I've recently had a baby, and now I'm determined to lose the weight I gained through pregnancy, as well as the weight I needed to lose prior to the pregnancy.
I'm 5ft7in tall, and currently weigh 235 lbs (how painful just to type that!). I began this weightloss adventure May 1st, and since then have lost 20 lbs (started at 255 lbs). I know that first month of weightloss is probably the biggest chunk I'm going to have, and it's going to get tougher as time goes by, and the weight I lose will decrease as well.
With that being said, I decided I needed to get some support and feedback somehow, to help me stick to my plan. I also enjoy reading other folks' stories and hearing how they're overcoming their obstacles.
Anyhow...just wanted to introduce myself and say "howdy!"
Kimiko, CONGRATS on your progress soo far! You are correct, 20 lbs. is a huge number. If you are dieting and exercising in a healthy manner, you will probably not lose that much again. A healthy loss is 1-2 lbs. a week. HOw old is your baby? Are you BF'ing? Supposedly BF'ing helps. It never helped me, but then again, the stress and sleep deprivation and eating crap because of it doesn't help either!
My baby is almost 4 months now (I probably should have started focusing on weightloss sooner!) and she's just wonderful!!
I'm not BFing...though I had heard that it's supposed to help with losing some weight, but instead I figured I'd focus on eating better instead of hoping the baby sucked all the fat from me!
After I post more I'll post a picture of her! (I guess there's a posting minimum before I can put pictures up)
Thanks so much for the warm welcome, I really appreciate it!
I just love this site. Lots of great recipes, support, and inspiration.
Congrats on the new baby. My little girl is 7 and I miss that sooooo much! I know that I lost a ton after I had her. I didn't want to pass on unhealthy eating habits. I did really well but fell "off the wagon" sort of a few yrs ago. I still kept it up for her though. She thought crackers were cookies until she was 3 and still eats mostly organic and very little sugar. I also am big on if she is full, she doesn't have to finish it (oh, the scars from childhood).
What are you doing for exercise and diet? Always interested to hear what everyone is doing and what is working best for them. I have been into the Mediterranean diet with low fat lots of veggies, fruits, lean meat and whole grains. Plus this girl likes her cheese and wine, so it works! For fitness, I have been bike riding, playin wii fit, my fitness coach, and we have a small home gym with a bike, elliptical and weights, etc.
Diet: Well I've been working on my diet, not following any "specifically named" one. I've just cut down my calories, kept my fat to a minimum and tried to keep my carbs to healthy ones (not wasting them on sugar items, versus items with fiber, stuff like that) and have been eating lean proteins. With my first pregnancy (this one was my second) I lost about 50 lbs doing the Atkins Diet, but what I found was if I wasn't strict about the carbs I gained it back quickly and easily. Hopefully this go-around I don't have that happen again!
Exercise: I haven't really started into this one yet. I've been slow to start, unfortunately, so I hope to get going on this one SOON! I have been doing some Wii Fit (that hula hoop one can break a sweat!) as well as some elliptical, but nothing that I can really say has been a real "workout". Getting back into work from maternity leave has been an adjustment, but now that I've been back for a few weeks I hope to begin incorporating exercise into my everyday rituals!!
Tell me what "My fitness coach" is like? I thought about purchasing it, but wasn't sure how really usefull it was?
Thanks again for the warm welcome, it's very much appreciated!
Oh, I <3 LOVE <3 my fitness coach. It is a lot like having a personal trainer. You do a much more extensive initial analysis and it sets up workouts for you. You pick which area you want to target that day and do a workout. After 15 min or so, it will ask Is this too easy? I was working hard, or too hard? Once you answer, it adjusts for your next workout. I usually do a half hour on wii fit free step or free run...I LOVE HULA and Boxing too.. (plus I LOVE that weight tracking it does) and a half hour on my fitness coach every day or every other day. I still think elliptical makes me work the hardest...but I also HATE it...Ugh!
BTW, I did Atkins too when I lost weight after Bella was born! I would cheat a little and gain like 5 pounds. My husband would cheat a LOT and not gain anything. GRRRR!!!
BTW, I am going to be in FL in July. My gram is 86 and has a condo there. She has been living with my mom since last yr. here in NH and is kinda driving my mum CRAZY. I am taking her to her place for 3 weeks or so to give the 'rents a break! I LOVE it there tho. We lived in Sarasota for a yr. and I lived in O-town for a yr right after college. I want to get back there but also like living close to family (and my awesome group of BFFs). Are you close to the beach? We are going to Venice and she lives right on the Intercoastal..YAY!
Keep up the good work! You are losing like crazy! (jealous)
wow...I just might pick up my fitness coach this weekend! It sounds like fun...I really like how Wii Fit tracks your progress as well...but I have to say I sooooo hate when you get on the board and that computer girl makes that horrible "you weigh too much" sound!
Oh yes...my husband is the same way! He can drop 10 pounds in a week and eat crappy food and not gain it back...MEN!!
I live just outside of Jacksonville, FL.....in Middleburg. It's sort of between Jax and St. Augustine!
