Help with Finding a Weight Loss Plan

I have lost a little over 60 pounds since August. I am just aware of what I put in my mouth. Writing down all my food and staying within 1200-1300 calories. Also working out as much as I can. 3 days a week weights and 5-6 days a week cardio.

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You will find the most success if you view this process as a lifelong change in eating/exercising habits. If you are looking for a quick fix, fad diet, or magic pill...sure you may lose the weight initially but you will likely gain it all back and then some. More bad news - forget 'spot loss', such as trying to lose weight from a particular part of your body. On the bright side, however, you can do toning exercises that target your 'areas of concern' to tighten them up and give them a more smooth, toned appearance.

When planning meals, try shopping the 'perimeter' of the grocery store - in other words, limit the processed and junk foods. When considering snacking, reach for fruits and vegetables instead of chocolate, chips, and sweets. If you find that you are eating portions that are too big try the following: if you are doing the cooking, only put on your plate a single serving and then stash the rest away in a tupperware for lunch tomorrow (who wants to reheat the portion in the refrigerator that's already gotten cold?), if you are at a restaurant and the entree is too big, divide it in half and take half home in a doggie bag for the next day. Yes you can still have your pasta, and fortunately you can find pasta that is whole grain or high in dietary fiber.

Finally, it sounds like you're doing well with the exercise - keep up the walks! This enables you to either A) burn more calories (lose more weight) or B) eat more food (maintain weight). I would also add some strength-training or weight-bearing exercises to your regiment. Yes, adding muscle will make the number on the scale go up BUT you're toning muscles, giving them a better appearance not to mention strengthening your bones and helping to ward off osteoporosis.

I have a BA in Health & Physical Education and a Masters' in Kinesiology. If you are interested in learning more about strength training exercises you can do around the house with little or no equipment (since you mentioned joining a gym is out of the question), drop me a PM and I'll be glad to give you some tips.

People have had a lot of good advice here. I just have one more thing to add - a weights program really helps in terms of building lean muscle to help burn fat while you're at rest. I'm one of htose people who obsessed over doing lots of cardio and aerobic exercise to lose weight and shape up until I started doing a weights program. Squats and lunges holding weights, resistance bands, ankle weights for leg lifts, plus upper body weights (just 5-10 lbs) really help immensely in overall weight loss and toning, particularly in your hips and thighs (also my problem areas). And they're really not expensive to buy. You could probably get a small weight set, a resistance band and ankle weights for around $30 at Target.

I'm not really one for focusing on diet to lose weight, since it doesn't work that well for me, so I focus on exercise and see really good results.

I was always "that girl", too. I highly recommend Weight Watchers, because it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle. They teach you how to eat. Sounds like you are doing a lot of good things already, so portion control and how to have sweets without ruining your efforts are things they can teach you. I weigh less now than I did pre-baby, and am maintaining easily. You can do it online, but for me the meetings made a big difference. You learn a lot, and you bond with other people. Also weighing in, even though only you and the leader know how you did, can put some motivation in you when you need a push. Good luck!

In the past I did Weight Watchers and found it quite "easy" to do, given it was a diet and all. The nice thing with WW is that you do change your life permanently. I did it and it took me 2 months to loose 20 lbs. after my first son. I stopped writing down everything, but I was still aware of what foods were good/bad because of WW when I was on it. I have been following the program now (I had another boy), but it isn't working too well this time. But, I am getting things medically checked out. So, I think WW is the best program since it really does force you to modify your lifestyle so that you stick with it forever.

I am a weight loss coach for Herbalife International. The products work great if you are interested (the President of the FDA lost 80 lbs with Herbalife! I work with a fellow FDA board member)

I myself lost 26 lbs in 6 weeks after baby #1 and 13 inches - mostly in the waist, hips and thigh (I lost 6 inches in each of the thighs alone in 6 weeks!) And the products are NUTRITIONAL - I use the same products to lose weight that I do to be healthy during pregnancy.

Reply if you are interested or go to the website:

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GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!!

