I Can't Lose Weight! - Cave Creek,AZ

HI
I love this online calorie counter. http://www.my-calorie-counter.com/
Also love http://www.dietfacts.com/ to find calories of any food. Good Luck :)
B.

I can't lose weight either! I just had my second child. Although it has only been 3 months, I have actually gained 5 pounds since I started working out and eating better. So, if you find a solutioin I would love to know :o)

E. - I don't have all the answers BUT - don't ever let someone attack you about what you desire to weigh - you know what is the comfortable weight for you - not everyone udnerstands that; usually folks that have been overweight most of their lives and can't imagine the difference in 5-7 pounds. I am 41 and am struggling with my since the birth of my 3rd child 4 years ago. Prior to that I lost a good deal of weight and felt the best of my life after working with a trainer at the Fitness Institute and getting to 126 (at 5'7") - the diet I used was low carb - high protien GOOD LUCK - understand that folks while maybe good intentioned often have their own issues.

D. C

E.,

I'm sorry, but are you SERIOUS? You sound a bit obsessed with your weight.

At 5'6", 128 lbs, you are on the LOW side of normal weight. If you drop to 122 lbs, you'll BE UNDERWEIGHT, small frame included, with a BMI of probably less than 19% given your work out regime, and I can't measure you.

Who wants you to be this thin? You, Hubby or society?

Did you see today's just released research on what size men prefer women? 72% of men prefer women in the size 12 category. And all men thought that a women under size 6-8 looked too thin, or just plain unhealthy.

More important than your small meals and calorie counting and exercising your 'butt off', is the bigger life issue of getting the right nutrition, enough protein, calcium, vegetables, minerals.

I hope you learn to embrace yourself, your new mommy figure and your two beautiful girls. Please don't teach them to be this obsessed with being thin.

DEAR MAMASOUCE MEMBERS...

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS IS A PUBLIC FORUM, OPEN TO ANY AND ALL DISCUSSIONS AND RESPONSES. IT'S ONE OF THE ELEMENTS I LOVE ABOUT THIS SITE AS THE RESPONSES RANGE FROM THE SILLY AND MUNDANE TO SOME PRETTY AMAZING INSIGHTS, OR LIFE'S EXPERIENCES AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE. GOOD, BAD OR INDIFFERENT ANYONE POSTING A PUBLIC QUESTION SHOULD EXPECT A VARIETY OF ANSWERS.

E. IS NOT TRYING TO SHED A FEW EXTRA POUNDS, E. IS TRYING TO STARVE HERSELF TO BE UNDERWEIGHT, WHICH IS UNHEALTHY IN AND OF ITSELF. SO BEFORE YOU ATTACK ME ABOUT BEING 'JEALOUS' TAKE A LOOK AT THE FACTS.

HOW CAN ANYONE WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE OFFER ADVISE TO SOMEONE WHO BORDERLINES BEING ANOREXIC? IF ANYTHING, YOUR EFFORTS AT HELPING HER MIGHT POSSIBLY LEAD TO HER DEMISE. BECAUSE ONCE SHE REACHES HER GOAL WEIGHT OF AN UNHEALTHY 122 LBS....WHAT NEXT ON HER BODY WILL SHE TARGET? WHAT ELSE WILL BE IMPERFECT?

Have decided to add the private email I wrote E., as she made mention of the apology above, but minimized the medical facts. So here it is......

Dear E.,
First, I would like to offer an apology for my quick and aggressive response to your weight loss concerns. There is definitely a more tactful way I could have phrased some of my thoughts. Two things are clear to me after reading so many of the responses, many directed at me, that we are unfortunately fighting decades and decades of Hollywood's distorted messages of being thin and second, never talk to a woman about her weight. I want you to know that I received several "Good Job" emails and "flowers" for my statements.

Given all the 50+ response to date, I have not yet noticed one solid piece of advice, and that is to seek the advice of a medical doctor. So, I saved you the time and ran your specific height/weight details by my husband. He is and MD/Ph.D and interestingly enough specializes in diet and its affect on the brain. He's internationally renowned and travels all over the nation and world educating other doctors on how the brain handles diet and drugs. He runs a clinic, teaches residents and has a lab that does cutting edge research on the brain. Here's his advice: DON'T DO IT, DON'T LOOSE ANYMORE WEIGHT, IT'S UNHEALTHY and IT'S RISKY. And here's the reasons why: If your underweight , you have a higher risk of developing anemia, bone loss, nutrient deficiency, heart irregularities, amenorrhoea (loss of periods in women) and osteoporosis. Your risk of depression and anxiety may also increase.
GOOD LUCK ON WHATEVER YOU DECIDE TO DO.
AND THINK ABOUT THIS, WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU READ A REQUEST FROM SOMEONE WHO WAS CLEARLY ATTEMPTING SOMETHING UNHEALTHY? ANGER DOES NOT KILL US, INDIFFERENCE DOES. PLEASE STAY HEALTHY FOR YOUR BABIES. THEY'RE COUNTING ON IT.

P.S. Are you taking the twins to Hawaii?

