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It will probably not work for you (or for most people), and I was not even married when I did it, but when I hurt my foot some 5 years ago and could only walk to a nearby farmer's market, I lived almost all summer on veggies/fruits (fruits mostly). Lost about 30+ lbs - don't even know how many (definitely 30+ ; that I know), as I never even knew how heavy I got. Kept it all off till I got pg :)

As for exercise - find something you really like, even love to do. For me, it must be something I do outside home - I'd never have enough self-discipline to exercise at home. Taking a group class might be fun.

I returned back to ice - started figure skating lessons again. It's something I really like, and did not have a chance to do in the last 13 years (ever since I quit figure skating in my childhood). I think that's the best chance for me to actually continue exercising regularly. I'm not even bothering with any special diets, and not concentrating on actual #'s that I loose, as how I feel and what size dress I wear is more important (muscles are heavier than fat, thus I expect not to loose much till I build up good muscles).

Ok Josie - I'm down 110 lbs - is that significant enough, hee hee! (but I had surgery, so I don't think that counts, lol.) FWIW, diet, exercise, pills, etc. NOTHING worked for me! But then again, I had a thyroid problem and genetics working against me. When you only have about 45 lbs. to lose, it's really not that impossible a task, ya know? YOU CAN DO IT :)

Just wanna add that I have had a lot of friends who have lost 30-40 lbs of their excess weight by simply reducing the portions of their meals and increasing their exercise - like parking further away in parking lots and walking up stairs instead of taking the elevator.

Just by walking. I spent a summer in KY and had to walk into town and back a lot. Just by walking maybe 5 days a week and doing the occasional workout tape I lost over 30 pounds. I kept it off until after I got pg with Chloe. So it makes it even sillier than I am overweight now when I know I could lose the weight fairly easily. :rolleyes:

I didn't change my diet a whole lot. I found that when I was exercising like that I could pretty much eat what I wanted. I'm going to start walking again before the weather heats up. I figure by the time it's getting hot again and I don't want to walk, I will have lost enough weight to stay motivated to do tapes until the fall.

I agree with Renta, it really helps to find something you enjoy doing. Good luck Josie. :)

50 lbs...Marilu Henner's Total Health Makeover

www.marilu.com

52 lbs back in 1994/95 and I've kept it off ever since.
I was a chubby bride :( and was 160 lbs on my wedding day. I cry over my wedding photos.
After I saw those I bought Tony Little's workout tapes off the home shopping network and I did the routines (20 min. per tape-each tape was alternated so I did 2 a day) every day. I did very little dieting-mostly I stopped going to fast food places but otherwise I still ate chocolate several times a day (it's my think OK? lol) and very slowly, after 5 months I started to see a difference and went from a 14 to a 2 in about a year.

frankly, I just wanted it THAT BAD and so I did it every single day whether I felt like it or not. Some days I screamed at Tony to F*off and leave me alone but I kept doing the workouts always. It paid off for me.

Anyhow, based on my own adventures I will usually reccommend an exercise program over dieting. But I'm just me...

:thumbsup: IF YOU WANT IT BAD ENOUGH, you can do it!!!!

I just recently lost 25 lbs.

1.) The weight started coming off after one year of breastfeeding.

2.) Exercise. I started doing pilates and it really does reshape your body and I only do it once a week. I also try to walk 30 minutes a couple times a week. A friend of mine told me that the only way she can stay skinny is if she exercises so that is what motivated me to at least do something sometimes.

3. I don't do the grocery shopping! I seriously think since I'm not picking out all sorts of things that I like then I'm not snacking as much.

4. Get off the dairy and soda.

Good Luck to you!

Yvonne Griffin

We have new Quick Dry AIO Diapers on sale!
http://www.naturalmothercompany.com :D

I've lost all my pregnancy weight, and now I'm trying to lose 20 more. I went on the L.A. weight loss plan which I do not recommend to anyone anymore. The reduction in calories & fat helped me lose weight fast, but I stopped at this plateau for the rest of the program. I am now seeing a nutriotionist who says the LA weight loss plan was a starvation plan and it made my metabolism slow way down. It was great in the beginning because my body needed that change in calories, but once I incorporated exercise and my body needed more. I was only eating a little bit with L.A., and it really messed up my metabolism. My body hung onto whatever I ate.. ughh.

I realized I was only taking in 1200 calories a day, and she said that was wrong! I've increased my calories to 1500, and increased my exercise. Burning calories helps you lose weight/fat. I believe the dieting helped me lose just weight, and not want I really want to get rid of which is fat.

