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)

Crunchie, thanks for the advice. I've had a terrible week emotionally and as a result the eating has gone slightly to pot & as I've started a new job my exercise routine has gone out of the window... haven't been near scales either. Will try to do better... there is so much inspiration here...how can I not be spurred on? good luck everyone. Keep at it!

message withdrawn

Winnie, I'm only really getting underway myself after a busy summer (I've bought an exercise bike from our local charity shop! £15! in full working order, unlike me...) and pedalled my way through that ridiculous Fay Ripley thing last night.
How's the new job? How are you doing generally?
Keep thinking about how well Rhiannon and Crunchie are doing, we can do it too...

Marina, thanks for the words of encouragement. The new job is fine and the military operation to keep everything running smoothly is working so far but I am a morning person and trying to remain motivated in the evenings with regard to an exercise routine is ...hard! I think I am gradually coming to terms with my recent bad news but sometimes I just become utterly overwhelmed with 'it all'...I am taking various bach remedies but I know I need to be doing t'ai chi every day really. Ho hum... onwards and upwards. Food wise I am getting back on track so thats my glad thing for the day.

Winnie, I saw that you mentioned Bach Remedies, have you been into them for a while, and do you find them very effective? I've always been intrigued by them, but never known anyone whos taken them.

Ems, I used Bach's rescue remedy when I was going through a stressful time at work a couple of years ago and I'm convinced it worked to calm and focus my head. I always meant to try it on dd when she was tiny (because you can use them on animals and children)to soothe her if she was hysterical, but always forgot - might try it on one of her temper tantrums soon (that would be a test and a half, wouldn't it?!!) I was reading an article on them recently, it is fascinating how they came to be produced, and there is no medical evidence whatsoever to back up the claims - but millions of people use them to effect...

Winnie, I'm glad you are feeling a bit better about things - I think that when you've lost control over one part of your emotions it is easy to try to over compensate by being stricter with yourself in other ways- try not to let this happen with your eating, your weight loss is not as important as your state of mind (so says the nutter!)...Take care

Marina - Exercise bike for 15 quid, bargain! Has it got a calorie counter on it? I love those, oh the effort it takes to pedal off a Kit-Kat, frightening!!!

Bo - how's it going? cleaning ovens is excellent arm exercise y'know!!

Good luck to everyone else on board the express train to Slim-town!!

Ems, I used Bach's rescue remedy when I was going through a stressful time at work a couple of years ago and I'm convinced it worked to calm and focus my head. I always meant to try it on dd when she was tiny (because you can use them on animals and children)to soothe her if she was hysterical, but always forgot - might try it on one of her temper tantrums soon (that would be a test and a half, wouldn't it?!!) I was reading an article on them recently, it is fascinating how they came to be produced, and there is no medical evidence whatsoever to back up the claims - but millions of people use them to effect...

Winnie, I'm glad you are feeling a bit better about things - I think that when you've lost control over one part of your emotions it is easy to try to over compensate by being stricter with yourself in other ways - try not to let this happen with your eating, your weight loss is not as important as your state of mind (so says the nutter!)...Take care

Marina - Exercise bike for 15 quid, bargain! Has it got a calorie counter on it? I love those, oh the effort it takes to pedal off a Kit-Kat, frightening!!!

Bo - how's it going? cleaning ovens is excellent arm exercise y'know!!

Good luck to everyone else on board the express train to Slim-town!!

Ooops

I used rescue remedy when I went to Australia as I was worried about the flight, it seemed to work.
Yipeeee Ive got into my trousers from before being pregnant (size 14). 1 size to go to get to the size I feel happiest and my leather trousers. Just got to get my sit up rolling thing out to get rid of my middle and put the peanuts away. Good luck all and keep going. What does everybody think of Kate Winslet and her 4 stone weight lose? I thought she was always happy with herself.

I cant believe she lost 4 stone, from where? And she did it all by facial analysis, weird or what? Weight Watchers is much simpler. Well done to everyone, this is a great board!

