Conference moira::parenting_v3

    How long since you had your baby?  Just curious really.  I have a
    theory (based solely on my own experiences) that you really can't shake
    the last ten pounds if 1) you are breastfeeding 2) it's been less than
    9 months or so since the birth.  
    
    Now this has just been my experience, so it's certainly not based on
    fact!  But it seems like your body just won't let go of those last ten
    pounds or so for about a year no matter what you do.  After that it
    will slowly drop off if you make the effort to avoid fatty foods, and
    get a bit of exercise ( which it sounds like you're doing).  If anyone
    has any weight losing secrets out there I'd LOVE to hear them!
    
    

    Hi Anne, 
    
    Ahhh, those wonderful left overs from child birth.....!! I needed to
    lose at least 15 after my daughter was born 8 months ago. Well, in
    January I changed my whole eating habit. As of today I dropped from 135
    to 117!! I just ate 3 meals a day, no snacks except for apples. And I
    excersiced 3 times a week. And I really saw the extra weight melt off
    in a matter of 3 months. It's true that the last 10 are the most
    difficult but they do come off eventually. I am actually less weight
    now than I was before I got pregnant. Good luck to you!!
    
    For the heck of it here's my progress:
    
    Before getting pregnant--135 lbs
    At 9 months pregnant-----167
    2 weeks after birth------140
    8 months after-----------117 (yahoo)
    
    
    Sandy

    There have been some law suits raised here in Canada related to the
    "packaged food" type diets that are currently on-going regarding their
    safety.  As a result, it is being recommended that weight loss should
    be limited to 2 lbs a week with any diet and dieting should be Dr
    supervised.
    
    Stuart

re: .0

I find your husband's comment rather curious.  You lost the weight
and kept it off.  How can it be a racket?  Too expensive perhaps,
but if it accomplished what it set out to do, how is it a "racket"?

Note, I am NOT endorsing anything, and my personal opinion is that 
most weight reduction programs are oversold and overpriced, but this
particular one seems to have worked for this noter.

Clay

    I agree with .4, if it works for you then it must be worth it. Myself,
    I chose to try it on my own before spending the money. You can use
    the money on much more needed things after a baby comes.
    
              
    
    
    
    Sandy

I'm so glad someone else entered a note on this.  I've been struggling for at
least 2 months to get rid of those 10 pounds.  Absolutely no success, but I
admit I could do better if I actually had a chance to exercise.

When do the other working mothers find time to exercise?  The only time I have
that "theorectically" isn't claimed by someone (like a husband or child or
Digital) is lunch hour.  But I have too much work, and I do most of my errands
during lunch now, because a hungry baby has no patience for picking up
dry-cleaning, oil-changes, taking animals to the vet, etc.

This is really depressing me; I used to run every day.  I really miss it, but I
can't find any time to do it.  I know I'd feel better if I did.  How do other 
parents manage this?

    The latest issue of Woman's Day magazine has a real good section in
    it on dieting.  Probably the best diet advice I've ever read.  I'll
    send it to the base noter via interoffice mail if she would like.
    
    If you're exercising 3 times a week, you may be building muscle
    and not losing weight.  Muscle weighs more, so you may be getting
    a better-looking body (firmer fanny, trimmer tummy, etc.) and not
    really taking off any more weight.  The one piece of advice I can
    give you confidently is, EAT!  Seriously.  If you try to subsist
    on an apple for breakfast, a salad for lunch and popcorn for dinner,
    your body will think you're suffering from famine and you won't
    lose any weight AT ALL.  This is a survival mechanism left over
    from cave-people days, when a long winter meant "no food."
    
    

    re 6:
    
    I find it most convenient to excercise after the baby goes to bed. For
    me on weeknights I do it at 7:00 pm. We usually eat supper early so I
    have plenty of time to digest my food. On weekends I excercise early in
    the morning. My eight month old usually watches and giggles while I am
    excercising, so she really doesn't hinder me at all. Also, we have the 
    Babycise tape and accesories so she can have some fun with a work out
    of her own!
    
    Sandy

    to .2
    
    What kind of foods did you eat?  I had the baby 3 months ago for those
    who asked....can you give me an example of a daily menu?  Also, I love
    salads but don't like many cooked veggies...
    
