DownSyn Forum

Annieo · Posted: February 16 2004, 3:31 PM Post subject:

Just wondering if anyone else made the same stupid New Year's resolution I did? Every year I vow to lose weight. Some years I've actually been successful. This year I'm REALLY struggling. I feel like I have more reason than ever to eat. I dread what will happen to me if life ever really gets rough!

The only diet I've ever been successful on is one where you eat only when you feel hungry and stop once you're politely full. It's a Christain based weight loss program that encourages you to go to God with your problems instead of food. I'm stuck right now because I'm still a little mad at God about Baby John. Not sure I want to turn any more problems over to him since I'm feeling like he pulled a fast one on me.

But enough about me. Has anyone else been successful at losing weight? How did you do it? Anyone on Atkins? How about South Beach? Weight Watchers? And exercise: does anyone have a good regular exercise program they follow? I really need to do something in that department too.

Annieo

_________________

Ann, married to Tim, mom to Sally, Mark, Jane, John (12/02, DS), Paul, and Alice
www.caringbridge.org/visit/johnbremer

NattysMommy603 · Posted: February 16 2004, 4:53 PM Post subject: scale skipper!

Well, let's see, according to my sweetheart we own a $400.00 clothes rack. lol. (Treadmill) I even made him bring it in the house after we moved because I was going to use it. Used it once for 20 minutes and haven't touched it since. That was October. As far as weight goes, yes I need to lose some pounds as I cry that I'm not fitting into my size eights anymore. Ahhhh, that dreaded scale I want to throw every time I step on it.

_________________
Tracy
Proud momma of
Natalie Marie 6/8/03 My baby is 5!,
Tyler Slayton 4/15/05 Wow, he's 3!
Rebecca Darlene 12/10/06 Has it really been a year and a half!

Michele · Posted: February 16 2004, 5:03 PM Post subject:

I have found exercise to be the only thing for weight loss. I gained 67 pounds with Marty (my mom always gained a ton pregnant even when she was on Weight Watchers). Well after I had him I was horrified. I never exercised a day in my life, I always had jobs that made me run around. Well having a very "unactive" job now and my love for food, I joined a gym and started to exercise. Within 8 months I was back to pre baby size but I looked different because it was more muscle than fat. I do the elliptical 3-4 times a week and weights at least twice a week. It is hard to get up sometimes but I notice on the days that I am to lazy to get out of bed I am tired by 11 AM and when I get out of bed to workout I don't get sluggish until late afternoon. Exercise also does wonders for my stress level, I sweat it out. I don't know if the "baby pooch" ever goes away. I think for people who are just naturally thin, it seems to disappear, but not me, thousands of crunches and still a hanging pooch.

I recently moved too far from my gym and took hand me down equipment from family, but I have no motivation at home to exercise because I am not paying any money, so now I am on the hunt for an affordable gym close by,because it has been about a month with no motivation and I can already feel my jeans getting tight.

Hope this helps...Sorry this is so long...I know it is easier said than done and gym's can be expensive, We are a one income family, but it is worth it to me because I feel good, my energy level increases and it is so good for you. Plus after you have been at it a little while, you can splurge every now and then and it doesn't show.

Apologize for the length. I am not a personal trainer or anything, I am just amazed at what exercise has done for me.

Of course I cannot get my hubby to the gym and he is still carrying around a lot of "sympathy baby" weight.

_________________
Michele
Mom to Marty (7/3/02, DS) and Marissa (10/22/04)

vonda · Posted: February 16 2004, 7:37 PM Post subject:

I went on the South Beach diet in September, lost 8 lbs in 2 weeks just like they say, but then there was Halloween and all that candy, then there was Thanksgiving and all that food, then Christmas, and now Valentine's Day with all that chocolate. Chocolate is my life and NOT having it is very hard for me. I have since gained that 8 lbs back, but vow every weekend that I will start again on MONDAY. Summers are great for me. I walk this loop that we have which is 4.3 miles total, takes me an hour, and I usually push Halle in the stroller, UP puke hills, and turns and twists and it's quite a workout, but within a few weeks I have a GREAT tan without even laying out, have gained some muscle, lost LOTS of sweat, and by the end of summer don't look HALF bad, but then there's winter again. I have that same $400.00 clothes rack sitting by my bed. For some reason it's just not the same as walking outdoors. I also have every THE FIRM tape available and those Taebo tapes, which I bought RIGHT after Noah was born and are STILL in the wrapper. Goes to show how much I HATE exercise. When I was in highschool I weighed 140, which was BIG for me at 5'7", when most of my friends were 110. I lost 25 lbs by eating more in the early afternoon and less at dinner and I kept that off for over 20 years, really eating anything I wanted, but just not so much. When I got pregnant with the twins I weighed 118, gained 60 lbs, and 2 months later weighed 118 (can you believe THAT). After Noah, I got back into my jeans as well and also with Halle too. For some reason hitting the big 40 has not done nice things for my body. My metabolism is SHOT and it's really hard to lose weight. My jeans are just getting TOO tight, and when I walk by a mirror, I find myself gagging out loud. I need to do something, am leaning towards a low carb diet again, but I will NOT buy any more of those low carb chocolate bars, because not only do they taste like cardboard, flat, or no taste at all, I'm still craving my chocolate afterwards, so I think I'll sneak in a Hershey's kiss or two and see what happens. Vonda

samantha's mom · Posted: February 17 2004, 9:03 AM Post subject:

Well I have the opposite problem, but it is one just the same. I can not gain any weight. I am so underweight that my docs get mad and my whole body goes haywire. I am supposed to be on a 3200 calorie "diet" a day to gain and maintain weight and for me to eat that much food is real hard. So if anyone wants to send some weight my way I would not object. I am supposed to weigh 170-180 pounds for my height and am down to 142, so I will take all you want to give Smile

Elizabeth

Michele · Posted: February 17 2004, 9:16 AM Post subject:

Elizabeth- I would love to be told I needed to eat 3200 calories a day! But I have a few friends that are just "skinny" and have the same problem, so I see how frustrating it is, even though everybody would love to have that problem. You must be very tall also?

I did want to add that I tried an experiment once. The only thing different I did was add breakfast, after hearing all this stuff my whole life at how important it is. I do not eat or drink anything until mid morning usually, but after eating just a little something, even if it was a couple of cookies or an english muffin, I lost a couple of pounds. I guess my body was always in "storage" mode until lunch...

_________________
Michele
Mom to Marty (7/3/02, DS) and Marissa (10/22/04)

Helen · Posted: February 17 2004, 10:05 AM Post subject:

Yeah, I wnet on a diet when Matt was about 3.5mths and lost 20lbs. I only had a little to lose from Matt, but loads from Rachael - these kids they're awful for the figure. So anyway, I was doing really well and being dead motivated, going to my diet and exercise classes every week. Then Matt's operation came, and the only edible hospital food was pizza or chips, then it was Christmas which was bad news. So after Christmas, I went back to my classes, but after 2 weeks turning up with no-one there, I found out they'd been cancelled, and that was the only day I had no kids (childminder!) so I'm a bit stuck.

And so I've put on 4lbs and will only put on more if I don't sort myself out. The thing is, I know the right foods to eat, and the right portion sizes. But I choose to eat too much. Not necessariy junk, but like, too much pasta with my bolognese, or rice with my curry. So it just sits on me, turning into globulous fat!

I need that motivation back! My jeans are already feeling tight again and I'm 20lbs off my target weight.

Helen

_________________
Helen

Mum to ...
Rachael, Matt - DS & Autism - and Hannah. My gorgeous kids!

Amber's Mum · Posted: February 17 2004, 10:21 AM Post subject:

I'm on the "too busy to eat" diet !!!!! Works well but i don't suppose it's too good for my health !!!! I try to eat fruit when i'm making fruit plates for the kids. For fitness, i walk everywhere, the car is now almost redundant. I walk to the shops maybe 3 times in a day and if it's not raining i walk to town which is about 10 km's round trip. I like to be active and i always try to get Amber in the fresh air, so, then we're both happy.

I managed to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight when Amber was 3 months old although a couple more kilo's would be very nice !!!