E. good for you standing up for yourself like that. This forum is for actual advice not opinions. You are doing it in a totally healthy way.
I think that maybe you might want to seek the opinion of a personal trainer. I've just lost 30 lbs doing things the way that you are and it feels wonderful. I have another 15 to go. I am with you. my healthy comfortable weight is at the low end of my weight average. For me that is 155 lbs. (I am 6'1")The other suggestion that I have for you is to try Spin classes and Pilates. The Spin classes really go places when it comes to kicking up the cardio a couple of notches may help you get over the plateau, and the pilates is fabulous for strength training. It really helps get everything back where it belongs. i have had to take a hiatus from all working out because I dislocated my hip at the end of a tough , long hike on Mount lemmon, but can not wait to get back to it in a couple of weeks. I also have Juice Plus shakes as a meal supplement once a day. if you want to find out more about them call Lynn Stevenson at ###-###-####.
Lots of luck to you. If you live on the northwest side of Tucson and need a gym I would highly recommend anytime fitness and Sean for your training. The classes there are great too.

Obsessed? Anorexic? At risk of dying? Oh, for pete's sake!

I'm also 5'6" and though I look my best around 128-130, I can see a smaller-boned woman preferring to weigh less. And despite the comment about "every man" preferring a woman at size 12 as opposed to 6 or 8, I know that my husband loves the way I look when I'm a size 6. Not to mention the fact that it's when I'm this size that other men look at me too -- something that does NOT happen when I'm heavier. And it's at this size that I feel the best physically, have the most energy, etc.

That said, I do think 6 months postpartum may be a bit early to expect ALL the weight to come off. I never lost all the baby weight until around 10 months pp. It really could just be hormones preventing those last 5 lbs from dropping away. I suspect that with good diet and exercise you'll get back to your ideal weight in 3 or 4 months.

However, 1200 calories really doesn't seem like enough to me, and you could very well be prompting your body to go into "starvation mode" and thereby lowering your metabolism. For me, the key has always been limiting carbs and being sure to get plenty of lean protein. I read _The Zone Diet_ years ago, had great success with it, and have used its basic principles to guide my food choices ever since, though I haven't been "on a diet" for over a decade, and never plan to be again. As long as I eat sensibly and get plenty of exercise (exercise really has been key for me) I can stay pretty close to my ideal weight.

Good luck! Let us know how you do.

If you are still breastfeeding, your body might be holding onto that last 5 pounds because that's what it need to keep up your milk supply. If not then you may need to mix it up a bit. Start doing other types of training. Like if you mainly run, start bicycling etc... You may want to look at your calories and make sure it is enough. Sometimes if you aren't getting enough then your body will hold onto weight because it's thinking "When will I get enough food again?" I've heard that training for marathons or triathlons really help also. It's giving you a new goal and you are pushing your body more then just "working out". Good Luck!

First of all - hurray for you for standing up for yourself. Jennifer R. had absolutely NO RIGHT to judge you in such a way. Her comment on who wants you to be thin you, your hubby or society just goes to show you how women sometimes lose track of the fact that we do want to do things for ourselves. It is sad that she took the automatic route of blaming someone / something else for you taking action. Women can "embrace" their bodies and look good too! And as long as you are healthy about it, your daughters will get the right message.
Now, on to your issue - I have had the same problem as well - the last pounds are the hardest and I had to change my routine up at the gym. I also had to make some food changes - such as cutting out dairy which I had done when I was breastfeeding due to casein sensitivity in my little girl. Ten pounds off in a month due to that alone! I attribute another ten to cutting my sugar and salt intake by half. Off course, every women's body is different but this is what worked for me and was relatively simple to do. Good luck to you!

E.,
As an owner of a fitness center, I have worked with many women who have had the same issues you are experiencing. My first suggestion to them is to truly find out what their resting metabolic rate is. You can do this my easily by using calculators online a really good one that is very realistic is http://www.bcm.edu/cnrc/caloriesneed.htm this can be the first step to finding out if you are eating enough. Our bodies burn calories regardless of whether we are exercising or just breathing so it is important to know based on our age, height, weight, woman or man what the amount of calories our body believe it needs in order to survive. Once you have this figure to you it may seem high, but keep in mind this number is not taking into account extra activity, it just is taking into account what our body burns on average per min. which is about 1.3 calories.

Once you have this number than subtract about 300 to 400 calories from than figure. Then along with exercise you will be burning more than you are taking in, but still making sure you are taking care of your body. With the weight and height that you gave in your request it is very possible that you are not eating enough calories and your body wants to hang on to everything it has. Try tricking your body and eating healthy of course, continue to exercise and try also taking your measurements, since measurements and the way your clothing fits can be more of an indicator of where you’re trying to be than anything.

As a mom of 3 adult children and a daughter who has a 7 month old, I see her going through some of the same issues. Regardless of how we use to be, as we age and have children it will and does change our bodies. That of course does not mean we cannot strive to stay healthy and get close to what we use to be, it just may mean we need to step back and know our bodies do change whether we want them to or not. As a small women, only 4' 9-1/2", I have always had a issue with weight. When younger I was a mere 95 to 110lb, and still thought I was heavy. It is only now that I can look back and see wow how great I looked and that I was never really big I just was built shapely. I laugh about it now but I had the JoLo thing going way before she made it popular. In other words it is my body shape, no matter how small and/or big I am I will always have a backside. I am now 46 yrs old and I'm still just as shapely, but weigh 154, actually down from my highest of 167 with a goal of being a healthy 135. I am using a wonderful free site called http://www.sparkpeople.com that has truly helped me, you might want to check them out. They have lots of great recipes, exercises videos, groups you can join for great idea and what I enjoy the most is being able to track my activity and what I eat. I also have a forum you would be invited to join called Phoenix Fitness and Speciale Spa.