    Thanks,
    Anne

    
    re.6
    
    You could run every other day and that would leave you 2 days a week 
    for errands. I understand how busy it can get at work, but if you
    make running your priority 3 days a week, you'll make it out there.
    You need the time for yourself. I can't tell you what to do,
    but for me, when 11:30 comes, I'm out of my office, on my way to
    the locker - everything has to wait and everyone knows that.
    I have a short fuse, my colleages would rather see me run and
    hear me scream ;-)
    
    About dieting - eat 3 square (low fat, enough protein, high carbo)
    meals a day, drink 1/2 gallon of liquid (not counting caffeinated
    drinks and alcohol) and let yourself have something  nice (small
    scoop of frozen yogurt, candy bar, chips) once a week, so you don't 
    feel deprived. Don't weigh yourself everyday. Don't expect to lose
    more than 2 lbs a week (unless you are under supervision).
    Exercise 4-5 times a week (more than 20 minutes each), the goal
    is slow (not SLOOOOOWWW) and long. Once you reach your goal, 
    you can cut back to exercise 3 times a week. Stay on this regiment 
    for the rest of your life!!!! Once you know your body than you 
    know how much longer you have to work out to offset the a 
    Thanksgiving dinner!!!   
    Skipping meals is the worst thing you can do on a diet, it tells
    your body to switch to emergency mode (starvation is coming!!)
    and causes the body to hold on to the fat.
    
    One book that is excellent on weight loss and control is
        
    	The Fit or Fat Woman by Covert Bailey
    		Houghtom Mifflin
    
    He was on a PBS show a couple months ago. It's a paper back
    for $5.95
    
    
    I have a copy in my office (don't ask why) and if anyone in ZKO
    wants to look at it, send me mail.
    
    
    
    Eva

    OK I just have to confess...and this has got to be the wierdest diet
    ever!  I did cold "good for you" cereal for breakfast, grapenuts/flakes
    or shredded wheat, 1%milk and OJ, lunch was a PB&J on whole wheat with
    black coffee, lots of cranberry or cranapple juice in between meals,
    and a balanced meat,veggie and starch dinner, with maybe some jello or
    a small dish of ice cream for either desert or late night snack.  By
    the time of my 6 week check up I was 6 pounds below my pre pregnancy
    weight.  Now just as a qualifier, we were living with my inlaws until
    he was 4 months old, and I really didn't want to make a major mess in
    the kitchen after my mother inlaw had gone to the trouble to clean it
    before going to work each morning.  The other thing was I got my
    "excercise" by having the bedroom on the second floor and the
    washer/dryer in the cellar.  I was forced to cart at least one basket
    per day up and down, and purposely started using fabric softener so I'd
    be forced to run from our room on the top floor to the cellar at least
    twice more. (BTW this was right after the Csection, and I had been
    advised NO lifting or stairs for two weeks, doctors must also be
    jokers!)
    
    Seriously it took me until AJ was 3 to feel like I had enough energy to
    deal with working out.  I know what I did, as described above, was a
    no-no, but sometimes you've got to do what you've got to do.
    
    I now work out 2 or 3 times a week at the Y, doing nautilus and Life
    circuit, I take a serious look at what I eat, and *try* and that's the
    key word TRY to justify what I eat.  In other words "if you're not
    going to work off those calories, then don't eat them in the first
    place!"  That's how all this extra weight went on in the first place.
    
    I was involved in an excercise and weight loss study last year, done
    mostly at the Y, sponsored by Umass Medical center in Worcester.  At
    first I was frustrated at the weight not coming off, but I was doing an
    extremely controled 1200 calories a day, and as they pointed out muscle
    *does* weigh more than fat, I wasn't loosing as much weight as I
    wanted, but the inches were shrinking and I felt better, and that seems
    to be the object of the game.
    
    The bottom line is that you loose weight WHEN you're ready to, and no
    until then, and you WILL loose it if you can find a method that you're
    comfortable with.  And Don't get discouraged!!
    
    Lyn
    

    just an addition, I still have the material, diet descriptions etc from
    the UMass program (by the way it was sponsored by the exercise and
    phisiology dept, and also has some supervision by the department of
    psycaitry).  I'd be glad to copy and share it for anyone.  It really
    kept me feeling "full" most of the time, and even allowed "cheats" like
    and occational frozen yogurt, or nachos and wine.
    
