Mumsnet Talk

I have a 2yr old DS who I look after 24/7 (lone parent).

Put on 4st during pregnancy (yes, I know!! )
Lost 2 but cannot shift the other two for love or money. I know part of it's low self esteem, which makes me feel less like taking care of myself. Nasty cycle really but now I'm studying I feel so much better...but have realized how bad it all is!

Have tried the 5:2 thing, wwers & sw...But I seem to binge more when I try to set a calorie limit.

Has anyone else just been careful with calories but not counted calories & or just walked a lot (can't do gym due to money & childcare, though I do DVD workouts)?

Would really appreciate any responses

Can you do some running with a buggy and your DS?

I've finally lost all the babyweight after 3.5 years, I had a 3.5st gain in first pg, then DD2 fairly soon after.

I started the nhs couch to 5k podcasts in the evenings last summer childfree but occasionally do run wheeze with the buggy. I hated running at school but this builds you up slowly. I also used my fitness pal to give me an idea of reduced portion sizes, but don't use it any more.

Actually also there is a Friday weigh-in here on chat, and randomly telling a bunch of strangers over the internet my weight weekly seems to keep me motivated .

I can't run too often since getting a bad shin splint a few years back that didn't heal very well (feels fine but hurts so bad when I've run since/when I was heavily pregnant from all that weight plus a baby).

But I may start keeping up with that thread for the motivation. He'll be going to nursery a few scattered hours a week so I'll start swimming then, which should help

I used to count calories a lot so I know what a good portion size is, likely calories for most basic foods etc.

It was just the binge eating in the eve & not really caring tbh but I feel a lot better now I've got more going on & want to take care of myself (and my mind) a little better.

So much easier to put on than lose isn't it?

I have a 3 year old. I also put 4 stone on while pregnant. All that weight I gained and he was only 6.2!

Anyway, I am now weighing less then did before I had him. Its took a while though. I just walk every where with him and I don't eat much. I do eat alot of junk though which will catch up with me soon

Have you tried my fitness pal? It is fab, I recommend that and walking loads. I lost a lot of weight and walking with my buggy was what sorted me out. I also used fitness DVDs too.

yes! I have lost 10lb in a month by eating mostly healthily, (with the odd craving which ive given into, chinese, chocolate and bread and butter, oh nad a chip butty!)

but I cycle to work about two days a week , maybe 4 miles total and walk about four evenings a week for about an hour.

Hi OP yes I have done this!

I have lost around 3.5 stone so far, in around a year. I do not count calories or cut any foods out - just eat carefully, fresh unprocessed food where possible, watch portion sizes, lots of veg. If you have cake/choc just have a small amount.

I also walk everywhere, at least 4 or 5 days a week I walk for over an hour.

Also, it is normal to lose some (i.e. your first 2 stone in your case) then plateau for a little while. I did this over the summer, then upped my walking once DD started school and the weight started coming off again, and is still coming off...

Thanks for the responses. It helps to hear that others have done it that way, without the gym etc.

He was 9lb 4, despite being my first, but is now 2 so i really don't have the excuse of a plateau anymore

Yep I have. Just eating loads of fruit and veg to fill up on, cutting out most processed crap and walking works for me. Takes a few weeks to get into but once the weight shifts and once you start feeling the benefits then it's no problem!

Here is the weigh in thread

Ouch shin splints sounds very painful! Swimming will be very good and you won't ruin your knees or boobs with that.

Have to say the running didn't give fast results, it was five weeks of running 3 times a week before I started to see a significant loss. I also had to resist the temptation to have a snack when I got in, just water.

I also found using a smaller dinner plate at teat time helped.

Good luck, come join us on the other thread!

Yes, but it was planned walks of at least an hour a day, as fast as I could, and up hills as much as possible. On Sat and Sun I got up at 6 and did an hour and if I could I'd go again early evening. Tried to be very careful with food, focused really hard on being fitter and stronger, listened to my favourite music with a fast strong beat.
Sadly I got out of the habit, which has meant I'm a tubster again, but I know it can be done. Very good for my head too. Must start again!

