postnatal weight loss

[Bo]

Any ideas how to safely shift all that post natal weight? 7 months on after having 2 very close together I am getting fed up with all my bulk, but I'm still breast feeding, so feel I need to be careful, especially as I am very low in iron (at least).

I know I could loose some weight when I stop breastfeeding, but that doesn't help me now! I hate cooking and preparing food, so I can't do anything too complicated. my husband had a fit when I even suggested something along the lines of slimfast. Any words of wisdom gratefully received. (Ireckon I need to shift about 15 Kilos)

Pamina, thanks for your support. I think you sound like a similar body shape to me, my ankle ans wrists are so tiny compared to the rest of my body, but I have a really large frame. Its a nightmare! I have been doing my toning exercises for ages now and they are working - but the problem I have is that the skin and flab around my tummy are so 'baggy' they don't look they'll ever disappear completely, even though I can feel the taught muscle underneath I think I'll try and go down to 11st and then I'll stop for good. I've been the weight I am at the monet and because its within my height/weight guidelines I don't think I look too out of proportion (skirting round the word 'fat' there!) I'm going to give Christmas a miss though, I don't want to deny myself the pleasure that eating gorgeous food brings at that time of year!

Oh, you two are sooooooooo tall, you make me feel a right midget at 5ft 4. The problem I have is, that although I only have the frame of a 5ft 4 woman, I have the appetite of a 6ft 4 man! You can just see how the problems arise can't you. Anyway, on a more positive note, went to the gym tonight, so am now feeling totally knackered, perhaps even too knackered to eat, well miracles can happen!

Don't know how I've done it but I've lost 2lbs this week. Thought I'd had a bad week as so much has been going on I've not eaten properly, my daughter had her birthday so there was cake in the house and I've drunk wine almost every night!!! Maybe on the run I just don't pick so much...

Becuase it is unfair that Pizza, Chip shop chips, fesh bread etc are just so yummy, you'd think they would need to smell good too!

I think my postings are being deleted off this thread, I am sure I said well done Lizzer! I looked back through this thread and it is truely inspiring. Add together all the weight we've lost and there's at least one extra person!

Suew, I thought I was the only one with such annoying measurements! I know how your sister feels, and its really annoying being a 'big' size in clothes even when you've lost loads of weight, I'm now only a 14/16, and if I was a 10 I'd have to be stcik insect woman, it really wouldn't be a pretty sight. The worst thing is that's what most smaller people dream of being, but I would never squeeze into one ever! And yes I do have before and after shots, anyone who's going to the 'do' on 1st Dec will be bored stupid by them!

Pamina, even you just mentioning pizza has set my taste buds flaming - thanks a bunch!

Cheers Crunchie, can you imagine what our Frankenstein creation of wobbly bits would look like though - eew, gross!!

Well done Winnie, and good luck for next week girls...

Lizzer, congratulations, well done, good on you, FANTASTIC! You've done so well and lost so much.

Just in time for Christmas, ie have December off and start again in January!

Thanks Ems, you have been such a source of inspiration to me, as has everyone else who posts here. Was just looking through an earlier post of mine from June, "I really need to shift 2 stone if I'm honest with myself...I would love to have the confidence that I used to have". Well, I AM getting the confidence I used to have back and I HAVE lost over 2 stone. This is honestly the best form of dieting I have ever done. Having to report back here and getting msgs of support has done me the world of good. BTW, I'm still going to bore the pants off you all though, even though my quest is drawing to an end!

Well I had the interview, and i have decided even if I was offered the job I wouldn't take it. There is just too much evening and weekend work, tht any benefit from working from home is totally negated by the added stress of needing childcare at odd times. It would work if DH had a 'normal' 9 - 5 job, but since he's an actor and sometimes away, at other times working eves and weekends, life would be even more complicated.

I am still looking, so if any of you know of a job that's really well paid, that I can do from home, or within an hour of Colchester, with a car etc let me know!

Oh well never mind.

Anyhow Lizzer it is so interesting reading back through this board, sometimes I feel we should start a new one, but this one has so many ups and downs that any newbies couldn't fail to be inspired by what we have achieved. We set out our goals atthe beginning, and here we are near Christmas having done it! Others are also getting really close, and some have come and gone. Lets hope 2002 can do the same for more mumsnet members.

Sorry to hear that, Crunchie, you would have been great for the job as you are so supportive and helpful to us would-be slim Mumsnetters, but I'm with you on putting your family first.

