wanting some direction

[tracylee]

ok all you mommies out there... I am in some serious need of help with my weight and want to do it in a sensible way and do not want to jeopardize my milk supply. I also don't want to spend a ton of cash. SO a few ladies at work have gotten together and are going to do a "pool" to see who can lose the most weight. what I need are some insights/pointers/facts/workouts etc. on doing it the right way while nursing. I really hate the night time cause she wants to nurse the WHOLE evening and I am therefore hungry the whole time. argh. anyway, thanks in advance for any help!

[zinkemomx2]

Weight Watchers online maybe?

[Rebecca]

My trite advice would be to eat less and exercise more. How much less you need to eat would depend on what you are eating now. Keeping a food diary for a few days will help you to see exactly how much you are taking in. If you share that with us maybe we can give you some hints on how to tweak your menu. I aim for 10 servings of fruits and veggies per day. I find that if I meet that goal it fills me up and I don't overload on other, less healthy foods. Another rule of thumb is to mentally divide your plate into quarters. Fill 1/2 your plate with veggies, 1/4 with protein and 1/4 with whole grains.

I spend very little on workouts. I do have some weights, but I could get away without them, and I have good shoes. Do whatever you enjoy because you're more likely to stick with it. Chances are you'll need something you can do with your baby. A jogging stroller might be a good investment if the weather is co-operative. A brisk walk with baby in a sling would also be suitable (and free!) Friends are good motivators. Maybe you and the ladies at work could have a lunch time walking club.

I can't say enough about strength training. Increasing your muscle mass is so good for your body. In addition, it helps to burn more calories even when you're not working out. There is a lot you can do without spending a cent. Do push ups and sit ups. Fill a backpack with books, put it on your back and do squats, lunges or rise up on your tip toes. This site has some great tips: http://www.stumptuous.com/cms/index.php

[SueDid]

Less "whites" (bread, pasta, rice, flour and sugar) and more vegetables and fruit.

[The_Babycakes]

I agree with everything Rebecca said.

Hmmm, drinking water is very important and if you continuously drink water you will lose alot of water weight and it helps to keep you full and healthy. Pass up fast food, period.

Track everything you eat, get a notebook and log it all. If you are going to do weight watchers you count points, otherwise you should keep track of all the calories going in. Once you see how much certain foods 'cost' you can make a better choice. Portion sizes are also out of control in this day and age, so cut it in half..seriously. You'd be surprised at how little 2000 calories are when you add it up.

It's all about intake and outtake. Once you calculate what they are, you can go from there. Obviously excersize is important. I know that the word excersize sometimes equals work, but I think it's mandatory to find something that you enjoy doing in order to succeed. Whatever that may be...excersize comes in many forms, you just have to find what's right for you.

Sparkpeople.com is a good place with a ton of useful info and there is also a weight loss group here that has some resources on it, as well as this board itself. Good Luck!!