I am trying to lose baby weight. I am not one of those people who is pear shaped and puts weight on in the butt and thighs, I have to say I wish I WERE you guys! I am what my doctor says is an apple. I never had a problem before so I don't know if being pregnant tripled my torso or what But I am 5'2 and short waisted and used to weigh 105-110 and be what you call an hourglass shape. Since carrying a baby (keep in mind I am shortwaisted), I didn't gain much weight during pregnancy but my torso became HUGE and now my doc says I am an apple shaped. Damn. Harsh. But honest- all my fat is retained and gained in my boobs and stomach and waist.

So, I am trying to do a low carb diet and exercise. Strict Atkins induction makes me puke because you can eat lots of greasy meats and bacon and cheeses and eggs, so I am using some South Beach diet frozen dinners and other foods but trying to stick to the Atkins induction carb limits. I will occasionally have bacon or ham or eggs but righty now I ate a South Beach diet frozen dinner, a low carb Southweatern eggroll wrap. Each wrap has 11 grams of carb- really more like 25 but the rest is FIBER so you can deduct it from your total carb count.

Also......Nutrasweet/aspartame gives me headaches if I have a lot of it but I found Splenda does not bother me too bad, so (I am in the Eastern US) I find that Diet Cheerwine softdrink helps me when I am craving sugar and tired of drinking water. I also like Propel waters- flavored waters that have nutrients in them. I like the Mandarin Orange and Grape flavors. I limit to one bottle a day because that's about 5 carbs i think.

I generally HATE diet drinks. Can someone tell me some more diet sodas that taste fairly ok like the original to help me? Is Diet Caffeine Free Pepsi any good?

Also I wonder if anyone else is interested in having a thread where we list some good low carb foods (that taste ok) to help us find the better products. I can suggest someone try the South Beach Diet frozen dinners, and Diet Cheerwine if you are in the Southeast. US. And Propel fitness waters.

So can someone tell me what other diet sodas taste bearable? Any low carb forzen snacks or dinner are ok? Any other suggestions?

Also, I'm jogging/walking and doing exercise videos and Brooke Siler's Pilates book-- those exercise work and you can do most of them just with youself, the book, and a clear space on the floor.

BTW--how the hell did having a baby change my body shape???? Hourglass to apple?? wtf. I am also getting old. Let's leave it at that. I want to drop 40 pounds before I get pregnant again. When I finish having my babies.....I am SOOOOO determined to kick ass and have a better stronger body than I did when I was 18, 5'2, 105 pounds and a size 4-6.

Does anyone want to join me in an online support group for low carb weight loss? I mean maybe we can use this thread or something.....and post weekly results. We won't post our weights, just weigh in and knowing our starting weight say "5 pounds down this week" or whatever.

For example I started the diet 3 days ago, and am down 3 pounds. My husband did it but he LIKES Atkins because he loves meat eggs and cheese....he lost 40 pounds in 3 months and is continuing to lose. He also lost all that without flabby skin- he's firming up. damnhim.

I found south beach much easier than atkins. after the initial 2 week detox period you can go back to having some carbs, the healthy ones. you do have to stay committed though, because the weight will creep back on if you slack.

check out the southbeach website, they have a free mailing list that sends ideas and recipies and stuff. they do good recipies.

i dont get people who can do the atkins diet, personally id rather have a gastic bypass and all the possible complications than doing atkins.

besides you need carbohydrates to function, the brain and body mainly runs on them and when you cut them out and replace them with protein and fats youre basicly starving yourself while eating... not to mention yourbody will start breaking down muscles eventually. the effects of atkins is basicly the effect you get by going on hungerstrike and suffering from anorexia nervosa, and i think its damn scary that it is looked upon as an a-ok way to lose weight.

a healthy and balanced diet should consist of 50-60 % of carbohydrates, 10-20 % protein, 25-35 % fats and lots of fibers to keep you full longer... its all about moderation and decreasing calorie intake and not cutting out an entire group. the carbs have to be of the complex kind of course, so no white bread, rice, pasta etc.