One final note if you are on any medications like I was that put the pounds on that may be also what maybe hindering you from reaching your goal. Should you want to talk further please feel free to call me at ###-###-####. I wish you the best and just remember nobody lives in your body but you, meaning you are the only one that needs to be happy with it and/or in it and that sometimes taking the focus off it will actually help you in getting what you want. See yourself as what you see as your perfect weight. Best wishes to you.

You received a lot of wonderful advice and great tips. I thought I'd add my two cents worth and recommend trying the "Cinch" program by Shaklee. It is a natural weight management program that adds vitamins and minerals to your daily intake. I'd love to help you in anyway I can if you'd like, just log on to my website: www.cinchplan.com/denisefriedl and take a look!

Congrats on your twins! I'm a daughter of a twin and have a set of twin cousins. What great fun!!!! Take care.

Sorry you got attacked by someone on Mamasource. Not a good feeling, I'm sure. However, if you're 5'6 and weigh 128, YOU ARE HOT!
Enjoy your awesome bod and your beautiful twins,
B.

E.,

I too am 5'6' and would prefer to be closer to 125lbs. I feel better at that weight, especially with my knee problems. And it is my own self that preferes that weight, not hubby or anyone else. In talking with a friend about working out he said to change your routine every three weeks, otherwise your body gets used to it and you get less out of it. I do think that you should increase your calorie intake though and relax about your weight. It takes atlest a year for your body to recover from pregnancy and it never returns to your pre-prgnancy state. Do you want to have to work you butt off for the rest of your life?

E.,
Don't worry I am not going to gang up on you about wanting to loose weight. Weight is a personal thing and it sounds like you are healthily concerned. Could I suggest limiting the wheat, eggs, and dairy. You may find this an unreasonable suggestion; however, the stuff really isn't good for our bodies anyway. Gluten-free grains, (rice, millet, quinoa, oats) are a lot more beneficial for us nutritionally and easier for our bodies to digest. Cow milk creates a lot of mucus in the body and the calcium absorbed by our bodies from it pales in comparison to the amount that we can absorb from those dark leafy greens. I have cut out 99% of these things from my diet and not only do I have a more consistent energy pattern throughout the day -without that 3pm drag time- but I have found it much easier to manage my weight. Hope it helps. Good luck. I'm glad to hear that you aren't obsessing. As they say, it is healthier to be active and have a bit of extra weight, then not active. So you are doing your body great. Congrats.!
K.

It sounds like you are doing everything you could be doing...remember muscle weighs more than fat, so as you are losing fat and gaining muscle, you very well could be maintaining the same weight, but gaining definition in your muscle. Also, try not to expect yourself to be the same weight as you were before children, our bodies go through so many hormonal changes that sometimes, we are never the same. You are doing great with your diet and excercise...much more than I can say for myself...busy mother of 4 and homeschooling! Someday I'll get to go on my bike all by myself and actually call it excercise, not just a bike ride with my kids. Good luck...A.

My advice is to be patient! It's taken me a little over 2 years to lose that last little bit of weight - just the last 5 to 8 pounds. I'm also 5'6" and I was about 118 lbs when I got pregnant with my second child. My daughter is 29 months old and I've just now gotten back down to 120 lbs. I hovered around 128 for the longest time. I've found that eating lighter - steamed chicken or fish, lots of veggies and steamed rice or pasta instead of bread or potatoes - has helped tremendously. Don't get me wrong - I have two children, so I do eat fast food occasionally, and I'm from the South originally, so I love my fried food and butter! AND, I'm pushing 40, so it's harder for me to eat anything I want and not worry about it, the way I used to. But I noticed a huge difference since I've changed my eating habits. I've tried to just be a little more conscious about what I'm eating and how I prepare it. And, for the haters out there, I don't think you're being obsessive at all! When you start out at a certain weight, who can blame you for wanting to get back to that?? Just be patient with yourself first and foremost - don't put too much pressure on yourself to lose those last few pounds. Chasing after your little girls will probably burn the pounds pretty darn quick!

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Good Luck D.

Hi E.,

Don't give up hope, you will lose the weight. Plateau's are common in weight loss. If you are eating 5 small meals (only 300) calories and working out really hard you may not be eating enough. If this is the case, your body goes into "panic" and stores all available fat for reserves. Try increasing your caloric intake a little bit. Make sure you are eating good protein - chicken and even red meat is good for you. Also, good carbs are excellent for boosting the plateau syndrome. Peanut butter on wheat bread or wheat crackers works really well.

Second suggestion. Change your workout routine. If you always do the treadmill, try the elipitical or take a class that you have never done. Sometimes the body and muscles get used to certain moves and energy exertion and "shaking up the workout" can spark the body to respond.

Good luck and remember, YOU ARE ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL - THAT IS A GIFT FROM GOD.

L.

Maybe you need to change your routine. Try a different method like swimming, hiking, rock climbing, or dancing. Kudos for losing all your weight so quickly. I have twins too their two. Good luck it gets easier as they get older.

Hi E.!

How YOU feel about your body is more important than how others view it. Personally, I’m more comfortable on the thinner side. People tease me about being too skinny; but I feel healthier at my weight at age “40” than I have my entire life! Plus, my husband prefers a thinner frame. :)

Anyway, I’m going to copy from another post I just did for Julie P…

The statistics on "diets" are staggering. A whopping 95% of people who lose weight on a diet gain it all back within three years...yikes!

If you really want to lose weight and keep it off, you have to change your way of life. To do this effectively, it is best done SLOWLY. This does not necessarily mean cutting calories. In fact, you may need to increase them!

