Need to step it up a notch-ideas?

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-02-2003
Need to step it up a notch-ideas?
15
Wed, 02-09-2005 - 7:35pm
Hi. I had a baby 4 months ago by emergency c-section. He is my fourth child but first c-section. My abs will never be the same I'm afraid. I have since battled Mastitis 3 times, Bronchitis, and now have an ear infection. Throughout all of this I have exercised almost daily at a light pace (the Firm's 2nd series). I was very active before pregnancy and continued to exercise while pregnant. I would like to get back to my pre-pregnancy fitness level but am not motivated to push myself. Can anyone suggest a couple of home workout videos/dvds? I was looking at Cathe Friedrich but am concerned that they might be too complicated in choreography for me. Also, I am hungry all of the time even though I stopped nursing a month ago. I eat "clean" most of the time but do allow myself a treat with the family on Friday/Saturday. i.e. ice cream/frozen yogurt. I can't seem to control my hunger and am eating my weight in veggies to try to stave it off. Anyone else experience an increased appetite after pregnancy? Thanks for your thoughts.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Wed, 02-09-2005 - 7:58pm

Welcome to Gym Rats!






iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 02-09-2005 - 9:38pm

Ditto to all Jean said! Welcome, congrats and finally a personal answer, yes, I was STARVING after I had my daughter. Of course, I spent the entire pregnancy throwing up, my body really needed food! That and I nursed for 100 years.

We as a society are messed up weight wise because we don't listen to our bodies. I've learned that you should eat if you are hungry. If what you are currently eating doesn't help, you might want to tweak your diet some. Substitute some yogurt, cheese, or some other protein for a couple of servings of fruits/veggies and see if that helps. I am a big grain based carboholic. I am hungry until I eat some form of processed carb/grain. Doesn't matter what sort, I need that, no amount of veggies/fruits do it for me. I've learned over time that veggie soup leaves me hungry. Less veggie soup with a slice of whole grain bread leaves me happy. A fruit salad for breakfast leaves me eyeing the candy dish at work, a pack of oatmeal leaves me satisfied until lunch. You need to find what you are missing. Play with your diet some and find that missing thing.

Again, welcome to the board. I won't even touch your exercise question right now. I'm a lapsed gym rat, I've forgotten what sweat is:)

~K~

~Kiervin~

Co-author of:  MONSTER'S INK HORROR ANTHOLOGY By Cyber-Pulp Press

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Thu, 02-10-2005 - 8:42am

i'm a processed carb-oholic too, but it has the opposite effect on me. if i eat white bread or pasta or anything like that, i'm MORE hungry than before i ate it. veggie soup = full, veggie soup plus slice of bread = binge on 4 more slices of bread. i agree that everyone has to find what works for them. i'm like jean, some protein or fat helps me feel full and stay full.


anyhoo, for fit mom - welcome to gym rats! i don't know anything about post-pregnancy fitness, but it sounds like you will need to be patient. four month after a caesarean seems really quick to be trying to do what you did before the caesarean. i agree with what jean and kiervin said,

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-02-2003
Fri, 02-11-2005 - 4:35pm
Hey ladies. Thanks for the warm welcome! IHere is a sample of my meals for a day. Breakfast is 1/3 c (uncooked) oat bran hot cereal and 1 c Carb Countdown skim milk. Snack is 1 Tblsp. chopped walnuts and a piece of fruit. Lunch is homemade tomato soup (no fat/sugar) with 1/4 c black beans, salsa and 1/4 c shredded 2% cheddar cheese and a lo-carb tortilla/1 tsp. light cream cheese. Snack#2 is celery sticks with 2 Tblsp. natural peanut butter and 1/2 c skim milk. Dinner is usually a salad with chicken and 2 Tblsp. homemade oil/vinegar dressing with 1 lo-carb tortilla/1 tsp. light cream cheese and a pice of fruit. Snack is a lo-carb yogurt or 2 c skim milk. I will also snack on raw cauliflower or other veggie throughout the day. I do the firm tapes as well as some others at a similar intensity level 3-4x a week. I also throw in another day of just weights. I lost almost all of my baby weight but have started to gain since I quit nursing. I was eating the same while nursing. Before I got pregnant, my exercise routine was a little more intense and I ate the same way, just smaller amounts. On the weekends, I will, and always have allowed myself a treat i.e. ice cream or cheesecake with my family. I have changed that to low-fat yogurt or cool whip mixed with sugar-free chocolate syrup for a mock chocolate mousse. I got out for 2 Bellinis 1-2x a month with girlfriends. Other than birthdays and holidays, my eating/exercising is the same predictible pattern. I want to increase my exercise intensity but can't afford a gym membership right now. This is why I was looking for video advice. I miss my gym!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Fri, 02-11-2005 - 5:39pm

Glad you came back!






iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Fri, 02-11-2005 - 5:45pm

One more thing... I know people on the boards who love Kathy Smith tapes and she has a wide variety of them.






iVillage Member
Registered: 11-15-2004
Fri, 02-11-2005 - 11:19pm
I gained alot of weight after BOTH of my pregnancies.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Sat, 02-12-2005 - 8:53am

I just thought of something else.






iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Sat, 02-12-2005 - 8:57am
The problem with dropping weight quickly, especially without resistance training, is that you lose muscle also and your metabolism will slow.





iVillage Member
Registered: 09-02-2003
Sat, 02-12-2005 - 8:13pm
I forgot about Fitday, thanks for the reminder. I have reduced my portions i.e 1 Tblsp. PB instead of 2 yesterday and today. I entered what I ate for those two days and came out at around 1350 calories. I went and bought some heavier weights and used those yesterday. Ouch, my butt is feeling it although I think I need even more weight. I feel no soreness anywhere else and I was able to do 3 sets of 12 reps per muscle group without struggling. I was using a barbell with 26 lbs. I definately need to increase my cardio intensity. I'll look at those threads you gave me. I wish I could run ( I used to run 3 miles a day 3 times a week) but I am afraid that after 4 kids one Serenity pad wouldn't hold me! I think sometimes I do snack because I am stressed, tired and lonely. I'm at home most of the time alone and my hubby and I have not time to "date". I think my hormones haven't regulated because I feel like I have had PMS for the last 2 weeks. My appetite always increases with PMS. Anyway, I am going to check out all of the good advice you gave and try not to stress about it too much. I have enough for two people as it is. Thanks again!!!

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