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Conference rocks::weight_control

Title: Weight Loss and Maintenance
Notice:**PLEASE** enter notes in mixed case (CAPS ARE SHOUTING)!
Moderator:ASICS::LESLIE
Created:Tue Jul 10 1990
Last Modified:Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:933
Total number of notes:9931

851.0. "The final 15 (and losing weight post pregnancy)!" by NAPIER::HEALEY (M&ES, MRO4, 297-2426) Tue Mar 15 1994 21:22

	Hi,

	I'm having a heck of a time losing my post pregnancy weight.
	I gained 32 pounds while pregnant and had lost 22 of it by
	the time my baby was 2 weeks old.  Well, she is now 15 weeks
	old and I haven't lost another pound!  I did Nordic Track
	3 times a week for 30 minutes during January to mid February
	but I hated it so I returned it.  No loss of weight during
	that time.  Now I'm into exercise videos 3 times a week for
	at least 45 minutes (advanced Step aerobics).  

	The problem is my diet.  I have no willpower!  If I tell myself
	I can't have something I immediately turn around and have it!
	I know what I have to do to lose the weight but I just can't
	do it!  I'm not gaining though...  I just don't know how to
	control my willpower!  As I am writing this note I just ate
	3 girlscout cookies!  I know I shouldn't yet I ate them anyhow!
	I cook low fat meals but I stuff myself on them!  I don't eat 
	desserts or junk food unless they are in front of me then I dig 
	in.  I rarely buy them but girl scout cookies are an exception.  

	Ideally, I'd like to lose 15 pounds but if I could just get
	back to my prepregnancy weight I'd be quite happy!  I want
	to get this weight off fast (like within two months) but I
	keep hearing that the final 15 are real hard to lose so I
	give up trying!  Is it realistic to lose the final 15 in
	6 weeks and not be hungry?  Once I've lost it, will my
	metabolism be screwed up?  I would expect that once I've
	lost it, I can go back to eating they way I am which seems
	to be pretty good at maintaining weight but lousy for
	reduction.

	I will not join any of those diet programs where you have
	to buy their food but I thought that I might do the Diet
	Workshop.  Maybe if I'm paying to lose weight then I would
	lose it (meaning that I might exert some willpower).

	I'd love to hear anybody's comments on losing post
	pregnancy weight or the final 15 or willpower or whatever!
	I'm so depressed that none of my clothes fit but I won't
	buy new clothes since I'm determined to get back them.

	Karen

	P.S... what is the weight range for 5'9", small-medium frame?

	
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851.1are you breastfeeding?NHASAD::SMITHI'm gonna start today...Tue Mar 15 1994 22:0519
    Karen,
    
    First off, are you breastfeeding?  If you are, then that could account
    for the inability to lose that 15 pounds...when breastfeeding, your
    body holds a certain amount of fat to burn in case of starvation.
    
    According to the Metropolitan chart a height of 5'9" without shoes
    age 19-34 should weigh 129-169, and ages 35 and up should weigh 
    142-183.  The weights are without clothes.  The broad range is because
    it includes both men and women.
    
    It's a never ending battle!  My new outlook on "dieting" is that I 
    cannot "diet"...I am changing my eating habits and behavior that I 
    will carry through for the rest of my life.  Joining Weight Watchers
    or Diet Workshop are excellent for support, especially when you reach
    a plateau.
    
    Good luck, and know that you're not alone.  
    					Donna
851.2JUPITR::KAGNOTue Mar 15 1994 23:0143
    Karen, fancy meeting you in here!  :^)  Congratulations for only eating
    3 girlscout cookies.  I just ate 6!  I know, this is not what you want
    to hear, but I too, empathize with how you feel.  I successfully lost
    54 pounds over the last 2 years, and still could stand to lose 10 more. 
    It isn't enough that no one else notices the extra weight.  *I* know
    it's there, and I want it off.
    
    I have a voracious appetite.  Exercise makes me ravenous; it does not
    decrease my appetite as studies have suggested it's supposed to.  I
    know what I have to do to lose the last 10 -- lower my fat intake to
    20% or below (it's at about 30% now) so I can get away with eating
    larger portions -- but I can't seem to do it.  I wish I was one of
    those people who eat to live, not live to eat.
    
