weightloss issues

Question
I am 24 and I have 2 wonderful children that I had within 18 months of each other.  My youngest is now 17 months old and I have been working out like a mad woman for the past 14 months trying to get my body back to a state that is acceptable to me.  I have tried the detox diet and weight watchers, etc...  I am 5'2" and about 120 pounds.  I have some loose skin around my lower abdomen and a layer of fat on my hips and belly that just will not go away.  On my detox I dropped to 114 and the bit on my hips was still there.  Needless to say I am very frustrated and will take and advice you can give me.  I am a good student and very commited to improving my life.  THank you for all your help.

Answer
Dear Brooke

Congratulations on having two wonderful children.  

Unfortunately I don't think you're going to like my advice :)  (I'm sorry, I wish I could give you something different).  

When you have children your both your weight and percentage body fat need to go up (the latter to between 25-30% - see http://www.ditch-diets-live-light.com/bad-fat.html for more about this), and it can take two years for your percentage body fat to go back down to the 18-22% it was. But having children often changes your body shape in a much more permanent way and even exercising like a mad women sometimes can't undo what nature has done.  

At 5.'2" and 120 pounds regardless of your frame size your body weight is within an ideal range:  5'2"  (small frame = 108-121) (Medium = 118-132) and (large = 128-143).  So fighting your biology is only going to cause you stress... you don't need to lose anymore weight.  And if anything is bad for your weight, stressing about it is because it releases cortisol and other body unfriendly neuropeptides into your body..

The other thing to bear in mind is that it's quite possible (even though I know having suffered from body distortion myself that you're unlikely to believe this) that the bit on your hips only exists in your mind, especially if it was still there when you dropped to 114 pounds.

Now someone else is bound to tell you to buy some pills and powders and potions but I would advise against those because although marketers of them profess miraculous results - I'm not convinced.

So here's my advice...how about looking at yourself through kinder and less judgemental eyes and thanking your body for giving allowing you the biological miracle of two fabulous children and then accepting your body with whatever it's perceived imperfections?

With warm wishes
Cari  

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