Calling all vets of the fat wars

[1jooj]

OK, here goes--I am looking for some help from some Moms who have been in my shoes--and I've read your posts out there, I know some of you have!!!
I'm at home with my little man, who is a year old now. We are still bfing and cosleeping, and dh and I are hoping God gives us a little #2 sometime soon, too.
And I am one fat, fat lady. I could not honestly tell you my weight, although it's pretty big--I'd say my BMI is around 37? I have gone up and down, and yes I am a stress binger, I readily admit that, and yes I have SAD, which "helps" me to chow more in winter. I'd say I'd ideally weigh around 145. Generally, my family are a thicker bunch, very muscular, farmers, Bohemian descent--so I have no illusions of ever wearing a size 6. Even an 8 is a stretch in our clan, except for those who opt to starve themselves and smoke incessantly. As a Muslim, I keep my body pretty much covered to the wrists and lower calves/ankles, so looking good in shorts ain't an issue.
OK--so, I'd say I've probably lost 10 pounds since ds was born, so I am no longer at my all-time high. But this is much bigger than I want to be.
Currently, I take ds out for walks occasionally--more often, I take him out in the trailer behind the bike, and we probably bike about 7-8 miles or so when we do go. Now that the weather is nice, it's probably about 4 days a week. All I do otherwise is housework/yardwork, and that's not very aerobic.
Dh's work schedule is grueling, and we have no extra $$ for a Y membership. I cannot see myself doing videos. I have to cook fresh food/meals each day. And, to top it all off, dh has trouble keeping 165 pounds on his 5'11" frame--so it can't be lo-cal in our house. So, with all this in mind, and that we are bfing/cosleeping and hope to conceive again--what chance do I have of getting fit?
I'm friendlier when I'm lighter. Now, I feel like a blob.
How did you fitter mamas get fitter?

[Els' 3 Ones]

I will try to write more about my fat wars later, as I am in a hurry right now.

Go to the library and get "Sugar Busters". It turned my life around. I was never a "dieter". If I don't eat I am not a person you can live with (my children certainly don't need that!). I now can lose weight and eat 3 meals plus 2 snacks a day. I'm not hungry.

For me it was a matter of eating the right foods. White flour, white sugar, white rice and white pasta are all big no's on this but whole grain is OK. It is not Atkins. It is an easy read and really explains the connection to carbs and weight, binging, mood swings, insomnia and others.

Good luck. And your exercise sounds great! Keep going.

[CorasMama]

Ummnah --

I'm not sure that I can yet attest to being a "veteran" of the fat wars, since I'm still an active (most days) "soldier". But I have lost around 50 lbs in the last year, so I'll tell you what I have learned so far. I still have another 40-50 lbs to go, and I have no illusions that they will be easy.

Here is my weight story:

Until I first got pregnant, I was a skinny-mini. I've been as little as 5'6", 100 lbs. And that was eating whatever, whenever. I was the woman that we all secretly have a grudge on! Then, I got pregnant the first time. I gained some weight, and but I had a miscarriage at about 15 weeks. I stayed pretty much at that weight until I moved to the DC area (I have always hated living here, due to weather and the type of people) at the age of 21. In that year that I lived here, I gained a bunch of weight. That is when my metabolism really changed. I moved back to Seattle, but kept putting on the pounds. By the time I got pregnant with my dd, I weighed 180 lbs. During my pregnancy, I got healthy for possibly the first time ever. But by the time my dd was 18 mos old, I was back to my old unhealthy habits. And at the beginning of 2001, my mother died and I got married, all in a 6 week period! Then last summer, I was at my peak weight of 230ish, and my doctor told me that my cholesterol was over 300! Wow, what a wake up call!

First, nutrition. I just stopped eating as much processed foods. No more fast food (that includes home-fast-foods, like my beloved snack of lots o' cheese and crackers, or whole bags of chips eaten in one day). My eating habits were absolutely atrocious. I would have, after the kidling went to bed, half of a bag of tostitos with half a jar of cheese dip. Now, I think back on that, and say ewww, but part of me still wants it. I also ate for comfort. My depression is not SAD per se, but it does get worse in the summer, because I hate the heat.

To combat the junk-food cravings, I substituted rice cakes for tortilla and potato chips. I tried to drink more water, too, but this is still a daily struggle for me, and one that I lose more than I win. My soft drink habit is terrible, but I have cut down.

One of the most important things I've done is to ask myself every time I eat, "why am I eating this? why in this amount?" If it's a good reason (hunger) and a reasonable amount, I eat it. If not, I try to wait out the urge. Then comes the most important part of my diet: IF I EAT POORLY, I FORGIVE MYSELF!!! I tell myself that I'll do better the next day. Before, when I tried to diet, I would get discouraged if I ate poorly, and that discouragement and depression would lead to the whole diet going out the window. Or, I would feel like I was depriving myself, so I'd end up bingeing and eating more bad stuff than I would have if I'd just let myself have SOME of that bad stuff I wanted.

