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Weight Loss Ideas
Hey All,
I am new to this forum. I have been on the Pregnancy forum for quite some time. Anyway, I need some help from you all. Before I got pregnant I was 140 pounds and 5'7" (approximately a sie 4 or 6). I got pregnant in October of 2007 and gained 60 pounds throughout my pregnancy. After delivery I immediately took off 35 pounds and felt great because I was almost there. Unfortunately however, I developed Post Partum Depression and started taking meds which made me baloon up 30 pounds in 3 months. This devastated me. I have been trying to eat healthy but as I stated my Post Partum Depression gets the best of me at times. I tend to eat when I'm depressed and I tend to get lazy and skip exercise. My son is now 8 months old and I have since stopped taking the medication that made me eat like crazy. I want to be healthy for my son and right now, while I am not obese, I am weighing in at 188. I need help and motivation and some tips from you all to help me get on the right track. I don't want this to get the best of me and I was hoping someone could offer some tips that worked for them or maybe even some motivation. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
I am new to this forum. I have been on the Pregnancy forum for quite some time. Anyway, I need some help from you all. Before I got pregnant I was 140 pounds and 5'7" (approximately a sie 4 or 6). I got pregnant in October of 2007 and gained 60 pounds throughout my pregnancy. After delivery I immediately took off 35 pounds and felt great because I was almost there. Unfortunately however, I developed Post Partum Depression and started taking meds which made me baloon up 30 pounds in 3 months. This devastated me. I have been trying to eat healthy but as I stated my Post Partum Depression gets the best of me at times. I tend to eat when I'm depressed and I tend to get lazy and skip exercise. My son is now 8 months old and I have since stopped taking the medication that made me eat like crazy. I want to be healthy for my son and right now, while I am not obese, I am weighing in at 188. I need help and motivation and some tips from you all to help me get on the right track. I don't want this to get the best of me and I was hoping someone could offer some tips that worked for them or maybe even some motivation. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
I joined this forum for almost identical reasons except I didn't take medications. Instead I developed PCOS (you may have heard that term from hanging out on the pregnancy forums), which is a fertility condition that can make it very difficult to lose weight.
When I joined this forum I lost 8 lbs in one month! Then I got pregnant (SURPRISE!) so I'm not actually here to lose weight anymore but I'll definitely be back once I have baby at the end of the year because these people ARE AMAZING!
I actually weighed the same as you, give or take a few lbs. My muddled pregnancy brain can't remember correctly and I'm too tired to go look it up. Anyway, I was around 187 lbs I think. So I didn't get close to my goal but being pregnant is more important to me at this point as it was a LONG time waiting for that BFP.
I think your FIRST STEP should be to: clean out your fridge and cupboards. Get rid of the processed foods, foods high in saturated fats, etc. Fill them with fresh fruits and veggies (or frozen if you need it). Get yogurt, cottage cheese, maybe some protein bars (I love Luna bars and Special K bars and Slim Fast Shakes), whole wheat pasta and breads, etc.
From there, keep a food log. I used one at s park p eople (no spaces) which allows you to also track your exercise. They will tailor meal plans for your specific caloric needs. You don't have to get obsessive, just try this for a couple weeks to see where you are at calorie-wise and to see how much fiber, fat, carbs, etc. you eat as well.
DRINK WATER! I can't say it enough. It gave me SO MUCH energy. I didn't drink anything else but water and sometimes milk. The rule is to drink half your weight in ounces (so you'd need about 94 ounces of water a day).
And finally you should really find workouts that will work for you. I bought the 30-Day Shred by Jillian (from Biggest Loser) to start building my endurance. I also started using workouts on s park p eople. You need to do cardio at least 5 times a week and weights every other day. You can work abs everyday.
I did my workouts at night because that is when it worked for me. You don't have to do it in the morning. Make a date with yourself every day to workout.
And of course, stick around here for support and love!
When I joined this forum I lost 8 lbs in one month! Then I got pregnant (SURPRISE!) so I'm not actually here to lose weight anymore but I'll definitely be back once I have baby at the end of the year because these people ARE AMAZING!
I actually weighed the same as you, give or take a few lbs. My muddled pregnancy brain can't remember correctly and I'm too tired to go look it up. Anyway, I was around 187 lbs I think. So I didn't get close to my goal but being pregnant is more important to me at this point as it was a LONG time waiting for that BFP.
I think your FIRST STEP should be to: clean out your fridge and cupboards. Get rid of the processed foods, foods high in saturated fats, etc. Fill them with fresh fruits and veggies (or frozen if you need it). Get yogurt, cottage cheese, maybe some protein bars (I love Luna bars and Special K bars and Slim Fast Shakes), whole wheat pasta and breads, etc.