    Lyn

    
    re.11
    
    This is not a weird diet, but a GOOD diet.
    Only if everyone could eat like that everyday, we would be 
    a lot healthier and happier.
    
    
    Eva

Take a look at Weight Watcher's new Personal Choice plan.  I started on
it two weeks after Rachel was born and dropped 17 pounds in 12 weeks.
I have a long way to go 'cause I gained 60 lbs.  I've been attending
the At Work program because it's convenient and it's inexpensive.
They have several good cookbooks out with many meals taking less than
30 minutes prep time.

As for exercise, I try to go to aerobics at the Y 2-3 times a week.  It's
very close to home so that makes it easy.  Hubby is at home with the kids,
or I can take them as they have cheap babysitting there.  I'm going to 
hop on the exercise bike and rowing machine at home this week as he's playing
in the DEC golf league.

Liz (who has the added incentive of a 20 year high school reunion in July!!)

    Well, of all the topics lately, this is one I can really relate to.
    I'm struggling with the weight problem; I gained a lot during the 
    pregnancy and now, well, I'd really like to get rid of it so that we
    can try again. Two years ago Weight Watchers FINALLY help me go from
    175 to 150. After gaining about 10 pounds back, (we'd move to Ottawa,
    and away from my weight loss partners) I became pregnant last August.
    at top weight (a week before we lost Daniel at 33 weeks) I was up to
    205; now, 2 months later, I am at 180. Curiously, although I have only 
    a little bit of a problem fitting into blouses; I CAN'T fit into my
    loosest pair of pants. My hips and butt have made me almost
    pear-shaped. My biggest problem, is I am a desk person. I'm not
    terribly fond of exercise at all -- I find it boring, and have found
    that because of that in the past I have made excuses not to continue
    on regimes I have created for myself. 
    
    I have found someone at work to go to WW with me, and am planning to
    start this coming Thursday. I am very excited about getting back to
    150 (it would be MARVELLOUS!) before we try again. I am keeping my
    fingers crossed that I can get rid of this weight by the beginning 
    of September. 
    
    Wish me luck!
    
    Monica
    

    I realized yesterday that I had forgotten to mention one of the most
    important elements of my exercise program.....I got the priviledge of
    pusing the power mower yesterday!  Now that means excercise from
    walking, we have almost 3/4 of an acre, exercise in the arms, even
    though it's "self propelled" I've still got to push a little, excercise
    from bending, I get to empty the grass bag frequently, and walk with it
    over to the ledge to empty the darn thing.  Not to mention that today I
    am sporting some real nice color on my face and arms.
    
    Oh yes in between all this I was running up and down stairs.  The final
    tally was 6 loads of laundry.  Yesterday was the day to strip, remake
    and wash all the sheets and blankets.  And you know something, today I
    feel *good* about having accomplished all this in one day!
    
    Tell me again about the joys of home ownership!!
    Lyn
    

    Lyn,
    We have such a small back yard that the only way I'd get exercise
    tending it would be to use cuticle scissors to cut it!  8-)
    
   Monica
    

    >We have such a small back yard that the only way I'd get exercise
    >tending it would be to use cuticle scissors to cut it!  8-)
       
    Now that's not a bad idea.  Not only exercise, but environmentally
    sound!
    
    --bonnie

    Afterthought:
    
    I'm about to go out running.  I go two or three times a week at
    lunch.  I could use the time for other things, but if I'm going to
    exercise, it's going to have to be at noon.  It's possible though
    not easy to do errands etc. at other times, but exercising simply 
    doesn't work at other times. 
    
    Couldn't you get your spouse to help with the errands -- do some
    of them, or watch the baby after work so you can do them more
    quickly? 
    
    --bonnie
    
    p.s. I still haven't lost the weight from the second pregancy, let
    alone the third one . . . so I wouldn't worry too much about ten
    pounds. 
    
    

    Did I mention that the Central Branch Y in Worcester has babysitting on
    Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30 to 7?  Also available Mon-Wed-Fri from
    9 to 12.  Although I have no personal experience I understand the Y at
    Greendale has babysitting almost every night.  
    