Yes, 7 stone in just over a year by eating properly ( but don't deprive myself of anything ) and walking at a decent speed so im slightly out of breath.

Don't touch diet drinks, flavoured fat free yogurt, sweetener etc. It's bad shit and makes me crave food. Just eat properly and fill up on veg.

Don't do planned walks either, just ditch the car and walk / cycle to wherever you need to be !

Yes, I have done but put it back on. Brisk walking of 4 miles a day.

I didn't count calories obsessively but as I more or less know calorie values very well (years of dieting ) I would stick to around 1500 calories a day.

You need "My Fitness Pal" and "walkmate" on your smartphone. This really helped me by logging the food I was eating and the exercise I was doing. Not counting calories as such, but just keeping track. Drink lots of water and walk if you can.

Yes, I've lost 24lbs so far. All pushchair walks and a few exercise DVDs. I use the free My Fitness Pal app on my smart phone.

I also use the free Runtastic App on my phone too as it logs my walks by GPS and tells me speed, miles and calories. If you are anything like me a walk is all over the place at a fast speed, then half an hour chasing the kids round a park, then a bit more pushchair walking. Runtastic works it all out for you.

The benefit of My Fitness Pal over others is that you can set own calorie goal so you don't feel pressured by it. I eat loads, and eat chocolate every day and am still losing weight every week.

I am using weightlossresources -www.weightlossresources.co.uk and its basically what you are doing - cut down and exercise more. I've lost weight using this system before but need to lose it again. Just done week one and lost 3lbs (target is 2lbs a week so happy)
WLR is good as you keep a food diary so easy to keep track and it rewards exercise.
not faddy just common sense

I walked a LOT when dd was little - even got her ready for bed, stuck on gloves and hat on her and went out at her bedtime (7/8pm) and walked for 2 or 3 hours. More recently I also took two toddler mindees out for 1.5 hour walks in double buggy 4 days a week. I didnt really watch what I ate, but once I stopped walking the weight piled on.

Im trying to get back to it now though again, not exactly being strict with food. I just find if fruit is already washed and prepped, Im far more likely to eat it. Same with DD. We go through a litre box of fruit a day like that!

Pre cooked chicken and those little steam fresh bags of frozen veg are a god send when you want a fast meal with no hassle. I even pick at chicken slices instead of crisps or bread.

Thanks again

I walk for at least an hour a day (into/around town) and chase him round the park. We don't own a car, which is a good thing really or I'd have kept more weight on!

I know I should give up the diet coke & 'low fat' alternatives as they seem to be full of sweeteners, when I find it easier to cut out actual sugar if I sort of forget the taste...that especially goes for chocolate aha.

It's partly wanting to have more energy now DS is older & to feel better overall (had such bad PND for the first year). So it's for both of us & not just the weight, before I come across dead shallow though I'd kill to fit into my size 10s again

I've lost 6 pounds since Christmas with no calorie counting involved. My BMI was ~23 to start with, so it's not like I had loads to lose.

I actually was just trying to lead a healthier lifestyle rather than specifically trying to lose weight. I started running for 30 minutes 4 mornings a week. With my diet, the only thing I really did was cut out eating snacks when I get home from work and after dinner (I used to eat toast, or sometimes biscuits/chocolate if we had any in). Now, I just have yoghurt or fruit for dessert during the week. At weekends I have treats, but not during the week unless it is a one-off or special occasion.

I walk to work and it is up and down hills. I never use lifts and purposely visit the 'faraway toilets' at work. I bought a pedometer and I wear it every day to check my steps.

I eat 'sensibly' during the week but do ease up slightly at the weekend (otherwise I would have an almighty breakout). I agree with the comments about low fat fruit flavoured yogurts and diet drinks.

It's not being shallow, it's looking after yourself and having a good quality of life.

Good to hear

I want it to be a slow process, that changes my eating habits, rather than a sudden change that's only focused on how I look iyswim. Think it has more chance of sinking in that way.

it's also a wake up call when your DC starts picking up any bad habits you have! (I feed him well but he's really into copying my every move atm & that's partly what's made me think I needed to change my attitude in general towards food)!