SOMEbody motivate me!!!

[LegoMom3]

I am so down on myself right now. I "only" have 15 lbs. to lose but it may as well be 50 the way I'm going.

I started using Paul McKenna's techniques when he had his mini-series on TLC. It was GREAT and I love what it's all about. In the first 2 weeks I lost 2.5 lbs.! This is actually something I can DO and stick with as a lifestyle change rather than a "diet"!!

Or so you would think.

Long story short I'm right back where I started.

I CAN do his program, but I've found myself a)eating visually rather than stop when I feel full, and b)munching when I'm not truly feeling hungry.

That's all it takes to put the weight back on and keep it there!

I've gone through being totally depressed over this, to telling myself to just settle for this weight and how I look, "because it's who I am" and all that hoop-la. But I don't want to settle - I have a good amount of belly fat which isn't supposed to be healthy for women (I'm 42, if it makes a difference).

I don't want nor do I expect to look like I did when I was 20. I've had three kids and your body just changes. But I want to be healthy and not carry around extra fat.

The other thing I really struggle with right now is finding time to exercise. I'm up early, get the kids off to school, go to work, get home when they do and catch up on house chores and fix dinner, help with homework, etc. and by the time the kids go to bed, I'm beat!

Well that's my sob story! For anyone still reading, thanks for sticking with me this long!



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[swim-mom]

I have four kids hang in there

You need to get your husband to help you!! even if it with the kids homework or getting the kids ready in the morning so you can exercise in the morning. Something truly has to give.

I want to lose 12 pds, (crazy number I know) but I started the C25K in January and my husband has been wonderful. He knows that this is something that I "need" to do for me.

I run three nights a week, and everything stops when I leave the house. My DH also knows that he needs to make sure baths are done and maybe put the kids in bed.

I have also learned that the wash can wait, because I "need" MY TIME and if I am not healthy my family will have worry about alot more than the wash!!

Get your husband on board, and leave the wash and take time for you.

 

[wezee]

you've come to the right place. The group here, on the Dis, are awesome! There are several threads you can join, like the Biggest Loser, with fun challeneges and food and exercise tips. I agree with the other poster, you need to find "me" time! I realize this is hard with kids....but a 15 min walk to clean your mind and refresh the body...is better than nothing.

As far as food goes, I'm not familiar with the program you spoke of........but I can definantly feel your pain, when you talk about munching and out of control. I have done WW for over 2 1/2yrs and have pretty much maintained a 52lb loss. But we all have our episodes when we have to splurge, then face the music. I am working now to take off a couple of pounds of winter fluff....plus a few more to prepare for Disney in Sept.
I have recently focused on exercising, something I really never did much before. I bought several workout DVDs. Being a beginner, I really like the Leslee Sansone "Walk Away the Pounds". The one I have has a 1, 2 and 3 mi. workout. The 1 mi. workout is only about 15 mins. long, so even on a busy day, I can squeeze it in.
I have found that planning my food for the day in advance helps keep me on track. I also add treats everyday. I don't necessarily eat them....but I know they are available to me, and I don't feel guilty if I do.
As far as age goes.....I just turned 49, so I got ya beat by several years. You are as young as you feel. Keep in touch, PM me if you need a diet buddy and good luck, you can do it!!!

 

[believe]

You sound so much like me. It is difficult to find time. If you are married definitely have your DH take some of the load. Here is my typical schedule for a day.

6am-6:30am: crunches, shower, dressed
6:30-7am: ck email, boards and start working on something around the house
7-8am: get kids up and have them get themselves going, continue with household chores, grab breakfast and pack up for work
8:05am-8:35am: kids on the bus, drive to work
8:35am-2pm: work, eat lunch at my desk
2pm-3pm: take late lunch to go to my work's gym (usually twice a week)
3-5:15pm: work
5:15-6pm: drive home
6-10pm: errands, dinner (DH takes care of the kids they want to eat earlier), take a walk if I didn't work out at work, pack kids lunches, go through school papers, yard work, switch over laundry from morning and help with any homework DH wasn't able to help with.
10pm: bed

How old are your kids? Mine are very self-sufficient so it leaves me time in the morning to get a lot accomplished.

