amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

Freckle~Face · 01-14-2003, 10:15 AM

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! (((((

lovebugsmama · 01-14-2003, 10:49 AM

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.

AttachedToFour · 01-14-2003, 11:07 AM

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!).

martinanne · 01-14-2003, 11:41 AM

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/

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%!

LoriG · 01-14-2003, 04:15 PM

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!

MayciesMama · 01-14-2003, 04:40 PM

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!