Losing the Baby Weight
Rachel C.
Hometown: Apalachin, NY, near Binghamton, is where I live now. I'm originally from Doylestown, PA
Goal: To look and feel as good as I did when I got married in 2000.
Motivation: I wanted to feel better about myself.
My Story
When I gave birth to my daughter in April 2007, I was 255 pounds. I tried to lose weight that summer on my own, but with no real plan or goal. When I started my first Weight Watchers At Work meeting at Binghamton University in upstate New York, I was a size 22W and 209 pounds. That was September 2007. Six months later, I met my goal weight in February 2008 at 160 pounds and a size 10. (I'm 5' 7".) I feel great at this size. I continue to attend Weight Watchers meetings as a Lifetime Member, both for the extra accountability and because I enjoy the discussions and support.
I'm a nursing mom with two daughters, now ages 4 years old and 18 months. I worried about being able to follow the plan while also taking them out to Chuck E. Cheese, etc. and also maintaining my milk supply for the baby. I've had no problem finding the calories to do the occasional dinner at McDonald's, and no problem continuing to nurse even while losing nearly 50 pounds! I cook more healthy meals now and I bring my lunch to work four days a week instead of one or two. My husband is even attending Weight Watchers with me now!
I've never been on an organized diet before, but I quickly found the Weight Watchers Flex Plan (especially journaling) to be very effective. I like the fact that nothing's off limits, and the 35 extra points really do provide the cushion you need in your life to stay on track. When other people ask me for weight loss advice, my first suggestion is to start writing down every single thing you eat. It really does shame you into better habits!
I keep healthy and low-calorie snacks on hand everywhere I go, even in my desk drawer at work and the glove box of my car. I used to love Doritos, but now I’ve traded them in for pretzel crisps dipped in hummus. My favorite low-calorie indulgence is small squares of dark chocolate.
Now before I go out to eat, I got to Dwlz.com and other Web sites to check out menus and nutritional info at restaurants before I order anything. My best trick for eating healthy at a fast food restaurant is to avoid the salad and high-fat dressing and go for a plain grilled chicken sandwich. It’s often the best bet.
When I work out at home, I love the Wii Fit, which is fun and motivating. I also love dancing to “Happy Working Song” from the movie Enchanted, with my daughters.
My mantra for losing weight is “Nothing tastes as good as thin feels” and I keep up my food journal with the motto “If I bite it, I write it”.
Editor's note: Do you have a weight-loss success story of your own? If you've lost weight or are in the process of losing weight, email editor.neversaydiet@nbcuni.com with "Weight-Loss Success Story" in the subject line and tell us your story. You may be featured on NeverSayDiet.com!
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Comments
Date: 01/06/2009 - 04:48 am
I have two boys. One is almost 7 and the other is almost 18 months. When I had my first son, I kept the weight I had before I got pregnant with him. 4 1/2 years later I have another son and I have yet to lose the baby fat. This is driving me insane. I have manage to lose 60 lbs in one month but for some odd reason the weight is coming back on. I feel really depressed and I haven't been able to find a way to lose the weight without starving myself. Between my two sons and before I even got pregnant I smoked and drank ( but not while I was pregnant); then when I became pregnant with my 2nd son I got chlorine poisoning and I now have Meniere's Disease which now forbids me to smoke, drink and even drink caffeine. The pounds are back on again. What do I do? I eat some low calorie stuff and exercise but I can't get the weight off. Please help me.
Date: 01/01/2009 - 08:39 pm
Hi!
I am hoping to join the WW at Binghamton University, and was wondering if you could tell me the contact information and meeting times!! I would greatly appreciate it!!!
Date: 12/31/2008 - 11:29 am
Rahael,
Your story has really helped me! I have a 8 month old son and i am only twenty pounds less now then i was the last day of my pregnency. I'm starting a whole new lifestyle so I can be happy and healthy for me and my son. Good luck to everyone!
Date: 12/28/2008 - 09:51 pm
Hi Rachel
Congrats on your weight loss. I am a mother of a 8month old baby born in April 2008.I am feeling very uncomfortable with the bulgy tummy after giving birth. Thank you for sharing your experience this has motivated me to lose the extra bit on my tummy.
Thank you.
Date: 12/28/2008 - 06:34 pm
Hi, I have never typed a post but felt inspired to in the hopes of gaining some motivation especially after reading Rachael's story which is absolutely great. I have had 5 children in 5 years, am 5 ' 7 and really want to TRY and make an effort in terms of losing weight. I use to think as soon as I have this baby, I'm going to lose weight but now I am 109kg and I am finding it hard to motivate myself to actually do it, making excuses that I'm just so tired, I have the little ones at home, but when I opened my emails today and saw this weight loss challenge, read Rachael's story, I am more enthused, knowing that it is possible if I put the work in. And of course, it will be hard to start but surely, once I see results and feel heaps better, I will be motivated to reach my goal. I'm so glad that I can jump online and read other posts, because that in itself is motivating that there are other women out there who have the same goal ... to be more healthy/lose weight for the better, so here it goes ... I will check in regularly. And once I've started doing the work and I have a positive story to share, I'll join the cheering band and share my story to help others the way Rachaels story is motivating me to get started!!!! Good Luck to all you beautiful women out there!!!