 

[LegoMom3]

Thanks for all the words of encouragement you guys! It does help.

What does not help, however, is that my DH works 2nd shift. In the morning he gets up around 7:30 to help get the kids off to school and see me off to work. The he leaves for work at 2:30pm and doesn't get home until midnight. I get home from work at 1:30, so we see each other for approx. 1 hour a day during the week! So, for the afternoon & evening time-frame, I'm basically single-parenting.

I'm up at 6:30 to start my day, and I have tried to do 6:00 but it just doesn't work. Some people are up and ready to go at that hour, but not me! My youngest is in Kindergarten and gets home at 1:00pm, so there is no "me" time in the middle of the day. I do have a Tony Little Gazelle to exercise indoors, and I try to use it regularly, but I find it gets pretty boring before too long (I've watched my Disney planning videos so many times I practically have them memorized!!... ). I can sometimes fit that in between 2:30 and 3:30pm (between DH going to work and all three of the kids being home).

I guess I should be happy if I can exercise 3x/week, but I would like 5. My body is stubborn and I really have to work at shedding pounds!

I think I really need to have a place like this to come to daily and check in! If I know I have to account for how my day went, I may be more motivated to stick with it. And hey, if I start now and lose a pound per week, I'll be right at my goal for our Sept. trip!!


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[wezee]

Whoa girl.....you have my sympathy. My DH works 2nd shift.....but since my son is older and lives at college...it's acutally, now, a blessing. I can eat only what I need for my WW, and not worry about cooking during the week. Plus, I have the whole house to myself every night, after work, to exercise to my hearts content. The exercise DVDs get boring if you do the same one, over and over. Maybe you could get a 1 or 2 new DVDs to try. I was lucky enough to be able to borrow some from the girls at work, so I could try them before I bought one for myself.

How old are your children? Can you plan an exercise time, with the kids in the evening?
I realize how easy it is to get in a bummer mood, as I keep telling myself...Sept. is a long way off! You have the right idea by thinking...just one pound at a time!
Who knows maybe we'll bump into each other at WDW in Sept.

 

[LegoMom3]

.....
How old are your children? Can you plan an exercise time, with the kids in the evening?
I realize how easy it is to get in a bummer mood, as I keep telling myself...Sept. is a long way off! You have the right idea by thinking...just one pound at a time!
Who knows maybe we'll bump into each other at WDW in Sept.

The kids are 6, 8 and 11. I'm out of energy by the time dinner is done and cleaned up! I have found my optimum work-out time is mid-day, so I'm just going to have to suck it up with that Gazelle and walk outside on the weekends. At least that's a start!!

So I gotta ask - are you doing Free Dining in September?! We are!! We will be at POR 9/8 - 9/16.

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[wezee]

Yep, we did the bounceback, when we were there last year. But, sorry to say we will miss each other...we are going 9-20 to 9-29 at POFQ.

 

[Raenstoirm]

There is a period in there when it is just you and the little one right? I am going to assume he is too old for a stroller, but what about a bike ride? You jog while he rides. As he gets better at riding, you will have to go faster to keep up with him. And since it is getting nice out, you can challenge the group to a basketball game or tag after school. Bonus, it makes them sleep better too, so you get some peace and quiet at night!

 

[Zoesmama03]

This will sound harsh but its something I struggle with too so I completely understand what you are going through.. The excuses you have to MAKE the time for yourself even if it does mean getting up at 6am. Make yourself do it for a couple weeks to get your exercise in believe me the exercise will increase your energy and stamina 3 fold. Of course I know the struggle to get up but I HAD to getup at 3:45am to be at work by 5am and I worked until 1pm. Had a few hours in afternoon until about 5pm when I had to leave for class(done with that now thankfully) and wasn't home until 9:30+ some nights with all the things I had to do I rarely got to bed before 11pm. I have also been a single mom the last year and I dunno how I made it through and there most definitely was no time in that morning or before bed time but there was time I could have carved out in the afternoon but those darn excuses get you.

