New Mum seeking new body by Christmas!

[CoraBear]

My baby boy is 6 months old and I am quite overweight. Ok, I'm alot overweight (takes deep breath) I'm 15 stone. At 5 ft 7 this is waaay to much. I am sitting here in the one pair of trousers that fit me and my DP's tee shirt because none of my tops fit properly. Basically my stomach looks like a deflated paddling pool and my thighs are so big that I'm fairly sure that if I sit down too much longer they will burst open.

After I had the baby I took the very grown up approach to weight loss and I hoped that if I ignored the problem it would go away and somehow I would have a body like posh spice-because all new mothers lose all the weight instantly don't they? Turns out they don't, and surviving on mini aero's didn't help. I weigh more now than when I gave birth.

I have a serious lack of motivation but I decided to see if I could lose some pounds before Christmas, as I'll be seeing people I haven't seen since I was pregnant and want to look casually fabulous. So are any of you interested in holding my hand, kicking my arse and generally helping each other to stay on track? I really want to do this but I know if I'm not answerable to others my resolve will slip.

I have my first weight watchers meeting tomorrow, which I'm dreading as it will mean that the leader will weigh me and know what a tubby fecker I am. So, if any of you weight watcher followers or followers of other plans would like to come and join me and share stories of jogging up and down while eating maltesers so the points are being eaten and burned off simultaneously or just have a rant about how unfair the world is when you're hungry, you are welcome.

Right, I'm off to remove all the biscuits, chocolate and sweets from my house before tomorrow. That's right, when I say "remove" I do of course mean "eat them".

Hi Choos,
It's hard to stick to a plan when life gets hectic. I think come the new year I will be a ww devotee again.

I tried a few tunic tops and I looked pregnant. That led to some epic cursing as it seemed to highlight the problem. I'm not really a dress type of girl-even though I truly wish I was-so I tend to stick to trousers and tops. I love the look of boots and dresses, it's so casually chic. You can't fail to look put together.

I went to my beloved a-wear and they had some really pretty pieces so I intend on spending an hour or so in there in the next few weeks and putting together a few looks. They do smart casual which is exactly the style I'm aiming for-as opposed to the slobby, student chic I'm rocking at the moment.

I shall post my weigh in results tomorrow!!!

Hi Cora and all,

Good luck with the weigh in.
I saw a friend for lunch today and have another lunch and dinner planned for the next 2 days which takes us up to Christmas. I am going to have to start my diet before New Year as I can't risk undoing my progress. I am hoping for a maximum 2lb gain.

Hi,
I did my weigh in and I have stayed the same. I wonder if I had really put my mind to it and watched my points would I have reached my goal, but I suppose I will never know.

However I do know that I don't want my work to be undone and I plan on having soup on the go next week to try and fill myself up with. I haven't put a limit on how much weight I can gain but I do know that if I see the scales starting to creep up I will be fairly annoyed. In my head I'm planning a big pig out next week but in reality I just don't want to have to start losing weight and have it be a form of torture again in January.

Choos you sound like quite the social butterfly, I love going out for meals this time of year. It always feels so festive.

I'm going to wait until the new year to buy myself some scales and then I'm in for some serious healthy eating and weekly weigh ins. I'm trying my best just now but the temptation is too much, from now til New year all my plans involve eating and drinking. I'm deternined to lose the weight though so I'll be back :)

Hi everyone,

I hope you're having a great time and merrily scarfing all the tasty food surrounding you. I just thought I'd do a little update, things have been going well. After eating pretty much what I've wanted I have stepped on the scales and haven't put on a pound-thank God.

I've been trying to eat one ww low points meal per day to keep on track but other than that I have only been eating when I'm hungry.

I hope you are all well and I'll try and post again soon.

Morning!
That's great Cora, I have just stepped on the sales and have somehow gained 4lbs!!!! I say somehow but I have pretty much been eating what I want for 2 weeks and not doing as much exercise. I need to start pointing again but theres so much temptation around me, should I start now or on New Years day? I don't want to do anymore damage.... although it will be hard to start this week.....

Grrr so annoying - didn't think 2 weeks would cause so much gain.

Hi Choos,

For the love of God don't start pointing until you have used up all of the booze, junk food and party nibbles that you have in the house. Have you attended all the social events/parties that you need to? You need to take all of that in to account, otherwise you're going to be miserable. You could also be retaining quite a lot of water due to all of the alcohol, sugar and salt.

Any chance you can get out for a walk or something in the coming days? I think you should enjoy yourself. I am. I'm having a Terry Chocolate Orange while watching Indiana Jones because my son is asleep.

Don't worry we'll be in pointing hell in January! Plenty of time for that.