    Any chance you can increase your workout schedule to 5-6 times per week
    aerobically and add weight training for resistance?  More and more
    studies are showing that a combination of aerobics and weight training
    combined with healthy eating causes far more fat loss than aerobics
    alone.  If you can increase your cardiovascular exercise to 5-6 times
    per week and do some dumbbell work 3 times a week, that should soup up
    your metabolism enough to start dropping the extra pounds.  An increase
    in muscle mass will burn more calories, even when your body is at rest. 
    The only downfall is that you won't see the numbers on the scale move
    much when you're replacing fat with muscle, but you'll be losing inches
    and getting back into your old clothes.
    
    You probably know all this anyway because you appear to take care of
    yourself and are not new to healthy eating and exercise.  I'm sure
    having a full-time job and a family make it even more difficult to make
    time for exercise... I had a big problem with it when I was married,
    minus the child!  There were always too many other things to do.
    
    The last 10 pounds are the absolute worst!  Sometimes when I really
    feel I have to eat something fattening I only eat half of it and throw
    the other half away.  It isn't unusual to see me eating a candy bar
    over the sink and shoving half down the garbage disposal (God, I'm
    obsessed!!).  In fact, I am going to take these last 4 girlscout
    cookies and throw them in the trash!
    
    Good luck, and keep on stepping!!
    
    -Roberta
    
851.3Diet workshop ..NAPIER::HEALEYM&ES, MRO4, 297-2426Wed Mar 16 1994 16:2034
	re: .1

	No, I'm not breastfeeding.  I did for two weeks and lost weight
	during that time.  Then I stopped breastfeeding and also losing
	weight.

	re: Roberta

	Hi again...  I managed not to eat any more girlscout cookies
	yesterday.....  Oh, and congrats on that 54 pounds!

>>    I have a voracious appetite.  

	Me too and even though exercise does not make me more hungry, 
	it does nothing to curb my appetite.  I, too, live to eat!

>>    Any chance you can increase your workout schedule to 5-6 times per week
>>    aerobically and add weight training for resistance?  

	I  wish I could but with a new baby, it just isn't possible
	during the winter.

	I am really looking forward to the warmer weather.  Once it is
	nice out, I'm going to walk a couple of miles every day with
	Lauren in her stroller.  The are some hills in the route I'll
	be taking so with that and pushing her stoller, I'll get a pretty
	good workout in 1/2 hour.

	I'm signing up with the Diet Workshop.  If they put me on a
	strict diet and tell me to stick to it, since I'll be paying,
	I'll be likely to do it.

	Karen
851.4Finally losing!!NAPIER::HEALEYM&ES, MRO4, 297-2426Tue Apr 05 1994 21:1919

	Well, I joined the Diet Workshop.  In 2 weeks, I've lost 5 pounds
	so its working!  Only thing is, I have no energy since I've started
	this diet and I've had a cold for weeks now that I can't shake!
	Part of this is just being a new mom I'm sure, but I think the
	diet has something to do with it because I feel more run down
	than ever.  

	I originally wanted to lose 15 pounds but I might stop at 10 pounds
	and hold there for a while so that I can recuperate!  Anybody
	got any suggestions to shake that run down feeling that dieting
	causes?

	Anyhow, I'm really psyched!  After 3 months of not losing a pound,
	I lost 5 in two weeks!  

	Karen

851.5JUPITR::KAGNOTue Apr 05 1994 23:5216
    Karen,
    
    Congrats on the 5 lb. loss!  So many people around me are successfully
    losing those last 5-10 it's been motivating me enough to get started as
    well.
    
    What types of food are you eating on this plan?  Is the majority
    comprised of complex carbohydrates?  I find not eating enough carbs
    leaves me feeling very sluggish.  It could very well be your cold
    though that's making you feel run down and lethargic.  Spring colds can
    hang on forever!
    
    Good luck with the last 5-10!!  (Done any new step workouts lately?)
    
    -Roberta
    
851.6NAPIER::HEALEYM&ES, MRO4, 297-2426Wed Apr 06 1994 23:0418
>>    What types of food are you eating on this plan?  

	I can have 6-7 grains per day (1 bagel = 2 grains) and
        5 fruits and vegetables (some veggies unlimited though).
	I also can have 6 protiens (1C milk, 2 oz chicken, 1 oz 
	ground beef, 1/4C cottage cheese are all one protein).

	The calories only amount to 1200-1400 though and I think
	my metabolism requires more.  I've always had high metabolism
	but this diet is killing it!

	Anyhow, you are probably right about this cold.  This cold has
	also prevented me from exercising since I feel so tired!  
	I did walk 2 miles yesterday though (had for force myself!).
	No new step tapes though but I now own the Cher one and like it.

	Karen