No Time! What to do?

[MAGICX2]

I know everyone says this, but I REALLY have no time to workout, walk, run, even do a sit up. I am a mom of 2 (dd1,ds3), work full time and my husband travels with his job ALOT. I recently decided to get back on the wagon. I have found that reducing my calories to 1200 and cutting my sugar intake drastically really helps me. However I need something that takes 15 min or less and will give me semi-decent workout to my ab and thigh area. I am currently 5'10" and 195# , my goal weight being175# . ANY advice will help!!!!!!

 

[njcarita]

hi
i'm 5'9" and presently down to 171 my goal is 140
so
i know how hard it can be loose weight and exercize when you are a busy mom
i'm a sahm of 3 kids ages 3 to 9

think outside the box

can you walk during your lunch hour???-

if not- buy a pedometer and try to increase your steps each day - walk in place while on the phone , watching tv etc- it really adds up.

jumping rope in your home- really burns up calories .

if you have 20 - 30minutes try walk away the pounds video

 

[KimRaye]

if you have 20 - 30minutes try walk away the pounds video

Yes, the 1 mile tape is 20 mins, and the 2 mile tape is 30 mins...both good to start with!

Best WISHes on your Onward and Downward journey!!!

 

[pixiedust23]

If youre looking for something quick and that works out your core (abs and thighs) pilates is def the way to go! You can put the kids down for a nap and put in the tape, which wont have a lot of loud aerobic music blaring that could wake up the kids. It focuses on strengthening and building muscle. Im sure you get a decent amount of cardio chasing the kids around, that you don't even realize, so I htink your best bet is to work on toning! Good Luck!

 

[Miss Jasmine]

There are some 8 minute workout DVDs that you may be interested in.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/s...l_ov_tops-1_dvd_4201374_1/104-6577083-1195111

 

[kimwim8]

I know how hard it is to fit in workouts, believe me! My DH doesn't travel, but he doesn't know how to leave the office at a descent time either. So last week, when I decided I really had to focus on myself for a change, I decided I'd try to wake up 1/2 hour earlier (I know, I definitely DIDN'T want to do that!) and see how it goes. DH got me an eliptical machine for my birthday, so that's what I did. I woke up last Monday morning & went on the eliptical (which is really hard when you first start) for about 7 minutes, then laid on the floor & did crunches, then I just did lunges with no weighs around my bedroom. The whole thing took me about 20 minutes - and boy did my legs hurt!!!

So last Wednesday I was able to do the eliptical for 10 minutes, then I did my crunches again & then I used 2 little 5 pound weights I bought at Target & did some arm exercises I saw online. Nothing special or complicated!

My plan is to do this Monday, Wed, Friday & Saturday. And I was really shocked by the fact that even though I lost a 1/2 hour of my precious sleep, I actually had a lot more energy throughout the day!

Good luck, sorry to ramble on.

 

[Christine]

Can you afford to buy a piece of exercise equipment like a treadmill or elliptical. You can pop in a kid's video and hopefully that will keep the kiddies entertained while you workout for 20-30 minutes. That's all you need.

I know how hard it is. I work full-time also, commute an hour in each direction, and have two kids. Fortunately, my DH is home when I get home so I can go out and do a quick 30 minute walk as soon as I get home.

Just a question on your calorie intake--1200 seems awfully low for someone of your height and weight. I'm doing about 1600 to 1800 per day (I'm 5'7" and 154 lbs) and I feel like I'm literally eating NOTHING. I mean, what do you actually get to eat for 1200 calories.

Just a little concerned because too little calories, over time, can slow your metabolism down.

 

[MAGICX2]

Just a question on your calorie intake--1200 seems awfully low for someone of your height and weight. I'm doing about 1600 to 1800 per day (I'm 5'7" and 154 lbs) and I feel like I'm literally eating NOTHING. I mean, what do you actually get to eat for 1200 calories.

I usually eat a piece of fruit and a cup of coffee for breakfast, a Healthy Choice or WW meal for lunch, a 100 calorie snack bag for snack and a small portion of whatever I cook the family for dinner. But I have encountered the problem of being ravenous at 5-6pm. 1200 worked for me about six months ago but it isn't doing much now. The problem is if I up it 1800 I feel like that is too much. I am going crazy!! All I want is to lose a measly 20lbs. Why is that so hard!? Twenty lbs is not that much! It is very frustrating, degrading and guilt ridden. I am a rambler too, obviously. I want to be able to be active with my family. I say this as I sit here eating a cookie and drinking a glass of milk! I need help!!!

