I am 21 years old. I have a daughter that just turned a year old. She was my first and only. I gained about 55 lbs. with her. I haven't lost any weight since I had her. I was 180 lbs when i went in to deliver, and as soon as i pushed her out I went to 161. But ever since then I haven't lost anything. It's been a year. I desperately want to lose atleast 30 lbs..can anyone help me? I have no money or credit card...so the diet pills are pretty much out of the question...

diet pills are rather dangerous at wrong reception. Without consultation of the doctor I at all would not advise to use diet pills WBR LeoP

As a person who has lost weight (55 pounds) and maintained for over a year....I've been there. Lots. My biggest opinion is that it's not your body that has to change to overcome being overweight. It's your mind. When I finally got things together and started to appreciate myself that's when the weight came off and stayed off. That's when it stopped being a battle and more of a journey. When I validated myself as a good mother, woman, wife, daughter, worker....things changed. Now I run 4 times a week, train for events and do my best. Running is a very self-affirming activity and everytime i put one foot infront of the other, I am reminded how valid and important I am. Sure a pill that fixes everything sounds wonderful, but people forget they never took a pill to get to the unhealthy state they are in that fires their frustration. I suggest goal setting and exercise journals and a good pair of shoes!

I think you need to make a commitment to exercise and diet that is reasonable. When I first started getting back in shape I did some simple things to make it easier and therefore realizable. 1) I didn't eat less than I already did. I just split everything up into smaller, but more frequent meals. So instead of having a big lunch, I had four snacks. Also, I developped a taste for fig newtons instead of cookies. 2) I didn't get down on myself if I didn't do a full work out. I just tried my best and over time my pitiful workouts that I used to quite after 10 minutes spanned an hour. 3) Invest in quality equipment. I suggest a good eliptical of gym quality. Why spend more than you have to you ask? For me, the thought of throwing 2000.00 dollars really bothered me, so I would go down to the basement and get on the thing just so I wouldn't admit that I wasted my money.

Good luck

'"why isn't it more?" attitude, it gets discouraging after a while and it's very temping to just give up and say, why bother? No one thinks I'm doing it fast enough, right, etc.'

I think eliminating excuses is a very important part of weight loss. Celebrate your own victories don't look to others to give you what you need. It may not be the attitude of the general public towards overweight people, but a general apathy towards other peoples minor achievements that you might be experiencing.

As with most things habits are indeed hard to break. If folks could only stay with a program, whatever that program is, for a month and begin to see the results I believe far more would be successful in the long run.

Also, people should consult the experts to maximize the impact of this new behavior. I see so many people at the gym who would increase the effectiveness of their time spent if they spent an hour with a fitness/nutritional consultant. So many people get frustrated because they are putting in the time and not seeing the results - do yourself a favor and get some profesional advice!

Mostly, good luck to everyone who trys, and trys, and trys.....

The only thing that ever really worked for me was exercise. Certainly I changed my eating habits as well but not with a diet.

For me, the solution was running. But there's nothing magic about it. Hard work = results. Not only did I achieve my ideal weight but it changed my life and became a source of profound meaning.

The goal shouldn't be the loss of a few pounds. That is meaningless without something deeper to motivate you. The goal is total life change - nothing less. Aim for that goal and the weightloss will slowly pass by. Beyond that is an incredible place that nobody can really articulate. It must be felt and experienced. Once you get to this place you'll want to stay there.

God did not create us and leave us unequipped to cope with stresses of present day living. The very best exercise you can do for your health and cleansing the system is proper inhalation upon receiving a deep breath and likewise exhaling breath slowly releasing all toxins. Another technique is the use of our fingers when placed at certain points release energy blocks allowing weight to be distributed evenly. Our fingers affect 14,400 bodily functions. These are both gifts and along with good foods, good friends, we can be assured a good life. Giving thanks is also a great benefit.

One of the problems I feel fuels the diet industy is we now live in a society that is big on immediate gratification. Working at something for a long time is just not something people want to do...so they look for the quick fix; the magic pill, the weight loss strategy that gives results in days. There are a lot of people out there willing to take advantage of that.

One of the other problems I'm finding is society reacts very negatively towards those who they deem overweight and/or unfit. As an overweight person attempting to lose weight and lead a healthier lifestyle (and very aware of what I need to do to get there and stay there and that this is a major committment for the rest of my life), instead of celebrating my victories, like the 7 day period that I lost a pound, which to me is a victory, others around me want to know "why wasn't it more". Waitaminnit...I LOST a pound, I didn't gain, I didn't stay the same, I LOST a pound. That's a good thing, no?

Even if I lost one lb a week...just that (and I may not, plateaus do happen and some weeks I'll lose more and some others I'll lose less), then I'm down 52 lbs at the end of the year. My doctor would be very happy if I even lost 30 lbs in one year. As long as I'm losing the weight and am doing it in a healthy way. I personally am not into quick fixes. I want to lose it by diet and exercise and my body will do what it has to do to get there.

But because of the pushing and questioning and the "why isn't it more?" attitude, it gets discouraging after a while and it's very temping to just give up and say, why bother? No one thinks I'm doing it fast enough, right, etc.

Not a good attitude, sure, but it sure is hard to fight the negativity sometimes.

Except those drugs ARE marketed in Canada. Do we not have laws here governing the claims they are allowed to make? Can anyone out there clarify why they get away with it here?

No one needs pills to lose weight. You just need to belive in yourself, you are the only one that can make a difference in your appearance and health. I am 25 and work out at home - usually 6 or 7 days a week. If i miss a day, it doesnt feel right, like Rejean said, once you form the habit of fitness, it can be hard to break..

BiL.

Why not give a healthy new year's start for two? Visit your nearest SPCA and adopt a dog. There are so many pooches needing loving homes. Walking a couple of times a day with my best 4-legged buddy is divine!!

I am 63 years old, retired since (2003).
In the summer I work (2) days as landscaper,
+ Bicycling 60 Kms per week for (2)days.
During winter, I Practice nordic ski 40 Kms
per week min.
I was working in office,so I really needed to
do exercise to stay in good shape.
I enjoys every minutes of it and my health,
weight is the same as when as was teen.
Believe Me,if You keep going for a while,
it's become your every day's need, as smoking
was before I quit in 1995.
Rejean