The best thing for someone that is exhausted by 5pm is to do it in the morning first thing and I've learned this by experience. I felt tired and sore still each morning from the previous day of being on me feet all day(I was not used to that at all anymore) but an amazing thing happened on the days I got up and went to the gym before working at my internship. I had ENERGY to make it through that day. My feet still ached by the end of the night and even in the morning but those days I went I felt much more energetic.

 

[MickeyMom2Boys]

You sound like I did when I started. I wanted to lose a total of 25 pounds. Not much compared so some of the people I have met who have lost 80+ pounds, but where do you start? You really have to figure out what works for you and even bigger - what doesn't work. I have a 4 year old and a 1 year old. I work full time and my commute is about 1 hour each way. I started weight watchers because i needed something to keep checking up on me to keep me on track. My husband is great - very supportive of the changes I make - but he won't push me. He kind of just sits back and tells me I've done a good job, but he also brings me home an ice cream when he and DS4 go to the store. On one hand, nice though. On the other hand, what were you thinking!!

Anyway, I decided I really wanted this no matter what. I am down 9 pounds now and feel so much better! My clothes fit (actually a lot of them are too big now - only 9 pounds later), I feel better, I have more confidence - all after only 9 pounds! That makes me want to hit the 25 pound mark even more.

After the mental realization and commitment (a VERY important step - I had been saying I wanted to do this for 4 years, but I had never committed to it). I started looking at my life and figuring out what was keeping me from losing weight (or causing me to gain it). I realized it all revolved around time - never having enough time to go grocery shopping, cook at home, exercise. Then I started asking myself "why don't I have the time?" Easy answer is husband, house, work, 2 kids, 2 dogs. Then I said "Other people do this. Why can't I?" As I focused more, I realized what I was missing was organization. I needed to find a schedule that works for me and my family. Now I am more organized with housework (still not perfect, but much better). I have creaeted a weekly budget plan that helps me with my spending and helps me avoid the eating out - I have a certain amount of money to spend each week and I have to ask myself if I really want to spend it on eating out. I also force myself to go to the grocery store and plan out my meals weekly. This means no more eating out, cooking foods that are much better for my family, taking lunches instead of hitting fast food places, and the organization of preparing meals ahead of time means more time for me and my kids. My other battle was "how can I find time to exercise when I already feel like I'm not spending enough time with my kids?" Answer - exercise with the kids! I take my 4 and 1 year old on walks or we play in the yard, my 4 year old plays Dance Revolution with me, I bought an exercise video for kids that we do together. This way I spend time with them and we all get the benefit of exercise.

The other thing you have to do is let some things go. Having a clean house and making sure all the laundry is done is not as important as family time and health time. Actually, since I adopted this way of thinking, my house is actually much cleaner (due to the organization changes).

Lastly, create a realistic goal and break it down into smaller goals.. My goal is to lose 25 pounds May 1 2009 (our next Disney trip) - not 25 pounds in 3 months. I should have plenty of time for that, so it stays realistic to me. I don't get discouraged because my goal is coming up and I'm not even half way there. I also break it down into weekly goals so that it doesn't seem like so much. Then I can either celebrate meeting that weekly goal or if I don't meet it, I get to wipe the slate clean and start all over for the next week. No guilt, no looking back.

I hope I haven't rambled too much and you can actually use some of my tips. The hardest part is getting started and I really believe that need to begin with analyzing what works and doesn't work for you and figuring out how you are going to change the things that aren't working. I too need motivation to keep me going, so please feel free to PM me anytime and we can help push each other.

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I think you've been given great advice. Your motivation has to come from within. You can become inspired and make changes that will work for you. Can you get your young ones "coaching" you to do some workout at home? Maybe an exercise DVD you get from the library, jumping rope or anything to get moving and build up some muscle. They can help you. Make small choices to pick things for you that are healthy. If your children needed help, I know you would find a way. YOU need to do this for you help yourself find that way (tell yourself it is either for you or for them). You can do this!