Karin

Amber (16/09/03)

Sally/Grandma to Mya · Posted: February 17 2004, 10:34 AM Post subject:

Weight has been a constant battle for me. I gained quite a bit of weight when I was pregnant with Krissy, and have been on a constant uphill climb since (24 years). I have now totally changed my life style. Started about 2 years ago. The first year, I lost 60 pounds. That was great! Then my Dad got real sick and the few months before his death were just so disfunctional, that good nutrition took a back seat and I gained back 20 pounds. So then we were going on a cruise. As a quick fix, I went on the Atkins diet. I lost those 20 pounds only to gain back 13 on the cruise. So then back on the Atkins. I have actually only managed to maintain my weight, going off and on the diet. Because After Mya was born, and the first 8 months that followed, well life was again anything but routine. And that hospital pizza is the only thing even worth eating there, and it is pretty crappy. So then Vonda was coming to visit. Tried desperately to lost weight before she got here, only to gain back 7 pounds after she arrived. Then holidays...blah blah blah. So then something wonderful happened. My brother in law who is diabetic, (as is my husband) and his wife went on the South Beach Diet. By two weeks he was off of all diabetic meds. So we decided to try it. We just finished out two week initiation. My husband has lost 13 pounds and I have lost 8.5. Manny has reduced his insulin to about 1/3 what he was doing, and has cut out 2 of the three pills he was on. He is doing great. This is a really good diet. Very similar to Atkins, but you do not count carbs, you just eat the right carbs. So it will probably be slower then Atkins, but in the long run, I feel it will be more successful. I hope so. To get to my goal weight, I have another 60 pounds to go. I do want to say, that low carb and/or right carb eating has done wonders for my health and how I feel in general. I never take tums anymore and I used to live on those things. I rarely crave sweets, or potatos. I must tell you, that potatos are my weakness, prepared any way shape or form, would take french fries over chocolate any day. Okay...well I wrote a book...So better stop. I could go on and on and on about this subject.

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Mya's Grandma

Annieo · Posted: February 17 2004, 4:26 PM Post subject:

We joined a gym in October. I made a stupid bet with my mother (who is very overweight) that she would be a size 16 in a year and I would run the Twin Cities Marathon. We were at the marathon watching my brother run when we made the bet so I was feeling very motivated. The bet is for $1,000. I was running 3 miles 3 days a week for about 5 weeks. Then my kids all got sick so I couldn't leave them in the child care area, Christmas came, blah, blah, blah. I haven't been in about 3 weeks. I know once the snow and ice melt and the days get longer I'll be able to run outside and that will be much easier. Unfortunately for me exercise by itself doesn't seem to help with weight loss. The last time I ran seriously I was twenty pounds heavier than I am now. At the end of the summer I quit running and started the "eat when you're hungry, stop when you're full" diet and only then did I lose weight! Go figure!

I think I like the idea of the South Beach Diet. I know I eat way too many carbs and I don't think I could cut them out completely. I was reading a thing recently that talked about how some carbs convert to glucose so quickly it's almost like drinking sugar water. I'm sure those are all the ones I've been eating!!!

Gotta go find something to munch on!

Annieo

_________________

Ann, married to Tim, mom to Sally, Mark, Jane, John (12/02, DS), Paul, and Alice
www.caringbridge.org/visit/johnbremer

carolyn · Posted: February 17 2004, 6:55 PM Post subject:

Oh yuk. What a subject. Soooo very much a present (and past and no doubt future) concern of mine...and just about every woman I know. (And some men..) And getting to 40 is the icing on the cake so to speak.... the wrinkles and the double chin seem to be here to stay. in fact here to mulitiply I suppose. Anyway. re losing weight, Ray and I are finally getting married in August so I have a real motivator to lose weight. Piled it on for both babies. My main strategy is to build weight loss into my ordinary routine as I KNOW I will never make it to the gym or swimming pool. So since early Jan I have been putting my cheapskate-tailormade diet into practice it consists of:

Not eating keirs leftovers.
Not eating lovely puddings.
Not having cake or chocolate with my cups of tea/coffee (aaaagh).
Using a smaller plate and not (always) piling it high.
Eating slower, even chewing each mouthful more (when I remember).
Drinking lots of water.
Walking everywhere within reason.
Deliberately walking about to do the jobs that are in another room in the house and RUNNING upstairs sometimes if I feel at all energetic rather than putting the job off till later.

