i hate the way i look.

[momov2]

before i had my dd's ( dd1 is 2 and dd2 is 1 ) i was a size 10 and had nice hair and nice clothes. now 3 years later i'm verging on a size 14 and i never have any money to get my hair done or have nice clothes or shoes or anything. to be honest i dont even know what clothes to waer now everything makes me look fat. i hate the way i look it is really depressing me. the thing is i do do exeercise loads in fact and the weight isnt shifting. if anything i think i gaining more weight. i had the contraceptive implant fitted when dd2 was 3 weeks old. i think this could be why im so fat. it seems that i exercise and eat healthy but i still gain weight . i dont know what 2 do its really getting me down. sorry for ranting and long post.

sympathise momov, its tough with little ones - you spend all your energies looking after them that there doesn't seem time for yourself.

Could you have a chat with your GP about alternative contraception? As for excercise you do well to fit it in - don't lose heart, despite not losing weight there are plenty of other health benefits. What kind of exercise do you do? I think you probably need to be aiming for a balance of cardio and weights?

Have you a good friend who could go shopping with you who could advise you on style and what suits your bodyshape?

Lastly try to make just a little time for yourself, say when childrne are in bed, just for a nice soak in the bath/paint your nails etc

Hope this is a tiny bit of help! Good luck

i'll second finding alternative contraception, sounds like that's most likely the cause.
once that's sorted i bet you'll get back to your old shape in no time.

sorry you are feeling low momov2.

I can identify with what you say. Lack of time and money (as well as motivation) have meant that I feel very out of touch with the way I look, which has a knock on effect on how I feel about myself (crap).

I think the advice to try another type of contraception is good.

here are some other ideas:

• some hairdressers ask for 'models' for their stylists to practice on. This might be a cheap way to get your hair done.

-as for clothes...sometimes the larger dept stores have 'stylists.' you are not obliged to buy but they might be able to suggest clothes and styles that you might not have thought of. This might provide you with a guide for buying one or two things over time. Sometimes you can get a bargain from e-bay once you know what you are looking for.

-lastly, go easy on yourself. Don't judge youerself or the way you look too harshly.

hth

Have you had your thyroid function checked? Weight gain that doesn't shift with exercise can be a sign of underactive thyroid.

ITA with others who have said to make a little time for yourself and concentrate on some basic grooming & beauty treats. I always feel loads better when my eyebrows are neat & tidy and my nails are filed & polished.

What sort of exercise are you doing? You may be spending a lot of time exercising but not exercising intensely enough.

Try exercising harder, but for shorter periods. For example if you usually run 5k at a steady pace, run 2.5k but as fast as you can. Or swap swimming for spinning. And do weights. I am like a broken record on the benefits of weight training but they're a magic bullet when it comes to changing your body shape. Proper, heavy weights, not bean tins. www.stumptuous.com has loads of information and is aimed at real women rather than gym bunnies.

Unfortunately though, exercise can only take you so far and diet is the clincher when it comes to fat loss. Most people overestimate how many calories they're burning and underestimate how much they are eating.

• keep a food diary and be honest with yourself.
• weigh your portions, especially of starchy carbs like bread and pasta.
• aim for a modest, sustainable reduction in calories based on your current weight (there's a formula to work out how many calories you need a day but I can't remember it).
• Eat plenty of protein and good fats.
• Cheat occasionally to keep yourself sane.

Good luck!