A step in the right direction - Success Stories

Shape, August, 2002

I gained more than 60 pounds during my pregnancy because I mistakenly believed that I had to "eat for two." I ate boxes of cookies in one sitting and gave up exercise altogether. After giving birth to my son, my weight settled at 190 pounds, and I was still 50 pounds overweight. I thought the rigors of being a new mom would take the weight off, but as the weeks went on, the scale didn't budge. A month later, I tried on a pair of shorts that fit me perfectly before I became pregnant, and I was depressed when they wouldn't even go up over my hips. From that moment, I was determined to regain my pre-pregnancy body.

I knew I had to be more active, but since I just had a baby, I also knew I had to ease into it. My solution was to invest in a postnatal exercise video. Since the tape was divided into 10-minute segments, I could easily fit in two or three workouts a day, as time permitted. After just two weeks of working out, I started feeling better about my body and had more energy.

As I became fitter, the postpartum video became less challenging, so I strapped my son into his stroller and we took walks around our neighborhood. I also bought more challenging exercise videos that included weight training and, to my surprise, I found that strength training actually accelerated my weight loss.

I also started eating smaller meals and snacking more often, instead of waiting until I was starving and then overeating. When I gave my son a meal or snack, I ate a healthful snack like a handful of peanuts or fresh fruit. I made healthier food choices, like baked potato chips or lowfat cookies, and learned to cook food in heart-healthy olive oil instead of butter. I bought fruits and vegetables, which I washed and cut up immediately so they were on hand when I wanted a snack. In addition to watching my portion sizes, I kept a food journal to record everything I ate. After a few days, I was surprised to realize how often I was snacking and that most of the time I wasn't even hungry. I just munched without thinking. The snacks added up to a lot of extra calories, and seeing that in writing gave me the motivation to stop.

By the time my son reached his first birthday, I had lost 50 pounds and fit into size-10 jeans. I feel better than ever and I have the energy to keep up with the demands of raising a young child. My husband and I are planning to have another baby in the near future, but now that I'm armed with the right information about nutrition, I'm confident that I won't have to deal with the frustration of post-baby weight gain. Instead, I'll appreciate and love what my healthy body has given me.

RELATED ARTICLE: WORKOUT SCHEDULE

Walking, in-line skating or exercise videos (with weight training): 30-60 minutes/4-5 times a week

MAINTENANCE TIPS

1. Give yourself a 20-minute break after eating before you help yourself to seconds. You probably won't be hungry after the time has passed.

2. Keep healthy snacks like fruits and vegetables on hand so they're ready to eat when you're hungry.

3. If you're really craving a high-fat food, have a small portion and enjoy it.

MARY JANE WOOD, 35, West Virginia

* Inches last: bust 4; waist 6; hips 5; thighs 3

* Height: 5'6"

* Pounds lost: 50