NEED ADVICE< UNABLE TO LOSE...

[AmyMarie55]

I had a baby almost 4 months ago. I was 135 when I got pregnant standing 5'4..  During the pregnancy i had problems with my blood pressure etc.. I ended up going to 204.. After having the baby I went right to 166.. and I cant shake it. I eat 1300 a day.. sometimes 1500, (I am not breast feeding.) I exercise 7 days a week. I eat healthy foods and maybe have like french fires or ice cream once a week. and not alot. I dont know what else to do.. or how else I can lose the 30 pounds I need to. I am a health freak! I know it hasnt been long since the baby and i do understand it sometimes takes a year or more. But does anyone know any sugguestions for now? or maybe a few months from now? I have been on diets before and they never worked.... and I kno i maybe gaining muscle but i havent even lost inches or anything. HELp:)

[wonko]

Hi and welcome,

I can offer limited advice since I know nothing about how a new baby may affect your body's ability to regulate weight.  However, 1300-1500 calories a day sounds, if anything, to be on the low end of what you should take in to lose weight at a safe rate of 1-2 lbs/week, especially if you are exercising as well!  

I know Ranae (our Community Leader) and others know formulas that can compute how many calories you should be getting, but I feel comfortable estimating that 1300 is probably too low, and 1500 is probably better.  You probably know that if you eat too little, it can scare your body into starvation mode which will lower your metabolism.

Are you confident that you are counting your calories correctly?  If so, I don't blame you for being upset that you can't lose the weight given your efforts.

It also sounds like you should see your physican and get some blood labs run to make sure there isn't a medical condition affecting your ability to lose weight.

That's about all I can think of, I'm sure others will offer their two cents.

Good luck and keep us posted!

[gokuangel]

hello and welcome!! Are you counting your calories online? are u making sure the sugars and/or carbs are cut down? It does help alot if you make a journal online!! if you dont have one i am using spark people you could chk it out! I havent had kids either but my SIL has and she said she couldnt shake the lbs either but with step aerobics and diet she lost about 10lbs!

[Skailark]

Hey! Health freak! lol...just kidding! Welcome to the community! Well..seemslike you have your calories sorted out and the exercises kicked in! Well..the culprit here may be the plateau...

Okey...you actually may be gaining wmuscles and surely you shud watch the inches.
If you have hit a plateu read this...It has some useful ideas on how to make your body lose weight when you are in atight spot...Try this for two to thrree weeks and ans shout out how much weight you lost!

Here is the info - www.ranaesheart.com/2008/06/how-to-survive-plateau.html

Also know you can always count on us for motivation and support!

[AmyMarie55]

THANK  you guys!!! n ill keep u posted

[AmyMarie55]

Well with eating right and daily exercise.. I have lost.. 2lbs.. in a month!........ I expected more, considering you should lose 2lbs a week.. I dont know what else to try

[lucindamartinez]

Well....2 pounds in a month is still progress, as it is a loss and not a gain or even holding steady.  Give yourself credit for those two pounds!  ; )  

That said....I have had four children.  The youngest is currently 15 and the oldest is now 23.  For me...losing the weight afterward was different with each pregnancy.  The first pregnancy was the hardest for me afterwards.  Looking back, I think that it was because it was the first time and I did not have as much of an idea of what I could expect.  I took the whole "eating for two" thing to a whole new level that first time...basically I ate for two....two soldiers in the midst of battle!  Not a good scene...I gained about 70 pounds.  The baby only accounted for 7 1/2 pounds, and nearly all of the rest was mine!  So I definitely know how you feel.  

You mentioned that sometimes it takes up to a year to get your system back to normal...hormonally that can be quite true.  

But I don't want you to fret because there are many things that you can do.  Keep right on tracking your caloric intake...every morsel that you eat.  Whether you do that online or on paper is up to you...but it helps a great deal.  1300 calories sounds a bit low to me as well, particularly given the fact that your body is trying to recooperate from pregnancy and birth.  I'll see if I can find one of those formulas for caloric needs based on activity and height/weight, etc., so that we can find a great number to work with.  It's good to bounce that number around a bit though to keep the metabolism guessing and not become stagnant with any one set number of calories...maybe 1500 one day, 1600 the next, 1475 the next, and so on (numbers as examples only).  

I would not suggest a diet per se.  To me the word 'diet' insinuates deprivation and temporary change.  I would consider it more of a lifestyle change overall that is to be maintained and adjusted as you progress.  

I would definitely ramp up my physical activity.  I know that sometimes that can be difficult with young children, but it is possible.  Maybe start with a walking program.  Put the baby in a stroller on nicer days and take a good walk.  My babies used to really like that and the motion of the stroller would often send them to sleep when they were younger.  Start off slow and add to the distance and the pace as you are able to over time.  You will be amazed at how much better you will begin to feel and it will also help to burn calories (more calories burned = less calories remaining in your body = weight loss).  Long ago when my first was born, I belonged to a gym that had a nursery.  I started going to the gym after I advanced my walking program to two miles a day (over several months).  I loved the lady who cared for my son and I knew that he was in good hands for the time that I would be in exercise class or working with the equipment.  

Join us for the 2009 Challenge as well!  That would be an awesome way to continue to receive support (crucial in this journey) and to connect with others wanting to lose weight as well.  Hope to see you around!