Have lost about 6 pounds so far. BUT the batwing arms still remain and that baby paunch and crinkled belly..hmmmm it seems to have moved in for the duration.

Good luck.

Carrie.

_________________
Mum to Keir 15th October 2001 (ds) and Rory 3rd August 2003

ssellen1 · Posted: February 17 2004, 7:30 PM Post subject:

Question - How come it's only the women answering this question? Where are you Jeff? What is your answer? Did you gain weight with any of your kids?

Yes, I need to loose 40 pounds. I even went as far as to buy the Gazelle, you know, the Tony Little machine. It is a great machine, but I can't seem to find a way to use it when I'm asleep LOL. I also do the Special K diet on the box of cereal. It does work. I lost 15 pounds on it. But haven't started it again. I need to get motivated again.

Ellen

Emdad · Posted: February 17 2004, 8:08 PM Post subject:

OMG, can't I retain some shred of my male ego and dignity?
Somewhere between the lithe college soccer goalie and 1995, I inherited my father's body.

(sigh)
Yes, I'm sedentary, nearly halfway to 90, and probably about 50 lbs overweight. I changed my eating habits Jan 1 (for instance, no doughnuts have touched these lips since then), eating oatmeal for breakfast (and hospital oatmeal, at that), and felt lighter. Then I went to my Dr's office a couple of weeks ago for my quarterly blood pressure check, and he said I'd gained 4 pounds. I'm still, uh, miffed. So I'm gearing up for the next assault, maybe a walk around the block or something.

Heidi · Posted: February 18 2004, 9:41 AM Post subject:

Elizabeth-how tall are you? I weigh 112-119lbs, depending on the season and am 5'4". I have never been told by my GP that I am underweight.

I put on about 24lbs with Daniel and the same with Oliver-all lost again within 6 weeks (not to be recommended though, as with Oliver it was via jaundice and a spell in hospital over Christmas!)

I eat what I want when I want and am the scourge of all my female colleagues, one of whom is frequently on the cabbage soup diet......please don't hate me, I just have a fast metabolism, honest!! ( I reckon it will be pay back when I hit 50 (I am not saying 40 as that is too close for comfort!!) and ALL those chocolate bars will suddenly appear on my hips and all my friends who have been dieting will laugh!!!)

Jeff-doesn't year round lawn mowing help?!!

_________________
Heidi

Danny's Mum · Posted: February 18 2004, 12:16 PM Post subject:

I would like to lose about half a stone (7lbs). I generally try and follow the same principles as Carolyn - although I have a problem with bread! At around 5pm, I can just stand and eat loads and loads and loads of bread and butter. Oh well.
Thankfully, I am a runner and generally run about 5 times a week, so I don't have a weight problem, I would just like to be thinner than I am. Running is THE BEST exercise for calorie burning (100 calories in 10 mins!), so I would definitely recommend it. I have been running for about 7 years (including both pregnancies!), and run for a local club (we just won our cross country division!). The best thing about running is you can do it very cheaply and can squeeze it in to just about any day. I tend to run when Tom gets home from work, which means in the winter I am running in the dark, but I have got used to that.
Anyway - enough - my friends are all really sick of me preaching to them (although those of my friends who have started running have never looked back!).

Lucy

[Edited by Danny's Mum on 02-18-2004 at 12:19 PM]

vonda · Posted: February 18 2004, 12:29 PM Post subject:

Lucy, I would absolutely LOVE to run my loop that I walk in the summer (4.3 miles), but for some reason it kills me. I just can't run, get that pain in my side, out of breath, feel like fainting after 5 minutes, so HOW do I start running, ease into it? I mean I don't smoke, am healthy, don't sit at ALL during the day, walk everywhere, and people tell me that I walk so fast they can't keep up with me, so WHY can't I run without feeling like I'm dying? Vonda

Danny's Mum · Posted: February 18 2004, 12:35 PM Post subject:

The only way to start running is to start VERY SLOWLY and do some running/walking before you try to run the whole way. There is loads of good advice on the Runners World website aimed at people just like you!:

http://www.runnersworld.com/home/0,1300,1-112-0-678,FF.html?site=WomensRunning

I think if you started very slowly at the beginning of the summer, by the end of the summer you would be running the whole 4 miles (and then some!).

Lucy