I hear ya on the bone sizes too.  I'm a very large statured woman.  I've got very broad shoulders and wide hips and a size 10 shoe.  So, I know that I'll never be a skinny-minney!  ;)  I just want to get healthy for my family...and for me too.  I would love to know what it's like to feel sexy.  I've been large my whole life.  I had to buy a girdle today for a wedding I'm in on Sunday.  That was mortifying!  :P

I totally agree with you, its so hard to work out with young kids.  But before going back to school and having kids I was in great shape (145 and doing kung fu 4 days a week plus Nordic track).  I would get a total boost from my work outs.  Its like a high, and once you are hooked you hate to go a day without working out.  I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old and I just got a Pilates video that I try and do twice a week.  I'm also walking a lot and doing oncwe a week on the Nordic track (only 20 minutes).  Hang in there, even if you only lose a pound a week it really adds up, in a couple months you will look and feel different.

Good Luck!

im in the same boat im a mom to 3 of my own children ages 6, 4, and 3 months and a step mom to a 1 1/2 yr old im pretty active with them, playing and chasing them but i cant get the weight to come off....

If it make you all feel better, my kids are 7, 5, 2 and 6 weeks!  I am ready to get the old me back.  We set out to have 4 kids and knowing this will be the last one, I am ready to lose it once and for all...not just lose it so I can get pregnant again.  I started the plan a week ago and lost 5 lbs the first week, and I finally started exercising on Sunday.  I went for a 45 minute walk early in the morning before church.  I moved the newborn by my husband's side of the bed, got drinks and cereal and cartoons on for the the 7 and 2 year old (my daughter is 5 and is not an early riser), and headed out the door.  It was so nice to have my music on and some alone time.  However, that being said, my husband also needs to lose a few lbs., so we started doing p90x together.  the workouts are tough and it has only been 2 days, but we are really working together, scheduling time to do the videos together and encouraging each other.  It doesn't matter what the workout it, we are helping each other...and the kids jump right in and do the videos with us...they love it, and what better example than to exercise as a family!  We are both teachers, so hopefully we can continue finding the time once school starts again...we will have to be diligent about scheduling that hour a day together.  Good luck to everyone, you can do it...just take one day at a time.

I loved your message, you type like I talk... neat!  Anyway, don't pay attention to those scale weight chart things.  They do not have it based on bone size, just height and weight.  I am having a goal of 180 which sounds high to many (currently 300), but I was a size 14 then, at 5'7 and felt great.  It is not realistic for me to try to be a size 2... just is not going to happen, I wear a size 11 shoe, have big bones, big hands, etc.  Bones weigh alot, tiny bones, tiny weight, etc.  Hang in there, thing the 200 will be gone soon for you.  I am weighing to be in the 200's again.  I was during my pregnancy (now a 4 month old)... we can do it.  Take care

I hear you. It seems like I can't even take a 15 min. walk half the time. When Im home its like im on there time and i have none left anymore.

Hi, please believe me, you are not alone!  I have a 5yr old, 3yr old and a 9 month old.  I too have always been overweight but never like this.  It's like I don't even believe it until I see myself in a picture and then I am like "Whooa!, Is that what I look like?, it's crazy.   I started slim fast about two weeks ago at 213 lbs and yesterday I was at 201 which I was pretty happy about.  I still have cravings though, so I am definitley fighting that.  I am only 5 ft tall so I cannot carry this much weight.  The weight tool thing says I should weigh no more than like 123 pounds,lol, I thought it would be great to weight 150!  Apparently not.  Anyway, I have absolutley no time to exercise and it is so frustrating!  I will say I tried those special K meal bars and they are wonderful!  I have one after a small meal, like 200 calories or so, and it really keeps me full for 3-4 hours, and they taste great, I really like them.  Well, hope you are doing well on your plan, would be great to have someone to chat with for support :)

-Lisa

I am definiteley in the same boat as you.  I have been on the heavy side my whole life, then I had 2 babies (a 3 year old and now a 5 month old) and since I am a working mom after work, the commute, cooking dinner and sitting down to breath for a second, I don't feel like working out.  I too love my sweets, usually after lunch or dinner.  So I figured with Slim Fast there is no cooking I can grab 2 shakes for work, and some sugar free candies or SlimFast's diet bars, to curb my sweet tooth.  As for exercise (because I know I am not going to lose 2 kids worth of baby weight just by diet alone) I bought myself a Pedometer and take the kids for a walk.  It really does help to actually see how many steps you have taken and to see the walking gets easier.

It is so hard to lose weight when you have been big your whole life, especially when you throw kids, full time job, and wife in the mix.  But I think if you take it one day at a time, and not matter what stick to the small rules you set for yourself, AND forgive yourself when you do cheat and just move on.  I am hoping I will see how clothes fit me better, how i can keep up with my kids more, how much happier I will be (exercise does release happy hormones - this is an actual medical thing that happens) and that should be motivation enough.

Good luck!

We have an elliptical machine that I try and use every now and then, but lately I noticed it holding my laundry more than it's holding me...LOL.  I want to get it downstairs in a more useable location, so I can use it and watch the kids all at the same time.  I am just not thrilled about having a huge exercise machine in my living room, but I guess until I get motivated enough it will work out.  Eventually we can put it back upstairs and I can use it there again.

As far as the scale goes, I will be honest, I don't even own one right now.  We moved back in September and somehow the scale didn't make it's way here.  I keep wanting to get a new one, but haven't yet.  I am afraid of looking at the numbers regularly.  Cause, like you, I get frustrated if it's not moving the way I expect it to move.  I was weighed at the doctors a couple of weeks ago and almost passed out when I saw the numbers.  I lost 20lbs when I was pregnant with the baby and now I have put 10lbs of that back on.  I am so upset about that.  I am at my heaviest point of my life right now. 

I am not sure what your supports system at home it like, but mine kind of sucks....lol.  My hubby is skinny and is always told by his doctors he needs to gain weight.  He tries to understand, I think, but isn't quite there with it.  No one else really tries either.  My father and his wife both have huge weight issues, but neither of them are trying to do anything about it, so of course they are no help.  My in laws don't understand either, my father in law and his wife are skinny and my mother in law and her husbands life revolve around food.  You cannot get together with them without food being there.  Even a simple birthday party turns into a full course meal with them.  I tried to have a nice small birthday party for my 5 year old in March and all I wanted was fruit and veggies trays and some chips and pretzels, but it turned in to a feast because my mother in law wanted to cook.  When you have no willpower how do you cope with something like that.

I know I have to do something and fast.  I took my kids outside to play yesterday and this 7 year old little boy walked up to me and asked if I was having another baby. I told him no and he said, well then why are you so fat.  I started crying immediately and walked away.  I know he's only 7, but 7 year olds are honest.

It would be great to have an online buddy for support.  Maybe we can really help each other through it.  Some days are just impossible to exercise.  My husband and i were thinking of getting a total gym (You know the one Chuck Norris endorses).  Maybe that way I would be able to work out some throughout the day as the kids let me.  I've got to do something.  We can't really afford the gym or the Y right now.  Plus, I just don't have time to go out to do that with a 4 month old and 2 year old at my side.  It's tough enough to find time for my husband.  :)  

one of my issues is that I get really impatient if the scale's not moving or moving fast enough.  That's when I give up.  Maybe this slim fast diet will be different.  *crossing fingers*  I hope so!  :)