    Most health clubs have child care in some form or another.  At one
    point last year the Y was having trouble finding someone to "hold the
    fort down" with babysitters, and offered free membership to anyone who
    would volunteer to sit a few times a month.  Wish I had had time then!
    Lyn 

    re .6 and others
    
    Yes, take that time for yourself.  You won't be the best employee if
    you are stressed about your workload and  your weight.  
    
    I say this because I have a hard time leaving my desk once I get there,
    too.  So I have a running partner.  We are the kind that tend to let
    work interfere with our exercise.  There is a committment to meet and
    we also remind each other that taking care of ourselves is important.   
    
    We exercise during our lunch hour (But have flexible schedules so
    actually we exercise at 9am).  that is the only time I can fit it in
    my schedule.  If I don't run at work - then I don't run.  
    
    So, you might want to find yourself a walking partner and *walk*, don't
    stroll.  It is good for the weight and the mind.
    
    Karen
    	

    All of the advice I have read here sounds good, but there are some
    people that just DON'T have the time to workout.  Before I had Stephen
    I would go to the health club and work out 1� hours 5 times a week.  I
    never felt better in my entire life.  I gained weight because of
    gaining muscle, but the inches melted off of me.  I went from a size 7
    dress to a 3.  I felt my body had definition and was in good shape and
    that made my entire outlook that much better.  
    
    Since I had Stephen (8 months) my husband has taken a different job and
    is gone six weeks at a time.  When he is home it is only for 3-4 days
    and then he is gone again.  While he is here we are so busy it makes my
    head spin sometimes.  I have to use my lunch hour for errands, shopping
    etc...  In the evenings by the time I get home and feed Stephen, make 
    my dinner, eat and clean up it is almost 8:30.  Then it is time to get 
    Stephen ready for and into bed.  By that time all I care about is going 
    to bed myself I am soooo tired.  My morning consists of up at 5:30, 
    get myself ready for work, wake up Stephen, feed and dress him and then 
    drop him off and be at work by 8:00.
    
    I cannot afford to pay for a health club any longer, and the only Y I
    know of in Dallas is downtown.  I would love to be able to workout like
    I use to and once my husband gets an intown job I am sure I will be
    able to.  That is not for another year though, and in the meantime I am
    not sure what to do to get myself back into shape.  I have never had to
    worry about weight before and it is very frustrating to me.  I don't
    have alot of weight to loose, infact I don't care about loosing weight,
    it is the inches I want gone.  I just want to fit COMFORTABLY in my
    clothes again.
    
    I can really feel for people who have to deal with weight loss their
    whole life.  It must be VERY frustrating.
    
    Any ideas?  I'm willing to listen.
    
    Kathy

    Kathy:
    
    Would exercising at home be an option for you ?  Check your local
    cable stations for exercise shows.  I've found one that I really
    like ("It Figures") and it's carried on the Lifetime Channel here
    in Mass.  
    
    I lost all my pregnancy weight plus a few pounds more by my post
    partum checkup.  But I didn't resume my exercise and started putting
    weight on again.  So I finally buckled down the last few months 
    and started again.  That means up at 5:00 to exercise for half an
    hour and then off to work.  But I feel so much better knowing that
    I'm doing something for me !
    
    
    - Terry

    Kathy, I can really relate to what you feel, I too have been and
    probably still am there.  My day too starts at 5:00, and it is
    chaotic,and there are lots of nights I really have to almost physcially
    push myself to do just that one more thing.  But on the positive side,
    I find the nights I work out, and it is difficult finding time, that I
    can go home and get that much needed "second wind".  I actually
    accomplish more on the nights I work out than when I don't.
    
    Have you checked with your health insurance company?  Many HMO's
    (including Fallon for us in the MA area) will pay either all or some of
    the fee to the Y.  They seem to have the right thinking, that keeping
    you healthy by paying a Y membership is cheaper than paying for sick care.
    As for the childcare problem, would it be possible to find a health
    club that provides sitter services?  My cousin's wife does babysitting
    at a private health club and although she is paid by the club, the
    parents will sometimes give her "tips" for sitting.  Another option
    might be to do a kind of coop, perhaps you could find another mother in
    a similar situation, you could watch her child the nights she works
    out, and she could watch your child the nights you work out.
    