Additionally, one person's food is another's poison. Therefore, what benefits one person and causes them to lose weight make actually make you GAIN weight. You may also be doing the wrong types of exercises for your body type.

I offer a personalized wellness program that addresses all of your needs as an “individual”. We work "together" to build a program that just for you -- one that helps you lose weight effectively, efficiently, and long term. Essentially, I work to help you create a "lifetime" of wellness for you and your family.

If you're interested in learning more about me or my services, please feel free to call my office at ###-###-####. You may also visit my website at www.HealthHabitsWellnessCenter.com.

I would love to help you reach your goal!

Warm Regards,
G. Van Luven
Healthy Habits Wellness Center, LLC.

Hey...I've found that adding a lot more fiber to the carbohydrate things I eat helps a great deal. For instance, you can get light bread where 2pieces has 5grams of fiber, there are also crackers and even cookies and things that add fiber because it helps your body burn it slower and use the energy better. Sometimes plateaus can last for several months and it is frustrating but since you're working out so much you may just be building additional muscle and staying the same weight even though you are losing fat/inches. Adding fiber and fats to the things you eat will help lower the glycemic index which basically keeps your body from producing too much insulin and it helps burn that food faster...also, you may actually be eating too little calories since you are working out so much, I know it sounds crazy but if you work out for an hour a day, you should be eating a minimum of 1450 to 1500 calories...less than that (i.e. 1200) can send your body into starvation mode and you will NEVER lose weight that way. If you're wondering how I know this stuff...I have struggled with my weight for many years, my mom is a registered dietician and has done a lot to help me figure out what works well for me to lose weight since it is very difficult for me...I don't think your weight goal is unreasonable either...it's good to feel good about how much you weigh, I think when you're a smaller person, you can definitely feel that 5extra lbs. Maybe the person who wrote you just feels that it's insignificant compared to her struggle but we are all different. If all I had was 5lbs extra I'd be ecstatic but again, totally different situation. Good luck with it, I hope you break through that plateu!

About me: I am a full time working mom of 2 gorgeous children Isaac 2 and Aaron 9mos and I'm expecting my 3rd in December. I've been married 8 years this may to my husband Martin.

E.,

There are two things that you can try. Cycling your calories and/or interval training. Calorie cycling means that you eat less on one day around 1000 - 1200 and then take in 2000 calories the next day; repeat. Interval training is when you get on the tread mill or what ever aerobic training machine that you like and after a 5 minute warmup you go hard for 30 seconds to a minute and then do a normal speed for about 2 minutes to recover and then repeat. Do this for 20 to 30 minutes. You my only be able to do this for about 15 minutes to start with and that is ok just work up to the 20 to 30 minutes. Doing one or both should take off those last few pounds. Good luck!

Wow....I just lost internet connection and the computer screen during my post to you!! Not sure if you'll see the other post or not....I'm a 36 year old mother of 4 kids: 11, 9 year old twins and a two year old. I'm small framed and weight was never an issue before I had kids. Now, I work-out 5 days/week (running, biking, jump ropes, weights, stretching, thighs of steel video!!, etc) and I have about 8 more pounds to go.

I know EXACTLY (or similar) to what you are going through! These last few pounds are clinging to me and especially around my tummy where I carried my kids. My fourth child was c-section so I'm finding this a challenging area for me.

So...HANG IN THERE!!! I don't see anything wrong with you striving to take care of yourself in a healthy manner. You are not obsessing at all. In fact, I'm proud of you for wanting to take care of yourself. Some women I know have "given up" on bettering their weight/shape and then they complain.

Good luck to you...stick with your program!

L.
(happily married 15 years to my wonderful husband and proud working mother of 4.)

I have used mummy magic weight loss tea and lost my pp weight successfully.

Hi E.,

My name is M. Burton and I am a licensed acupuncturist and I have had great success helping people lose weight with ear acupuncture. I have a specific protocol that helps to balance the body and jump start the metabolism. You would be a great candidate to get you over the platuea you are experiencing. I run a $10.00 community ear clinic on Mondays from 10am-noon and 4pm-6:30pm at the Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture school and clinic on 3rd St & Bethany Home Rd. You can find out more information by contacting the school at ###-###-#### and checking out my article on ear acupuncture at phxbodymindandsoul.com. I hope this helps.

Sincerely,
M. Burton, L.Ac

You might be gaining muscle weight while losing fat. and/or you may just be retaining water. And hormones are a factor as well.
I'm having the same problem and have found in the last 3 weeks with more cardio(nia) I am starting to really lose it, after 4 months of almost exclusively yoga and pilates.
Good luck.

Well I can say I know how you feel. I am about 10 lbs overweight which is mot much and I look fine, I just want to be more toned and so for me I have a really hard time loosing weight, I just eat right and exercise. I have been doing the new Jillian Michaels 3-2-1 video and I really love it and it gives you a good workout. You might want to try it and see if it will work for you. It is all about find your niche and going with it. Also find a workout buddy so you have someone to push you when you need it. If you still can't loose those last few pounds, it may be that your body needs them. Funny how women's bodies work. Good luck to you, keep going no matter what you are doing good for your mind, body and soul.

Hi! E.
I'm a personal trainer and have helped women loose those extra pounds. It looks like your portions are right and eating 5 to 6 times a day is perfect. Have you cut out any food groups and do you eat protein 3 times a day? It's not just the calories but how you combine them. Your body may be storing fat because of the increase in activity and not eating enough calories. Keep a diary of what you eat during the day and make sure you eat fruits, vegetables, protein, whole grains, and 6 glasses of water daily this will help to flush out the toxins. I would be happy to answer anymore questions.

