Three years ago, I was more than 100 pounds overweight. I had a bad break-up, moved home with family and decided to change some things. My family has a history of diabetes, so nearly everyon in my family has a glucometer (device to test glucose levels in the blood) and I decided to see what mine was one night. Well, it was 390. Just so you know, 80-120 is normal. Well, knowing that I needed more than one reading, I fasted that night and the next morning it was 250 and the next morning...250. So, I made a doctor's appointment and couldn't get in for two weeks. Well, in those two weeks I changed my diet and walked everywhere. When I went to the doctor I had already lost nearly 14 pounds (mostly water weight, the doctor said it was okay) and when she took my blood work, my glucose was only 173 and this was pre-medication. I was also diagnosed with hypertension as well as diabetes II. Anyway, we started medication for both to get things stable and I began eating the exact portion size of everything! At the time I had no job and my sister helped me so I couldn't afford to eat fresh foods too much. I had to work with what I had. So I ate small meals about six times a day and walked, walked, walked. Then, about a year later, I got to cut my pills in half because I had lost 30 pounds. Then six months later I got to stop taking my diabetes medication because I lost another 20 pounds. Now, my body changed in this process, I wasn't supposed to have children, well, Feb. 4th, 2005 I was told I was pregnant. My daughter is 2 months old and I didn't have to take meds through that entire pregnancy and I am still doing well. In August, 2004 I maried my husband and he is way into health. This is when I upped the scales. My husband is into body-building and things of that nature, so he became a wonderful resource. He had me read Body-for-Life by Bill Phillips and it has made such a difference. The program calls for one hour of weight training (free weights) three days a week, like Mon., Wed., and Fri. and 20 minutes of cardio training three days a week, like Sun., Tues., and Thurs. Then the remaining day , Sat., is a free day. You can do and eat whatever you want all day long. If you want 10 cheeseburgers, well, go for it. Though I'll tell you this, you never really want all that. That's the point, knowing you can. DO NOT keep free day food in your house. You will tell yourself that you won't eat it until Sat., and that's a big ol' lie! Go out and get it on your free day. That's where Dr. Phil's book, The Ultimate Weight Loss Solution comes in. Create a no-fail environment. The foods I now buy are soy products, low-fat (don't go crazy with this), whole grains (complex carbs such as brown rice, wheat pasta, wheat bread and so on), fresh vegetables, non-processed foods, V8 Juice, organic foods, and I eat oatmeal and egg whites. I could really go on and on. But I want to get to the no time part. I used to say that too and it's just not true. It's about what you decided. Your baby needs you to be healthy and to set the example of how to live healthy. I have Leisa Hart's FitMama DVD set. It contains prenatal and pst natal workouts. I worked out my entire pregnancy except for the last month and I still walked during that time. I had a C-Section but have been cleared to exercise again. I do the postnatal stuff and haven't started back to the gym. I have lost 28 pounds for a grand total of about 60 pounds since I began this weight loss battle nearly three years ago. I got lazy and gained some back then relost is... you can lose it faster than I did so long as you stay at it. Anyway, I let my daughter work out with me and 2 months, to I know your 4 month old can do it and will most likely LOVE it. My baby enjoys it so much. There is a secion just for them on the FitMama and Me bonus of the postnatal DVD. I have used several resources like Dr. Phil, Bill Phillips, Leisa Hart and miscellaneous information for the internet and other books. My daughter doesn't suffer any time loss and my house is clean. The DVD's I mentioned have 10 minute segments. Here in a few weeks, I'm going back to a stricter diet and more exercise, because at some point you have to increase or plateau... but for you, I think that you'll find about 6 weeks of some yoga or the postnatal work I mentioned and a cleaner diet will 1) give you more energy and 2) help you lose the weight. Plus, make sure you sleep well. Proper sleep IS part of nutrition. And as Dr. Phil always says, "You can't give what you don't have." So invest in you so that you can share with your child. There is so much more that I can share with you or anyone else who's interested... my email is Mrs_Bill@msn.com. GOOD LUCK!!!!!
-April
