New Mums still seeking new bodies - this time we'll do it.

[SolitudeSometimesIs]

So a new thread, a new more motivated state of mind.

We will be skinny. No more excuses.

Oh Beyond, your DS and DD get up at 6? How do you cope with that? Have you been heating the Aptamil? We heat the baby's bottles to just above skin temp and he loves them. Give him a bottle that is cold and he will spit it out. You sound like you have a very busy time ahead when you return to work, but a three day week is great. Your kids will get the best of both worlds; lots of entertainment and socialising in creche and then loads of time with you.

Tiny baby has a very bad chest infection so we're all run ragged here. I had to bring him to the OOH doc and he's on a high dose steroid and antibiotic as she fears it'll turn to croup if it's not dealt with. DH is working 6 days a week at the moment sp it's been very hard with a sick baby and a bored 3 year old. And the medication has irritated his reflux badly so he's constantly vomiting and in agony. I feel like I'm about to fall apart.

I haven't even thought about my diet. I weighed myself this morning and I've stayed the same as last week. I'm eating in the small window that Tiny baby sleeps but most of my week has been spent crrying him and doing loads of laundry.

Fell off the diet wagon in a major way this weekend. Do I feel bad? No. It's that time of the month and I have a sick baby and now I'm coming down with a chest infection. The world is lucky it's still here.

I have a goal now though. My baby cousin is going to be 21 in July. 21, I feel so bloody old. Anyhoo, she's having a very fab lunch for the family and it will be the first time I've seen the extended family since I had TinyBaby. I need to look casually fabulous. You know: the good figure, nice outfit, full make up and hair done sort of thing where I can pretend I look like that all of the time (when I normally look like a hound). That's what I want. And that is what I will be.

I'm not going to do anything radical, I'm just going to get my shit together and spend the week running up to the party not racked with insecurity, but feeling good about myself.

I need a great oufit too. So any advice is welcome. I took out a pair of jeans that I LOVE but that don't fit yet, so I need some help. Size 12-14 as I am a size 16 now but I know I'll drop a size by then. I want to lose a stone by July. It is possible, isn't it? I'm so sick of feeling crap about myself - I think my thoughts about how bad I look are far worse than anything anyone else might be thinking.

I was trying to figure out how to do a little icon that would show me kicking you in the backside Beyond, but I can't do it. I need you to have a stern word with me too. I'm very unfocused, actually, that's not true. I am VERY focused p until 12 pm and then I tend to go to hell.

Have you an outfit picked for the wedding and the christening? You have really good style so I'm sure you'll look lovely.

Good plan Solitude. I'll join you starting next Monday. I couldn't possibly try too hard on a Birthday and holiday week.

DD2 is one on the 18th July so I think I need to make a big effort for that. DD1 was 3 today. We had Chinese and cake to celebrate. Just looked at the pictures DH took this morning. They should go on the fridge.

Anyway, I'll leave the telling off for Beyond to do. I hope your baby is getting better and your chest doesn't get too bad. Have a great week everyone.

Oh and yes, we will lose a stone each by July 21st.

Sol and Green - we can do this. No telling off from me but I know we can do this. As long as we are good for the majority of the time, falling off the wagon now and then isn't too bad. It's better than eating junk all the time? I know we can do this.

Sol no wonder you are eating more, your body needs it to survive, sounds like you are having a really hard time. Big unmumsnetty hugs to you. I actually thick you should be congratulated for STS.
How is Tiny? I hope he is getting better. I also hope you are not feeling rotten, you need rest with chest infections which I know is impossible.
A stone is entirely possible and you are gong to do it. Right I am on a total mission to get you a fantastic outfit. Do you know what shape you are? I'm an apple (carry most of my weight on my tummy). I am going to post some links later for you to review! Do you want to wear the jeans or are you open to suggestion? Are dresses a possibility? I just got some jeans from mint velvet which I really like, I bought size 14, I can't keep buying clothes to slim into, I need clothes for now, I'll just pass them on to someone if they get too big (if only!)

