156lb loss & struggling to finish what i started

Im new to this board. I started at 342lbs, lost a bunch ( i forget) ..then got pregnant & gained 76lbs back (was on bedrest)/

After giving birth i got back on track , lost 40 ..then for the next 7-8mths i yo-yo'd about 15lbs .

Then about  3 mths ago i felt it was time to finish what i had started,,its not easy being FAT. Now I weigh in at 182lbs ...Im not skinny yet & its driving me nutts...for my shape/height .. i think i will look "skinny" (not nicole ritche skinny) when i get in the 150-60lb range)..and im about out of patience waiting for it to happen.

I know people who are in the 180's & they look pretty skinny..I am apple shaped..so its all in my gut ..and after having a baby..what a gut it is.

Im really starting to struggle now. My way of \dieting isnt conventional by any means..but after 25 yrs..its the only yhitng that works for me. I eat less than 1000 cals a day, i hAVE A VERY ACTIVE BABY BOY ..SO IM PRETTY MUCH CHAINED TO MY HOME. sitting home all day isnt helping, i try to surf the net..and stay away from the tv ..tv makes me want to eat.

along with the weight loss, i find myself having a new line of thinking about things. Im married & suddenly having doubts ..i missed out on sooo much becuase i was too fat for dating..typical ..guys that i liked wouldnt give me the time of day. Now that im reaching the finish line , im starting to think i need to make up for lost time. For the first time in my life, I have guys crawling all over me ..and i LOVE IT!!! , and i guess its only going to get worse as i approach the finish line.

I think this line of thinking has got to be common for people who have lost huge amounts of weight ??? or is it just me.

and as for clothes ..i find myself combing the stores for nothing but sexy clothes..somehting i could never wear before.

I do and will have an even worse excess skin problem, the stomach being thw worst..so thats a whole separate issue ..i think i can deal with it though.

so now im so stressed out over my life situation, its driving me to want to eat..but i have still stuck to my guns ..but it isnt easy.

I would recommend Overeaters Anonymous or Tops (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly).  They both have evening meetings so your husband can watch the baby while you get a little understanding adult time.  Both are also inexpensive.  Check out meetup.com for a tots play group near you so you can network with other moms and get out of the house for a little while during the day.  The YMCA would be another nice escape.  They have day care which is reasonable.  They also have scholarship programs if you can't afford the membership fee.  Little ones do better if they are around other children some, they cooperate better, learn to share and play nicely.

Hey....I am so there.  I have three kids, and it seemed that the weight just hung on to me after they were born!  It's a struggle to get it off because you can't really exercise the way you could if you didn't have kids.  I was watching Oprah and I saw an episode w/ Dr. Oz *love him* anyway, he was talking about the bennies of the acai plant....and then said that the supplements made with that extract help you to control hunger and get more energy a healthy way.  So, I tried it...along with a colon cleanse (which is gross and I won't go into detail....) anyway, the supplements really helped me control the overeating and get more active.  I don't do the gym...I'm a mom and do mom type things...and it's working!  I have lost almost 40 lbs and feel really good.  anyway, if you want, you can read my blog.  i posted there about how this stuff has really helped and more detailed info on what it does.....annasweightlossblog dot com.   I hope this helps and i look forward to reading more about your journey!  Keep your chin up...you can do it!