 

[wiskband]

Hate to say this but..........
you have to make time!
I am mom of four 2 5 9 and 11...... I work not full but I work wed-sunday about 35 hours a week..........
I did low carb and was going to curves exceptfound no time for curves.......I ended up doing the walk away the pounds tapes...........either early in the morning or late at night. thats how I lost a bulk of my weight. soon after, I decided on doing the 1/2 marathon. once my contract was up with curves I used my next years curves money to buy a treadmill. Now I use that whenever I get a chance to......
I have recently gained back about 10-15 pounds,,,,,,,
SO I am hitting the TM again and will porbably get out the WATP's tapes..........and definitly LC it again
and your right, we all say we have no time true is we really do have to make the time fit in...........
good luck

renee

 

[pixiedust23]

I have to agree 1200 calories is WAY to low for you. Im about 5'2, 117 lbs (pretty in shape, usually run about 3-5 miles/day except for the past couple months I've been nursing a broken foot) and I try to take in about 1200 or 1300-1500 calories/day. You are basically starving your body, which in turn causes your body to save food and nutrients instead of burning them normally b/c it is unsure when it will get more food, aka youre killing your metabolism. You should really be taking in at least 1800 calories. Also dont expect all the weight to come off right away. At 1800 calories you should be losing 1-2 lbs a week. That is a healthy amount for weekly weight loss. I know it's frustrating but you really just have to stick with it. YOU CAN DO IT!!

And exercise...it's the key!!!

 

[sharoncity]

MAGICX2 - I think the 1200 calories per day is okay for you, especially if you are trying to lose. Until you build more muscle, which in turn will burn more calories, you need to keep the calories down. I am 5'5", 182 lbs, and I am trying to keep my calories right around there. I also follow WW and try to get my veggies/fruit servings in as well as some dairy.

For exercise, I recommend something with tapes at home. I usually get to exercise around 8 or 9 at night. I too am a working mom. My kids are DD -12, DS -7. After I get out of work at 5:30, I usually run kids to activities, help with homework, make dinner, etc, etc, etc. My DH works really awful hours, so he can't help out with any of this stuff. But, bottom line, if I want to lose weight, I need to exercise. I have read so many success stories here on WISH and the common factor is these ladies exercise their butts off! :jumping4: Doesn't matter if they are Atkins, S.B. or WW. They all exercise 5 to 7 times per week. I think the walk away the pounds videos will work well for you. They are fairly quiet, no equipment for the little ones to climb all over while you are using it, and take up no space. It would be a start any how. And something is better than nothing. We all agree, its tough. But making the time for you will make you a happier, healthier, calmer Mom to your two little darlings. Make a committment to yourself! You are SO worth it!!

 

[pixiedust23]

I did research that told me you should multiply your weight by 10 and then subtract 500 and that should allow you to lose weight at a healthy rate. I however feel this is MAJORLY flawed! i weight 117lbs, so then I should take in 1170 to maintain and 670 calories to lose weight. Clearly this is entirely unhealthy and is basically nearing eating disorder. So what I recommend to you then is not to listen to any of us, but go to a nutritionist in a one time deal and see how many calories you really should be taking in. Short term weight loss is not worth permanent damage to your body!

 

[Christine]

I did research that told me you should multiply your weight by 10 and then subtract 500 and that should allow you to lose weight at a healthy rate. I however feel this is MAJORLY flawed! i weight 117lbs, so then I should take in 1170 to maintain and 670 calories to lose weight. Clearly this is entirely unhealthy and is basically nearing eating disorder.

See, I think I read that you do the same formula but use "13" instead of "10."

 

[sharoncity]

pixiedust23 - I think for you, 1200 is probably not enough. If you run 3 to 5 miles per day, you have WAY more muscle than say I. Muscle burns more calories than fat. And you definitely need more energy to run that much. It is definitely a person by person basis.

I have watched Swan and Biggest Loser. The doctors on those shows put the people on 1200 calorie per day diets. And if I followed your formula, it gives me 1320 calories per day. I just know for me personally, if I ate 1500 plus calories, I would gain weight, not lose it.

Basically, I am not disagreeing with you. I think the idea of going to a nutrionist is an excellent one! But you are definitely in a different weight range than OP.

(And now that I think about it, once you reach a certain weight, WW points no longer decline, no matter how little you weigh.)

Does any of this make sense???????