Hello everyone. I was on the computer looking up different diet reviews when I cam across this forum. All you ladies seem very supportive and helpful and that is what I need.

I am a stay at home mom with two kids under 3 who lacks the time and energy to commit to a full workout routine. I love to cook and I "try" and make healthy meals, but my weak spot is cheese. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

I have recently joined a Zumba workout class that meets once a week and that is pretty much my only real activity. I love to do active things but like I said, time just doesn't seem to permit it.

What I am looking for is advice on what "diets" or "habits" worked best for your weight loss and supportive ideas on how to stick to them and get more active.

I feel like if I have someone to "answer to" I may be able to do a better job at my weight loss goals.

So here is the deal. I am a short 5' 1" tall and weigh about 160 LBS. I am going to Aruba on November 29th and would love to be down at least 15LBS!

Please direct me on where to go for help and hints on where to start with my weight loss!

Thank you very much!

Hi and welcome to 3FC!

I count calories. You can find info on that and other eating plans here at the Diet Central - http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/#diet-central

Good luck with your goals

Hugs
Michelle

Every person here has been right where you are! This is a great forum and resource for anything diet/health related. Just take some time and look at past posts. I really learned a TON from the people on this site!

One thing I learned with exercise, is YOU HAVE TO MAKE TIME FOR IT. I know that seems nearly impossible some days but I really do believe you have to schedule it in...for you, for your family, and for your future.

I personally really liked the C25K program (Couch to 5K running program.) I HATED HATED HATED running and never thought it possible. But I committed to it and made it through! Find one of the programs on here that seems interesting to you and commit to it!

I also did very well on weight watchers when I committed and stuck to it. Also, the challenges on this site are fun to join too....they keep you accountable to others.

Welcome and good luck!

Do you have a stroller for your two little ones? My favorite exercise is walking. I'm not a mom but I see lots of moms out there!

As for habits, I got started on this journey by making rules for myself that eliminated my worst indulgences. For me, the most effective rules were "no eating in the car" and "do not eat anything purchased from a drugstore, gas station, or mall." Other people make rules about what food is or is not allowed in the house.

You could try a rule about cheese! Maybe eliminating it entirely if you're feeling gung ho or something more subtle like limiting yourself to 3 oz a day for the next week and move it 2 oz next week just to see what effect that has on your weight and your mood and your meal planning. I think experiments can add a bit of fun as well as valuable data to your weight loss journey.

My next habit picked up on this journey was to plan every morsel of food I'm going to eat the night before. I got that from the books by Judith Beck. It sounds like the food plan would take a long time to write up, but she says that it only takes a minute or two, and I have found that to be correct. My dinner meals are usually planned for a week in advance on the day I do grocery shopping, so that's already done. Like most people, I suppose, I really have a limited number of things that I eat for breakfasts, lunches, and snacks. So, it's a matter of choosing. A nice side effect is that I'm doing better about eating leftovers because I think about what's in the refrigerator when I'm planning my meals.

You might want to find a challenge or chat thread or both that you feel comfortable with. I feel more accountable now that I report daily to the 40-somethings support section and the Beck diet thread in General Diet Plans and Questions.

You've come to the right place! Congratulations on taking this first important step!

Hello, pazmom, and welcome to the forums. I journal everything (food, water, exercise, etc.). This is my first ever diet and my journal has been a great help.

Welcome to 3FC!!! This is a wonderful place full of tons of encouragement and motivation!

As a sahm to 4 kids--two of them being 3 yr old twins--I can totally relate to feeling like you don't have time to devote to a workout routine. I used to feel exactly the same way! However, JamieJo took the words right out of my mouth--You have to make time for it! I told myself a million times I couldn't do it, the kids got up too early, or they were up all night, hubby got home too late but ya know what? I'm now exercising 6 days a week--and
the kids still get up too early or stay up all night and hubby still gets home at the same time (or later).

What really helped me was to find a group to be held accountable to. There's lots of great groups here--the one that clicked for me was the Monthly Challege Group over on Chicks Up for a Challenge. I've been with them for every challenge since May and have found more motivation and inspiration than I thought possible!

So peruse the board, check and see which groups look like a good match and go for it! We'd love to have you on the Monthly Challenges btw!

Welcome once again and good luck!