[Ashlie]

Hello.. I am new here and have just been reading without posting for a few weeks now.

I have been trying to lose weight for 18 months now. Since my youngest daughter was born. Before I had her.. I had weighed 145 and was lossing the weight that I had wanted to, but I was toned and went to a gym every morning when I got out of work. After I had my daughter I was a At Home Mom and really didn't get much exercise, but I had lost the pregnancy weight but still felt awful. I went back to work in Sept of this year and started a diet then, but have been having issues sticking to it and have gone off it and back on it more times then I can count now.

I have been depressed lately.. My marriage is not doing so well.. so I keep trying to stay on a diet but when I am unhappy I seem to eat alot more..

I have tried every diet possible and have now decided to combine a few... SO I am watching my calaries, my fat, my carbs and how much protein I get a day. I am on Low carb slimfast shakes and bars and just watching everything else.

So.. I started talking to my friend who sent me this link in her wedding forum.. and I started a diet again before Christmas.. Big mistake.. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were just awful. I think I gained 6 lbs.

So dec. 26 I have started my diet again and I have been reading this website and it has Alot of good advice and information and seems to have alot of support from other people that are trying to lose weight to.

Start Weight: 153 lbs
Current Weight: 151 lbs
March (19th) Goal Weight: 130 lbs
May (26th) Goal Weight 120 lbs
Final Goal Weight: 115lbs

[Firefli10]

Hello and welcome. Losing weight after having a baby can be a huge struggle...having a child seems to change everything! It is harder to find the time to eat and exercise, but it can be done. It does sound like you are going through a hard time, and it is so easy to eat because of emotions. You have already lost 2 pounds which is a great start! You mentioned you are combining diets,which is fine, but just beware that some low carb foods are higher in fat, which could influence your calorie intake. Are you able to find any time to exercise...when my daughters were 18 months old, I walked as much as I could or rented exercise videos from the library to help me get moving. Also, I find that preplanning my meals and writing down what I consume helps me monitor portions. When I have the urge to cheat, I take a few minutes to think about if I am really hungry, why I am chosing that particular food, etc. It is hard, but the startegies seem to be helping a little bit. To be honest, for me, one of the best things I did, though, was to get moving. Finding an hour to exercise really helps me deal with stress, increases my energy, and makes me feel better about myself...not to mention it gives me time alone! (I am primarily a stay at home mom with twins- age 3)
I hope this helps a little - feel free to send me a message if you want to talk. By the way, our goals are the same - to drop to around 115.
Happy New Year!

[Ashlie]

Yes I have been exercise. I try to get up a half hour earlier then both of my kids

Today I did
warm up (5 mins)
Stretch (5 mins)
300 crunches
Warrior 1 and 2 exercises 15 reps x 3 both sides ( upper body weight training)
20 sit ups
20 legouts
50 jumping Jacks.

I have the book Escape Your Shape. I normally follow that. and do a few other exercises. I am getting a lateral Thigh Trainer in 2 weeks. and I walk when I go on break around the outside wall inside the store at work every break. 5 times around is 1.10 miles. I have been exercising everyday since the 26th and have stuck to my diet the same time. Which has been hard, because with a 6 year old and an 18 month old I tend to want to eat what they do.

I also track all my food Intake at www.fitday.com and I do watch my fat intake. I try to keep my fats intakes as low as I can get them while doing the low carb diet.

Thanks Firefli for answering and if you need to talk I am always here. I still have alot of reading to do on this sight, but alot of it looks useful.

Happy New Year

Start Weight: 153 lbs
Current Weight: 148 lbs
March (19th) Goal Weight: 130 lbs
May (26th) Goal Weight 120 lbs
Final Goal Weight: 115lbs