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)

I didnt know it was ok to diet while breastfeeding, I have always been worried about not eating enough. I am now going to get my mums WW info off her and start. Due you have extra points while nursing??

Joe give them a ring, or go to their website to check details, I dont know as I started after babe stopped feeding. I'm not sure if baby has to be a certain age, how many points or what extras they put in. They have separate details for feeding mothers.

Lizzer - good luck. i'm finding it really hard because I have no self control! I have lost a little bit, but I've hardly eaten a thing during the day - gotta diet on the sly when dh is out, so I've eaten at night & the weekends. I just can't do things moderately. If I eat, I want to stuff myself! I find it really hard to just have a little bit. It seems to be all or nothing with me.

Lizzer what are you trying and how's iy going now?. Whatever, don't cry! I know it's easier said than done. My mother in law recently sent me a picture of me & ds when we last visited and I was so shocked how big I looked. I wish I could do something NOW, but like you said, we've also got to be careful about what we're teaching our kids about how to eat or not to eat. How much have you lost now? It'd be good to be a diet partner if you want - I could do with some encouragement too!

Cool Bo,
I'd love to try and shift some weight with you! I'm terrified at the moment because I have a big night out this weekend and panic is setting in already. There is no way I feel comfortable or confident with this weight. I'm thinking of trying the slimming world plan - or weight watchers - I think they are the most balanced and varied diets of the lot from what I've seen. I'll give you a report of this week next week and you could do the same?! Good Luck....

okey dokey Lizzer. Unfortunately I've just baked 12 fairy cakes for ds and eaten 6 ... No will power. Don't worry about your big night out, I promise it'll be fine. You could probably do with the break, if you're anything like me the chance doesn't come around too much! Enjoy!

Suew - keeping a food diary worked well for me too. I lost 12 kg in just under 6 months (sorry, not good at metric to imperial conversion!) by limiting the amount of fat I comsumed each day to about 30 grams. I also was doing Bodypump classes twice a week. I got "bogged" in January, lost enthusiasm have have wandered back (almost) to my old eating habits but intend to get back into the healthy eating regime again very soon (ha ha ha, I hear you all say!). I suppose the weight loss would have been faster if I watched the kilojoules I ate as well as the fat, but I'm a carbohydrate junky and decided that slow weight loss was better than none at all.....I didn't feel I could deprive myself of all my favourite food groups simultaneously!

Good luck to everyone struggling to get back to pre-pregnancy weights!

Bo/Lizzer, I've just started going to one of the Rosemary Conley Diet clubs. I went to WW 3 years ago, after my second, and lost 2 stone. Unfortunately I had glandular fever 18 mths ago, wasn't allowed to exercise for 6 months & have put 1 stone back on. I decided on the rosemay Conley because you also get an exercise class (failry gentle) when you go, so it gets you moving as well. The instructor reckons most people can lose their first stone in 6 weeks, if they stick to it, so I'll let you know.
It's a low fat diet, like ww, but more restrictive. You don't eat anything with more than 4% fat, unless its part of your daily treats, which shouldn't exceed more than 150 cals. Anyway, seems ok to me, so I'll let you know how I get on - I know from last time what a big difference shifting that 'baby fat' makes.

thanks debsb & chelle - I'm really impressed with your stories. I's love to go to a 'diet' class but I just don't think they exist in my neck of the woods. chelle, your approach to 'dieting' and your daughter sound really good. I'm having a real problem with my son's eating (he's nearly 2), and it's stressing me so much, I think about it constantly, and the last thing I want to do is add any fuel to the fire by letting him see me having a battle with food. 12k in 6 months sounds pretty good to me!

Bo, where about do you live? The Rosemary Conley website will do a search on postcode. Other suggestion, take up one of the mail order offers, and we can keep in touch via e-mail to keep each other on the straight & narrow (or should that be the tall & slim).
BTW I never say I am on a diet, just that I am eating more healthy food. I stress to my kids that it's more important to keep active, but that I don't get as much chance to run around as they do so have to go to exercise classes.

Jo It is ok to diet and breastfeed with WW. Health Visitors say its best not too but just eat sensibly but that is exactly what WW diet is anyway. You get extra points if you are breastfeeding so there is no need to worry that your milk supply would be deplited. I certainly did not have any problems breastfeeding and dieting although my baby was 10 months old when I started. Good Luck if you decide to do it, it definitely works and the weight loss makes you feel 10 times better.

Thanks debsb. I don't live in the uk, so my problem is a language as well as weight one. You're right about healthy eating. No more cakes for me for a while. I can be really good all day but I have no self control after 6pm. Any ideas how I can save myself from this??? I'd like to keep in touch by e-mail - and Lizzer too if you want - the more help & encouragement the better.

Esme - How many extra points did you have. I have spoken to WW they said there is a leaflet but didnt tell me how many. I could use my mums info if I could find out how many extra points and I could be on my way.

Bo, sorry I should have realised that as you have told us before. I don't want to post my e-mail address for public viewing as it's a works one. Any suggestions as to how I can pass this on privately (poss question for Justiner??).
As for the post 6pm nibbles, I know that problem. How about sorting yourself a big bowl of 'healthy' stuff, carrot sticks etc. I tend to find its more of a habit than a craving for a particular food. At least that way you can much without feeling guilty!

should have been 'munch' of course

Debsb and Bo. I'd be happy to put you guys in touch with each other if you email [email protected] and let me have your details. But on the other hand think how much encouragement you're giving everyone else by swapping front line weight loss stories on this thread. If you can bear it, I know we'd all like to keep up with how you're doing and add our support and encouragement too!

