whats going on....

[Andanasia]

Ok here's the story. I gained 50 pounds while I was pregnant with my son. He's now 14 months old. In the fist two weeks he was home I lost a little less than 20 pounds. I can't seem to lose the rest. I also got the depo shot two weeks after he was born. Once I got that it seems like everything stopped working. I bleed for 14 weeks. Now nothings happening.I didn't get the shot again. I'm not pregnant, my husbands been gone with the military for the past 13 months. I've tried everything. I breastfeed (until my milk stopped coming in around seven weeks), exercise(3 to 5 times a week for 45mins to an hour) and diets. I went to the doctor and he said that it was just my bodies reaction to the depo. That was almost 7 months ago. I don't know whats going on. This body is really depressing me.

[Jonna Byars]

That sounds frustrating!!
First, as for the depo shot, we need to LISTEN to what the dr. said--this is your body's reaction. So there is not a lot we can do about that, but what you can focus on is making sure you are eating the best that you can and doing the most efficent exercises. I am not an expert on the depo. shot, so I have no idea how long the side effects will remain. But in the meantime, what type of exercise are you doing? If your goal is weight loss you need to do a MINIMUM of 30 minutes of caridiovascular (heart pumping) exercise per day. You also need to do some type of weight training 3-4 times per week to build and tone your muscles (muscle burns more calories than fat so the more muscle you have the faster your metabolism). It can be difficult to find a way to allot an hour every day for exercise when have a little one....try to find a way to incorporate him in your exercise program--pushing him in the stroller, baby push-ups, check and see if there is a STrollerFit® class in your area.
Now, what are you eating? try to focus on having the bulk of your diet as fruits and vegetables. You did not say your ideal weight, but let's say it is 140 pounds, multiply that by 10 and you 1400--this is the number of calories you should aim for per day. If your ideal weight is 150--aim for 1500 calories per day, etc. If you follow this formula and exercise everyday--YOU WILL see results.
Weight loss is the simple formula of burn more calories than you take in.
I do understand that the depo. shot is affecting things and will liekly slow your progress, but the effects of it will pass. Do the best you can with what you have.
Good Luck!!

[twiceblessed]

Great advice Jonna. Have you taken your measurements? While you may not be "losing weight" you might be "losing inches" and toning up. Remember muscle weighs more than fat. So don't get frustrated or discouraged okay. You are doing great.
From personal experience I can tell you that using the depo shot can really screw up your system. I was on the shot for almost 2 years, after I got off it it took me over a year and a half to get my period back. I would keep in close contact with your doctor and talk to him/her about any further concerns you may have about what's going on with your body (in regards to the effects of the depo)
Good luck hon.

[HoneybearMom]

My son is 2 yrs old. After 2 months I went back to work, 4 months later I quiet to be a stay at home mom. It was hard for me to figure out how to get an exercise routine down and keep an eye on my little man. So I decided on a new routine. Every morning, after breastfeeding my baby, I pumped baby weights. I laid him in my hands and curled him up to my face and blew rasberries on his tummy. Then I laid down with him on my chest and did crunches. I contined doing this as he grew, it was a progression in the weight. After that I put him in the stroller and took a three mile loop around my neighborhood. I live in an area that has gradual hills, I pushed myself to walk that three miles in an hour or less. I kept my heart rate up. Then I went back to work. I try to get to the gym at work but that rarely happens, so when I get home, I make my son laugh histaricly by acting the crazy lady fool for about 30 minutes. He joins in, my heart gets pumping and I lose weight, slow but surely. I am almost back to my prebaby weight after almost three years. You will get there too. Just think positive and ignore the scale. Those are only numbers that will bring you down. When you look in the mirror every morning tell your self that you are the most beautiful women in the world, because you know what, EVERY WOMEN WHO CAN SMILE WITH SPIT UP ON THE SHIRT OR STAINS FROM LEAKY BREASTS IS BEAUTIFUL. YOU ARE TOO. Good luck and remember moms are the bomb!!!

[Mary Alison Creech, MS]

You've got it! What a great way to exercise and show your child at the same time that exercise is fun (without him even knowing!)...and the slower that weight comes off, the more likely it will STAY off. Keep up the great work! Moms ROCK, you're right!