I am simmilar, (overweight, acne - well not to bad now, breastfeeding, low iron)

I have found that the iron does boost energey levels but takes a while to kick in.

One thing I have found which has helped greatly is taking pregnancy and breastfeeding tablets, it has made a major change in my energey levels.

Hi, I never had acne until I started taking the pill at the age of 23!!!! Since then I have had quite horrendous acne! I saw a dermatologist that said my options were to go on the pill or antibiotics( the fist was not an option as not only did it kick start my acne it gave me severe pigmentation on my face as well) the antibiotics were not successful! I have found that Benzac,a topical cream available from the chemist, is quite good. iI is available in a variety of strenghts.Hormonal fluctuations while pregnant and breastfeeding can make acne worse. I also have ovarian cysts but don't have the weight gain that seems to go with it. I have the hairy thing instead! Please see a good doctor that may be able to help you out! If not, naturopaths ( good ones) may also help you out. Try to get enough rest as when you are tired, the body seeks high energy foods that  can lead to overeating and weight gain. THe quick high from junk food then leads to you being even more weary and searching for that next sugar boost!

oops, sorry forgot to add. i'm taking iron aswell and it's binding me up a bit, a good thing to try is prunes or prune juice, or liquoice if you have a taste for it, anything that'll help move it through, and also plenty of water. if you're dehydrated you body takes water from where ever it can, that's why if you don't drink enough your pee looks yellow, but if you're drunk heaps it looks clear, it's cos the pee is concentrated cos your body is taking the water you. sounds icky but that's what happens.

i'm currently trying to lose my baby weight at the moment. for exercise i walk my nearly 7 month old son down the road and around the park. there's quite a few walkers and people with dogs around (and Cameron loves dogs) so it's good for him socially, and then sometimes stop in at the deli on the way back home to have a look around. you can always take the kids to a park aswell and let them run around and wear out, and you can do small laps while watching them, or even join in a game of tag.

for energy try to have a big breakkie, smaller lunch and smaller dinner if you can manage it. i think people's bodies function better thing way. you burn the calories better and there's not point having a small brekkie when you need the energy adn a huge dinner when you';re about to go to bed and have no way of burning it off. try to also have a nap when the kids have a nap to get a few extra wink in (especially if the kids keep you up at night)

i've alwasy had pretty good skin so i can't realy help too much,  but i know if i eat too much sugar or fats my skin tend to look worse and get a few spots, but if i cut out the softdrink and drink heaps of water and eat better it clears right up.

You mentioned iron supplements but didn't mention if you're taking it. I know after I had the twins, I lost a lot of blood. I was so weak that I couldn't sit up for more than 30 minutes. I slowly recovered from this weakness a few days after taking high doses of iron.

As far as acne, I've battled acne since I was a teen and it finally calmed down when I was in my 20's (though I have a lot of scars). But then recently, after I gave birth to the twins, my acne is back again. It's terrible.

im on the same boat,

i have bad acne and i think having PCOS plays a major part in it all. Im allergic to the acne medication which seemed to be the only thing that worked up until hives flared, my motivation switches on and off all the time but when i am motivated i do alot but my body wont change, it wants to stay the same weight its at no matter what i try.

To help me out though, i have been taking vitamins daily, having a good breakfast which is usually 2 poached eggs on toast with fried tomato (it gives great energy for the day), walking (which i prefer to do at the shops because it gets that dreaded 'walking for exercise' thought out of my head), A face wash that HAS to make my face tingly while and after i wash it (which means its working for me) tea tree oil is great to put on spots with an ear-bud i do it after i wash my face and before bed.

cheers,

Channy.

tea tree oil is great for acne. i use it on my hubby as he is really bad. he gets them all over his face, chest, back and legs. since i have been using the tea tree oil it has depisipated alot. ( i use tea tree oil for my washing liquid as well as soap and the oil itself)

as for the rest i am in the same boat. I am constantly tired, sleeping in the afternoons so i can interact with my kids after school ( i have a nap at 1-230)

I have PCOD and endometrosis and bipolar so its a wonderful mix.

what i have found is these herbal tabs i have been taking have really picked me up. its called vitality for woman and there are 3 lots of tabs i take one is calcium as i am lactose intollerant and 2 lots of muti vitimins 1 for my mental health and one for my body health.

minti mail me for more info as i buy them through my home business.

good luck

Have you thought of joining a gym?  Sorry to go all cliche, but there are some really good ones out there that have family fitness classes.

Are you eating properly? The right foods can help with all your needs.

Iron - apart from iron supplements, good sources of iron are leafy greens such as spinach. Also red meat.

Acne - did you know there is a medication available from the doctor that is a cream? My daughter was prescribed 2 different creams, one needed a script, the other available over the counter. I'm sorry I cannot remember the names of them as it was some time ago, but ask the doctor about medicated creams. With your diet, http://www.acne-advice.com/articles/top_ten_tips.shtml shows foods to avoid. There's probably other sites, too, that's just one I found - I searched under "foods to help acne".

Weight loss - I have the same problem. First, eat regularly through the day - breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, snack. Just make sure you are eating the right foods - snack on healthy foods, not junk. Making sure you eat keeps your metabolism going. Also, as already advised, go walking. The more you walk, the more you will lose & the more energy you will get. It doesn't have to be a long walk to start. Do what you can & build up gradually.

I've started on Xantrax diet shakes. I was talking to another woman who has been using it & she said it is great. Doctors recommend it above other diet shakes, too. In the box is a brochure with a simple eating plan, too. The brochure shows different foods with star ratings next to them. The idea is to keep your daily total of stars to between 6 & 8. For me, it makes it easier to have something like this to follow.

Good luck, hun.

I hate this answer so much (because it is so boring and I hated doing it myself)...

Get out and walk.  Don't worry about what you look like, what you are wearing, the weather, who you may or may not see.  Chuck bubs in the stroller - keep a bag in it with extra nappies and all that jazz so you don't have to be too organised and STROLL baby.

Even if it is only around the block, even if you walk to your favourite park and sit under a tree and give bubs a feed and a cuddle there - just BE OUTSIDE.  Look at other people, day dream, get outside your own 4 walls.  ANY extra steps you take will be good for you, so why don't you get a pedometer, see how many steps it is to walk a certain distance and set yourself a weekly goal?  It makes walking a lot more fun, and gives you some motivation.

Eat lots of strawberries if you aren't allergic to them, and you will find that most other foods high in iron will be good for you too.  Best wishes, it is just a moment in time, don't sweat it.