    Most important is to not get discouraged!
    Lyn

    These are just some ideas that might or might not work for you, so
    take them for whatever they're worth:
    
    You could put the baby in a backpack and go for walks -- I find
    this a wonderful experience for both of us because he loves it and
    I don't have to take even more time away from the baby.  Walking
    is excellent for flab control. 
    
    Take the money you're spending on the health club and use it to
    pay a maid or housekeeper to come in a couple of times a week to
    relieve some of your load.
    
    Find ways to "bunch" chores and errands -- for instance, we do
    shopping on Monday nights and Thursday nights, no other times
    unless it's an emergency or something that isn't open then.  We do
    all the vacuuming/floor mopping/etc. on Saturday morning.
    
    How about a bike with a baby seat or trailer, and helmets for both
    of you, of course?  You might even be able to run errands while
    you exercise, or commute. 
    
    Try looking at how you're really spending your time and see what
    can be cut down or rearranged.  I used to use up most of three
    hours getting myself up and the boys to school (Neil has pickup
    duty).  Now I get up at 5:30, spend 20 min. getting myself ready
    for work, take then next hour for my writing (could easily be used
    for in-home exercise), then get Steven's school snack and whatever
    else he needs and David's bag together.  At 7:15 I wake Steven up
    and get the baby up and dressed.  He eats breakfast at the
    sitter's; Steven eats at home. We leave the house at 7:50, I drop
    Steven off at school and David at the sitter's, and I'm at work by
    8:30.  A lot of the free time comes from doing the lunch prep,
    etc. before getting the boys up.  
    
    --bonnie

    For me, the key to lose weight is eating sensitive meals.
    
    For both my preganacies, I lost all the weight and plus
    few pounds more within 3 months.  I avoided all the fatty food,
    no sweet, and only drank water.  For breakfast, I will have
    organge juice, 2 slices of toast (no butter or jelly).  For lunch,
    I will have salad without dressing.  I am a Chinese, so we have
    Chinese food every night for dinner.  I usually have rice, vegetable
    and chicken/fish.    Try not to over-eat.  I always eat 70% full
    and leave some room for fruits.
    
    For exercise, I try to walk during lunch break.  During weekends, 
    I don't exercise at all, I just don't have the time.
    
    Hope this helps, Wendy
    
          
       
    

    
    
    	Yikes! Talk about a mind reading topic!  This is the
    	situation.  During my pregnancy, I gained (according
    	to the doctors scales) 41 lbs.  I was one of those
    	"all baby" pregnant women and that's exactly what
    	I lost....her weight and a little more.
    
    	So I'm still about 20 pounds heavier than I was when
    	I got pregnant (according to my scale) and 40 
    	pounds heavier than where I want to be.
    
    	I am a VERY fussy eater so dieting is very difficult
    	for me.  I don't care for 95% of the vegetables out	
    	there and I don't have the time to create dinners
    	that take a long time or more than 10 minutes in 
    	preparation.
    
    	I've always HATED to exercise and hate doing it alone.
    	I feel like I'm in a rut with no way to get out.
    	I commend the previous noters who've lost a lot of
    	that weight - help me!!!  (FWIW - I had my daughter
    	two months ago)  Any suggestions, menus??
    	
    	Thanks!
    	/Kim

    Gee, Kim, too bad we live so far apart; we could have
    done the dreaded excerising together ! 8-)
    
    Although I like most veggies, my husband hates them (its green!!!
    he shrieks!), and is not only wonderfully lean, but likes to eat
    a lot. So, I have to be brave when diet time comes around and ignore
    his munching of chips and the huge amounts of stuff he consumes.
    
    Hey, but, Weight Watchers has a discount this week on the membership
    fee. Here I come!
    
    Monica
    (If I did it once, I can do it again....)
    

    Kathy, 
    
    From your node, it looks like you are in Dallas - I'm in the SCA
    building, eleventh floor.... Perhaps we can walk together in the 
    Galleria at lunch, or work something else out (I just joined WW at
    lunchtime in Plano)..
    
    Give me a call at DTN 483-4297
    
    Leeann
    

    I'm so glad this note was added.  I too am going through the
    "desperately trying to loose weight" phase.  I still have about
    15 lbs. to loose and it's been a struggle all the way.  I can really
    relate to all of those out there who are trying to find time to
    exercise.  My spare time is spent doing things for everyone else
    but myself.  In fact the only spare time I seem to have lately is
    when I take a shower!
    