From there, keep a food log. I used one at s park p eople (no spaces) which allows you to also track your exercise. They will tailor meal plans for your specific caloric needs. You don't have to get obsessive, just try this for a couple weeks to see where you are at calorie-wise and to see how much fiber, fat, carbs, etc. you eat as well.
DRINK WATER! I can't say it enough. It gave me SO MUCH energy. I didn't drink anything else but water and sometimes milk. The rule is to drink half your weight in ounces (so you'd need about 94 ounces of water a day).
And finally you should really find workouts that will work for you. I bought the 30-Day Shred by Jillian (from Biggest Loser) to start building my endurance. I also started using workouts on s park p eople. You need to do cardio at least 5 times a week and weights every other day. You can work abs everyday.
I did my workouts at night because that is when it worked for me. You don't have to do it in the morning. Make a date with yourself every day to workout.
And of course, stick around here for support and love!
First, Welcome! Second, congratulations on a beautiful baby boy! I'm sorry about your Post Partum Depression.
This is the point at which I go, "Ugh. Where do I begin? How can I encourage her? How can I make this short and sweet?" I never get clear answers to those questions. But, here goes...
I want you to know that you CAN do it! It won't happen as quickly as you might like, but you are young and it will probably be quicker than it was for me. About 2 1/2 years ago, I began losing weight and ended up losing 70+ lbs. Like you, I am 5'7", and I got down to 140. I had a "relapse" last year and didn't stop it until I had re-gained 33lbs. I now weigh 149 - almost to my goal (again!).
I started slowly. I don't think I even knew I started lol ! I was rehabbing after minor knee surgery and started walking every day. I realized that my doctor only ordered very little PT because Why "waste" insurance $ on "her"? I appeared to be an over-weight, middle-aged (GASP!) woman. THAT spurred me into action! Good!
Those walks turned into weeks of 3-mile/day walks. Walking daily turned into better food choices...why eat mindlessly when I walked painfully for 3 miles? Pretty soon, I was losing weight and I was on a roll. After probably 3 weeks, I took my measurements. If you haven't done this, do it now. It will encourage you so much as you do this WITH US.
Then, I started keeping a food journal. OH! That is a wonderful tool! If you KNOW that you are going to write down EVERY BITE that goes into your mouth...you are going to think before you eat. When little Max is eating big boy food, you won't be tempted to eat his last "few bites" of beans and wieners or mac and cheese if you know that "I have to write that down!" It was in that same book that I kept my measurements. On the first of every month, I write down my weight, and selected measurements (waist, hips, r. thigh, r. calf, bust, r. upper arm). I still do it, although I wasn't doing it for a while. I weigh every day, but I only record it in that book once/month.
I am NOT one to go on a diet or count calories. Been there; done that. NOW, if you are someone who needs to do that, do it!!! You know your personality; I know mine. The reason I don't do diets any more (and I've done lots: Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Atkins, cabbage soup, and many more!) is because they made me focus on food and my next meal. FOOD was all I thought about...OMGosh! PLUS, I knew that I HAD to get a handle on my eating habits FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!
I DID make some dietary changes, though. I made breakfast not negotiable. I am not hungry in the a.m.'s, except for very rarely. I usually only eat a low-fat yogurt because that's all I'm hungry for. On days when I'm going to do a vigorous cardio class, I might also eat either a 10g protein bar OR a boiled egg. But on days when I'm doing strength training, the yogurt is sufficient. The other dietary changes I made were these: I tried to increase lean protein, increase fiber, eat 3 servings of low-fat dairy/day. That's it. Eating fewer simple carbs (I'm a carboholic!!!) took care of itself because the other stuff filled me up. Oh, yeah: I had to learn to drink plenty of water. I didn't drink anything. For some reason, I'm never thirsty. Now, I'm always thirsty and I always carry water with me. Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks?
The biggie was exercise... How was I gonna make THAT stick??? It never had in the past. Plus, I had lived for almost 38 years in Orlando, FL, but now found myself living in WI where I couldn't count on outdoor walks 365 days of the year. I was worrying about what I'd do. Well, on one of my walks, the solution came. I walked by my local YMCA every day. The marquee flashed openings for fitness instructors, saying they'd even be willing to train! I called and somehow got myself hired! I began as a step aerobics instructor and worked on getting certified. Initially I got to go to any classes I wanted - just to get into shape! WOW!!! What an opportunity! Within a few months, I was teaching. Within 6 months, I had my 5th knee surgery. Teaching step was out!
No problem, my boss liked me and found other teaching opportunities for me. It meant more training, more workshops, but it meant I had to stay in shape.