I am a firm believer of high protein, low sugar, and low refined carbs. I do eat carbs but I try my best to make sure they are unrefined carbs. I will splurge now and then, because if I don't, I lose track.

Good luck! It's a rough battle, but once you are focused, you can do it!

My sister has taken off 45 lbs. and my BIL has lost ~65 lbs. They read this book called "Body for Life" and have followed the recommended diet (mostly healthy eating, lots of small meals during the day, and portion control) and developed an exercise routine that's worked for them. My MIL started it just recently and lost 2 lbs. in the first week. She only took the diet recommendations and hasn't begun to exercise yet. Anyway, I've never read the book, but they all look wonderful and their kids actually like the new diet ;). They only did the regimen for 6 months... took off for the holiday's and just started up again in hopes of reaching their goal.

Best wishes!

josie ~ i just joined Curves for women...do you have one near you?

it is a workout 3x a week for 1/2 hour! that is ALL ~ so i don't feel like i have a huge workout ahead of me, kwim?

watching carb intake & walking as well...goodluck to you!!!

I have lost 60 pounds so far, not counting my pregnancy weight. I was overweight when I got pregnant. Then once I had Gila, I lost all the baby weight then gained some back because I got depressed.

Anyhow over the summer, I decided that enough was enough. I didn't feel healthy anymore. I started to learn portion control and learn my own body signals of when I was hungry and when I wasn't. It wasn't easy. But it has worked, and I am still losing and feel so much better! I weigh less than I did when I got married! I don't have a scale at home, so I only weigh myself like once every couple months, so I don't get number crazy, which is also important.

Good Luck.

I've lost 22lbs so far and still have about the same amount left to go. I started losing when Maddy weaning at 9mths (she's 15 mths old now). I think my body holds onto everything when I'm breastfeeding! Just without breastfeeding and with a little exercise (I started Cindy Crawfords New Dimension post-partum workout video when Maddy was about 5 mths old), I lost about 5-7 lbs.

Starting last October, I switched to a vegan diet with no sugar. Only occasionally maple syrup or honey in extreme moderation. (I did take some time off of this over the holidays, but have regretted it). I also don't eat anything after supper. I've been losing about 1.5 lbs a week on this diet with the exception of the holidays. I'm also trying to do some excercise everyday. Either a video (I've got several) or a walk outside with the kids.

I lost about 50 pounds with Weight Watcher and walking.
I also used the Walk away the Pounds and Taebo a lot too.

I still have about 50 more to lose to reach my gpal but instead we are TTC. :D I am in great shape though and exercise at least 4x week.

Oh and one more thing DRINK WATER!!!!!!!!

I have lost 22lbs by:

doing Mauri Winsor Pilates (yeah the one that Daisy Fuentes advertises); I only do the 20 minute tape (to me 20 mins is doable everyday AND its not hard impact, you just lay on the floor). It has made a complete difference in how I carry myself. I have lost 5 inches around my abs and butt. I have gotten more compliments IRL and just by seeing my results, 3 people I know have started it.

I *try* to walk 30 minutes at least 3x a week.

And I gave up soda, otherwise I have not really changed my diet. But I feel so much better b/c of the pilates that I don't *want* to eat as much as before. I have even left food on a plate when eating out (and we all know if you pay $$ for it, you have to eat it all, right ;)

I have about 50 more lbs to lose, but this is once that feel that I could do this forever; not just until the weight is off. It is doable, I have been losing 1-2 lbs a week, which the experts say is the way to lose it and keep it off. I have been doing this for a little over 3 months -- the first time I kept at it more than a couple of weeks. Quick weight loss always comes back + more for me. So I am feeling very positive.

Good luck in finding what works for you!

I lost around 50lbs with Weight Watchers. No excercize or anything like that. *sheepish smile*

Start just taking a walk every day-- you'd be amazed at what that does. Nothing strenuous or fast, just a plain old walk. Even just a little bit of exercise EVERY DAY increases your all-day metabolism and improves your body's ability to burn calories even while resting. Also, I can't overemphasize the power of WATER!

So, take a daily walk and increase your water intake. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Just make sure you give it at least a month or 2 before you really start to notice anything... And both of these things will also improve your mood and increase your energy. It's nothing less than amazing--to me anyway.

Good luck! (((((

I've lost at least 50 lbs. Gone from a size 20 to a size 12 so far! I've going for 20 more lbs!