My husband is a big part of my support on this. He hasn't changed his diet very much, and I wish he would, but even still, he shows me how glad he is that I'm getting healthier. I decided when I started this that I wouldn't be so cruel to him or our relationship as to wait for him to notice that I'd lost weight. So when I get to a goal, every few pounds or so, or when I realize I'm down the next clothing size, I tell him! Then he can ooh and ahh over me, without having to think "I think she's lost weight, but what if I say something, and she's actually gained 2 lbs this week, and I've just reminded her of it?"

Good luck, and be kind to yourself. The little things add up.

[Etoile]

I would agree about Sugar Busters. The Schwarzbein Principle is also very good.
I do a cross between Atkins and Schwarzbein. I've lost 55 pounds since 5/3/02. I still have about 100 more to go.
I also recommend LOTS of water. a good guideline is 8 8oz glasses per day plus 1 glass for every 25 pounds you are overweight.

Good luck to you UumNuh.
Blessings!

[indiegirl]

I cannot recommend Weight Watcher enough. I lost 25 lbs there in 10 weeks and have kept it off. It is not a diet--it teaches you (in a very easy, "you can do this" kind of way) how to change the way you 1) eat in general and 2) how you view food. It is, hands down, the most positive experience I have had with losing weight.

For me, it was $20 to join and $12 a week. I actually saved money on the program because I stopped eating out as much and snacking.

I have been there and still have a ways to go with my ultimate goal, but WW has taught me the tools I need to make good, healthy choices. Again, this isn't a diet. It's a way of life. Oh, and no, you don't buy their food. You eat regular food and you choose it. Every food has a point value and you eat points within your daily range.

Much love

[Mommy2ZaGirls]

Still very much a soldier here but putting on far less weight during this pregnancy than last two. I was losing weight up until I was about 2 1/2 mos. pregnant.

Schwarzbein is good too although I think she misses the mark on pasta and bread as she outlaws pasta even though it generally has a lower GI than bread. Weight Watchers didn't appeal to me because I didn't have the time to figure out the from-scratch foods all of the time. I like the concept though.

I also have a thyroid condition, recently diagnosed, called Wilson's Thyroid Syndrome. It really messes up your metabolism AND it causes cravings for carbs and sugar, in particular. Most docs don't know about it, you will have to educate yourself on it but the best way to figure this out is to take your temp. every morning while still in bed, under the arm with a bulb/mercury type thermometer for 10 minutes. Low temps are the best indicator. I was consistently 95 and 96.

Most internists only look at T4 but Wilson's is a combination of different levels and in particular T3 (what you need to convert T4). You need someone who knows what they are doing to advise you. My naturopath didn't put me on the curative dose because I was still breastfeeding, but rather a low dose of natural T3 & T4.

Private message me if you want more info.

A low GI diet helps but it didn't do the trick for me. BTW, my baby's nightwaking got SO much better when I got treatment as she wasn't getting all of that extra T4 that was swimming around in my milk.

[~member~]

Hello Ummnuh! I don't know about where you live but here in MN the Y is offering free memberships to mom's, although you do have to make a commitment to go at least twice a week. I am not sure the age limit of children to qualify, but my Sister's DS is five yo, and she got a free membership. And my best friend volunteers two hours a week of her time in the daycare and she got a free membership. She lives in WI.
Hope this helps

[1jooj]

These are exactly the kind of success stories I need to hear, since I think this is going to be one of the hardest things I ever achieve--becoming healthy, I mean. You ladies are truly inspirational.
Of course, we are always wishing for an effort-free miracle experience, but by now I know better.
I have been doing great with the water. The carbs are a huge problem for me, but all I can do is keep trying. And, I'm going to call the local Y and see if I can give time for membership.
Thanks for all your suggestions and positive thoughts!

[member]

Not a veteran of the fat wars per se... I my big butt.

But I think healthy living is the best possible answer to living weight. Cut down on the portion size, eat whole foods, use spices and marinades (not sauces), and exercise!!!!

A friend of mine got healthy by thinking that she was always pregnant. If there was a baby needing her to do the right thing for her body she would. She ended up getting very strong and toned with this attitude.

[veggiewolf]

Originally posted by indiegirl
I cannot recommend Weight Watcher enough.

I am currently a WW member, and pay $14.95 per month to do the online program - no meetings, an online journal and recipe builder, and tons of support on the message boards. I have lost 55 lbs since last August, and have another 50 to go. It teaches you portion control and healthy eating without removing a particular group of foods. You can eat what you want - as long as you stay within your range, you lose weight. They have an "at-home" kit as well that you can order from their website.

