Need Help.

I had a baby in June...and so far I have lost 45 pounds of the baby weight...however I still have another 30-40 I want to lose...and I am 20lbs above a comfortable weight for me...and I just feel disgusting right now.

I was doing great...until I platuead....and I can get my weight to drop below..then it just baloons right back up. 

I am just sooo tired (I am only getting 3-5 hours of sleep at night, thanks to the baby)....and I don't have time to work out between working 12 hours and 2 little kids.  So the only method I feel I have to lose weight is through diet....but when I am tired...I tend to eat. 

I am so frustrated...and I am just looking for any tips or advice to get through this.  I do not want to give up.  I think I just need a better plan or redirection.

How about giving us some more details? How much do you eat?

Also, are you sure you don't want to try to come up with any exercise in this plan? It's probably not necessary, but it helps. :)

When I was dieting I was eating between 1500-1700 calories...and was breastfeeding and steadily losing weight (about 1-1.5lbs per week).  Now I am upwards of 1700-2000 (hence why I am not losing weight).  A few weeks ago I was eating in the 1500-1700 range, my weight would drop down to 195-196...and then just plummet back up to 200lbs.  And for the last 2 weeks...I haven't been trying to lose because I am so frustrated and tired...just trying not to gain.  (this weight yo-yo has been happening since the beginning of October.

I am 5'9" and currently 200lbs.  Large bone structure. 

I don't think I have time to excersize.  When it was nice out (I live in Michigan) I would take the kids out for a walk at night.  But now its cold and dark...and I work at a desk job from 5:30am until 5:30pm....I have to pick the kids up by 6pm...and then I have them by myself generally until 7pm or later, depending on my DH's schedule.  I get up at 4am to leave for work. 

*nods* I understand. That would be quite a challenge.

I wish I had a better answer at this stage than what I'm going to suggest which is finding ways to make food less accessible so you find yourself snacking on it less. Such things could include... keeping the goodies up on a high shelf you can reach with a stool, but that the stool stays in another part of the house. Or another possibility is that you try to drink water instead of snacking when you know you're eating only because you're bored and alone. 

I understand. I have 3 kids myself. Life sometimes seems to go on while we mothers try to catch up. It is very difficult and I feel for you. I have been there.

Not giving up is great. I know lots of woman who say, "Well, that's it. I tried and I can't do it so forget it." The fact that you are willing to keep trying is a step in the right direction so congratulate yourself. Being tired all the time and not having any "me" time is frustrating. Getting some sleep would help. Remember, the kids will grow and you will sleep again!

A few suggestions I will offer is maybe, on the weekends, you can get a chance to go take a walk by yourself. That can be your "me" time and you could squeeze in a bit of exercise. Also, is there a way that you can walk on your lunch breaks? Just a little bit at first. Maybe 10 minutes. Think to yourself, "this is my 10 minutes for me. No one can bother me. I am not mommy. I am just me." After a few weeks of sneaking in 10 minutes here and there, you may want to add 5 minutes on, if you can. Little bits of exercise here and there really help. At first, it is so difficult because you are so tired. But, the exercise does start to help give you more energy. It helped me. I gained 50 pounds with my first daughter. I was on bed rest with her. Trying to lose the weight seemed like a never ending batter. But, it finally did start to happen. Very slowly.

Give yourself a break. Don't read the magazines where the stars are fit a week after they give birth. That is unrealistic. Us moms have to work AND take care of our kids and try to find time to take care of ourselves. Take your time. It is one day at a time. I know you can do this.