outsmarting the female fat cell--after pregnancy

in my quest to lose weight, and do it right, i have visited the library several times. i have read up on diets. i have read up on work outs. i have been very confused....what should i do? one book tells me to do one thing, the next says absolutely don't do it.

i finally found a book that i like that i think is basic, that will help me. it is called "outsmarting the female fat cell--after pregnancy: every woman's guide to shaping up, slimming down, and staying sane after the baby" by debra waterhouse.

in her book, debra talks about the nature of fat cells. what they do and why they do it--namely, storing and releasing fat. in this book she specifically discusses how and why they retain fat during and after pregnancy. she talks about how we need to make peace with our fatcells, working with them instead of against them. this way we can really get them to do what we want them to do.

she calls it her postpartum peace plan.

P-pamper yourself
E-eat with a regular meal schedule
A-actively move your body
C-calm your stress
E-embrace your new body

according to debra, there is no way we will lose any fat if we are unhappy with ourselves. we need to embrace our new, post-baby bodies. we need to be positive. we need to get rid of unnecessary stress in our lives. we need to make time for ourselves outside of our responsibilities as a mother and wife. and--we should absolutely NOT diet. she is as anti-diet as they come.

cutting out fat, carbs, or whatever else only makes your fat cells hold on to the fat even more, because they interpret the diet as "starvation." you will lose weight, sure, but the second you go off your diet, they will retain more fat than before, storing up for the next famine (aka diet). what she says is to keep track of what you are eating--eat proper, smaller portions, instead of cutting things out. eat three small meals with two snacks, drink a lot of water, don't eat too much sugar (like that bowl of easter candy i've got on my counter) and you will start to lose weight.

she also says that it is necessary to exercise. well duh, we all know that, right? but what i didn't know is that you don't start to burn fat until after you have been exercising at least 30 minutes with an elevated heart rate. she advocates exercising at least 3 times a week for 45 minutes. she also suggests weight lifting twice a week. and, in order to get that flat tummy, crunches crunches crunches. doing crunches doesn't help unless you're burning fat, because it will only strengthen the muscles under the fat. and losing the fat won't help unless you're doing crunches, because the muscles will be slack.

so. the best way to lose weight isn't always the fastest way. i keep having to tell myself this. because i am very impatient. i will lose the weight, at least most of it, if i eat right and exercise.

now, i just have to actually do it.