I really recommend it - it's upped my cravings for water, of all things.

April

[juicylucy]

I'm with the WeightWatchers girls. It really is a great eating program (I am loathe to use the word diet, as it is more changing the way you eat permanently). I am have lost 23lbs since Gabe was born, and would be happy to lose 10 more, but I am getting there. I decided not to do it online, as you need realy strong willpower for that. I find attending the weekly meetings and having to weigh in really keeps me on track. I'd just say, whatever diet you choose, keep it balanced. Don't cut out any of the major food groups (ie, a no-carbs diet wouldn't be good).. this is not healthy and/maintainable (is that a word?!!)

[OceanMomma]

I'm not sure as I quite qualify as a veteran. I'm about 138lbs & feel like I've lost my fat war some days But I got sent a free fitness magazine by my gym in the mail today in an attempt to get me to subscribe. It's got an article in there about women over 40 & about how your metabolic rate starts slowing down at 30 & so on. It's got some real interesting stuff in about the effect hormones have on your blood sugar. It's really interesting but I haven't got time to kinda summarise it all. If you would like to know more, let me know & I'll see if I can do a better summary when I've got more time.

[oceanmommy]

Hey OceanMomma (great name btw ) I would love to know more about that article...is it based on good science ?

I am defiently still a soldier here...but I think daily excercise is key. I walk or bike everyday, and if I can't I do crunches, and such at home. I will let DD watch a video and see how fast and hard I can work cleaning the kitchen before it ends...working up a sweat is important. Portion size is key too. And being patient with yourself, I mean, we may want to change the way we look but we should all know we are *beautiful* the way we are now too.

I think I am too chickensh*t to do sugarbusters...maybe I need it most of all. I crave sugar sometimes. I just found out the Y here has the volunteer-to earn-a pass thing too, so I am going to start going there. I also have an email support group which is helpful (I am accountable...someone is wondering how I did this week). Maybe Mothering has a group like this or we can start one ? It is very motivating to be talking to others who are doing the same thing, and we can share info. pm me or post here if you want to, to see how much interest there is.

OM

[rainsmom]

Hey you guys,

I just started ww today. My mom sent me her info on the point system. It seems so much figuring....... Is there an easy way to get organized at the begining?????????

[OceanMomma]

Hey OceanMommy - cool name too btw I've still not read the mag article properly. I just haven't had time with work & stuff but I will soon & I will update this thread then. Plus I am going to see one of the local naturopaths quoted in the article ( about a separate issue ) next thursday so I will ask her for more info & post that too. From my scan read of the article, it made very good sense.

[oceanmommy]

Thanks OceanMomma, I will keep checking back here

[cara]

My mom wrote a wonderful book on weight loss and feeling good about the process, It is called Count It As A Vegetable and Move On by Lynne GOldklang. All I can say is just stay with it. Slow is good. I try to do alittle yoga in the early morning and go for a long walk after dinner. I also try to stop eating after dinner. I do not do these things everyday but when I do I feel better and I am slowly losing the weight. If you are interested in the book just email me at [e-mail] and I can tell you about it or you can just look it up on Amazon. Good luck.

[Pupcake]

RE: Wilson's Syndrome

Originally posted by Mommy2ZaGirls
I also have a thyroid condition, recently diagnosed, called Wilson's Thyroid Syndrome...

I just wanted to say THANK YOU for sharing that info! After reading your post, I found http://www.WilsonsThyroidSyndrome.com

Quote: WTS is particularly common in certain
nationalities (where ancestors survived famine),
for example, Irish and American Indian.

Of course, there was a lot more helpful info than this, but that sums up my maternal heritage 100%. As I am a strong believer in cellular memory (i.e., our bodies/souls/dna cells know/remember the trauma and trials of our fore-fathers and -mothers, and incorporate them into our own actions and reactions), for me this really hit home.

I'm still searching for a local doctor. I'm having some difficulty, as Naturopathy is illegal in Tennessee. :

Thank you again, as I think this will really make a big difference for me!

Peace & Love,
Pupcake

[alianmama]

check out www.rawfood.com. I cannot tell you how utterly life/health-changing becoming a raw-foodist has been. I would write pages, but the website may be a bit more interesting. I find it fascinating, and am thrilled at my energy, spirits, weight, health (no more rheumatoid arthritis at 34, after being diagnosed at 22)...okay I'll stop now....

Good luck! Oh, actually, go MAKE your luck!

[1jooj]

Just wanted to update all my fat-fighting friends...I am sure I have not lost any (?) weight, but my pants and skirts of yore are fitting better, and biking in the wind is getting easier all the time.
Not much more I can ask for, if I refuse to go on a "diet."
Keeping it up!