Help!

[Marshys]

Just wondered how people are managing to lose weight, I’m at my heaviest after having my daughter 9 months ago. I’m trying so hard and my weight is just fluctuating constantly and it’s really getting to me. any advice would be great, I’ve even cut all sugar out of my diet to try and help me but I’m just not getting anywhere.

[CrimsonMama]

Heya. Your probably going to get a lot of answers for this - and I'll tell you what is working great for me - but there isn't really a one way fits all solution. The key is finding what works but also keeps you motivated. For instance, I'm sure the cabbage soup diet works great but I can't imagine it being something you want to consume day in day out for weeks or months!

For myself ... I have found the combination of diet and exercise really is the key. I started with the 5:2 diet as you only have to be strong willed two days a week and you don't have to cut out any foods. You just have to stick to 500 calories two days a week and normal the other five days.

When I stopped losing much weight I started going out for a brisk walk for 30 mins every day. My weight loss increased so much! I then started the couch to 5k program and added other exercises. The extra exercising also means I allow myself 800 instead of 500 calories on my diet days. But you don't need to think so far ahead.

Having a baby/toddler is hard enough work but I reckon you can get in that walk every day for starters! It will do you both good! And just watch your portion sizes. See how that goes and then add more or adapt your diet if you need to. But start slow and your more likely to make changes you can stick to!

[Marshys in reply to CrimsonMama]

Thank you, yeah I’ve changed my diet to eating more healthy and cutting out sugar just because I have 5 coffees a day and that consist of 2 sugars each time but since cutting sugar out I have 1 coffee a day. And I go to the gym twice a week and we try to go for a walk, but I see to crave all the things I shouldn’t be wanting lol it’s so hard. But I will check out the 5:2 diet see what that’s like. .

[CrimsonMama in reply to Marshys]

I switched from Pepsi and coke to Dr pepper zero which cut about 2000 calories a week from diet! Do you think you could get used to sweetner in your coffee? I understand if not. I dislike diet colas cos I can taste the sweetner. But I'm ok with Dr pepper.

I still have crisps and chocolate every single day and have lost 5 inches off my waist since November. I'm not a healthy eater. Just want to assure you you can do it and not have to cut out things you love!

[S11m in reply to Marshys]

5:2 works for some people, and eating during a limited time window each day also works for many members here.

If you eat with family in the evenings it would be difficult for you - but I just set a time in the evening after which I did not eat.

Many members here eat in an 8-hour window - or 16:8 Intermittent Fasting.

[IndigoBlue61]

Hello and welcome to the Weight Loss Forum Marshys 😊

If you haven’t already, then please read the Welcome post here which has lots of useful information about all the things we have on offer healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

The best advice I can give is have enough to eat. If you are following the NHS 12 Week plan then the 1400/1900 calorie target suggested is a just generic amount, please check your own personal calorie target using the BMI checker, it’s often higher than you think. We always advise starting towards the top of the range, being hungry is the biggest cause of weight loss failure

I also highly recommend coming onto the forum regularly, daily if you can, reading posts and replying to others. Being part of a community is proven to help weight loss. Why not join our daily chat thread What’s Happening today?

For your own privacy and safety online we suggest that you lock your posts by selecting ‘members of my community’ when you write a new post. Please read our security post here healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh... especially as your post isn’t locked

Best wishes and have a good first week

Indigo 😊

[S11m]

Hi, Marshys , Welcome.

Are you counting calories or just avoiding what you know makes you fat?

Have you tried cutting out bread, cakes, biscuits, puddings...?

Most members do count calories for a start - there may be foods that are more fattening than you think.

[Marshys in reply to S11m]

I’ve tried cutting our sugar but it’s really hard. I’ve stopped sugar in my coffee, I’ve stoppped eating cakes and sweet stuff but I’m just not getting anywhere my weight is up and down like a yo-yo. It’s very frustrating.

[brilliantgirl]

Hey Marshys, Welcome!

I started Couchto5k when my baby was 7 months and it was really helpful. Before then I couldn't do any exercise apart from mum and baby yoga. Its really hard to be consistent since I have to go running at night, in the cold after 6pm when my husband can take over baby duty but it really helped.

