Where Did My Body Go?

I still have not accepted my body. I have had 8 babies. My oldest is 9 and youngest is 6 months. I dropped 50 lbs one time after I had one of my babies then another almost 60 lbs. It is really hard. I did notice it was easier if I had someone doing it with me. My husband is a stick and can eat anything. One of my friends did it with me and it worked great. We would talk everyday and it seemed to be a good support. I am having trouble getting back in that mind frame again. It is really difficult but eventually something will click for me and I will be back at it. GOOD LUCK

You have to learn how to eat all over again. The worst thing you can do for yourself is eat fast food.

I started a great program called the Transitions Lifestyle System. It is the way we all should eat and teaches you how to eat for life. It is NOT a fad diet. There is no calorie counting or calorie restriction. It teaches you to choose the right types of food.

I started it just a few weeks ago and have already lost 4 % body fat and 3 inches off my waist. The amazing thing is that I have no cravings for the sweets. The only thing I actually crave is peanut butter on an apple! I am not constantly hungry like when I tried Atkins or weight wathcers. I actually have to set up reminders on my cell phone to remind me to eat!

As far as excercise goes - I'm going to be tough on you - - - - not having time is really just an excuse. Belive me, I used to say it all the time. I have learned, though, that you don't need a solid hour to do it and you don't have to go to the gym. You can break it up during the day, ten minutes in the morning, ten minutes on your lunch hour, 20 mintues after work, etc... and there are all sorts of things you can do. When you go to the grocery store. . . park far away and walk around the parking lot before getting back to your car. Get a Balance Ball and do some excerices on it while you watch 10 mintues of TV. Dance around the house with the baby in your arms (you wouldn't believe how much excercise that can be!) I have a great Pilates video that has 10, 20 and 30 minute workouts on it. The ten minte one is great for waking up first thing in the morning. Have fun with it, be creative and don't be too h*** o* yourself!

If you want to check out the Transitions Lifestyle, go to www.transitionslifestyle.com - - if you need help finding a lifestyle coach - I can help you with that.

First of all, get some clothes that fit you now and you are comfortable in. You will feel better.
Next, Walk, Walk, Walk. Nice weather is coming. Push the stroller or sling your baby when you're home with him. At work, take a walk at lunch time, use stairs instead of elevators.
Do little things to improve your diet each day, whether drinking more water, eating a healthy breakfast, cutting down portion size, skipping the mayo on a sandwich. Over time - and it will take time if you want to keep it off - you will see changes.
Will your body be the same? Not likely, even if you get to your old weight. You carried another human being inside you for 9 months. Amazing isn't it?
I'm right there with you except, I've found that after 40, it's sooo much harder to see results :)

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J.,

I feel for you. I am right there with you. After having four kids in 7 years my body was completely ruined. I gained a total of 80 pounds by the time I was done having kids. My baby is still nursing but at 15 months I am ready to get rid of all of this body fat! Although I am very dissatisfied with my size, I haven't yet become that size in my head, so it is easy to feel like the old me...until I look in the mirror! I am embarrassed about what my body has become, but when I look at my four amazing kids I know it is worth it. I have been working out at home with a Leslie Sansone walk at home tape and I love it. I eat an Access Bar before I work out and I am able to burn more fat, so I know that I will get there.

I have found that the best thing to do is to buy a good bra so that the girls sit where they should, forget the body slimmers because they will give you a stomach ache before the day is up, which makes you grumpy!!, and then bite the bullet and buy good fitting clothes that flatter your new curves, even if your tummy is larger than you would prefer. You will look and feel better in good fitting clothes, and when you lose your weight you can pass them on to a friend who just had a baby! You won't be buying your clothes at Lane Bryant forever, but they do have great styles for larger young moms. And remember...with a great smile and standing tall, no one will care what size you are!

Good luck to you and I hope you find your answers!

D.

It took your whole pregnancy plus the extra stay-at-home months o get to the weight you are at now. Dont expect it to leave in 1 month. except the fact that no matter what you are not the same size. Dont throw away the old clothes. You will get into them again... Make time for yourself, and yes I know how hard
that is.
Talk to your husband and explain how you feel.... He my like the new you!! Then learn to like yourself... Your body weight is such a small part of you.

I feel for you because I am trying to lose baby weight too. I do a Pilates video at home (Pilates for Everybody by Denise Austin) every other day (same video I used after giving birth to my now 4 year old son!). I have to wake up before the kids which is challenging because I am up twice a night with feedings. It gives me amazing energy to keep going all day with the kids and makes me feel better about myself so that is rewarding. If I miss a day I feel in a slump. Also said no to sweets-which was hard for one week, but cold turkey is the way to go! This is working for me, hope it can help you too. :)

Hi J.

I see you have received a ton of good advice to ponder on.
So let me just add one more thing.
Before you venture on any weight loss program, you should consider a cleanse which will enable your body to respond properly, as well as shed some pounds.
I won't get into a long explanation so go to this website and watch this short video. It will explain everything. If you are interested let me know.
www.cleansedforlife.com

Whatever you decide, remember it takes time and patience. You can do what ever you put your mind to.

God Bless You!

First of all you have already taken the first step. You what to improve your body image for YOURSELF.Good girl. No it is not easy, nothing worth doing is. First off NEVER go shopping hungry or with someone who is. Don't have the junk food in the house. Your kid(s) and hubby can live without it too. Buy healthy snacks. Drink lots of water and try that Activia yogert to keep everything moving. I use aloevera juice mixed with apple juice.

When you Start working, bring a healthy snak and stay away from any vending machines. Do NOT drink diet soda, it has an ingredient in it that makes you drink more! They did a test with 40 people who were drinking diet soda. 20 people drank regular soda and the other 20 stayed with the diet. Guess who lost weight? The people who drank the regular soda. Drink water not tea!!! Tea will make you pee 2x's as much, therefore not softening up things or helping them pass through your system.