    I started the Hilton Head Metabolism diet.  It's great and it does
    work.  Basically, you increase your metabolism by eating the right
    foods at the right time, with exercise.  I know 3 other people who
    have tried it and it's worked for them as well.
    
    Someone brought up a good point ... a lot of people hate to exercise
    alone.  It would be nice if we could start support groups at certain
    sites.  We could walk at together at lunch, encourage each other
    to hang in there, etc.,.  Everyone needs some type of support and
    it helps when it comes from people who are in the same condition
    you're in both mentally and physically.  
    
    Karen

    I just wanted to jump in here and let those of you who wrote to me
    off-line about the Y diet, I haven't forgotten you.  I promise to get
    my head back in the right lane this weekend.
    
    Unfortunately my husband and I have had some personal problems, (as a
    family not marital) that have affected even my work performance, and
    have placed us as "inocent victims" in a legal battle, and on the brink
    of financial ruin.
    
    Still thinking of you all!
    Lyn (who's lost 15 pounds and still at it!)
    

    
    	Ah, sadly I join the ranks of the people who still need to lose
    weight after the baby. It's not so much the weight, (all but 7 pounds
    is gone) but the size that I've become. I finally bought two pairs of
    trousers yesterday that were TWO sizes larger than my usual size. Sigh,
    it's like being back at that awkward stage of pregnancy when nothing
    fits but you are still too small for pregnancy clothes.
    
    	I know that it's only been two months but there must be a way to
    trim the body. The problem (that I have concluded) is that I am still
    nursing and so I really can't "diet" yet, in fact, if I don't eat
    enough fatty foods daily, I seem to see the difference in the amount of
    milk production (and stomach contentedness). Do you think that that's
    possible or am I just justifying eating the high calorie foods? I seem
    to have reached a weight plateau even though I eat more (and am more
    hungry) than I was during the pregnancy.
    
    	I've gotten some exercise in but after I exercise I eat and drink
    like a horse, I mean I'm REALLY hungry! Should I just stick with the
    exercise and eat like that anyway?
    
    	Can one lose weight/tone up while still nursing or should that just
    be held off until the nursing stops?
    
    		  Wendy (mama's got a big 'ol butt)

    Wendy (.32):
    
    My daughter will be 18 months old soon, and you note struck a familiar
    note!  After two months if you only have seven pounds, you are doing
    GREAT!  It took me till about six months to get down to pre-pregnancy
    weight, and then it wasn't quite the same (a little POOTCH in the tummy
    area, and the ole' belly button just doesn't have that nice perky look
    anymore).
    
    Breastfeeding is one of the best things for your baby, and is also
    extremely good for you and getting the extra fat storages to go away. 
    After I stopped breastfeeding, the weight did not come off nearly as
    easily, and the appetite was slower to decrease.  Then you really have
    to watch your eating!
    
    I founds that aerobics while Kristen was napping helped me to get my
    metabolism back in gear, and eventually, after my breastfeeding was
    more regulated, it seemed like I needed to eat less and less fats to
    feel full and produce milk.
    
    Others may have other ideas, but these were the best in my case.
    
    Enjoy your little one (they grow up so fast . . . I remember saying I
    can't wait till she walks, talks, etc., and now it is like she grows
    overnight!)
    
    Smiles, and best wishes,
    
    Jolene

    Certainly eat what is needed, but you can do it through calcium rich,
    lower calorie foods. One great source of calcium is muenster cheese,
    as well as lowfat cottage cheese and lowfat yogurt. At this point
    your milk production should be fairly stable that you can continue
    with the calcium you need and settle your eating more - your fat
    stores from pregnancy can contribute a bit of the calories needed for
    nursing each day.
    
    I just re-read a great article on this very subject yesterday before
    lending it to a pregnant friend. The point of it was that although it's
    not recommended that you diet while nursing, you can certainly adjust
    your eating habits while doing so.  And it also discussed the fact
    that much of the fat your body develops during pregnancy can only
    really be burned off by nursing - sometimes non-nursing mothers have
    an even harder time getting the weight off.  
    
    Good luck - I'm 4 months postpartum and still probably have 5 lbs. to
    go, though my clothes are fitting better now than a month or so ago.
    