Crunchie, yeah its a shame that the job didn't work out for you, hope you find something soon...

I think its an excellent idea re-staring the thread, perhaps on the 1st Jan, for the new year ahead?? It does seem to take forever to get down to the bottom of it doesn't it?!

Well I had been doing OK - wine still a problem but thats another thread then I weighed myself and between yesterday and today I've put on nearly 3/4 of a stone. Yes you've guessed it the dreaded wrong time of the month (or the week before anyway). Don't know why I weigh myself at this time of the month as its always depressing. I've got my Dad coming down tomorrow as well for ds' birthday and he's always commenting on my weight and how much I've put on. More wine going down my throat. Oh well can start again on Thursday when he's gone. Got to cheat anyway as I can't not have any of Ciaran's birthday cake can I? Its a yummy chocolate one from Nigella Lawson's Nigella Bites book.

Since I fell off the diet wagon, I've been unable to get back on again. However, am still going to the gym 2 or 3 times a week, infact I sat on the bike for 25 mins last night (maybe next time I'll pedal aswell!) Legs feel like lead today though, that'll teach me.

Pamina - I totally understand how having the in-laws to stay drives you to drink and eat, mine are exactly the same, but I've just got rid of them. However, I've now got my Nan to stay for a couple of days - Is there no rest for the wicked?

Tried a wonderful new diet at the weekend, called 'tummy bug', it was great, didn't eat for 3 days, shame I can't do it every weekend (urgh!)

Funnily enough I haven't lost a pound, dammit!

Not giving up the ghost of this thread just yet!! I was wondering how everyone was doing? I have just lost another 2 lbs but its been ages since I went down. Still feeling good though, except the thought of Christmas being practically here (!) is worrying. I don't want to stick on half a stone as has been the case in previous years. But I don't want to get into feeling guilty at every mouthful (by this I'm obviously discounting the main days ie 24th,25,26,31,1st!) But is there any tips from the experts on moderating the rest??! (If this has been covered on different thread plaese just redirect me!)

Sorry, no tips, but I'm still here! Last week was the first I've lost no weight. But I didn't gain any either!

Crunchie, don't you have some holiday tips? I miss the weekly tip.

I'm still here using you as inspiration (although put pound on last week so hopes of getting rid of the remaining 3 before Christmas seem remote..)

The only advice I can give is to avoid pastry, nuts, chocolate and other high fatties as much as possible and have them in moderation on the main days. Sounds easy in principle but in my case willpower is inversely proportional to the amount of wine consumed. Now if I could only get a grip on that...

Hi everyone, I haven't lost any weight for a couple of weeks so I've upped my exercise... fingers crossed...although I have to say, with Christmas around the corner motivation is definately flagging!!

Go for the exercise, Winnie! A number of my work colleagues have taken up running in their lunch hour. Some have dieted as well. Others, like me, definitely havn't - but everyone looks a bit slimmer. I don't ever weigh myself, so I can't tell you what weight I've lost, but I calculate by the looseness of my clothes that I've gone down about half a size in eight weeks. Other poeple have commented, too. That's on three 20 - 40 minute jogs a week, and I'm still eating my normal quota of chocolate.

Aaargh! Haven't been on this thread for ages. Mainly because have completely lost the plot recently. Seem to get to within a pound of losing three stone, and then put four pounds back on again. Am fed up with this yo-yoing, but can't even blame it on a "plateau" - more like a gateaux. I'm just not being good enough for long enough! Loads of reasons, mainly stress - when the going gets tough the tough reach for the biscuit jar in my house. The ridiculous thing is I don't even really enjoy these "treats" as I know they're stopping me from shifting more weight, but I still do it. Seem to have lost all willpower, although admittedly am much better than I was before I started losing weight. Then I'd have eaten the jar as well.
Haven't been to weigh in for so long (ds been ill, I've been ill, ds been ill again) that I'll have to rejoin as it will be cheaper than paying all my missed weeks. If I've got any sense I'll do it next week before Christmas hits as at least then I'll have a reason to keep an eye on my mince pie consumption.

Willow2 - don't worry, I've totally lost the plot too! Will start again in the New Year as there are too many temptations for me to resist at the moment - wimp that I am! Not too concerned as I can still fit in my black party trousers (at a push, as long as wearing big, support pants and not breathing all night!!)

Willow2 - oh my sides are splitting, 'not a plateau more like a gateaux' - fantastic phrase!!