Dieting. ugh. advice?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-24-2004
Dieting. ugh. advice?
6
Wed, 03-31-2004 - 1:53pm
Hi there. I am a SAHM, of course, that's why I'm on this board. lol. Anyways. I have a considerable amount of weight to lose. I've had 4 kids and barely lost any with any of the pregnancies. I've tried dieting in the past and have gotten so discouraged over the years. Bottom line is this, I am an emotional eater and have very little will power. so staying at home is just one more excuse to not diet. or that i 'can't'. you know, it's me against the frig all day long. lol. i try to stay busy but w/ 2 little ones sitting at home can get kinda boring. i try to get us out everyday, which helps. but what advice do you have to give me? anything? i'm at a loss lately when it comes to this. i have 2 other friends that are successfully doing it! what is MY problem??
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 03-31-2004 - 11:04pm
Hi there!! I am currently 24wks pg and I bought Dr. Phil's book called The Ultimate Weight Solution!! It is great!! I don't know if you watch any of his shows but this man is a genius when it comes to weight loss because in his book he deals with emotional eaters and negative internal dialogue so I would HIGHLY recommend this book for you. This book is a lifestyle change not a diet which is why it works. I wish I lived near you so we could do it together because you need a great support system to give you more motivation. Good luck and I hope this helps!!

Kim

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2003
Thu, 04-01-2004 - 6:45am
Hi!

Kinda funny because I am 24 weeks pregnant too....with a second and the first just turned 1 the other day. Anyway! I had LITERALLY gotten back into my old jeans the day I found out that I was pregnant for the 2nd time. Now, I notice that I eat when I am bored, lonely and that I waaaayyy too excited for breackfast and lunch! haha. Although I have the rule that I can eat whatever I want when I am pregnant, (because I am on a life-long diet/quest for the perfect body otherwise) I am a bit nervous because I have an insane craving for sweets that I fear won't go away when I am have this baby.

If I were you, I would try taking the opposite approach. Instead of focusing on NOT eating... focus on exercise first. Start trying to take walks everyday with or without the kids. The exercise will make you feel so good that the diet will just seem like the next part of the puzzle. That's how I quit smoking. I would run every morning and then lighting up in the car on the way to work just tasted horrible.

Also, just keep the junk out of the house. It's not good for you OR the kids. They'll complain at first, but just try to tell them that mom is trying to be healthier so she can play more.

What about your husband? Overweight? Fit?

Good luck,

Melissa
Meldi
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2004
Thu, 04-01-2004 - 7:51am
When I dieted I found that I was constantly thinking about all the things I couldn't eat and so I was constantly hungry, even right after eating. So I refuse to "diet". What I have found that works is just to eat what everyone else is eating or what I want to a point, but eat smaller portions. If you want something sweet, eat half of it and put the rest aside for another day. Use a smaller plate, so when you fill it you are eating less.

Also, the other poster was right when she mentioned exercising. The weight will not stay off if you don't make exercising a part of your life plus it will take longer to come off. Don't expect drastic changes. To stay healthy you shouldn't lose more than 2 pounds a week. If you burn more than that you are burning muscle.

It should be a lifestyle change rather than a diet. I know, easier said than done.

Good luck

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-29-2003
Thu, 04-01-2004 - 10:38am
WOW.for a second i thought I posted the original message....you sure sound like me... i have had 6pgs....... 3 live births. my oldest dd is 23. my youngest is 7.....i home school my 8 and 7yo dd so i am STUCK in the house all day.... i also eat emotionally.. when i get frustrated with them, i eat...... and eat......when i do diet, i dont lose, so i get very discouraged and just eat more..... like"i'll show you body"....lol. but geeez. that does no good...lol. anyhoo....... i am also hypothyroid, and hypoglycemic, so i have a triple whammy on weight loss....last summer, i spend the whole summer swimming laps in the pool ,and playing tennis with my dh at least 5 nights a week..and i didint lose a lb... my body seems to go into hyper store mode when i try to lose weight...it hangs on to the fat with every thing it has......sooooooo depressing, and my girls do tell me, mom. i wish you could lose weight.welllllllll hmmmmmmmmmmmm ME TOO...... but in my situation, it is hard to do....... i have startd to change my lifestyle...and my house.....for me and for the girls... we eat more fruit . which is good since we are getting to a time of year that fresh fruit and veggies will become easier to find, and more affordable.so i am trying... we will see.. it always ends up the same way, so i wont get my hopes up..i did buy the dr phil book, and i have read a small part of it, but i dont even have time to read that....lol....... good luck... keep us posted on your progress..........
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-17-2004
Thu, 04-01-2004 - 2:23pm
I know how you feel! I have 6 kids and the last one is now 10 months and I can not seem to lose the weight. I will do real good and lose maybe 5 lbs and then put it right back on. I wore a sz 0 when I got pg with my first child and at 4 months pg could still wear a sz 5. But then the weight went on. I gained 35 lbs with him. Right now I weight 10 lbs more than I weighed 9 months pg with my first child. Its so depressing!

If you find something that works please share!!! Good luck!
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-19-2003
Fri, 04-02-2004 - 3:15pm
lol, being a woman stinks!!! just aim to be HEALTHY and remember, a little goes a long way --- a little MORE exercise, a little LESS sweets and snacks. If you are not exercising at all, start small and work your way to running/biking/the gym. Try just walking to the store, take the stairs, and do it EVERY DAY, for at least 30 minutes total each day. It takes longer so will take a little planning. Exercise makes you feel better and helps you get on track diet-wise. You will want to nourish your fit body with better food. Always think positive!!! :)