I'm so flippin annoyed, am convinced it's weight and not water and it will take me 2 weeks to get back to where I was. Oh well! I could be good from now on, we have loads of chocolates, unopened and so they won't tempt me too much. Mince pies/christmas cake I am not too bothered by and could easily donate them. My danger is a tub of opened celebrations..... might have to throw them out.
I have one more social thing, on NYE, but DH is working away for a few weeks and I am concerned about not getting back on track due to general stress of working and DS in nursery etc. I am going to have to get into the right frame of mind otherwise I might not at all.
So during my post of waffle, I have decided to point for the next 2 days, have NYE off then start pointing again. I will delay weight in to Thurs/Fri next week.

Hope you enjoyed your chocolate orange!

Could you bring all of your unopened choccies to a friends house when you go visiting? I've done that, so far I've ditched chocolates, mince pies and a bottle of baileys. Share the calories!!!

Fair play to you for trying to point, I'm busily munching my way through the Christmas goodies, but I forsee a VERY depressing weigh in on Tuesday. You sound like you have a very busy few weeks ahead, try and take it easy and don't put too much pressure on yourself. It's hard to stay on track when you have a lot on your plate.

Hi Cora,
Haven't pointed and so this is my last day of freedom! I am determined to get back to being strict and will make soup tomorrow. I think I will have gained about 5 pounds!!!! But I am hoping to lose 3 of them this week. Then I set a new target of 7lbs for Jan and then another 7lbs in Feb I think. I am going to weigh in on either Wed/Thurs this week.

Loving your idea of gifting calories. The unopened boxes won't tempt me at all, But I am going to gift the christmas cake and throw out some other stuff.

Happy New Year and heres to a svelte 2012. Cheers!!

Hi Choos,

I'm with you on the last day of freedom thing. It's like trying to decide what my last meal will be. I've just scarfed the rest of a bag of Dorito's and there's a terrys chocolate orange that is going to be gone soon. I just want it gone so I can concentrate on losing all of the weight again. I weighed myself and I'm 4 lbs heavier.

I'm going to weigh myself tomorrow so that I have a new starting weight and then I'll weigh in again next Tuesday to see how much I've lost. I'm secretly hoping that all the extra will be gone in a week. I like you're plan to lose 7 lbs in a month, it's achievable.

I hope you have a great New Year and we'll have a trimmer 2012!!!

Hello Ladies. My LO is 19 weeks tomorrow and I have about 1 stone of baby-weight to lose, hopefully half of it by 18 Feb when I have a family do to attend. I'm starting on 2nd Jan as have NYD party to go to tomorrow. Good luck to everyone for 2012.

Hi rosalux, hi everyone,

so I had my weigh in today and I had put on 4. something lbs, so I'm going to call it 5lbs for the sake of easiness. I was a touch annoyed at myself for regaining so much and it was definitely a lesson about how easy it is to put on a few pounds when I'm not paying attention to what I'm eating. I was even trying to convince myself that I shouldn't start weight watchers again today because it'd be better to start on a Monday!!! What the hell is that about????

So, here is my plan of action:
-Absolutely NO dipping in to my weeklies this week.
-Try to avoids carbs.
-Exercise every day (even if it's something small like lunges or weights.)
-No alcohol.

It looks a bit scary seeing it all written out like that but I need to kick start my weight loss again. I hope everyone is well and had a good new year.

Oh my God, I'm so hungry. Actually, I'm not hungry but I'm craving junk food. I was down in my parent's house and there was piles of biscuits brought out my coffee and there was tubes of pringles out on the table, but I had none. Ha! I do have will power, I've just been ignoring it. If I start dreaming of boxes of celebrations and platters of party food I'm going to have to go in to some sort of Christmas food rehab.

Day one of weight watchers over and done with. Phew!

Well done Cora on getting day once over with! Like your plan as well and super well done on resisting all the goodies (which I didn't manage!).
Hello rosalux.

Well day 1 for me and I have weighed myself, a total gain of 6lbs!!!! but that was in about 4 weeks, so no hand wringing anymore from me and I have made my soup. Similar plan to Cora, no carbs, walking and sticking well within points.
Good luck everyone!

Don't beat yourself up Choos, we knew that putting the diet on hold would mean that a few pounds would creep on. All we need to do is be careful and we can have that weight gone in a few weeks. That's my plan anyway.

I bought a ton of veggies for a stir fry to eat for the next few days. I'm also eating it with tofu to avoid the dreaded carbiness. Also being off the alcohol means that I've cut right down on the amount of sugar I have been consuming in the last few days.

I hope everybody is getting on well and not finding it too difficult to stick to the ww plan.

I have been away with LO and also have a cold, so will be starting on Thursday when I will go to Boots for a weigh in. I weighed in at 9st 13lb at Boots on Saturday but have since eaten my bodyweight in home-made vanilla fudge. I do have scales at home, but my weight varies by up to 7lb depending on where in the house I put them, so they are essentially useless. I'm going to focus on healthy eating and trying to avoid munching after dinner as I'm still bfing at the moment and thus frequently ravenous. Well done to everyone who's already started. I intend to post what I eat which will hopefully keep me on track/shame me into not snacking.