A.

I recently lost 40 pounds and I did everything that you are doing. When I first started I had the same problem that you are having and found out that I wasn't drinking enough water. I was told to take my body weight and divide that in half and that is how many ounces of water that I should drink everyday. So if you weigh 150 olds, drink 75 ounces of water. I did that and the weight literally fell off. I also limited my soda intake to one glass a week. Hope this helps!
G.

I don't really have much input to how to get there, but I do know that with my 2nd child, he had a serious dairy allergy so I had to give that all up. I went from 130 (5'6) pre pregnancy of my first child to 116 post pregnancy of my second child (based on me cutting out ALL dairy...it was not fun and was so miserable!). I can't tell you how many negative comments I got from people who thought it would be OK to say "look how skinny you are! ETC ETC...". I am fine with 126 now, and can eat cheese and ice cream-Yeah!. Do we tell our fat friends to get their butts on a treadmill? NEVER!!!! So it's very hurtful.

You'll be fine. You're still young and it does change your body forever. Don't know if you are done nursing or not but you might shed another few pounds after that. Good luck!

Hi E.,
I can understand having a certain # in mind as far as weight and if 122lbs is what it is for you, then you should do what you can to get there. Maybe you need to kick up your cardio a bit. Are you walking or what are you doing for cardio? If you are doing hard cardio three days a week, maybe doing it four times a week will do the trick. The small meals you are eating....what kinds of foods are they consisting of? Are you drinking TONS of water? It may be worth the $ for you to talk to a personal trainer and get some pointers as far as workouts and eating. Good luck.

Hi Elana,

Are you Breastfeeding? Because if you are that is where the last few pounds are probably residing. You will most likely lose the extra few pounds after your milk supply dries up. I have six children and have breastfed my children and it seems like it takes forever to get to where you want to be after. After my last one 11 years ago I had gotten down to the last few pounds and was trying so hard to lose the weight. I was not happy with the way I looked. Please don't think I am attacking you by saying this, as that is not the intention. But I look back now and think, I was such a fool for being so worried about my weight then and wish I looked so good now. You see I had a series of unfortunate events that led to some serious medical problems and prevented me from working out. I got depressed during this time and was put on medication for my depression which caused me to put on weight. I got back to work and then came the work injury where I injured my back and could no longer even stand for five minute or walk around the block without agonizing pain. The result was gaining even more weight. I am twice the size I was, and it has taken me a long time to understand that I need to be grateful for the good things I have and not stress on the little things. The good news is that after four years in agony, I found a way to get my back fixed called spinal decompression. For the last year and a half I have been focusing on getting healthy and building up to a healthy routine. I am proud to say that I am able to walk a mile now and about a month ago I was able for the first time in five and a half years, to get out and play with my kids, I mean really play. I was out kicking the ball with them and running. I have not lost any weight yet, but I have stopped gaining it. Please listen to me when I say that at 5'6" and 128 pounds, you are gorgeous. Enjoy the time while your girls are young and worry about that last five pounds later. Good luck and god bless.

D.

Probably all you need to get that last little bit of weight off is a cleansing program. Some digestive enzymes, fiber and herbs can do amazing things and if all you have to loose is less than 10 pounds this will help you drop it for good in less than three months - plus you will be balancing your systems and supporting organs of elimination so your tummy will tone up more. My company has been in business over 20 years and offers a safe and all natural program of herbal formulas. If you want more info check out my website: shootingstarherbs.amazonherb.net or call me ###-###-####.

E., ignor the negative. I recently had my third son and even though I realize my body has changed, I still had a goal to get my body back. My son had eczema really bad, I went on the elimination diet (instructions from the homeopath I visited)in order to try to find out what was bothering him because I am nursing. Well, that did it. I had 5 pounds to lose and that took care of it. Just a little something to remember, our weight doesn't reflect our "size", I weigh less now after, but still fit in my clothes the same...enjoy those precious twins!
S.

Please don't listen to that other "girl". I think having a goal weight is great and working out to achieve that is even greater! I lost all of my baby weight plus 10 pounds after my 2nd child doing nutri-system. It is a wonderful plan!
However, for you just needing to drop 5-7 pounds, I wouldn't spend the money! I tried to change up my workouts when I hit plataeus. Try running! I was never a runner before but it is such a release! Or, make sure you are lifting weight before you do your cardio. This made a difference for me as well!
Most importantly, make sure you are drinking enough water. There would be days when I was going 100% to plan but if I didn't drink my 64 ounces of water daily, I wouldn't budge on the scale.
Good luck girl! Keep up the good work! It is so important to be healthy role models for our children!

Is it possible those few pounds have turned to muscle mass? Muscle does weigh more than fat. Talk to your trainer or find one if you don't have one. It sounds like you are doing all the right things. Good luck Melodi

I'm the in the same boat you are. I read Gillian McKeith's "You Are What You Eat" and have lost 7 lbs, I've only got 3 more pounds to be down to my ideal. I've seen great results. Her book is about healthy eating (a raw lifestyle). Check it out on amazon.com
Good luck.

It's understandable that we all want to get back to our normal size, but after having a baby/babies you can't expect to get reach your normal weight within a year. You just had twins almost a year ago. You have to give you body time to adjust and can't make yourself loose weight. Also since you had twins, you shouldn't be a hurry to loose weight, your concern should be taking care of your babies. Are you breastfeeding your twins? Breastfeeding your twins is great because when your ready to stop breastfeeding you loose weight. My daughter was breastfeeding and she is still trying to wean her daughter, but she has lost weight.

