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)

Bought a copy of Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution from Waterstones today. It describes it as 'The no-hunger, luxurious weight loss plan that really works' on the front cover (that was the bit that caught my eye!) I might give it a go in the New Year, if I ever get a chance to read it, that is!

Chanel no5 you have touched a subject close to my heart, and one I am not often able to discuss in public. Many years ago when I was just a few pounds overweight, and convinced that a few weeks of "sensible eating" was all that was required to lose it if and when I felt like it, I heard about the Atkins diet and dismissed it as dangerous faddy nonsense.
Fast forward to two kids and two stones heavier, numerous attempts at sensible low fat eating, lots of exercise , losing and regaining pounds ad nauseum,but basically remaining FAT I took another look at the diet. In fact despite my misgivings I actually went on it ( all against my better judgement that diets were not something you should be going "on" in the first place)
Well the bottom line is it worked where all else had failed. It was not easy, it requires a total mindshift from any other eating plan, and I did modify it a bit, but I lost about two stones in three or four months and regained my sanity.
I would recommend you try it. Read the book from cover to cover, look up Atkins diet on the internet, there are lots of supportive websites. Be prepared for criticism.
It may or may not suit you. I have two friends in their forties, both about four stone overweight, who have struggled all their lives with diets and they are so happy on it, and losing a lot of weight.
Best of luck. I will be joining in this thread post partum in March!

Jasper - Thanks for your comments I think I will give it a go in the New Year, simply because 'conventional' diets don't seem to work for me as basically I have no willpower and I suppose I'm a comfort eater too. I will try to read the whole book as it does seem to be quite interesting. I've just got a couple of questions though, which you may beable to answer:- Does eating the all the fatty foods put you at increased risk of heart disease, or doesn't the diet work like that? I find that bit quite confusing as it goes so totally against the grain. Also, after you lost the weight on the Atkins diet, when you went back onto 'normal' eating, did you find that you put weight back on again easily? Thanks! Hope everything is going well with you and baby!

Chanelno5 the one about the heart disease is the million dollar question. The book gives a very robust and convincing rebuttal of its critics in this respect, but my skeptical side says well the book would, wouldn't it?
However it is pretty fascinating reading, all those case histories of taking baseline blood readings for various nasties and comparing them after few months on Atkins.You also have to wonder how good it is doing your heart to be carrying around an extra two or three stones. My sister is a GP and a very overweight patient of hers went on Atkins and she monitored his cholesterol etc and not only did he lose a lot of weight, all his blood readings changed favourably too.
As for what happens if you go back to eating "normally" again. I think the trick is never to return to the diet (in its broadest sense) that made you fat in the first place. I think if you lose two stones on Atkins , Rosemary Conley, WWatchers or whatever works for you, you will regain equally fast if you revert to your previous " I am a reckless comfort eating fatty" ways.
Check out www.atkinsfriends.com ;. The chat room is particularly good, and full of support.
But don't even THINK about any of this until Jan 2nd!

Chanelno5 I am going on a low carb (not zero carb) diet in the new year as it is the only one that ever works for me. If you are overweight you are likely to have some insulin resistance that will improve if you lose weight. I was really concerned about fat levels when I learnt that my family has a genetic problem with cholesterol/fat and I'd been on a high fat diet. However my levels after a low carb diet were average/good. I also have PCOS and that's another reason to worry about heart disease. It was through the self-help group Verity that I learnt about insulin resistance - the doctors that work with them are far more knowledgeable than the average gp.

The thought of any sort of diet at the moment is just too much to bear, especially since I'm in a choccy-craving, pmt, end of term, irritable and tired mood. But come January, they'll be a new me! I'm 30 this year (eek!) so that gives me something to aim for!

I meant 30 next year!

Dear All

Happy New Year everyone.

I am new to this website and have posted a message on weight loss (postnatal)using diet pills as a new discussion and would appreciate your comments as you are all so passionate about weight loss. If I had read your messages before I would have postedit here instead. Kindly have a peek and let me know your thoughts. I am desperate to lose weight, and like some of you, seem to be putting on more weight as I breastfeed!!

Kindest regards

Sorry, I forgot - the discussion is entitled "Weight Loss - Tablets?"

where is everyone? Have you all defected to another thread? Anyway, bit the bullet before Christmas and re-registered - only to find I had put on nearly half a stone. Aaargh. Good news is first New Year weigh in was tuesday and have lost 2 1/2 lbs - which, bearing in mind how much chocolate I've scoffed in the past few weeks, I am dead chuffed about. (Why do people buy toddlers selection packs of chocolate for Christmas? Don't they know he isn't old enough for Mars bars and that I will have to do the decent thing and eat them on my son's behalf?) Am now back on the plan and have eaten my weight in greenery this week.

Dear Willow2

I agreewith you!! Even my 7 and 5 year olds are choosy about what they will eat from a selection pack so I still end up eating most of it. Finished the last pack today so perhaps the diet can kick in at last!!

can anyone help me. I began the ww points plan 8 weeks ago using the points shopping guide. I began by allocating myself 28 points as my starting weight was 22st. I have lost weight but I am not sure if I am calculating the points correctly. Can anyone provide me with some guidance as to whether or not I am following the ww plan to acheive the best results.

Glitter, why don't you join ww online (www.weightwatchers.com) They have a points calculator on there and there are charts etc to motivate you. It's really good.

Or go to a meeting. The online thing didn't work for me, I only real feel I have to do it properly if I'm going to a meeting to be weighed. So far lost 8lbs (3weeks) so very pleased.

Well done aloha

I weighed in this week and had remained static since two weeks ago when I last got there. Only by luck, I suspect. The holidays are a bit of a problem - I don't like to take DD along and can't always get childcare so I'm looking forward to termtime when I can exercise properly and go to meetings religiously.