K.,
I was also 'that girl' that could eat anything and even did really well with my pregnancy gaining the 'normal' amount of weight. I have never dieted before and just started Weight Watchers. A friend of mine at work has done it before and said it was the only thing that worked for her. I don't even feel like it's a diet because I can eat anything I want, but if I have something dessert-y (I have a horrible sweet tooth), then I know I have to eat something that is fewer points the rest of the day. It makes you really notice what you're eating, which is just the first step in developing healthier habits. The bonus is that if you workout, or are active in other ways, you get to eat more points! Talking to my friend about it has really been a motivator too so if you ever want to chat about your progress, feel free to email me. Good Luck with whatever you decide to do!

I am at my almost heaviest now too after having twins 9 months ago. I have always had issues with weight but for the past 7-8 years I was doing really well at maintaining a great weight. Well, then I got pregnant and quit smoking. I have SUCH a sweet tooth. I didn't think it could get much worse. Boy was I wrong. And I am currently a SAHM so I just pick all day and I too am a carb addict. I am going back to the diet that worked for me 10 years ago - Weight Watchers. I just ordered the At Home Plan and starting May 1 plan to do just a 10 week session for weigh in's at a local meeting place. I found that program works best (meetings/at home). WW is really great because it teaches you portion control, encourages exercising and isn't too restrictive (i.e. you can eat what you want within reasonable means). Good luck!!!

I would recommend to not use a diet, but simply eat healthier and in smaller proportions. Diets never seem to work for any body. Just use your common sense and cut out foods with high starch (i.e. pasta) and high carb content. Cut back on the fruit, for it has a large amount of sugar, and eat more veggies. If you plan on walking more and becoming more active, eat chicken or fish for the protein, because you will need the energy. Basically, if someone really wants to loose weight, they can...they simply need to put their mind to it and do it! Just use common sense and eat healthy and be active! Good luck!

I am a certified personal trainer and have been in the fitness industry for 20 years. I have seen people lose weight successfully and successfully gain it back plus some. There is no secret or magic pill. What you need to do is change your lifestyle and just try to make healthy choices. Watch your portions, try to eat more vegetables and exercise regularly. Remember you are a role model for you daughter. You should not only be making healthy choices for yourself, but for her also. I have 2 children a 2 year old and a 4 year old and I have already started educating them on the importance of nutrition and exercise. The only diet I would recommend to my clients is Weight Watchers because that is the only one that seems to educate people on making the changes necessary for long term success. My sister has actually lost over 60 lbs. on Weight Watchers. Good Luck! If you have any specific questions on nutrition or exercise, feel free to email me anytime!

Hi K.,

I have had great success with the Weight Watchers programme. No gimmicks, special food, or false promises. It is a great way to learn portion control, and general healthy eating habits. All food has a specific 'point' value. You are allowed a certain numberof pointsa day, according to age, weight and activity levels. You writedown EVERYTHING you eat, and keep track of water, fruit and dairy intake. Nothing is really off limits, but you learn to be accountable for what you eat and the choices you make. I have lost 18 lbs so far, and feel great, and know that I will keep it off. It really works. I lost 2.4lbs in my first week, and am gradually loosing between 1 and 3 lbsa week, depending onhow diligent I have been,and how much I have worked out. I go to meetings in Wheaton, have a great group leader, and love the whole programme.

Check it out, and good luck!!

L. P

I recommend Weight Watchers. You can eat almost anything you want as long as you watch your portion size. After having 2 kids back to back, I needed to get my eating under control and found that Weight Watchers really works. I was able to lose 50 lbs in 10 months and have kept it off and I never feel deprived. The best part is that you don't have to buy special food like on some other programs. I eat the same food as I always have, but I prepare it in a healthier way. Good luck!

HI!
I did the Special K weight loss challenge and found it really easy to do with my son and doing home daycare. There was no calorie adding and not much planning so it worked for me! I lost 12 pounds in 10 weeks(then I stoppped b/c I got pregnant!). There is even an online group you can join for support. If you have want more specific info--e-mail me!
Good Luck!
L.