Hi there,
A great way to get over a plateau is to follow this for 2 or 3 days
Breakfast........2 eggs, 2 pieces of turkey bacon...or 1 piece regular.....one piece of low card toast
Lunch..........4 oz os chicken and steamed broccoli
Dinner.........4 oz of chicken and steamed broccoli

I do this every time I plateau and it gives me a jumpstart

good luck

don't pay attention to negative responses.....they are jealous

If you are working out you mayhave replaced fat with muscle and it may be hard to drop that. The weight is not always the best judge of health I would do a body fat test some could be breast enlargement weight (sometimes a nice thing for smaller brested women like myself) so I would not get hung up on the weight I would look at how close fit if they are snugg where and try to figure out if it is muscle gain (which by the was is a good thing at 48 I like my muscle mass it helps me maintain my size 2-4) and no I am not obsessed and I do not think you are but I take pride in maintaining my health as more Americans should because I set a good example for my children. I also do not eat after 5pm and do a two to three meal plan eating a large breakfast after yoga around 6:30 to 7:30, and a large lunch/dinner when I get hunger and Supper is just that a supplement so it is typically a very light fare like soup, stew, salad or a light pasta, but nothing heavey that way this tends to train the body to use all it consumes, and no I eat healthy, but no fade diets for me. Anyway I hope this helps.

Fresh pineapple and fresh strawberries help burn calories. Only need 4-5 strawberries once a day or 4-5 pieces of pineapple. Cutting out any products made from flour such as bread, pasta, crackers etc...

As long as you're healthy what does it matter what the scale says? Your body most likely won't go back to pre pregnancy weight, just focus on staying healthy and happy with your girls!

Hi E.,
Don't worry about what others say about you wanting to lose those last few pounds. I believe a happier you means a happier mommy to those twins and if you're happy (and healthy)at 122lbs...GO FOR IT! I had the same problem (10 years ago)! It is very frustrating and CAN BE discouraging. I just pushed an extra 10 minutes on the treadmill swapping between running and walking every 30-60 seconds (keep the heart rate up). It helped me. Good luck with it and stay positive...the plateau won't last forever.
C.

E.,

Good for you and standing up to "others" who seem to think or know what is best for you and others. I too am only 5'3" and weigh 121, I just had my daughter 7 months ago and it seems that the weight I gained ( I was 106 when I found out I was pregnant ) stayed in my thighs and my abs...like some had already said why couldn't it have gone to my breasts!!!!! Do it for you that is what I say.... I want to get down to at least 110 myself so I have 11 pounds to go now!!! Good luck

Hi E.

You are not alone!!! I have been going through the same thing. I'm trying to loose the last 7 pounds after having my son. I am 5'9 and weigh 137lbs. My weight it okay but I would like to be at 130lbs. before my son I weighed 120lbs and I too think that was too low so I think 130lbs is a reasonable weight for me. Most people think i'm crazy to want to be that thin!! My new aproach however since working with a personal trainer is not to worry about my weight and start building muscle tone. Muscle weights for than fat so you should'nt worry about what the scale say's intead i'm measuring myself and working on loosing inches and lowering my percertage of body fat. If you are working out as much as you say, you may be gaining muscle and that could be why you have not seen any drop in weight??? I would try measuring yourself I bet you'll be a diffrence!

I hope this helps!! Good luck to you!

With all the working out you've been doing, you have probably lost fat and gained muscle. Muscle is good! Have you ever had a body fat percentage analysis done? You can probably get one done at your gym. That will tell you a lot more than what just the number on the scale will. You sound like you're in great shape! Good for you!

I have always had issues with my weight so I know a lot about dieting. I lost a lot of weight by counting calories and exercising but then I hit a platau for about a year, it was so frustrating. I found out about this website thedailyplate.com and it was great for helping track calories and activity. I started reading some of the discussion forums and was reading about the atkins diet. So I gave it a try and I have broken through my platau and lost 14lbs in the last month. There is a website with great low carb recipes called http://genaw.com/lowcarb. Good luck with the diet!

I recommend the South Beach Diet - it has helped me loose 15 pounds when nothing else was working - calorie counting, workouts, etc...and I found it flexible enough that I could always enjoy my meals.
I hope this helps and please don't let the negative responses get to you...it is just their opinion - which you can/should disregard.

I have been working with a personal trainer for the past two months and we do 30 minutes of weight training, lunges, push ups, etc. and then I do 30 minutes of cardio. On my inbetween days I am supposed to do 30 minutes of cardio, which I have yet to get to and he said that if I was doing that, I would be loosing more weight. I eat only 1000 calories a day and most of those are protein rich foods like protein shakes, chicken, tuna, and tons of fruits and veggies. It sounds like you are already working out a lot, but try to get more jogging or walking in and get your heart rate up. I have a lot more to lose than five pounds, but I have lost a ton of inches working with my trainer. I hope this helps!