Green Have a lovely birthday week, fellow Taurean :) DD is 1 in July as well.
So we all have aims, DD christening is in 6 weeks, I want to lose a stone for it and and yes I need an outfit. Then 2 weeks later I have a wedding to go to. I have seen a few potential dresses, will link later for your opinions.
Going shopping and for lunch with DD. I am back to work in 2 weeks and then I won't really have anytime just the two of us, I am feeling really sad about it. But I am trying to be really pragmatic and hoping leaving her at nursery won't be as bad as I fear. DS happily goes to to nursery, so I don't feel so bad about him now, although he will be increasing his hours once I am back at work. It will be ok.... She just seems so little still, but I have to believe it will be ok...

By the way after 3pm is my danger time, not sure what we can do when resolve weakens.
I was thinking about putting a weight loss chart on the fridge.

Green did you put your photo on the fridge because you look good in them and want to continue dieting or are the photo's to keep you from straying from your diet because you don't like them? I hope you're having a nice week regardless and you can join in the torture, I mean dieting, on Monday!

Beyond your day out with DD sounds lovely. Did you have a good time? Nursery will be great for your DD, I think she'll have a great time. You might need a stiff drink though, maybe next time you're out you should pick up a hip flask .

My body shape? I'm sort of guitar shaped...yeah...a melted guitar. I have boobs and hips but I have a waist. There's a post-baby pooch where I had my c-section and I think that's the bit I find hard to dress. EVERYTHING seems to highlight it. I can have a flat abdomen with the help of magic knickers. I can't wear a dress without very heavy tights as I got a varicose vein from this pregnancy and it looks dreadful, so I think I'll stick to either a top with leggings or jeans.

I'm 5 ft 7 and I have long legs so a good pair of well cut jeans can work wonders with a pair of heels whacked on underneath.

The grocery shopping was done today and I got nothing that I liked! No super noodles for a quick lunch, no crisps (my complete weakness), no chocolates for DS1 that I end up eating myself. DH did the shop but didn't add anything extra and I'm grateful for that.

Day 2 of eating next to nothing and moving a bit more is going ok. I'm just struggling with trying not to snack. Made a gorgeous vegetable tagine that was 4 points for an enormous pot of it, I'll get the recipe and put it up for you. It feeds 4 ( I think, it depends on your portions) so it's 1 point and then whatever you eat in rice or couscous. I was afriad there'd be none left come dinner time bacause I was picking at it while it was cooking. My house also smelled amazing. I'm trying not to eat the leftovers otherwise I'll have no dinner tomorrow.

Hope everyone's getting on ok.

Sol - What are your feelings on maxi dresses? Could get a in at the waist one or use a belt? Could be great with a little card/cover up and some flat sandals/flipflops??
I do think jeans with heels and nice top is a win win though.
This could be good:
uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/mon_1,mon_1.3/5231326108
or this
uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/mon_1,mon_1.3/5231566108
very classic
www.thewhitecompany.com/clothing/tops/drop-sleeve-tshirt--navy/

These are the jeans I bought and they are really flattering.
www.mintvelvet.co.uk/dark-grey-triple-zip-jean/jeans/mint-v/fcp-product/3301

So in my shopping trip with tiny, the 2 things that caught my eye were out of stock i my size, have ordered.
This top
www.mintvelvet.co.uk/navy-cupro-layered-top/tops/mint-v/fcp-product/4102
and this dress
www.jigsaw-online.com/products/cotton-stripe-t-dress-8754

DD being very clingy and waking +++ in night.
I am currently having a complete hormone surge at poor DH for no reason really. Grrr to hormones.

Dietwise - have been ok but not good enough. The tagine sounds great and vv healthy!

I love maxi dresses, I usually cinch the waist with a belt, they cover a multitude. And I'm all for a cardigan or bolero, my bingo wings are epic at the moment. I love the Mary Dobby Monsoon top, it's very much my style (and I love that it's named after a Harry Potter character - I watched the whole boxset of movies when I was breastfeeding).

The jeans look fab. Are they soft? They look like butter. I own the most amazing pair of jeans that I love, but the bloody shop just went bankrupt so I can't get anymore pairs. They made my legs look super long and only cost 30 euro a pair.