I have a Nordic Track here at the house and I do it 30-45 min 3-4 times a week. I 've also changed my diet. I just watch what I eat, eat smaller portions, and have gone mostly vegan (I was already vegetarian). I have a great book on Natural Health based on Chinese medicine and I tried to follow all the parts about loosing weight. That helped a lot too.

I lost 30 pounds last winter (before I got pregnant). I cut down on my carb consumption and started eating more protein, fruits and veggies. I also got a treadmill and walked 1 mile a day and then did 30 minutes of aerobics (Denise Austin). It came off in a little over 3 months. I have to do that again here soon since I gained it back while pregnant (boo hoo!).

If anyone reading this thread who is currently trying to lose weight doesn't know about the Weight Loss Support forum here at AW, please come on over! Under "Healing Mama" there is a forum titled "Mama's Weight Loss Support" where some of us are posting in support of each other's efforts and where you can post questions or whatever. Please join us! I think we could REALLY use some more mamas there to join in! It doesn't matter what methods you're using to try to lose weight (read the Guidlines for the Board which is the first post at the top).
And if you're into it, feel free to post your exercise for the day (if you got some) in the daily exercise thread. And if you find it helpful to keep track of your numbers (weight and/or measurements) please join in the weekly weigh-in. But even if those things aren't your bag, come on over and post your other questions/tips/whatever! I'm trying to lose 61 pounds (well, 58 pounds since I have lost 3 already) so I have a long way to go and need lots of support/:p

And Josie, I too have just started by adding exercise (and increasing my water intake). I haven't altered my eating yet, except to try not to knowingly eat TOO MUCH. I've lost 3 pounds in 2 weeks. I'm still learning from the other mamas here regarding eating plans before I decide what changes I'll make to my diet. (I think I'll be cutting out dairy soon.)

Good luck, Josie! I'm behind you 100%!

After my third baby, I lost 50 lbs in a few months. I just went for walks with my kids 3 times a week. Also, I only ate when hungry, and stopped when comfortably full. It took me 3 months, and I was down to my ideal weight. And I was 195 when I delivered!!
For me personally, going on Weight Watchers (restricting calories), or omitting food groups (low carb) just makes me WACKY and I end up binging, etc. It makes me obsessed with what I'm not "allowed" to eat. So I ate whatever the heck I wanted, but just when I was hungry and stopped when I was full. One of my favorite things to eat was Burger King's toast sticks! LOL
But I didn't always eat junk like that, only when I wanted it. Which is mentally healthy for me :)
I'm preggo now (and 170-something) ;) but when I have this baby in May, I'll be doing the same thing. Following my natural hunger pattern. It's not something you have to "psyche" yourself up to do, it's just, well, pretty natural if you ask me! :)

I've lost about 30 lbs. in the last 4 months by cutting out all sugar and other sweeteners and eating whole grains instead of white flour products and highly refined foods - so now instead of having sugary cereals or pancakes for breakfast, I eat whole wheat vegan pancakes sweetened with mashed bananas; or oatmeal, millet, bran cereal or Cheerios , sometimes with yogurt, sometimes with milk, usually with a protein and fruit of some sort. Instead of munching on chips or flavored crackers, I have veggies and tofu pate or home-made vegan ranch dip. I'm not keeping tight control over my calories, but I'm in the range of 1500-2000 usually. I don't worry about fat, because frankly now that I'm eating this way, my only worry is getting enough. I eat mostly vegetarian meals, though a few times a month we'll have fish or lean red meat. LOTS of brown rice and beans of all sorts. We eat polenta now with all sorts of meals. And occasionally I'll still have a couple pieces of pizza or a cookie or something like that, but it's not often and I stop after a serving. I also have been experimenting with my own sugar-free baking - so far I've made a delicious whole wheat, sugar-free, vegan banana bread and chocolate cake.

Now that I've lost some weight, I'm slowly incorporating exercise because my goal is to run a triathlon this summer. So I'm jogging, biking and swimming one day a week each, and in between, I'm doing some light weight lifting (I volunteer in the childcare area at our local YMCA 4 hours a week, and in return we get a free family membership there). In a week or two, I'll add another jogging and swimming workout. But at this point I don't need to lose any more weight; now I'm going for fitness and trying to reach my training goals.

So it wasn't any special diet for me - just FINALLY making healthy, conscious choices about what I eat but not going overboard and completely restricting myself. I recommend it! :)