Weight watchers works too if you have the money for it. It worked well for my mother in-law.

Exercise: Start slow! Get hubby or a girlfriend to go for a walk everyday you can. BRING WATER! It doesn't have to be miles when you start. Just walk and talk and notice all the spring things springing. Think about the new things starting fresh, just like you are. You are starting a new and positive frame of mind!

If you or the other ladies on here have not read the book "The secret". It gives you a new way of thinking, you think about the positive things going on in your life and not the other things. It is an easy book to read, short chapters and a little refresher at the end of each chapter to reinforce what points were made in that chapter. There is also a movie and book on tape. The book on tape may be a good thing to have to listen to in the car or during your walks. It will remind you that you are what you make of yourself.

Set your mind and just start. and what is it you said? You can't start yet? Why not? That is more then likely an excuse to put it off. You can walk anywhere, a lot of people walk in the mall when it rains. Get the stroller if you don't have a sitter. If you walk in the mall don't bring much money with you. You are there to walk not shop!

Good luck and if you need a cheering squad, we are all here for you. Maybe we should start a post and each day every woman can edit their post to tell us what they did to help themselves that day. That is why we can send flowers to each other. :)

OMG when I read this I felt like I was the one writing this. I know it is so hard to believe that this after pregnancy body could possibly be you. I have even cried about my weightgain because I can't see in the near future how I am going to get rid of it. But the one thing I tell myself especially if I am feeling down is that my body was a small sacrifice for having a beautiful healthy little girl and it is only temporary. Start small change little habits like don't eat after a certain time, cut down on sweets, Try to workout with your child if possible. Go for walks, anything helps a bit, then when you can attack it aggressively go all out.

As for clothes, Buy a few nice fitting clothes no matter the price. If you feel good, then you will be in a better position to do what it takes to get rid of this weight. But remember you have to love yourself no matter what size you are. So do something to love you. If you want to talk more you can email me at happymoms2008.com You are definitely not alone!

I went through the exact same thing. I am a city girl and I was wearing my husband's old flannel. Now I work with a nutritional line at Arbonne International that carries great Diet Products and amazing anti-aging skin care. They really helped. The Diet Products I like best are:

DETOX TEA - which I can't live without
FIGURE 8 nrgGO3 - which decreases appetite and increases metabolism
WEIGHT LOSS CHEWS - for in the car and on the go
PROTEIN SHAKE - Chai Latte Flavor

Try some or email me with questions...BeautyBy.myarbonne.com

I agree that Arbonne's nutritional line is phenomenal, women on my team have lost 10 lbs in one month being a stay at home mom. The shakes are easy to whip up & drink on the go! I am at a desk all day and personally drink the detox tea & snack on the weight loss chews YUM, I put the NRG Go3 fizzy tablets in my water bottles for a vitamin packed pick me up that gives me a crazy energy boost!! Lastly there is a before meal supplement, you take 30 mins. before meals to help supress your appetite and boost your metabolism, love it!! I would be more than happy to send you a few detox tea samples & more info. if you are interested shoot me an email. Also working out is so important even if it means taking the stairs instead, parking further away anything you can do, getting up earlier in the morning to excercise or find a gym w/ babysitting services xo

A.
www.theskinyourin.myarbonne.com

____@____.com

pure.safe.beneficial
Life changing products / life changing business!

Hi! I saw on a program one time, a mother saying that we go through this amazing change and create this amazing life and then we all want any evidence of it to simply disappear. Is that really fair to ourselves? Perhaps we all need to think about our newly altered bodies as the evidence of what miracles we created.

Now, I don't mean you should just accept all the additional weight and such and never attempt to tone, etc... But I do think that we have to recognize that our bodies are now those of mothers and bear those symbols (wider hips, longer boobs, etc...) and learn to love ourselves in a new light.

That being said: I have used Bio Oil (I buy it in CVS) for my (large, dark, many) stretch marks and have found it does lighten them a bit. It also smells nice and reminds me of some of the primping I used to do unabashedly before my daughter :).

I know a friend that had to return to work before she felt completely "work friendly" body-wise and signed up for one of those weight/diet programs that sent her food. (NutriSystem). She definitely kick-started her weight-loss and felt that she didn't have to think about what to eat or prepare food for a while. She said it helped her transition back to work and took one thing off her plate: preparing/planning her meals. That may be a good option for you on a short-term basis.

I wholeheartedly agree with you buying new clothes. Get stuff that makes you feel professional and comfortable. I also am a religious wearer of the Flexees tank things. I have found that they just smooth some of the less flattering bumps. I did find I had to buy them 2 sizes larger than I ever wore, but who cares if they help me get dressed with less anxiety!

And if all else fails, I am a big fan of a new piece of jewelry to add a little sparkle and brighten all new moms' days!

Hi there--you have already gotten some good advice, so I won't repeat what others have said, but I will share the mantra that got me through right after I had my son--"Nine months on, nine months off". That always made me feel better. Also, I don't know if you are breastfeeding, but it helped me lose a lot of the weight...it took a while, but it worked. Good luck!

I feel for you. I was always in great shape - never had to worry about what I ate until i had 4 kids in 6 years. I have gotten back down to within 10lbs of my ideal weight and I'm not budging. I have tried them all - starving, south beach, atkins, slim fast, working out...it's hard when you are trying to change your lifestyle and your eating habits at the same time - not to mention hormones! Seriously, the best thing that I did was Weight Watchers. I lost a lot of weight, learned about nutrition and I was able to eat. I know a lot of people who were able to lose the baby weight and keep it off this way..it really does work.