Me too! I just got back down to a size 16, and am hoping to get back down to a 14 by spring. I've not worn a size 4 since the 4th grade. I'm 5'9" tall with a large frame, so I know that aiming for a size 4 is not in the realm of reality for me. However, I've never been on a regulated diet (South Beach, WW, etc.), so I don't know exactly what I'm capable of either. Hubby is SUPPOSED to be setting up his father's gym equipment in what was the toy room (kids lost toy room priviledges...too many MONTHS of having to clean it myself with no help, and having it trashed as soon as it was clean again). I'm in the middle of turning what was the home office into a family room with a play area for the kids (only an armful of toys in the toybox..rest are boxed and will be switched every couple of weeks), and the toyroom will become the adults only zone...exercise equipment, computers, files, etc.

I don't expect to have that 36-24-36 body I had BC (before children)...but I would like to get into a healthy weight zone and build strength in key areas (like my back, shoulders and arms for carrying babies) and flexibility (bad hip, knee and ankle all on the left side). I'm afraid of going on a regimented diet while still breastfeeding though. God help me if I lose my milk! The baby absolutely refuses to drink from a bottle.

Weight Watchers has special provisions for nursing mothers or pregnant women.

Like I have said before on here what has worked for me is weight training...it is crazy!! When you incorporate weights into excersice you are burning the fat and stored fat...I literally see my fat melt off me every month!! I lost 20 pounds in 3 months and i ate what I wanted...not saying that I eat bad in the first place but I didnt really have to watch...I work out 2 times a week with weights and do pilates the other 3 days!!! I havent felt better in my life. I know I am not going to wear a size 10 but once in my life I am finally happy at where I am and that is the best feeling...not a pair of smaller jeans!!

Pookarina,

What was that website you gave me in your pm regarding ww?

UGGGHHHH!!! I hate getting weighed at the Dr. and I never look at those charts that tell you what your ideal weight should be!! If I were supposed to be 130 pounds...with my frame and height I would look like a skeleton!!! I am always leary of those charts and I wish they would go away!! When I had an eating disorder it was that DAMN chart that got me started...I kept looking at it thinking that I was soooo fat because this chart told me I should be at a certain weight and when I got down to the 130 pounds, I almost lost my period, looked like a skeleton was in a size 8 pants and had my family and friends freaking out because I was looking like bones!!! So some people might hear the number 130 and size 8 and think it is perfect or not that think and the chart might say that but its NOT TRUE!!! sorry Im ranting I just HATE that damn chart!!! I had so many problems and all I can think of are teenagers going through the same thing I went through and it makes me so sick! I wish there becomes a better way to deal with eating disorders and weight issues...okay Im done.

GOOD LORD! I hate those charts too! I am with you IB! I think my skeleton alone weighs 130! I got down to about 145 and my mom was so worried, she thought I had AIDS!!! So....I am trying to stay in the 165-170 range....with my bone structure, I just look better with some meat on my big bones! At 145, my mom said she could see my heart beating and blood rushing through the veins on my hands and neck! GROSS! Glad I couldn't see that! Everyone thought I was either very sick, or had some kind of disease or eating disorder! I am convinced those charts are for runway models!

I'm totally with you guys on those damn charts. When I was 20-21 I was got down to 120 and a size 4 - 6 by totally starving myself and working out like a maniac. I'm 5'5", and acording to those charts I was just perfect. Problem is I have a larger, muscular build and I was a mess. My hair started falling out, I was tired and irritable all the time. I was anemic, and when I got my period I couldn't get out of bed I was so wiped out. I hadn't consumed more than 500 calories in a day for months. I started off trying to lose a "few" pounds and before I knew it was totally obsessed with the number on the scale. Thank goodness I got help before I got any thinner.

I've never been able to lose weight before without becomming obsessive about it, but I'm finding weight watchers to be really good for me. They say my weight should be somewhere between 125 and 150, depending on body type and my Dr. says 140-150 would be best for me. After week 3 they say your weight loss should be between .25 and 2 lbs, and with the exception of this week (2 lb gain, ack! damn pumpkin seeds! ) I've been in that range. I just want to be healthy and fit into the clothes in my closet. I have a strong family history of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, and I want to prevent those from affecting me too.