacing sodas with water, switching from white bread to wheat, go to low/no fat dairy, make sure you get several servings/day of fresh/frozen fruits and veggies (most veggies, especially, fill you up for very few calories).  Higher protein and complex carbs help you fill up faster and stay fuller longer.  Also make sure you get some "good for you" fats, as they will help make you feel more satisfied.  For that occasional piece of chocolate, make it dark chocolate (at least 60%), rather than milk chocolate and it will actually be good for you.  

I'd also recommend that you implement the food diary here on Med Help -- that will help you keep track of your calorie intake each day, so you will know where/when to cut back or what you may need to eat more of in order to get the necessary nutrients.  It's also helpful to learn what a "portion" is; that will help you keep things in line much easier.  For instance, a "portion" of meat is 3 oz - approx the size of a deck of cards, so if you are eating a 10 oz rib eye, the portion will be way too large (and rib eye, though very tasty is also very fatty). Stick with lean meats and trim away visible fat.  

Regarding exercise -- I don't believe that you have to spend a lot of $ or even join a gym, if that's not what you really want to do because the cost might be wasted if you don't enjoy it or stick with it.  Most people have a dvd player these days, so you can go to your local library and borrow dvds to exercise with. You can also find exercise videos on the internet and watch them for free.  If your son is 6 months old, maybe you could put him in a bouncy seat or something and let him watch you -- he might find it interesting to watch mom getting her exercise or maybe he'll find it amusing and get a chuckle out of it, like my hubby does when *I* work out in front of him......lol

Last, but not least -- I might suggest that you talk to your doctor and make sure you rule out any possible medical issues, such as hypothyroidism, insulin resistance, PCOS, etc.  There are several of us on here who have hypothyroidism, as well as some of the other issues and we can all vouch for the fact that losing weight with any one of these is no walk in the park.  

Wishing you the best of luck and please let me know if you'd like some help.  I hope you will stay with us, as there is a lot of support and motivation to be found here.  We are all friends and help each other through both the good and bad, easy or hard.  We've all had our ups and downs and personally, I find it very comforting to come here and post to my friends so they can help me over the humps.  Hope you'll feel the same.

[ArmyPrincess819]

Thank you so much for the helpful info. I just had my check-up with my primary care and the dr did not give me a diet. I didn't think to ask why I guess I sort of assumed that it's because I just delivered my son 6 mos ago. I have my last 30 to lose. My weight sky rocketed from 127 all the way to 206. I'm now at about 158 it goes up to 165 I'm at the see saw stage. I try to watch what I eat I do occassionally have a glass of soda or some choc. However I do if I have pizza have a slice 2 tops and that is rare. I do day to day watch my diet I just refuse to completely give up everything. As for exercise I don't do much the weather has been awful here and during the day my son really doesn't nap and honestly I'm exhausted. I have to look into a gym membership my son is now old enough to go in the day care at the gym. A diet if you have one would be great I would love some info! Thanks for your reply!!!!

AP

[Barb135]

I have yet to see any of the teas that work for weight loss, same goes for the herbal supplements.  AND if you would happen to find one that does work, chances are you will regain whatever you lose, as soon as you stop using it.  

The best way to lose that weight is with a combination of diet and exercise.  The weather in parts of the country/world is not good right now, but there are a ton of things you can do in the house. Check out some exercise videos on the internet - there are a lot of them you can do for free; also check out your local library - you can borrow them and when you get tired of them, just take them back and get something else.  

Center your diet around lean proteins, fresh fruits and veggies, low/no fat dairy, etc.  

If you care to give us more info, we can help you figure the number of calories you need daily, as well as help with exercise ideas, motivation and support.