Hi, K.. I'm currently working on losing weight, and I'm using a website that a friend of mine told me about. It's called www.sparkpeople.com, and it's got all the tools you'd need - if you want meal ideas, they've got it, if you want the support of other members or their professionals, you've got it. If you want fitness videos, or tips, or recipes.... you get the picture. I originally started about a year ago, and lost 18 lbs. in about 7 weeks, then something happened that caused me to stop. I started up again a few weeks ago, and have lost 6 lbs. so far.

With the weather getting nice soon, commit to 1/2 hour walk 3 or 4 times a week, or more.

i use to go to weight watchers but then i went on vacation and then i got pregnant so my dieting was over lol but i do know that weight watchers works very well. They are very supportive and they have 2 diet plans so you get to choose which works best for you. i really need to go back its been 2 years sense i went. Good luck

I was able to eat anything until puberty hit. It's been downhill ever since, and my pregnancies haven't exactly helped...

On the plus side, I found some healthy and GOOD tasting recipes in the Better Homes and Gardens Diabetic cookbook. There's a nice balance in a diabetic diet, since it's more about carbs than sugars. I found out about some of it when I became diabetic during both my pregnancies. I'm not diabetic now, but still cooking from the cookbook because I want to lose weight and the recipes are actually good! And snacking on healthy stuff between meals (baby carrots with low-fat dressing, an apple with a little bit of peanut butter, etc.) it will help. The slimfast shakes have always just left me hungry and annoyed to be "drinking" my breakfast/lunch/whatever.

And, any exercise you can include, even though you can't join a gym - even a daily walk around the block would help. Or a workout video - you might find your daughter doing it with you!

Good luck!

I was just like you...I could eat 10 cupcakes and not gain a pound. In high school, I was underweight. To try to make me gain weight, my mom would make me eat dinner twice -- at 4pm and again at 8pm. It was crazy.

Now, having gone through just ONE pregnancy, I have gained 15 pounds and gone are those days! If I eat too much in 2 days, I immediately see the effects on the scale, and on my cheeks!

I also LOVE LOVE sweets, you name it. Ms Field's cookies...oh boy I could eat those all day..and I love Coke/Pepsi unfortunately. Not the diet ones.

Thus, I have resorted to watching what I put in my mouth. I don't keep ANY sweets at home, and keep soda binging to a minimum. I stopped eating take-out foods and buying food for lunch at work. I brought more salads, lean cuisine meals, and healthy snacks to munch on at work instead. I buy those flavored water from Wal-mart that mimics the taste of Coke (sigh, it STILL doesn't replace the rush I get with Coke!)

Also, I have started excercising on the elliptical machine we keep in the basement. Since I don't have time or money for a health club, we have gotten some free weights, a bench, and an elliptical all in the basement. Thus, when my daughter goes to bed at 8pm, I am free to go downstairs and excercise. Weight lifting is very essential to burning additional calories. You won't 'bulk up' like guys do, we are not programmed to do that.

I just started doing all this, and already lost some weight. But this is the way to go and I know it will work. It's a matter of will power and determination. I keep telling myself I want to be healthy for my daughter's sake.

Good luck!

Hi K., I am/was in the same boat. My dd just turned 1 yesterday and I had the lingering weight that wouldn't go away. My friend, a dietician, came over, went through my cabinets and gave me some advice. I started 1/1/07 and, to date, have lost 12 lbs. All I did was count my daily calories (kept b/w 1200-1300 a day) and exercised 30 minutes 3-4 times a week. My exercise consisted of alternating b/w the treadmill (2 miles running/brisk walking combo) and doing the Firm workouts. I cutdown on sweets, tried to cut out all transfats and watched my portions. I too used to eat whatever I wanted and didn't gain any weight but those days are now over. Once you've been in that position, it's hard to NOT eat whatever you want but, if you want to lose weight, you just have to be disciplined and do it. My husband did it with me and that helped. I still have about 10 lbs to go but I think I will always watch what I eat. Also, planning your evening meals and not eating takeout often, which we did, made a big difference.
Good luck - you are not alone!!