Talky!

I guess I'll start this thread off...

I'm 31, married, 3 kids. 5'6"
165 lbs when married, 185 after baby #1, 200 lbs after baby #2, and now 230 lbs after baby #3. Size 18.

I know all about food and exercise and what I'm SUPPOSED to do. For most people with weight problems, it's as 'simple' as changing your diet and adding exercise. So how come it's so hard to actually do it??

When do I work out when I work full time, commute 1/2 hr each way, kids have homework/lessons/baths. Then I have laundry for 5 people + misc housework. I've done Weight Watchers and it works. But it costs money, both to go to meetings (better wgt loss) and buy the healthier food. Why is it that healthy foods costs so much?
Sometimes I feel the odds are stacked against me. By the time I'm done w/all the kids' stuff at night, I'm exhausted. Plus, I OBVIOUSLY watch TV cuz here I am on the TWOP forums. At 9:00 at night after kids' bedtime, the last thing I want to do is go work out. I cannot get up early and go cuz I cannot leave the kids alone. My husband leaves at 5:30 for work and does not help with the tasks at night. He's great with the kids, but not all the 'stuff' that goes with them. He could be right there next to them, and the kids will search me out for homework help. I feel very full of excuses. Reading the posts in the 'weight loss as it pertains to the show' thread has been enlightening, but I'm looking for tips that may help me in my time/money crunch situation.
I've cut out fast food for lunch at work. I was going out almost every day. Now my 2 coworkers and I rotate weeks and one of us handles lunch for the week. Very healthy, high fiber.
That was 3 months ago and I haven't lost a pound. I don't have a thyroid issue...checked w/the doctor.
I very rarely drink reg soda now & that was at 1-3/day at work.
Anyone have any ideas/comments?

How long is your lunch at work? What kind of place is it? (office, etc) Perhaps you could go for a little walk at work on lunchtime. I think they've done studies where even just 10 minutes a few times a day is just as effective as one continuous block of time. if you can, sit on a stability ball. There are books and websites out there about working out in the office....

Maybe you could see if your husband could help out a night or two a week...maybe not so much of a change so he feels totally overwhelmed, but it would free up a little time where you could go. Even if you carve out just a half hour or so. I'm sure that's easier said than done, though.

You could see if there's a food co-op in your area. I participate in the one here. Once a month I get a ton of generally heathy food (today....16 peaches, 6 tomatoes, 6 yellow bell peppers, 10 bananas, 10 apples, an eggplant, a cantaloupe, 2 bagged mini carrots, 2 bags salad, 10 potatoes, then 2 loaves fresh wheat bread, 4 kinds of meats and 2 lbs brown rice) for cheaper since they are buying in bulk. That way I have this whole big huge lot of healthier food (LOL...all of that is just for me, so I will be very fruity for the next while) in front of me that I feel I HAVE to eat so it wont go bad.
Well, there's at least a couple of ideas to start


As for me...30 and single. Hoping to change that one of these days... always been heavier. Currently 5'4" and 223 pounds. I have a full time job working as a service rep at Home Depots...it's the flooring department, so I can get a good workout sometimes. I also have a part time merchandising job. And I sell Avon. And I run the local Freecycle. And I am starting a class this week, 2 nights a week. And...and...and. Just a wee bit busy. I get so tired sometimes. I did join Gold's gym a couple of weeks ago, though I've been sick so only been a couple of times. And of course the same week I joined, I won a membership to curves ha ha)

One fun way to exercise...to me at least...is Dance dance Revolution. Then I get into video game mode and say I HAVE to pass this level..so I keep going. i also like treadmills with TV...have to finish the show/movie/etc.

I just bought the biggest loser fitness program book...I hope it's good....

I started out by doing workouts with videotapes at home (The Firm). What I discovered was, you have the time to do what you make the time to do. Once you get into the routine of it, it becomes easier to do it everyday. When I first started the ONLY change I made was to workout at least three times a week. I started out with the videos and when I was really out of breath, I would pause the video for a minute to catch my breath and get right back into it. It felt like such an accomplishment when I could do the whole workout without stopping. Without changing my eating habits (except I only drank water and TONS of it), I lost 55 pounds in three months. Now it is three years later and I work out at least an hour six days a week and I LOVE IT! I also have improved my eating habits over the years. This came about mainly because I would think to myself, after an hour of spin class do I really want to negate it by eating Pizza? Nah, how about some turkey and broccoli? Also, portion control I think is as important if not more then what you eat. Now, I have lost a total of 85 pounds and while I could stand to lose another 10-15, I don't spend nearly as time harping on myself about how I need to exercise and eat well.