You have really good style. Screw going back to work - you should be a personal shopper. You could do it online and work from home!

Is your DD teething or is she looking to be fed? Either way it sounds exhausting. Bring your DH a cup of tea and say you're sorry for taking it out on him (that way he'll forgive you and the tea will stop him dying of dehydration, because if anything happens him who are you supposed to rage at ).

The tagine was delish. DH and DS1 had spaghetti bolognaise (sp?), it's taken 2 years to get DS1 to eat red meat, it was like a mini victory. I worry about his iron levels because of his heart.

Jeans are soft, I would recommend highly. Glad you like one of the tops :)
I'm quite boring in how I dress really, prefer classic things, lots of black and navy and like a breton! I would love to think of some kind of venture I could do from home though. Unfortunately I have no bright ideas...
Love HP too, we went to the studio tour last year.
DH is very tolerant, I feel guilty but can't quite bring myself to say sorry!!!
Yes think DD teething and probably having another separation anxiety thing going on which is great timing for nursery settling. We went to nursery today for 1 hour, there were babies there on week 2 of settling and they seemed happy - made me feel a little better.

That's good news re the red meat. DS has hardly any, I must try a slag bol, he'd probably like the twirliness of it. How is DS with his heart now?

Spag bol, no slag bol obvviously!!!!!!

Slag bol. Oh my God! Hahahahaha.

DS's heart is good, but he gets very cold, I think his circulation isn't the best. I'm probably wrong but I worry. When he's cold his cheeks go a purple-y colour and he has asthma which is from too much blood pumping through his lungs too quick (I can't remember the name of it. It's not an allergy based asthma is what I'm trying to say). How's your DS?

I dress like I'm a student. Lots of jeans, hoodies and converse. I want to dress better but I'm in a rut.

So jealous you did the HP tour, it looks amazing.

I love the idea of a lead in week for nursery. When I worked in a creche we always found that the children who did the lead in week settled in much quicker. It was like they were more secure because they'd spent time there with one of their parents - you wouldn't believe the amount of people who turned down the opportunity to do it. It was also good for the Mums (it was mostly Mums that did it) to see how our day panned out, it reassured them.

I am so sure that I might possibly be the most unfit, falling to pieces person in the world. I've thrown my back out from coughing because of my sore chest. What the hell is wrong with me? I injure myself in the stupidest ways.

I now have to convince my TinyBaby that he doesn't need to be carried all day .

oh no Sol - you need someone to do that standing on it thing..
if it makes you feel any better, I think it happens to quite a few people. it;s all sort of connected isn't it so easy done. You poor things, it can only get easier in time?

You should book yourself on the HP tour, we live about 40 mins away. We could have that Prosecco! it's all worth going to.

DS is ok, has yearly cheek ups now, blood volumes are all ok at the mo. He is still a bit underweight, but that could be unrelated. He did get lots of coughs/colds/chest infections but that has improved recently. It's very stressful isn't it - I try not to think about it too much...

I often mistype things by error to an amusing effect.... must check posts before....

Slag bol
Beyond is the baby sleeping any better? DD2 was really unsettled for all of April as both her bottom teeth came in. She's started sleeping again this week i'm guessing that's only until the top ones start coming in. It's exhausting isn't it? I've been really grumpy too, my periods only started again a couple of weeks ago and now I am getting spots.
When are you back at work? I hope your baby settles into nursery okay.

Sol the photo will be more of a KEEP OUT FATTY warning, but I might dig out an old one for inspiration. It will probably be from 2006!
Well done on your shopping. I always end up buying myself something nice, so you have amazing will power for being so strict.

I will report back on Monday, have a good weekend everyone.

Green I have a nice photo of me, DH and DS1 on the fridge. It keeps me out of the fridge but sends me into the loving arms of the press where the crisps are. Perhaps I need to re-think that one. I was given a lovely photo taken about 8 years ago and I'm super skinny in it. I would love to put it on the press door but I would be mortified if visitors saw it and then realised how much I've put on.