You are a more honest woman than I am rosalux, I would have that scales in the part of the house where I weighed the least and be delighted with myself. I remember the hunger pangs of breastfeeding so you need to eat alot. I used to eat gallons of soup because I figured it was like eating and taking in fluids at the same time.

It's day three for me and I'm feeling a bit more back in my stride and I feel less sluggish. I have a wedding to go to at the end of March so I have a goal for it. I want to lose 2 stone for it. So I'm very focused. I will not be the chubby girl all dressed up at this wedding as I was at the last one I was at!!!

Quick check in from me- having a busy week. Day 2 of restarting and I am starving! Will weigh in on Thursday to check progress, then will probably go back to Tuesday weigh ins.

I am still bf at night rosalux (well I am trying to wean him but he is somewhat reluctant!). Loving your goal Cora. Will look forward to internet hunting an outfit for you.

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and New Year. My partner is back to work tomorrow (I'm off on maternity) so my healthy eating is starting again. He's no help, he loves junk food and can eat what he wants without putting on weight.

I weighed myself today at my mums house and I was right on 10 stone, I still need to get my own scales. I've made a big pot of veg soup and am going to make sure I snack on fruit instead of the many boxes of chocolates in my cupboard!! I like your idea of sharing the calories, I really need to do that as these chocs are far too tempting :(

Hi All,

Day three is all done for me, I spent the majority of the day putting away Christmas decorations and cleaning my house so that was my exercise as far as I was concerned.

Share the calories MTS, that way you are generous while also doing yourself a favour.

Choos, I've never bought clothes over the internet as I am a weird shape so I'm always having to try stuff on. I'm kind of the shape of a guitar. A fat guitar. Oh Christ, that's a double bass!

So Day 1 has arrived for me. Off to get weighed at Boots shortly. Will post weight and other stats later but for the moment wanted to put down a marker/statement of intent to stop me procrastinating further. I have my DP's brother's engagement party in 6 weeks and DS will also be 6 months by then (can hardly believe it). I would like to look more yummy and less slummy mummy at the do.

Good luck rosalux,

I remember the dread of my first weigh in. I came out of my first ww meeting muttering "I will never weigh this much again". It's always good to have a goal in sight to keep you in line.

My day went well yesterday as I weighed myself and I was 14 stone. Woo-hoo. I realise that I weigh so much more than the rest of you, but I am so happy. It wasn't a proper weigh in as I do that on a Tuesday but it's keeping me on track.

Good luck for today everyone.

Okay, so here are my stats (such as they are):

Weight - 9st 10lb
Height - 5' 6.5"
Goal - 8st 10lb (broken down into 3 goals of 9st 5lb, 9st and 8st 10lb over the next 12 weeks is the aim).

Day 1:
B - 55g dorset cereal, skim milk, 6 almonds
L - tuna & spring onion mayonnaise in brown pita with carrot sticks, cucumber and little gem lettuce
D - pumpkin dahl with rice and fried onions (and nothing else!!!)
S - blueberries
E - 45min exercise DVD

I appear to have lost 3lb in 5 days despite eating tons of chocolate , although I haven't been drinking. I'm also an inch taller according to the Boots scales I used this morning (think I was holding my head down last time). Ho hum. I will make an effort to go to the same scales to obtain some consistency, though they surely ought to be the same everywhere? I had on almost exactly the same clothes and it was the same time of day roughly.

So far I have kept to the above food plan (but it is only just after lunch!) and have also done the exercise DVD:www.amazon.com/Strong-Body-Fit-Erin-OBrien/dp/B003B8NV1S. Somehow I have been really good at keeping up the exercise 3-4 times a week since DS was 12 weeks (he's now 19.5) and this is my second DVD (I did another Erin O'Brien one for 6 weeks). I just need to apply this to what I eat, or rather not eat, if that makes sense, and get into the habit of not having something sweet (or indeed anything) after dinner. I weaned myself off post lunch sweets/chocolate so it's obviously possible - just so hard!

Well done Cora! and good luck rosalux. I haven't done any exercise for about 4 weeks, must get back into it, am walking a lot with DS in his sling though.

I weighed in this morning at 11st 4, I am finding it really hard to stick to dieting this week due to various issues (time/stress/work etc). So I have just brought some M&S count on us meals which are ww pointed. Will be starting afresh again tomorrow and will make soup again at the weekend.
My goal is to lose lose 2lbs by Tuesday (official weigh in day for me). Then another 7lbs in Jan and 7lbs in Feb, then reassess.

Cora - double bass indeed! What colours suit you? Could post possible outfit links for you...