First, running is the best to get down to the weight you want.

Next, what is key is to maintain the good weight. I have a 5 lb. range that I stay in. If I get above the range, I trim down by eating less and exercising -- it's easier to lose 2 lbs. then 10 plus.

I used to know if I got out of my 5 lb. range because my jeans would feel tight -- not anymore since jeans are stretchy and loose now.

Anonymous wrote:So do you have any desire to lose the weight that you gained?

Yes, I would. I have some other health problems which make dieting more difficult (very hard to exercise for example). I do believe that true weight loss has to begin in the mind.

Anonymous wrote:09:08, what is your height? Please tell me you're petite.

I am skinny now & formerly fat. My issues are due to the classic pear shape metabolism issues, salty carbs and sugar cravings. I am an emotional eater so I need to distract myself when I feel stressed otherwise I will start snacking on nutritionally worthless things like popchips.

I keep a mental calorie count and look at my calorie consumption & exercise like a bank. Deposits in and withdrawals out.

9:08- I am 5'1!

09:08, what is your height? Please tell me you're petite.

I am skinny now & formerly fat. My issues are due to the classic pear shape metabolism issues, salty carbs and sugar cravings. I am an emotional eater so I need to distract myself when I feel stressed otherwise I will start snacking on nutritionally worthless things like popchips.

I keep a mental calorie count and look at my calorie consumption & exercise like a bank. Deposits in and withdrawals out.

I was skinny my entire life until baby #2 came along. For me major life stresses, ex. death in family, cause my appetite to drop to zero and I lose weight. But the daily, constant kind of stress ( which I never experienced prior to marriage/kids ) causes me to gain weight.

This is not life threatening, world changing stuff, but the day to day stressors of balancing home, work, marriage, child rearing especially little ones with food allergies, that kill my metabolism and cause the gray hair and belly fat.

Anonymous wrote:How many of you Skinny Moms don't drink alcohol, or drink very little? I drink about 5 glasses of wine a week.

I'm a skinny mom. I drink probably about the same. Two glasses a couple times a week with friends, usually I order a drink when we go out to dinner on the weekends.

To answer another PP's question, I am not very stressed. When I do have major stresses, I tend to eat less (loss of appetite combined with being one of those people who really can let the day get away from her and remember she never ate) but because I'm skinny (93 pounds), my body doesn't really have much to lose. A period of stress and less eating might only result in me losing two or so pounds. Actually, I tend to only go about 2 pounds either way. Intense stress or inability to eat (sickness or something like that) will drop me to about 91, but hardcore eating like at the holidays or vacation will bump me to around 95.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many of you Skinny Moms are stressed out most of the time?

I'm not! I will say though that when/if I have MAJOR life stress I do eat less but not because I want to lose weight.

I eat carbs when I'm stressed. This is why I am not a Skinny Mom, even with a high metabolism.

I WISH! When I am stressed, I eat...and eat...and eat.

So when I am happy/well balanced, I lose weight. The key for me is exercise...it reduces stress, which in turn reduces my appetite for 'bad' foods.

Which, don't get me wrong - I find a way to eat my sweets. But I keep moving - 30 min intense cardio then strength training about 3x a week plus running around with my kids - and that seems to be working.

I'm 35- let's see how it is when I'm 40!

Anonymous wrote:When I am stressed, I have zero appetite. I always tell my friends, "If I get too skinny, start to worry."

Me too.

When I am stressed, I have zero appetite. I always tell my friends, "If I get too skinny, start to worry."

Anonymous wrote:How many of you Skinny Moms are stressed out most of the time?

I'm not! I will say though that when/if I have MAJOR life stress I do eat less but not because I want to lose weight.

So do you have any desire to lose the weight that you gained?

I was a skinny mom, now a fat one, so I have seen both sides. As a skinny mom, I had a lot of rules about food, which I was happy with, as I liked being skinny. Generally, breakfast coffee and oatmeal. Lunch, small sandwich, salad, or tuna fish. Dinner, something small, with meat or cheese. No snacking after dinner or between meals. Candy gave me headaches, so very infrequent. No ice cream -- seemed needlessly rich and the serving too large. No nuts, cream cheese, cheesecake, fries. Don't like most dressings. Sugary cakes and cookies, ect also gave me headaches. No soft drinks -- water. Exercise program -- 4x a week. That is swimming 32 laps. I would say a high metobolism. A lot of coffee.
One day, after 32 years, I got tired of doing this. Inside of every skinny person there is a fat one trying to get out I ate whatever I wanted. It took awhile to gain weight. Fries and chips. Starbucks. Steak. Baked potatoes. Beer. Wine. Cake with the kids. Pizza. Hambergers. Guacamole. Just use your imagination...

How many of you Skinny Moms are stressed out most of the time?

Anonymous wrote:How many of you Skinny Moms don't drink alcohol, or drink very little? I drink about 5 glasses of wine a week.

I drink about 2 glasses 2-3 nights a week. Sometimes more. If I have wine, I usually don't eat dessert. I also find I eat less dinner if I'm having wine and I also eat more slowly.