Beyond when you say I need someone to stand on my back, do you literally mean stand on my back? DS1 would love to do that to me. It's all SPD related, it feels like someone has there fingers in my hip joint and is slowly pulling the bone from the socket everytime I move. It's horrendous. I'd be all on for prosecco and HP, sadly there's no holdays for us this year but I'm hoping for some decent paddling pool weather here.

Is your back any better Sol? I've been trying to make sure I do 10,000 steps a day, but seem to have twisted my knee while pushing the buggy. This exercise business is dangerous. But I do feel better for doing it.

A man offered me his seat the other day in town and someone asked DD1 if she was getting a new brother or sister.

Good idea about the photo, I will find a nice one which will be inspiring. I used to have skinny arms. I only have thin wrists now.

I love crisps, I think I spend more time browsing the cupboards than the fridge. (Unless I have wine and cheese in it).

I really need to be serious about this diet now. I finally got my redundancy info from work yesterday and to cut a long story short I have to go back in 5 weeks time. It's only till the end of August and I get the summer holidays off (I'm a teacher) but it means I am going to do 5 weeks of work. I don't think I have any work clothes that fit! I also want to look like I've made some effort while I've been on Maternity!

So starting properly on Monday, serious diet and exercise plan. I am going to do soup making and menu planning tomorrow.
I'm also going to have to train the baby to like other people and stop breast feeding so much.

Oh Green I can't believe someone said that to your daughter. The frickin cheek of some people.

Please pass on your secret of making your baby like other people. I have anti-social velcro baby who screams at the sight of others. I'm hoping he grows out of it but I don't want to force him, because he screams and cries 'til he vomits.

I'm having really good results with the fasting. I weighed myself today and I'm 2 lbs down on last week. I'm actually 7 lbs down but I instantly put on 5 lbs when it's my totm so I don't bother counting it. It's a firm 5 lbs every month but now with the added bonus of looking 4 months pregnant - not cute!

I'm only having dinner every second day (I fast all day and then only have dinner) and I feel great. Have to have a coffee at around 3 pm to ward off the munchies but the short term results can't be denied. I like instant results from a diet, I have no patience.

Are you excited about going back to work? What age do you teach?

Well done Sol - that's fantastic news. How's your back? re the standing on back, it can push everything back in the right place but I think you need to have an expert doing it maybe?!

Green - Good luck for tomorrow. Someone offered me their seat on the tube once, I just took it (I had had a massive lunch)

I tried on some work clothes - not flattering. Feel like I need a kick start (your regime sounds great Sol) but Tiny is still not taking a bottle. I really want to lose weight for the christening and the wedding and I am annoyed i will be going back to work podgy. I need to lost this 2 stone someday, somehow!!!!!
I think I am going to have to try and somehow fit in exercise as well as nursery settling, going back to work and looking after a 3 year old...

Ah Beyond, so my toddler stomping up and down on my back won't do the job then?

It must be frustrating that Tiny won't take the bottle. But don't lose hope. Babies can be stubborn little things, it's part of their annoying yet cute ways.

The fasting thing is really good. I just get up and have coffee and get on with my day. If I'm absolutely starving I have a slice of toast or a few breadsticks - I'm not going to go too hardcore incase I pass out or something. I will not eat before 12pm in any circumstances. I then have a really decent dinner at around 5 pm. Tonight I had pasta, tons of veg and tomato sauce. My appetite has definitely decreased and I could only eat half the portion of dinner that I'd normally have.

The next day I eat normally, still trying to make healthy choices. Then the following day back to fasting. I find it really easy and my stomach is much flatter than it has been in years because I'm not as bloated.

Well it could it could work, maybe better to put yourself in the hands/feet of a professional though :)

I am very impressed with your new regime and results.

So I am day +4 of being 'good'. Milk supply seems fine. Tiny is a tenacious little thing. I am not convinced she will take a bottle. She does have about 150mls formula with her cereal though and I will take in yogurt for her to have mid afternoon. So we should be ok. Another 3 hours visit for her today - she is not impressed so far!