When you have time...tell me more about your Mediterranean Diet....what are the parameters? I should probably find an actual "plan" to follow instead of making it up as I go!!! I don't want to do Atkins again, mostly because I've tried it since that first time I did it and lost, and everytime since that I've tried it I haven't been able to lose much. Any suggestions?
I am pretty new here too and am trying to find my way through the forums. Already I have been so inspired by many chicks on the board.
As for the wii exercises... have wii fit too and also got the EA Active Sports last week and I LOVE it! I still like the yoga on fit and I do really like the boxing but...man!...EA Active kicked my butt more than the fit has been, that's for sure. I would definitely recommend it!
I am thinking of getting EA Sports and was torn between that an my fitness coach. I read reviews of both. I still love wii fit though. I do the free step for a half hour and usually do between 3200-3600 steps. It doesnt register ALL my steps when I go too fast but it doesn't bother me too much. By then end, I am huffing and puffing and slicked with sweat...Plus, sometimes I am too lazy to switch discs and I like wii fits tracking better.
BUT, that being said, I am definitely getting EA Sports also (everyone seems to love it)!
Kimiko: You know I dont really follow the plan too closely with recipes etc. I am doing low fat 1200 cal per day mostly. BUT, I love feta, tomato, olives, etc so throw that into a lot of my sandwiches, breakfast, and dinner recipes. I also use hummus as a snack or spread for sandwiches. For dinner, I usually do a lean meat, steamed veggie and brown rice, couscous or now, quinoa, Sometimes, I boil brown rice in that Campbell's select onion soup (which is sooooo good) and mix that together. I basically do raisin bran for breakfast M-F, Sandwich for lunch, 2 snacks at 10 and 3:30ish like pretzels and hummus, fiber one bar, or fruit, dinner and maybe a pop for dessert. Weekends I do a breakfast sandwich, maybe a turkey burger or something for lunch and a more involved recipe for dinner (same snacks), I love some of the recipes on hungrygirl too. I also keep track of what I am eating and exercise on myfitnesspal.
Everyone is so different. It is really important to find what works for you. I am hear if you need anything though. I am so thrilled that they have boards like this. Most of my friends are skinny and I just don't feel super comfortable talking about all the ups and downs and plans, etc. with all of them. SOOOO GLAD TO HAVE ALL YOU GIRLS!!! HUGS!
It's an adventure, that's for sure. that is part of the reason (excuse?!?) for my not doing anything about my weight gain as the scale climbed up up UP over the last several years. I had myself so far down on my priority list that I never did anything about it. My "baby" has just turned three (on Thursday)and and I have decided that I need to work on myself...and they will benefit too in the end. They will have a mom that is healthier and putting exercise and healthy food eating in priority so that they may grow up doing the same.
Quote:
Originally Posted by laurie2275
I am so thrilled that they have boards like this. Most of my friends are skinny and I just don't feel super comfortable talking about all the ups and downs and plans, etc. with all of them. SOOOO GLAD TO HAVE ALL YOU GIRLS!!! HUGS!
Me too! I haven't really told anyone what I am doing (except my hubby and kids) as none of my friends really have the extreme weight issues that I do. I am so thrilled to be able to come here and talk ab out my journey and recieve encouragement and motivatation from you all!
First off, welcome Momof5!! If you're anything like me, you've been reading through all of the different forums and have been finding MUCH inspiration! (especially those "before/after pic forums!").
Now you two have got me thinking about getting EA Sports too!! My husband suggested it back before it had come out, but I just wasn't sure about it. Eventually I'd like to get myself outside more. We have a beautiful neighborhood we live in, and I'd like to get myself to where I'm jogging/walking or riding a bike (would have to buy one first!).
Laurie: Wow....it's such a coincidence that our eating is pretty similar! I'm trying to keep my calories between 1200 and 1300. My breakfast is Blueberry Special K every morning, with a salad and lean meat (grilled chicken usually, sometimes tuna) for lunch and a lean meat with either whole grain rice or pasta and a small salad. I also have 2 snacks during the day (1 between lunch and dinner and one after dinner).
The problem I'm running into now that I've been doing this for a month, is everything is becoming boring to me. The initial excitement of just starting to eat right, preparing all my food, getting on track, etc....has unfortunately worn off a little (though getting on the scale usually revives that a little because of the weight loss). And the food I'm eating has sort of become monotonous....but I'm worried if I start trying to change things up and try new recipes, I'll go overboard and add on calories and fat!! (you know the saying....keep it simple!)
What to do...what to do....
ps Laurie....congrats on seeing the scale go down the other morning...doesn't it feel fantastic!?
New to this community
CONGRATS on your progress soo far! You are correct, 20 lbs. is a huge number. If you are dieting and exercising in a healthy manner, you will probably not lose that much again. A healthy loss is 1-2 lbs. a week. HOw old is your baby? Are you BF'ing? Supposedly BF'ing helps. It never helped me, but then again, the stress and sleep deprivation and eating crap because of it doesn't help either! 
If you're anything like me, you've been reading through all of the different forums and have been finding MUCH inspiration! (especially those "before/after pic forums!"). 