Ems, I've been using Bach remedies for 18 years! Long before they were available in Boots! I would highly recommend them although you do need to be quite objective about yourself in order to be able to prescribe the appropriate remedy. When it is beyond me - as it has been this week - I get very good friends to help me. Both my children have used bach remedies, we use them on our pets and even on houseplants! We always carry a rescue remedy with us wherever we go and they are completely safe to take whist pregnant or breastfeeding. It has been suggested to me that they have a placebo effect but my response is 'how do they work on babies and pets'? Hope that helps.

Thanks Lizzer and Winnie. Do you dilute yours, drops in a drink or do you use it neat? Because from what I can remember you can do it both ways.

Weighed in last night and lost another 2 and a half pounds - last week lost 2. Most pleased with myself. Think that getting back into my gym routine is helping as, while I've been pretty good, I have indulged every now and then. The running machine must be equalling it all out. Only problem is am off on holiday at weekend. Would be happy to stay the same weight but not sure what ten days in a hotel will do to my will power!!

Willow2 well done that's great, just keeping up the exercise means you can indulge occassionally and enjoy it too.

I had my weekly weigh in today and I'm 1lb below target!!! I couldn't belive that I lost weight again this week, but I am trying to ease up slowly so I don't go overboard on my eating habits again. Everyone says it's easy to lose the weight, it's keeping it off that's hard. Well so far so good. I think setting myself the next goal of the marathon should help, I'll have to keep fit and this will help my weight. I also think it will be a way to ease off being obsessed by the scales. I have never weighed myself so much in my life!! I need to hide them away for a week and see how I feel then

Anyway keep going to you all, and Winnie I hope things are a little better now. Bear in mind what you are aiming for is long term healthy eating habits which will last, not short term fixes, so the odd wobble is fuine.

Good luck

You're all doing so well, I'm very impressed. I've lost around 3-4lb in the last week I think. It's a bit tricky to tell because our scales are a bit erratic and the bathroom floor is uneven - I can get readings varying over about 7lbs depending on where I put the scales! I try not to cheat, and I end up weighing myself about a dozen times in various places around the bathroom to find the most consistent weight!

My big problem at the moment is how to resist weighing myself every morning. Any tips?

Jane - moderator

Jane, my best advice is throw away your scales, you say they are more or less useless anyway. Remove the temptation! You will know how well you are doing by your clothes fitting better. If you want to see it in black and white, go to Boots, to their weighing machines (try and make it same time of day when you go). Or join SW or WW, where you will be weighed same time - same place etc!

Honestly, ditch the scales! And good luck.

Hi Jane, I have to say that I love the scales at Boots as they are always much kinder than the ones at home! If you really have an urge to stand on them every morning ( and I know how you're feeling!) try and cut back to a couple of time's a week first by being strict with yourself and thinking that you won't really get an acurate reading of your weight-loss. As to where to put them to get a consistent reading - try my old favourite, putting them in the bath!

Oh and well done for last week, I'm thinking I might have reached a bit of a plateau at the moment but I'm so thrilled at the weight I've lost so far I'm not feeling bad at all. That said, in a few weeks I'll probably have the opposite opinion if I've not shifted anything! Still it's nice to know I've got somewhere to come to have a good old whinge about it all!

Ok I'm a day late with my weigh-in, I totally forgot to be honest. I lost the pound I put on on my holidays last week and this morning I've lost another 2lbs. Wasn't thinking it would happen this week for some reason (well, quite a few chocolate reasons if the truth be told!) But I'm back on track so I'm glad to see it's paid off.

Winnie, going back to our earlier discussion, have you tried Australian Bush remedies as an alternative to Bach's? I saw them in my local health food shop yesterday and the assistant was raving about how effective they were - you can buy them ready blended to combat various ailments and mental states. Hope you're feeling better...

