Sahm needs to lose 30lbs!! Help!

[Anonymous]

Im a sahm and I'm done having kids!! I need to start taking care of myself again. I feel terrible, depressed, angry, and Fatigued I WAH and drive kids around all day. My kids wake up early, like 5/6 so I can't plan to workout in the morning and I am "done" with my day around 9ish and usually in bed by 10 to get enough sleep.

I eat crap ..... Soda, cookies, pasta, bread, cereal - usually whatever the kids eat and whatever is easy and on hand and something I can eat in the car which I live in.

I know I need to eat better but I don't have the time. And when do I workout?

my dream is to lose the weight and become obsessed with it and good at it that I become a fitness trainer lol!

But seriously I'm depressed about myself. Please give me any device. Thanks on advance.

[Anonymous]

Do you have a partner (spouse) who can watch your kids in the evenings or early mornings?

If so, I'd suggest spinning classes.

[Anonymous]

OP, pick one thing in your diet you're willing to change. When I severely reduced butter and cheese, I started to lose weight. Instead of butter on bread, use olive oil or just buy really good bread so you'll enjoy the taste without anything added. Then maybe arrange to do a rapid 10 minute walk once a day so that fitness starts to becomes a habit. And then you can work your way up from there.

This won't make you lose 30 pounds overnight but it's a small manageable start and it sounds like that is what you need. Your dream to become a fitness trainer is admirable but you're setting yourself up for failure. In my experience, I did better by focusing on forming habits so I didn't ask too much of myself at the beginning.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

How old are the kids? Can you work out at home while they are with you?

I recently have used myfitnesspal with some success. It takes time to find what works for you. I realized I can't possibly maintain my weight unless I stick to real (non-processed) food. I eat enormous amounts of vegetables, and I eat a lot of egg whites to provide protein which staves off hunger.

I realized that packaged natural food is a godsend for moms. I buy the broccoli florets from costco and go through it in a week. It only takes 5 minutes to cut broccoli, but I realized that I get interrupted 5 times in that 5 minutes, so the cutting delays me by an hour. I use the egg white cartons from costco, because it saves so much time over separating eggs myself.

I try to find any way that I can to add activity to my routine. I bought a step (like in the gym) at home and bought some DVDs, and that has been great.

Myfitnesspal also reset my expectations about normal food intake. I used to require 2400+ cal/day when I had time to work out every day. It was hard for me to believe that 1200 cal was the right amount for slow weight loss, but I have realized that this is correct for me.

[Anonymous]

OP--I totally feel your pain and go through this too. I was able to keep the weight off so much better when I worked. Now I buy "kid' food that I never had around before and I also eat the food the kids leave behind (mostly breakfast stuff like half eaten toast. Mine are not yet in school and when that happens, I will be better but I try to work out 3 times a week. Often I don't at all. I do a Jillian Michaels dvd that has 3 different 20 minute workouts. They are great. It is call the Fast Fix or something and was like 8 bucks at costco. I did it along with weight watchers and lost 15 lbs and firmed up so much. Then my kids dropped their morning nap and I just can't get it done as often in the afternoons when they nap now. I have put some weight back on but I now know that if I do 20 minute of Jillian about 3 times a week and stick to my weight watchers points, it comes off. I hate that I put so much back on over the holidays but I can't wish it away! Summer is only 4 months away.

Good luck--you can do it! Jillian is awesome!

[Anonymous]

Losing weight is 80% diet which takes no additional time just dedication.

[Anonymous]

Try the Shred as PP suggested.

How old are your kids? Are they in school? Are you able to try Stroller Strides?

And definitely change what you and your kids eat!

[Anonymous]

Any quick food and snack options?

[Anonymous]

Op if you want to lose the weight fast, and give yourself a psychological boost, try medifast. It's amazing.

HOWEVER it is not a long term solution, so you need to pair it with a nutritionist or some other plan. Very easy to put the weight back on if you don't.

[Anonymous]

This helped me lose 30 pounds -- I had to learn about nutrition:

http://www.bod4god.org/losing-2-live

[Anonymous]

I agree with the poster who said hanging your diet--and you should change your kids, as well. Soda and cookies should not be regular staples. Pasta and bread are fine, as long as they are in appropriate portions and dressed appropriately (and ideally, 100% whole grain).

Don't start thinking of it as a diet for yourself. Overhaul the family diet first.

[Anonymous]

Everybody has the time to eat well, by the way. Not being mean, but that is just an excuse. It is just as easy and quick to carry an apple with you as it is a bag of chips, or grab a low sugar, high protein meal replacement bar instead of the drive through.

There are plenty of options but none of them will work until you give up on the excuses, change your diet, and are willing mentally to realize that it it not time or ease, it is preference

[Anonymous]

If you have a sweet tooth, try to bake at home and reduce sugar amounts or make flourless items.

Get baked chips and crackers. Have them with mozarella and tomatoes or hummus.

[Anonymous]

I'm not trying to be snarky, but I am amazed at how much sleep you get every night. Looks like 7-8 hours per night. I WOH and I don't remember the last time I got that much sleep.

So - maybe part of your answer is to wake up a little earlier or stay up a little later. I'll admit I'm also a little baffled about how you don't find any time during your SAH day that could be used for exercise. There is so much you can do from home, whether kid is awake or sleeping. Not trying to be harsh, but it seems like your number one problem is motivation.

I say this as a fellow 30lb overweight mom, but I admit to myself that it's all about choices. I chose a tasty but not great for me lunch today, and I'll probably choose to collapse on the couch after kid bedtime tonight instead of exercise. More willpower seems to be the key.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not trying to be snarky, but I am amazed at how much sleep you get every night. Looks like 7-8 hours per night. I WOH and I don't remember the last time I got that much sleep.

So - maybe part of your answer is to wake up a little earlier or stay up a little later. I'll admit I'm also a little baffled about how you don't find any time during your SAH day that could be used for exercise. There is so much you can do from home, whether kid is awake or sleeping. Not trying to be harsh, but it seems like your number one problem is motivation.

I say this as a fellow 30lb overweight mom, but I admit to myself that it's all about choices. I chose a tasty but not great for me lunch today, and I'll probably choose to collapse on the couch after kid bedtime tonight instead of exercise. More willpower seems to be the key.

7-8 hours per night is a good amount of sleep! Don't cut into it! PP is crazy.

Fatigue is a great way to ramp up hunger.