    

    I think that having only 7 pound to go, at only 2 months post-partum,
    is great! I also found myself craving high calorie foods in the
    beginning. I'm certain part of it was just that I wanted to treat
    myself (being back to work, getting less sleep, etc...), but I also
    think that some of it was my body's way of telling me what it
    needed. Those early months are demanding on your body too...Don't
    forget that! It seemed like after Caroline started on solids, my needs 
    for fluids and my appetite started to diminish. You might find this 
    true also. Also, even though the scale didn't read any differently for
    a long while ('til I started weaning her), I noticed that my clothes
    started to fit better and better (and I can't attribute this to exercise...
    who has time?). I guess my philosophy is to make the *minor* eating
    adjustments if I felt it was O.K. for me and the baby and try to get a
    little more exercise (take lots of walks with the baby!) to help get
    the tone back, if not all the weight off. So, although I can't
    necessarily offer any answers, I can say that you're not alone in what 
    you're experiencing.  

    
    Wendy,
    
    I agree with everybody - you are doing WONDERFUL in the weight loss
    department.  Also don't forget that part of that 7 lbs is ummmmmm
    ***breast tissue***! So unless you're still an A cup - you're carrying
    extra weight there that comes right off after you quit breastfeeding.
    {trust me on this one}
    
    I have a friend who threatened to design a hose clamp fitted over a
    post-partum woman's hips that would have screws which could be
    tightened daily.  {His wife had the same complaint - the weight is gone
    why do I still have these hips?}
    
    I also noticed when breastfeeding it was easy to confuse hunger with
    thirst. The grumbling in my stomach didn't always mean food.
    
    Rochelle
    tighten the screws 

    You still have the hips because of the spreading of the bones
    during delivery.  
    
    They might or might not shrink back down to pre-pregnancy
    dimensions.  
    
    The good news is, the bones don't have to stretch as far for the
    second child.  Not that that necessarily means less pain or less
    labor the second time around . . . but you probably won't increase
    another size next time.
    
    --bonnie

    Hi,
    
    	I have a similar problem.  I'm done to pre-pregnancy weight, but my
    hips are "bigger" than before the baby.  will they ever get back to
    what they were??
    
    Kathi

    Kathi -
    
    Your question was one that I asked.  I remember feeling that my hips
    were going to be permanently bigger, and I couldn't walk the way I
    once did.  It was as if my legs couldn't get close enough together to
    regain my old stride.
    
    Good news!!  I really feel that I'm back to the old me.  It took about
    a year or so, but I can now fit into old jeans, and don't feel funny
    when I walk.  Everyone may be different, but I can vouch for the fact
    that it can happen! 
    
    Mary

    I have wide hips normally and when I was pregnant with my daughter I gained 
    over 70 pounds and put on about 7 inches on my hips. I thought I would 
    never be my old self again. But after about 14 months of the delivery I
    was back to my old self - actually better. I did not do much about my
    weight until my daughter was a year old (long story - she was diagnosed 
    with hip dysplasia and was in a cast from 6 months of age to 2 days 
    before her 1st birthday- so my weight was the least of my concerns). I 
    joined Weight Watchers and started running (starting with walking) about
    2 miles every day - 5 days a week. I fit into clothes that I was ready 
    to give away thinking that I was not going to get back into shape. 
    
    So you can get most of your old body back. Now that I am experiencing the
    same weight increase with my second I know what is ahead of me in the
    challenge of weight loss.
    
    Shaila

    I remember it well.  After about 3 months I was back to my former
    weight and went to put on my  jeans and almost cried.  There was a good
    inch between the zipper.  Also my blouses did not fit. I could not
    understand why.  But this too did pass but took awhile.  I was able to
    get back into my jeans at about 6-7 months but they were tight.  At
    about 10 months everything fit again though my stomach still was not
    flat and even now at 18 months I have lost more weight but still have
    a little pouch.  
    
    One thing I found is do not get discouraged which is hard.  I went out
    and bought  a comfortable pair of jeans and a dress, that does not have
    a waist, to wear.  Also walked more and tried to keep easy to eat fatty
    stuff out of the house.  When you are busy it is easier to eat that
    stuff.    
    
    Good luck
    
    Michelle