Please know I said all that to say this: I am a person who LOVES ruts. I could eat the same thing every day and it would be JUNK FOOD. And, I never in a million years would have thought I would LOVE exercise!!! But, now I go to the Y 4-5 days/week. When the ice is gone, I also walk outdoors at least as many days. If I can have such a metamorphosis at MY age, ANYONE CAN...YOU DEFINITELY CAN!
I'm sorry this is so long, but I hope you find some encouragement within! Please don't be a stranger. I'm normal, but some on this forum are "crazy". LOL!
This is the point at which I go, "Ugh. Where do I begin? How can I encourage her? How can I make this short and sweet?" I never get clear answers to those questions. But, here goes...
I want you to know that you CAN do it! It won't happen as quickly as you might like, but you are young and it will probably be quicker than it was for me. About 2 1/2 years ago, I began losing weight and ended up losing 70+ lbs. Like you, I am 5'7", and I got down to 140. I had a "relapse" last year and didn't stop it until I had re-gained 33lbs. I now weigh 149 - almost to my goal (again!).
I started slowly. I don't think I even knew I started lol ! I was rehabbing after minor knee surgery and started walking every day. I realized that my doctor only ordered very little PT because Why "waste" insurance $ on "her"? I appeared to be an over-weight, middle-aged (GASP!) woman. THAT spurred me into action! Good!
Those walks turned into weeks of 3-mile/day walks. Walking daily turned into better food choices...why eat mindlessly when I walked painfully for 3 miles? Pretty soon, I was losing weight and I was on a roll. After probably 3 weeks, I took my measurements. If you haven't done this, do it now. It will encourage you so much as you do this WITH US.
Then, I started keeping a food journal. OH! That is a wonderful tool! If you KNOW that you are going to write down EVERY BITE that goes into your mouth...you are going to think before you eat. When little Max is eating big boy food, you won't be tempted to eat his last "few bites" of beans and wieners or mac and cheese if you know that "I have to write that down!" It was in that same book that I kept my measurements. On the first of every month, I write down my weight, and selected measurements (waist, hips, r. thigh, r. calf, bust, r. upper arm). I still do it, although I wasn't doing it for a while. I weigh every day, but I only record it in that book once/month.
I am NOT one to go on a diet or count calories. Been there; done that. NOW, if you are someone who needs to do that, do it!!! You know your personality; I know mine. The reason I don't do diets any more (and I've done lots: Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Atkins, cabbage soup, and many more!) is because they made me focus on food and my next meal. FOOD was all I thought about...OMGosh! PLUS, I knew that I HAD to get a handle on my eating habits FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!
I DID make some dietary changes, though. I made breakfast not negotiable. I am not hungry in the a.m.'s, except for very rarely. I usually only eat a low-fat yogurt because that's all I'm hungry for. On days when I'm going to do a vigorous cardio class, I might also eat either a 10g protein bar OR a boiled egg. But on days when I'm doing strength training, the yogurt is sufficient. The other dietary changes I made were these: I tried to increase lean protein, increase fiber, eat 3 servings of low-fat dairy/day. That's it. Eating fewer simple carbs (I'm a carboholic!!!) took care of itself because the other stuff filled me up. Oh, yeah: I had to learn to drink plenty of water. I didn't drink anything. For some reason, I'm never thirsty. Now, I'm always thirsty and I always carry water with me. Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks?
The biggie was exercise... How was I gonna make THAT stick??? It never had in the past. Plus, I had lived for almost 38 years in Orlando, FL, but now found myself living in WI where I couldn't count on outdoor walks 365 days of the year. I was worrying about what I'd do. Well, on one of my walks, the solution came. I walked by my local YMCA every day. The marquee flashed openings for fitness instructors, saying they'd even be willing to train! I called and somehow got myself hired! I began as a step aerobics instructor and worked on getting certified. Initially I got to go to any classes I wanted - just to get into shape! WOW!!! What an opportunity! Within a few months, I was teaching. Within 6 months, I had my 5th knee surgery. Teaching step was out!
No problem, my boss liked me and found other teaching opportunities for me. It meant more training, more workshops, but it meant I had to stay in shape.
Please know I said all that to say this: I am a person who LOVES ruts. I could eat the same thing every day and it would be JUNK FOOD. And, I never in a million years would have thought I would LOVE exercise!!! But, now I go to the Y 4-5 days/week. When the ice is gone, I also walk outdoors at least as many days. If I can have such a metamorphosis at MY age, ANYONE CAN...YOU DEFINITELY CAN!
I'm sorry this is so long, but I hope you find some encouragement within! Please don't be a stranger. I'm normal, but some on this forum are "crazy". LOL!
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