Don't get me wrong, I am still struggling with my diet because sticking to the calories I am meant to eat has been a daily task but the exercising definitely os a step in the right direction.

My husband lost 3 stones (post us having a baby) just with running and following the guidelines from Jamie Oliver Everyday Superfood books/ series. The recipes are great and we have been following those guidelines and cooking the recipes for over one year now.

My husband has been a lot more successful than I have in loosing weight but he is incredibly disciplined (which I envy!) and honestly all I wanted to do at 9 months post baby (and still now when she is 1/1/2yo) was eat ice-cream and quitting the sugar rush has been my main problem.

I think being consistent is key and with having a small baby is not always easy. Go easy on yourself and good luck...hope getting support here also helps. Its the reason I signed up.

[Tenstoneliz Maintainer]

At this time in your life, it might be best to put yourself in the hands of the practice nurse at your GP surgery. They are trained to deliver guidance on diet and will give you safe and practical advice and they will weigh you regularly if that is what you want/need. I did this and it worked. I noticed a group of young mums and babies doing a Pilates class at my local leisure centre. It is really important to get support and social contact from people in similar circumstances.

[RazzleH]

Hey Marshys, I have a young son and I remember 9 months well (and the despair about my previously quite trim body). My advice is to hang in there, stay positive and be kind to yourself. Physiologically, your body is still recovering from most dramatic thing that has ever happened to it and it has performed a miracle. I remember being told that it takes 12 months for hormones to subside and your body to start to resume business as normal, plus if you still aren't getting a regular 8 hours of sleep your body may be giving you sugar and caffeine cravings (and if you are breastfeeding your body is pretty clever about protecting your energy for that too) and so weightloss tips that might have worked in the past for you, might not be working right at this moment. In the first 12 months I remember being so frustrated by my body, not being able to manage to do what I did pre-pregnancy and not having the space or time or ability to change things, but my body did normalise and life became easier again - albeit slowly (and now I'm on here, trying to lose that stubborn last stone of weight). I definitely echo Tenstoneliz - go and talk to the medical types (they can provide proper advice given your situation) and look out for groups of Mums in the same boat for support. And good luck and good cuddles with your baby.

[Weakwillednomore]

I there. I have only started a week ago and lost 800g. I put it all down to portion size. It’s hard not to snack for me, but have found grapes handy in the evening.

Keep going, I’m sure it’s going to start shifting soon 😀

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Weakwillednomore]

Great start!

I found that once I really focused on getting my calories into three meals, "snacking" (or eating between meals) just faded away.

Wishing you every success

[Clairemariep]

It's hard isn't it. Especially having the energy after children . I'm struggling to I just can't seem to stick to it and have the motivation even though looking at myself in the mirror should be enough.

I love to know the answer that suits us all but I think it's different for everyone. I would say aerobics and trampolining is good to shift weight more instead of cutting out sugar for instance. But it all costs money..so walking? But can be booorrring...

[Marshys in reply to Clairemariep]

I’ve got a weight advisor as basically my dr told me I was to fat lol lovely way to put it, they’d given me different options for snacking and eating and that but it’s hard with a child I’ll be honest I either forget to eat or I just wanna stuff my face haha I’m trying the 3 meals a day and then snacks in between that are healthy but it’s just so hard. I also go to the gym 3 times a week. But the weight management thing I’m on is for people who are overweight with a high bmi. And they give you the option to have bariatric surgery which for me isn’t an option I don’t want it. But I’m at my heaviest since having my daughter and I’m so depressed about my weight. But it is hard my weight just keep yo yoing.

[Maria821]

Hi fellow mummy. My baby is 10 months and is my third. I haven't managed to budge much if any weight this time round. I could say things haven't worked but if Im honest it's because I haven't stuck to it. The lack of sleep and stress having young children brings means that cake and wine and all the bad comforting foods were my go to. Anyway I've been good for 7 days and I've lost 2.1kg so far.... I hope to keep it up. I want to be trim for our summer holiday and I've just stopped snacking and trying to have low carbs more protein and I just bought a running buggy and have been out a few times with it. As someone said to me this should be a journey and long term good habits. So if you end up having a biscuit because the baby hasn't slept that's fine. Just get back on the wagon and try and me kind to yourself xxx