Hi E.,

Here's just a suggestion, but I joined Changes That Last A Life Time "CTLL" here at work, which my employer is sponsoring. I joined it to be more aware of what I eat and to stop eating pasta 5-7 days a week. I am a vegetarian and basically survived on pasta because cooking meat for my husband, 13 year old son and now fixing dinner for my 14 month old daughter, well, it was quick, easy and always yummy for me. I tell you all this because now that I am more aware of how dependent I was on pasta, it made me realize what a difference cutting it out of my diet has made. For the past month, I have avoided pasta and replaced it with "veggie" sandwiches, which I am now addicted to. They consist of rye or wheat bread, a thin slice of cheese, alphalpha sprouts, cucumbers and hummus, which I usually get in spicy!!! They are really great, healthy and surprisingly very filling! I exercise 4x a week during my lunch hour and do leg rises 5-6x a week. I am 5'1" and weigh 95lbs. I've lost 2lbs within these past 4 weeks, and I haven't changed my exercise routine, just cut out the pasta. I don't deprive myself of carbs as I love potatoes for our Sunday morning breakfast, but I don't rely on them as my source of fuel!
Regardless of what anyone else thinks or says, you are the only one in your skin. Good luck!

I hear you.. I'm going to be 42 this year.. never had a problem keeping in shape until now. All I can say is that having children will change your body in some way forever.
Good luck -it sounds like you're doing all the right things. Just keep up the fight & be happy with yourself and those beautiful baby blessings.

I hit the same plateau-I started eating 90%Organic, NO CORN SYRUP, Nothing with trans fats
(This means none of those pre packaged 300 calorie meals from Tori Spellings food company)
I've lost seven pounds in about 4 weeks.
Also, STOP using the microwave. NEVER ever. look into it-it makes you fat
Kevin Trudeas "Weight loss cure"
Jordan Rubin " PErfect Weight america"
I weigh 132 and I'm 5'9

Elana,
Arbonne's protein and fiber shakes are amazing and could take you right were you need to be along with our 7 Day Detox Cleanse! It is a drink that you add to 32 oz of water. It is full of goodies from the Sea. Did you know that toxins are a huge factor in losing weight?

If you are at all curious to learn a little more, please contact me.
T.
www.tesabartell.myarbonne.com

Wow, not are you not obese, I wouldn't even consider you over weight. A dr. once told me a good rule of thumb was 100 lbs for 5' and 5 lbs for every inch thereafter. 130 would be right on target so you're actually doing great! One thing you might consider is the type of calories your getting. Calcium is especially important to aid in losing weight. Maybe increase yogurt? Good luck, but who knows maybe that post-pregnancy body of yours needs those pounds!

Here's something I don't think you've considered...with all the healthy things you have done and how much you are working out at the gym I'd guess that you have put on some healhty lean muscle. Muscle weighs more than fat so if you traded in some baby weight for some muscle it may continue to weigh more-that's why becoming concerned about a number isn't always the best way to go. Try thinking in terms of your body fat decrease or in clothing sizes (but also be warned that as you build muscle you might not drop sizes but things will look better on you because you lose the pockets of fat).

If you're working out a lot then you may need to intake more calories giving your body something to burn off otherwise it will hold onto what little you're giving it. I don't know if you're cutting out carbs but if so you need to put complex carbs into your meal plan. You're body needs the carbs for energy - cutting out carbs helps sedentary people lose weight but, does the opposite for active people.

Good luck losing those nasty last few pounds. I had a baby in August and I'm still trying to rid myself of a few inches!

Hello E.!
I'm sorry about the horrible comment you recieved from Jennifer R. Her response was completely inappropriate and totally out of the spirit of this website. This website is here for us to support one another and offer helpful, friendly advice. I know how frustrating the last few baby pounds are to lose. I'm trying to lose 10 more myself. I've hit a plateau as well. My suggestion would be to eat a little more and here's why. If you continue to eat your three small meals a day but adding a morning snack and an afternoon snack, that will increase your metabolism. Eating really small snacks twice a day in addition to healthy meals helped me get down to my target weight after my first baby. Good luck!

E.,
First off please don't ever take to heart what ignorant people like Jennifer R. wrote, just take it with a grain of salt!!!
Second, I'm proud of you because you don't hear of very many women caring to lose weight anymore & as you said your doing it for yourself & the healthy way!!! Kudos!!!
Last but not least, I am a mother of 4 kids, expecting our 5th in Oct-Nov. I gained 65lbs with our 1st daughter, 45lbs with our 2nd daughter, 21lbs with our 1st son & 23lbs with our 2nd son, all whom are 22 months apart. I've done pilates, which helps to build your core, Building your core is very important!!! I plataued with pilates & began P90X. It's the greatest DVD set I've purchased. My husband and I actually do it together & with all our kids it's one thing that has brought us together!! It's for any one wanting to tone up, build muscle and even lose those last few pounds! You go at your own pace, you feel results. We've got alot of our friends and family on the same program. We eat the same way, or you can follow their diet. I'm 5'7'' and I feel good in my body at 118, but it's not about the numbers, it's about how you feel and how you look in your clothes!!! So don't beat yourself up over the numbers!!! If you need to contact me at anytime, even for motivation or just to chat don't hesitate to write me! A. G. xoxo Good luck PS If you were interested in the DVD set it's on beachbody. com & it's has many more DVD sets, ifyou don't want to start out with P90X. I've also got my midwife buying video's offthe site!!!

Healthy weight loss is 1-2 pounds per week. To lose 1 pound per week, your body demand to create a calorie shortfall (burn more than you eat) of 500 calories per day. To lose 2 pounds in a week, you have to double the paucity to 1000 calories per day. You can acquire this by eating on requirement, drink herbs tea that`s mummy magic tea (caffein free and delicious) and also drink lots of water......This natural tea worked with me greatly;)

Have you tried to change your routine? I know with twins it is probably really hard to get outside of the gym. I just had my second son 4 weeks ago. I am a gym junkie and miss it very much. I do however run, bike and swim. You might want to try getting out for a run. You will burn more calories on an outdoor run then tredmill. Or maybe go for a hike. All you would need is like 45 minutes over an hour at the gym.

