i need help getting started

i havent been able to stick to a diet, of any kind really, i cant even get myself to just eat healthy in general. i had a baby 10 wks ago and still have 30-35 pounds to lose. i'm pathetic, everyday i start out well and then by 4 or so i talk myself out of beginning a diet that day and promise myself "i'll start tomorrow". its a horrible cycle that i've struggled with every day for 10 weeks now. what do i do - and does any one else have this problem? 

Think of it like this - if you really had started ten weeks ago you might have already lost ten pounds. In ten weeks time, do you want to be the same weight or ten pounds lighter?

I reccomend setting up a ticker to count down ten weeks - aim to have lost ten pounds by the end. Having a target might boost you into action.

I know it must be tough with a new baby and all...but trust me, don't put anything off to tommorow because you'll just have to work even harder and longer. Do you want your baby to grow up with an unhealthy mummy?

Plus (and I know this sounds corny) but you always feel better when you finally get something done that you've been putting off. After a week on the diet I'm sure you'll feel great about yourself instead of feeling guilty like you do now.

beccac, there are lots of different ways to solve a problem, but you've already recognized the problem, so that's step one! have you tried logging in all that you ate for a couple of days? don't change anything, just log it all in your food log. then study it, and see if there are some small changes you can make. you don't expect your baby to start walking tomorrow, you know it takes a long time to grow and develop. it's the same way with getting fit and healthy. small steps are easier, and small goals are reachable. give yourself plenty of time, and be patient with yourself!! welcome to calorie-count!

I second what Elin and Emmy have said and also, You are not pathetic!! Getting in shape is hard! Really hard. Congratulations for being motivated enough to create an account on this site and making a post. Asking for help shows strength in itself!!

I'll probably have people jump all over me, but just MAYBE this isn't the best time to go on a diet.  Are you sleeping at night?  Are you nursing? 

It could also be WHAT you're eating.  If you're hungry late in the day, what have you eaten early in the day?  Maybe you need to up your protein and cut back on something else. 

I agree with Elin - just log what you're eating for a couple days.  Maybe if you could post what you've eaten and when for a day we could help you figure out if there is some food that's triggering hunger.  One day last week I was way low on calories all day, then ate cornish hen, 1/2 baked potato, 1/2 cup sweet potato and 1/2 cup cranberry sauce.  I wasn't at all hungry when I ate this - 1/2 hour AFTER eating I was STARVING!!!  It was too much carbs, I guess.  I ate 1/2 baked potato last night with dinner and wasn't hungry after eating.

Hope this helps.  Congratulations on the baby!!!!  Is this a first? 

Congrats on the baby.

Hey - check out the expenditure and allowance tools this site offers - that should help you determin how many calories you should eat every day in order to lose that 30-40 lbs in a certain amount of time. 

Once you know how many cals to eat every day - eat what you want so long as you stay within those cals.  Never go below 1200 cals/day.

almost any food you could think of is in this site's database so look up your fav things (frozen pizza, potato chips, desert, mcdonalds meal) and just allow for those cals on any given day.  You can do this! Good luck! :)

*HUGS*

It's a big commitment that isn't very easy for anyone..so don't be hard on yourself!

Are you getting a good, healthy breakfast early in the day with lots of protein and fiber? This is very important..if you eat light in the day, you're going to easily give in to temptation later in the day! I'm a horrible evening snacker, and I've found that mornings are the answer!

Ten weeks is no big deal..you're body has had time to heal and now you can start getting down to business.


Good luck..we're here for you and YOU CAN do it!

Congrats on the baby!

This is a real motivator for me.  Everyday at 4pm (your trigger time) go put on a bathing suit, stand in front of the mirror and remind yourself why you are starting your diet today and not waiting until tomorrow.  If you still feel the urge to eat.  eat while looking at yourself in the mirror.

I LOVE the swimsuit idea!!  I think that will really help me when I'm not feeling like going to the gym.  Great idea jrnether! :)

well, i'm back today... haven't logged on since january and i'm up about 8 lbs... yuk!   all I can offer is that today is the first day and for you to keep at it... start writing everything in your food journal... today didn't start too well for me... had a corn muffin for breakfast (360 cal)... not my best choice... but by writing it in my journal, it became real and started me back on track.  WRITE IT DOWN... it really does work that way...

Jennifer!! that is an amazing idea!!

beccac, congrats on the baby! I have two girls, now nearly 13 and 14-1/2. My first dieting success was way back when, after #2 was born. I lost substantial amount of weight (don't remember anymore just how much it was). i did it slowly, gradually, gently, through a combo of good diet (no calorie counting), exercise, and breastfeeding (the easiet weight loss plan on the planet!).

I loved it back then, as a stay at home mom (SAHM), because I had more time to cook healthy meals and such. I even got into making homemade baby food. I'd schedule my cooking around the baby's naps.

As for exercise, I did a combo of:

1) long walks with kids in the stroller (works well when their young enough not to climb out and want to explore each rock and crevice)

2) exercise DVDs while they napped... or played ... later, as toddlers, they'd get into it with me!

3) palming the kids off on their dad so I could walk alone for an hour, or take an aerobics class (hey, dad's need time with their kids without mom hovering and correcting!!!!!! LOL!)

4) later, when they were a bit older, parking them in the daycare at the gym so I could lift weights and whatnot

I'm probably not answering your question very well, but my point is, enjoy this time, because you have some flexibility in your day to devote to your own self-care, or you will, once baby is on a schedule and you aren't getting up in the night all the time so you're too tired and just want to nap when baby naps.