6 months postpartum, and weigh more than i did when i delivered... :(

i am 21 years old, am very happily married and have a beautiful baby girl.  I am 5 feet tall and when i got married in '06 i weighed 101 pounds.  I thought I looked good then, but now I think I was too skinny!  When I got pregnant in '07 I was a healthy 115.  After I had my daughter I got back down to like 117 by literally starving myself and finally had enough.  I went back to eating like normal (which is eating everything in sight) but I obviously don't have the same metabolism.  Today I weighed myself and I weigh 130.  I almost cried.  This is the heaviest I've ever been.  I cannot control my eating habits.  As I look online at how to lose weight, I'm eating a bowl of hashbrown casserole, which is so delicious but SO unhealthy.  My friends, my family, and my husband all tell me I look better with some weight on me, but c'mon, 130?!?!?  It would be different if I was fit and weighed 130, but it's just jiggly fat!  It doesn't hinder my relationship with my husband, but when I put clothes on and my stomach is bulging over my waistline, i'm totally disgusted.  I've resorted to wearing a girdle when I dress up, but i know i'm not healthy.  As a stay at home mom, I'm somewhat active, but have no strict eating schedule.  My husband loves for me to cook and we both love to eat, but he's SO skinny and I feel like a fat cow!  The holidays are almost over, but I still have to face delicous home cookin' at every family get together.  WHAT DO I DO???  I've never been overweight or dieted and feel lost.  I would like to lose 10-15 lbs maybe by my birthday in Feb.  But how do I get motivated??? What do I do???

You sound like you're pretty motivated! I understand how upsetting it can be. I was in your shoes when I had my first child at 22. I used to be able to eat whatever I wanted and not gain any weight. Not so much after I had my daughter. It takes some time to adjust but you'll learn how your new body works.

You can still eat food you love, you just have to do so in moderation. When I crave ice cream, I eat it out of a desert bowl instead of a cereal bowl. It makes it seem like I'm eating more but I'm really just tricking myself with a visual effect. It may sound silly but it works for me! I also drink a 12 ounce glass of water before eating. It really helps me realize when I'm satisfied. I once read that while you're eating, you get to a point where you sit back for a minute and take a deep breath; most continue to eat after that but it's our body's way of saying ENOUGH! When I was first starting out with dieting, I just cut my portion sizes in half. I didn't necessarily change WHAT I was eating, just how much. Once I got used to eating less, I began learing what I should be eating. Most of what I learned, I read on this website.

Eat several small meals a day that are 200-300 calories each. Yes, you'll feel like you're eating all the time but you won't be as hungry. You're less likely to overeat if you're not as hungry.

Lower your fat intake and increase your protein. I try to limit myself to 30 grams of fat a day and most of the time I eat less than that. I try not to eat much (if any) saturated or trans fat. Reduced-fat or fat-free cheese, yogurt and milk (soy or cow's) are all good sources of protein but are sometimes high in sugar and sodium. Kashi makes some really good granola bars that have a good amount of fiber and protein (two things that make you feel full).

Have lots of prepared fruits and veggies in your refrigerator. You're more likely to eat them if you don't have to do anything.

If you are like I was, I never ate whole grains. I grew up on white bread and pasta and didn't like the texture of whole wheat. Just make youreself eat whole grains and you will get used to it. I now love wheat bread, pasta and whole-grain rice and wouldn't consider going back to white.

Limit the amount of sugar you eat. I read somewhere that you should have no more than 40 grams of sugar a day. I tend to eat that much but it's because I eat a lot of fruit and dairy not cookies and cake. KEEP EATING TREATS! But only a few bites and not on a daily basis. Use it as a reward for accomplishing a goal (but don't overdo it!).

Read nutrition lables. Look up restaurant menus online and decide what you're going to have before going. Eat only half of a large restaurant portion and take home the rest.

Use olive oil or canola oil. They are full of the good fats that lower cholesterol (everything in moderation, though!).

I wish I had a more put-together response but I just threw out ideas as they popped into my head. I'm sure there are things I'm forgetting but this is a start for you. Never be afraid to come to the forums and ask for help or advice! The people are great!