Your family loves you and I guarantee they would be willing to give you some time when you get home from work to exercise, or you could ALL go on a walk together. Then you have some family time and you have all gotten exercise. Just because someone doesn't need to lose weight doesn't mean they will not benefit from some exercise. You just have to decide that it is important enough to work the exercise in somewhere.

You can do it!

I agree. I don't have kids, but my husband understands what it takes to get the extra weight off. If we have anything to do on any given day, he makes sure to schedule things around my workout time. We also go bike riding on the weekends for exercise. I also find it helps to get up early and work out in the morning. That way, you don't have to worry about working out at the end of the day. I also find working out in the morning gives me more mental and physical energy throughout the day.

Congrats on your big weight loss, ILuvIt!!

I think a part of me is still in denial about being heavy, even though it's been about 8+ years. Like it's just a phase I'm going through that'll work itself out. My senior prom dress was a 7 my mind still thinks that's who I am!!

My husband is an interesting individual. He has real issues with my weight, partly because he was my senior prom date and therefore knew the size 7 version of me (sz 3 when we met!) But he's also good at guilt tripping when I do take the time I need to exercise. He'd never say I can't go, but when I joined aerobics 2x/week, he never made dinner for me or helped the kids w/homework. Those nights were so hectic, that I quit, even though I felt so great after working out and he saw the results. I work a part time job too (very irregular schedule...usually Fri/Sat nights, not every week). He likes the extra $$, but I always get the sighs when I leave. When I ask him about it, he says I'm imagining things.

I think I just need to get my butt up earlier in the a.m. and sacrifice an hour of sleep for working out. You're right, takinitoff, that really helps with the daily outlook.

You mentioned earlier that there was also other kid stuff. Rather than sacrifice your sleep (which it sounds like you need! Wow!) maybe he could do other stuff with the kids like baths or the other non-schooling activities?

Or take over the TV and have the whole family do a video with you? It could also tire out the kids for bed.

I don't know - I'm not married (I have lived with my bf for 1.5 years), nor do I have children so it might not be right for you. But it sounds like you are very busy and he might be willing to pick up the slack in other ways. Especially if he has issues about your weight.

Not trying to be some stranger coming in and offering advice on your personal life MMSs Mom but it sounds to me like you need to really tell your husband exactly what you need from him in order to make time your self and to keep getting those results he noticed.

I agree. If you've been to Weight Watchers before you know that one of the Tools for Living, one of the tools u need to be successful in your weight loss efforts, is ASSERTING. Telling those people in your life EXACTLY what you want and NEED from them in order for YOU to be sucessful. This means asking for what you want SPECIFICALLY in restaurants, (dressing on the side, whole wheat pasta instead of regular, etc.) with co-workers AND family members, including your husband. Before you speak to him you need to outline a plan for yourself, and then go to him WITH that plan and say THIS is what I need from you... whether it's for him to take the kids for a while so you can work out, for him to help you more with the housework so you have more free time, for him to do some of the shopping, cooking, housework... something. In order for YOU to be successful you need help, you can't do it alone.

Ans just a little background on me, I'm 30, single and have been on WW singe January and have lost 50 pounds in that time.

Thanks everyone... I was looking for others' input and maybe a little validation, and that's what I got. I have said these things to hubby, but usually more during arguements, which don't accomplish much.

Weight Watchers is awesome. I lost 20 of my 50 or so total pounds (honestly, I don't know what I weighed back in the day because I was afraid of the scale) on it, and I've so internalized it that I can usually figure out the points value of whatever I'm eating and mentally track even though I've hit lifetime and don't really actively do the plan anymore. I've given thought to becoming a leader someday but I'm not sure I have the time these days.

But I was really coming in here to find out if uncommon woman has named herself that for Wendy Wasserstein-and-or-Mount Holyoke-related reasons...and if so, to shout out to a fellow alumna.

Yes! I'm a huge Wendy Wasserstein fan and graduated from MHC in 97. And yay! That made my day. I love bumping into other alumnae.

ETA - A topic appropriate Wendy Wasserstein quote. "As I ramble through life, whatever be my goal, I will unfortunately always keep my eye upon the doughnut and not upon the whole."