Can't weight (groan!) to hear from you all this week, hope it's going ok for you all.....

Well since I'm at target, but I still go for the weigh in I can say I put on a lb! but last week I went one below target, so I'm spot on where I should be. All I need do is keep it that way!

I'm pleased to report that I've lost another 2.5lbs this week with W.W. That's 11lb in 3 weeks. I am sticking to 18 points a day to allow for any stray biscuits or sweets! Hope this inspires someone. R.

Rhiannon, that is absolutely fantastic, well done!!!!!

It does work if you follow it, I'm now on maintenance and getting the hang of keeping my weight the same, so far so good.

I loved the points system, saving them for a weekend treat or meal, earning them at the gym or whatever. I think its a really good system, glad to hear its working for you too.

Wow, Rhiannon that's fab! I'm amazed - kind of wished I'd started WW now, when I hear people doing so well! Ems, do you have to go every week still now that you're at target?

I have to share something with you all that I think is helping me shift the weight. I am not recommending this to everyone, but it I think it works for me. I started taking sea kelp tablets as a supplement which contains iodine (you can't have them if you are pregnant, b/feeding or have thyroid problems - that well and truly rules you out Bo, sorry!) I was taking 4 in the morning with water (and all my vitamins, e'primrose oil etc - I swear I rattle around the house for an hour each morning!) Iodine is needed for the functioning of the thyroid gland. Then I started on a course of amino acids (I'd been reading up on them in my 'Diet cure' book and got them from Holland and Barratt - they work too, in a mentally stabilising way, I'll tell you more if anyone's interested...)

Anyway, one of the amino's I'm taking is L-tyrosine - which is said to 'focus the mind and give you energy' - great. Then I did some more research into amino acids in a book called 'the amino revolution' and I found a section where it states that Iodine, Tyrosine and the cofactors of vit C and B6 (in my daily supps) together make thyroxin (in the thyroid gland) and therefore raise the metabolic levels of the body. Now, I've had a blood test that said my thyroid was within the 'normal' levels, but I'm wondering if this may be assisting my body in burning off some energy i.e. fat from my body. I have been feeling really great in general, in the mornings especially, and don't suffer the kind of dips in energy I used to have or sluggishness. This may be down to the healthier diet I have now though too.... Like I say this is pure speculation based on some facts I have read. I have no biochemistry degree (unlike my brother who, kind of nodded in a 'well yes I see your point, but I can't believe we're related' kind of way when I asked him excitedly about my new 'findings'!!) If anyone has any greater knowledge of this I'd love to hear it. I wouldn't want anyone thinking it's a quick fix trick in any way, shape or form and the weight may be coming off because I have dramatically changed my eating habits (would make more sense). I'll know for certain when I have finished the course - I've told myself not to buy anymore to see if it really does make a difference as I'm aware of these things being an expensive, unnecessary habit......
Sorry v long winded post there...hope it makes sense....

Hi Lizzer, no I dont go every week any more. With maintenance you go for 6 weeks and get weighed and re-adjust your points if necessary, check where your body is happiest!

Then you are on 'maintenance', after that I think you just have to weigh in about 6 times a year (if that). I try to go monthly just to keep a check of it, I've kept my exercise level the same. Doing well so far, you are allowed 5lb either side of your 'goal weight'.

I had my WW friend over for lunch today, we started together, she is still there, and has lost 36lb so far, which I think is incredible, she is doing so well. The WW cookbooks really help her when she is feeling low and unmotivated.

I thought I was rattling round with vits this week; I got the supradryn (mentioned on another board) great for energy levels, was it you Hmonty?, anyway I'm on Day 3 and I am waiting with baited breath to be a new woman!!

Bought my echin-wotsit, BEFORE you mentioned the other morning about packs where you have to take millions, and that was what I bought, 2-3 3 times daily! So I take them when I remember. Found the echi drops for children in Holland & Barrett this morning, hope my two dont notice them in their drink.

Have a nice weekend ..