Good luck.

Good for you for wanting to be in shape and having the time and energy to get back to your PP weight with twins!! I know I should work out a LOT more... and I am at 127, 5'5" but can't complain because I don't work out much and don't have the time (work full time and drive an hour each way) so I spend every minute I can with my son and hope the weight stays off as long as I eat healthy!
BTW - I have never met a man who "preferred" a woman who was plus size, not that it would matter but I would like to know where these types of statistics are coming from if you want to make someone feel like they are doing something wrong by trying to be in shape and at a weight that makes THEM happy (Jennifer)!

Hi E.! I had trouble shedding the last few pounds of my first pregnancy. At the time I was on the Pill. With my last pregnancy, I chose a different form of birth control after my daughter was born. This time the weight came off without much effort. I really think the Pill prevented me from losing weight, or made it much harder anyway... this may not apply to you, but if it does, look into it! best of luck!
L.

You don't mention whether or not you are nursing your little ones; but just a random thought. If you are nursing, while it does burn extra calories, due to hormones your body will tend to hold onto an extra 5 or 10 lbs of "baby fat" and many women find it near impossible to lose those last couple pounds until after weaning, when they melt away. Kind of an emergency survival measure built it, your body is making sure you'll be able to still make milk & nourish your child in the even you don't have any food yourself. (one of those things again that's not relevant today really but leftover from years ago when hunting may have been poor).

Hi E.!

I know exactly what you mean, I am in no way obese but I had all of this excess flab and fat right where it hurts. Why couldn't it have gone to my boobs..haha. I have discovered that follwing "Weight Watchers" REALLY works. I have been counting points and have lost 18 pounds in 2 months. This is pretty good for me considering that I have tried every diet in the book. I just buy the Smart Ones frozen dinners and eat one for lunch. I eat oatmeal for breakfast and that gives me some leeway for a good dinner. The amount of points on the frozen dinners is written on the box and then you just count for every 50 calories is 1 point. I allot myself 20 points a day. I have eliminated cokes and sugary drinks and replaced it with water and crystal light. Also, I try to minimize my portions of things like enchiladas, tortillas and other fatty foods. My hubby says he has really seen it come off my thighs and tummy and Lord knows after 3 kids that where it stays. I am 5'5'' and weighed 145lbs after the kiddos now I am at 127lbs and thank God. Keep in mind as you exercise muscle it being built and even thought you are looking at the scale for an answer you may very well be building muscle (which weighs more than fat) and losing the fat altogether.

Good luck!
A.

I can only tell you what I did that worked awesome after the birth of my fourth child a couple of years ago. I was stuck at 128 and like to be around 121. I stumbled onto Bragg's apple cider vinegar drink and *POOF!* It's important to use the organic unfiltered -- it's cheap at any health food store. 1 tsp with cup of water. I use warm water and add 4 drops stevia. My hubby likes cold. Some like it with honey. Take upon rising, and one hour before lunch and dinner. You can check out their site... www.bragg.com for amazing other info. This drink has many other positive health benefits too!

I am not an expert in this realm at all. But in addition to whatever other advice you are getting, I wanted to throw in my 2 cents.
I found that my hormones were very imbalanced and since getting myself balanced, I have dropped 8 pounds easily. Before this, I was working my butt off and not loosing a pound! It was really frustrating.
Finding a doctor who will do a saliva test or specialized blood test is not easy, and usually they won't be covered by insurance, but it was really worth it for me. I had many other problems caused by the imbalance, so I am a new woman!
You could do some research on the women to women web site. It is great for finding the answers to women's health issues. www.womentowomen.com.
This may not be your issue at all, but it is not uncommon these days with our pesticide and hormone riddled diet.
Something to consider.

Also, in response to the "advice" from the person who is calling you underweight (and has never seen you, go figure), I am small framed also. My BMI is 22 and I would love to lose 10 to 15 more pounds (and I am working at that now) The standardized chart and BMI scale is averaged for the general population. It doesn't seem to apply to me, because most people I know (my mother included) would agree that I would look better 10 pounds lighter. And even then, I would be a full 35 pounds heavier than I was when I was in college!! You just can't standardize people!
Be healthy!! Take care of you.

Have you been doing the same work out? You may want to switch it up a bit because your body adjusts quickly and results do not happen at the same rate. For example, if you are running 20 minutes on the tread mill at a certain speed, maybe you want to start some interval training of 2 minutes at 80% speed and 1 minute jog and repeat this for 20 minutes, just to mix things up a bit.
Also, I am not sure exactly what your diet is, but making sure to include lean protein at each meal, along with making sure to avoid sugar may help. I had a baby last June and used the no refined sugar to help out with some weight loss, but I totally understand the plateau feeling. I am almost finished with nursing and look forward to the opportunity to lean down a little more.
Also, you have to do what make you feel beautiful about yourself. There is nothing wrong with high standards for yourself, if only some other Americans would begin to care a little more about health and wellness, more than who is winning on American Idol, we would have a happier society.
Take care and don't forget to share if you have some successful hints!
:)C.

Drink lots of water and maybe keep track of what you are eating. Maybe something you eat is not right. I've heard that some people cut out wheat and that helps them lose weight. I'm on Weight Watchers and have about 5 lbs. left but the last 10 has been the hardest no matter what I do. Good luck.