Bo, Lizzer, soory it's taken me so long to reply here I have had problems posting!

Anyhow Slimming World really does work, I've lost another 5 lbs in the last 2 weeks. That makes a total of 18lbs in 6 weeks!

And I really do eat unlimited free food. Today I had a huge plate of risotto at lunch (free food) and for dinner I had a potato gratin thingy (about 1lb of potatoes, also free) with a big green salad. Anyway I find it really works and I try to save my healthy extras (bread etc) for the evening when I am dying for something and toast really fills the gap.

Joe I believe you can have 7 extra WW points if you are breast feeding, that's what one of the girls in my post natal exercise class has.

I think this board will run and run as we all support each other. I have 13lbs to hit my goal of being the same weight as when I go pg, and then I want to lose another 1/2 stone to be at my favourite weight.

My ttips for anyone is to empty your cupboard of unhealthy stuff, therefore it isn't there if you get the urge. Since Slimming world has loads of free food I can then stuff my face on yoghurt, fruit, veg, cottage cheese etc and not worry. Also I don't need to go hungry so I find it is much easier.

Can you believe I've gained weight even though I've been really strict? Slimming World sounds great - I think I'd really benefit from a class more than just trying to do it on my own - my experience the last couple of weeks vouched for that too! (The web site does look good though).
Anyway, I'm on holiday for a couple of weeks (Leave Saturday, so this might not be the last).
Lizzer - when is your night out? I hope you do enjoy it after all your worrying. Don't forget to say how it went.

Crunchie - thanks for the info, I will get myself sorted this weekend and get going. I will let you all know how I am going, good luck to everybody else. Can we do it, yes we can (as good old bob the builder would say).

I really agree with Crunchies tip, throw out what you know will tempt you and then DONT BUY IT.. If you buy it, believe me you will eat it. If your children have biscuits, buy the yukkiest ones for your taste, then you're not tempted, same with crisps.

Make a huge vegetable soup, throw it all in, this has no points and you can heat some up when you are peckish or have it as a starter for your meal to take away some of the hunger pangs. It really helped me.

Evening nibbles is a tricky one. Usually for those of us with a sweet tooth. Satsumas are great, eat each segment individually (instead of throwing it all in!) Look out for Snack a Jacks, 95% fat free rice cakes, they are big and are worth half a point I think. I used them when feeling peckish, caramel flavour for when I had to have something sweet. Or low fat nat yoghurt with some options drinking chocolate stirred through, very yummy.

The good thing with WW is it makes you aware of foods that are high in 'points' that perhaps you hadnt realised. And makes you think of alternatives etc. 1 tiny cube of cadburys dairy milk (should I say that here!!!) is worth about 3 points or something ridiculous - thats my lunch allowance! So you think 'is it really worth it'? Its not worth eating alot of cheese, thats so high, buy wafer thin ham/chicken, WW yoggies are yummy, chicken, tuna, jacket potatoes are all simple and easy. The WW magazine has lots of money off coupons in it. (plus some of the weight loss true-life stories are amazing and very inspiring.)

PS: Lizzer have a fab weekend, cheers to your first drink and enjoy yourself! x

There are lots of very good advice in here - it seems that support and awareness of food is what you most need Bo.
I am a tall slim woman but with both pregnancies I gained over 20 kg (recommended is 9!)...luckily breastfeeding and yoga made me lose it all... but also I tend to eat NO or VERY little sugar.
If you buy ready-meals, they will always contain additives and sugar which will not help you dieting.
Here are my tips
Drink water only (if you can)
Eat a balanced diet of home cooked food without too much sugar, butter,....
Find alternative snacks - I know carrot sticks are far less sexy and tasty than crisps!
I also remember that when I was breastfeeding (only) my son developed eczema... and the homeopath suggested that I clean my body by eating only raw vegetables and fruits (and absolutely NOTHING else)... I hated it - did it a WE only but I can guarantee I lost weight!!!!
Also Liz Taylor said that she posted a picture of her (fat) self on the fridge to remind her everytime she opened the door!!

Ems, you are lovely! I really will try and have a good time - just spent a fortune on new outfit and getting hair done this afternoon to get me feeling confident and in the mood!! I'm hoping to start slimming world next week and I'm going to email Bo for encouragement, thanks to everyone for advice and when I'm on the way, or if I'm totally floundering, I'll be posting here!!

Pupuce - thanks for your good ideas. I sound really good if I say I only drink water (and lots of it), and never buy ready made meals, apart from the rare pizza. Its is honestly true. You're right though about being more aware. I looked at a friend's WW stuff a few weeks ago and I was shocked at the points for bread. I totally poo pooed it (WW) at the time - I thought I couldn't possibly survive on so little, but now I'm DESPERATE. I also need to eat smaller portions. Just a big fat greedy pig. As my grandma always said to me, my eyes are bigger than my belly!
Have a great weekend Lizzer (and everybody!)

I swear by Muller-lite toffee yoghurts for when you get that sweet tooth attack - they taste as though they are very bad for you! Also trim the fat off meat, try to switch to low fat spreads (after a while you get used to them) and fry-lite (low cal oil spray), oh yes.. and buy decent balsamic vinegar and use instead of salad dressing.