[Butabzig]

Several folks have recently talked about the post adoption pounds. I was thinking I was in a world alone. I've put on more weight since our little one came home! I bought some exercise equipment two weeks ago hoping to loose some of this post-baby weight (didn't help much that I went to the beach last week and just sat in the surf). I'm getting started though!

I just wanted to see if others can feel my pain? I've got about 20lbs that needs to go so I can get back to my pre-baby weight.

How about adding in what you've been doing (or not doing) to add any weight on? For me...when we came home we had the typical picky eatter. She'll eat anything now and I guess I feel I need to do the same. Besides, what's wrong with a little ice cream at bedtime? Just kidding!

[DET62]

I'm right there with you. I have gained over 30 lbs. since my daughter came home, and trying to get the weight off has been a nightmare. My daughter eats everything in sight and stays stick-thin. We keep ice cream in the house for her - but I can't watch her eat it and not eat any!

I have thought of a Mama and me exercise program but I don't want her to see me keel over if I overdo it... LOL

Dee

[Chris3148]

HeHe....LOL

I actually lost 15 lbs since the girls came home-don't hate me though-it's because I caught Giardia from them. I'm starting to feel like it is out of my system and the girls stomaches seem a little more regular now. So, I'll have to wait and see what happens next!

[Kendal]

Well I tell you what worked for me By the time we got home with the girls I was a good 35lbs heavier than I like to be. Alot of it was due to fertility treatment, alot due to stress. I was able to lose about 10lbs after getting home, but we had just adopted twin toddlers that were (and still are) very active. Then I started walking every night just to get a break, be by myself, stress relief. I still was not really getting anywhere with my weight loss, so I join Weight Watchers. It worked for me for two reasons, first I needed the weekly accountability of weighing in. I just was not going to pay my 12bucks and have someone tell me I had gained weight. By the way there are WW meetings that allow you to bring your kids. The other reason it worked was that it gave me a whole new way to look at food. I lost about 33lbs in about 6 months. I acually did not strart really working out until I had lost most of my weight. I now usually try to workout 4-5 times weeks. Right now I am addicted to spin class, but a year ago it was kickboxing. When I find myself getting bored I move on to something new. My only mainstay is yoga. LOVE yoga.

The thing I like best about WW is that when I have been bad (like our trip to Mexico), I just put myself back on the diet for a couple of weeks and the weight comes off.

Good luck to you, it really is hard. But sometimes you just need to readjust your mindset. I also found it help setting goals for myself. Like I would like to be x lbs my birthday.

[MustangLippy]

DD is FTT so since she came home we've had a lot of high fat/high calorie food in the house. And I have a horrible habit of finishing whatever she doesn't eat. No tricks to share on losing it that you'd believe...but my SIL tried the South Beach diet after her 5th child and it worked wonders. She exercised too (got up at 5:00am in the morning). She's pregnant with the 6th child and is doing really well just sticking to the basic principles.

MustangLippy

[Kasey]

Well I lost during and after Alek came home--15 pounds due to stress of the process and then just walking him every day in the stroller and mom/child yoga class while on maternity leave, but I put it all back on when I went back to work.
So now I go to Curves at lunch 3-4 days per week with 3 other co-workers, it has been great even just for stress relief and then it doesnt interfere with my time with Alek.

I haven't done anything diet wise, just everything in moderation.
I am down 2 pounds, 1.5 inches from waist, 1 inch from abdomen, 1/2 from thigh and 1.25% body fat in one month! Slow but steady and I feel so much better!

It is hard, but I find just anyway to keep yourself active will help, take walks together, do some mom/child activities (swimming, yoga, sports). Good luck~~~

[kcgirlinfl]

I'm right there with you! I gained during the process, then more once DS came home. I guess I kind of let myself go to focus on the adoption, and I am a stress eater. I finally decided enough was enough and joined WW (again!) about 5 weeks ago, and am doing really well. It's not always easy, but I know I need to be healthier and in better shape to keep up with my very active nearly-two-year-old.

[ddahl]

Lost 26 lbs during trip two and my two months off work. Now I am tipping the scales at my fighting weight... clearly a heavy weight, having gained it all back since returning back to work in February. Its disgusting but DH says I look great and he is not trying reverse psychology..... He is the best.... must run there is a twinkie with my name on it!

[mommyto4]

Whatever you normally eat cut the portion in 1/2, you can still eat the same yummy food , just less of it I need to do it too, I've been eating like I am pregnant and a long pregnancy it's been unfortunately

[angelkisses0102]

My weight all came after Alex...I gained it all in the past year...about a total of 30 pounds...lost 6, so 24 more to go. I truly feel part of it was my antidepressants and part turning 40...but mainly stress eating. I am finally off the medication and the weight gain has stopped but dang it comes off so much harder than it goes on!

I have started swimming daily and/or simply playing with the kids in the pool. I am also cutting down on what I eat and when...but because Alex is so thin...we have lots of fattening foods...and I hate to waste it. ARG!

I just got a yoga dvd...of course the plastic is still on it but???

Great thread..nice to know I'm not alone!

[jaw's mom]

I gained weight while on trip 2 in Russia.....you know whole milk and cheese for 24 days! So, when I was finally ready to really lose the weight, I went to Weight Watchers. The program really worked for me...when I stuck to it. I lost 21 pounds thus far. Good Luck!

[mikeintexas]

I lost 25 after Julia came home, but once RAD hit, I've put about 20 back on ... that is very depressing in itself. Sigh.

[3czars]

I also put on weight post adoption and during my subsequent pregnancy. With two active toddlers and a deployed spouse, it was hard to lose weight. I want to lose around 35 pounds and I am half way there.

I am doing what I call the weight watchers "self-paced" program. I bought the WW points book, diary, and slider points finder on Ebay. I do not go to any meetings. Started the diet around memorial day and have lost 20lbs so far. I am strictly following the points diet and have increased my exercise to 6 days a week. I bought a treadmill so I could exercise the days my boys are not in mothers day out. I am a SAHM, but my boys go to a summer day care twice a week. They are too big to push in the jogger anymore.

I no longer finish my kids food and eat a lot of the ww smart ones frozen meals. I really like this diet because I am not denied food, just make smarter decisions in what I choose. If I want to eat out, we go to Applebees (has a WW menu). I must admit, it is easier since DH is deployed, because I don't have to cook a meal for him.

One of my friends just started a self paced WW diet and has lost 5 pounds in two weeks. Another has lost 45 lbs and his wife 50 lbs.

[Sipper]

It is so hard to explain the weight gain to people who have not gone thru the 'paper pregnancy'. I gained about 30 pounds between the waiting period and the now I have a baby at home and need to fix complete dinners for an army. I had promised myself and my DH that I would drop the 30 pounds before baby #2 comes home. I did not seem to have the will power to be very successful on my own so I joined a weight loss program at my doctors. Fortunately in 2 months I am down 35 pounds and feel great. I go out at night and take a long walk pulling my daughter in her wagon so it is like a treat for her. We also do baby exercises in the evening before bed where I use her as weights - again - she loves it and it is good for me too. The only drawback is now I need new cloths. I find that when I am paying someone else to put me on the scale I have a tendancy not to cheat!