Holy Crap, What Motivates You?

[Anonymous]

It's 12:43am and I just ran laundry, folded laundry, loaded/unloaded the dishwasher, cleaned up a crapload of toys, cut up a watermelon, pumped (breast milk) and did a few other tasks around the house. I am tired but in about an hour my 8 week old will wake up to nurse.

Two weeks ago I went out and bought new sneakers, two new sports bra's, and several new exercise dvds. I had the best intentions but since making those purchases (which weren't cheap at all) I have yet to actually exercise. I LOVE exercising at night but by the time I am able to sit down all I really want to do is sit. In the am the house is a zoo. My toddler and newborn are at full throttle in the demand department and my DH is trying to figure out his day, will he work from home or go see clients.... I can't commit to am workouts because I am too damn tired. Once my baby wakes up to nurse it's an all night affair.

Please help me JUST GET UP AND DO IT. What motivates you? How do you make time and force yourself to exercise? Apparently I am not one of those ladies who burn up calories breast feeding. I have not lost a pound in weeks and I have many many many pounds to lose. I keep telling myself that if I had started doing the dvds two weeks ago that I would have already lost a bit of weight and I'd be feeling better.

The kids and I tried walking and failed miserably. My toddler runs away and he is quick. Chasing him with the baby in a sling is not fun in 90 degree weather, and likewise neither kid will sit in the damn stroller. If we go to the park it's a war to get toddler to come home, again, with the baby it's too much headache and I am afraid the baby will get kicked in the head while I am dragging the toddler back home.

Do, I have given every reason why I can't, haven't, don't want to - HOW DO I just DO IT? Please help. What got you off the sofa and exercising? And now time to go nurse the baby... otherwise I'd try now

[Anonymous]

What motivates me? Since I'm trying to lose baby weight, all I have to do is step on the scale or try on my pre-pregnancy jeans. That gets me moving QUICKLY! Not to mention, I get a huge energy boost from exercise, and my mood improves considerably. If I didn't work out I think I'd need to go on anti-depressants!

[Anonymous]

I keep a picture f me handy....of what i look like now and what i used to look like

[Anonymous]

PP here..I also schedule it. I can't workout at nightm there is just no way..I am just exhausted so I get up an hour earlier while everyone is sleep.

[Anonymous]

I play a team sport with a bunch of other women who are mostly 10-15 years younger than me and childless. You bet it's motivating. I am so not letting them kick my butt!

[Anonymous]

Postpone this goal for at least one more month.

[Anonymous]

I agree with PP. You have alot on your hands right now. Ease into it. You are demanding too much of yourself.

[Anonymous]

10:27 here. I agree with the last two posters. I have one seven year old. It's not the same as having two in diapers...at all. Things will eventually get easier, but it's OK to just plain old skip an additional workout at this point.

[Anonymous]

Will your husband workout with you? I rarely work out by myself, but if he's going to do a DVD or a walk or a jog etc, then I'm much better at sticking to it.

[Anonymous]

If it were me, I'd wait a bit longer. That aside, motivation doesn't do it for me. I have every reason to be motivated, and I am. But that's not enough to make me do it. I have to schedule it like an appointment that can't be broken. For me, that means going group classes. I get to know the regulars in the classes, and they know me. If you aren't a member of a gym, I'd try to find a partner or group to exercise with, and then set a time.

[Anonymous]

I also have a toddler and infant and need to lose 10-15 lbs. What has helped me keep motivated is wearing my pre-pregnancy jeans - which are tight. It motivates me to choose healthier foods and to not snack. As for working out, I schedule workouts with a friend so that I have someone relying on me!!

[Anonymous]

With an 8 week old, it's a little too soon. You really need to conserve your energy right now.

[Anonymous]

When baby was 8 weeks, my only exercise was taking the baby out for a walk - sometimes for an hour, sometimes for 15 minutes - depending on dd's sleep. I looked forward to these walk as a salvation from the change, nurse, burp, nap, grind. Seeing the sun, people, cars felt like heaven

[Anonymous]

This is the OP and I just want to thank everyone. I am so worn out by the baby and toddler kicking my ass on a daily basis I figured I would just be melting away the pounds at this point which is not the case. I seem to be holding on to them for dear life. Once again it's almost midnight and I am folding laundry, picking up toys, cleaning the kitchen.... Bleh.

I want to go for walks with the kids but it hasn't gotten "easy" yet. Today after feeding the toddler, nursing the baby and attempting to dress the three of us I just broke down sobbing... I wanted to get out for a walk but it was more than apparent my toddler needed a nap. It seems impossible at this point in time to get out of the house without of the help of a city planning commission and consulting the stars to make sure things will go as planned.

Maybe tomorrow Right now I need some sleep more than to do a dvd I guess

[Anonymous]

Absolutely nothing motivated me to want to exercise so I just gave up and realized I am never going to be that type.

I mean I don't just sit around all day and I am active cleaning the house and playing with my daughter - I tend not to sit down a lot even at work - so that I decided was enough. To compensate, I decided to eat less calories. The first few days were rough but I have adjusted and have lost about 10 lbs over the last 2 months. Not quick but I only have 20 more to go so I am pretty happy with that and happy to ditch the feeling of failure of not exercising.

My friend ended up buying a treadmill that she keeps next to the play area. The treadmill is cornered off as is a small play area so she can keep track of the kids - a toddler, preschooler and a baby.