Anonymous wrote:Honestly OP I'm very close to your size and in the same boat. I can barely keep my head above water with work and parenting these days (lots of day care illnesses and sleep disruptions), my house and yard are a mess, I'm just not that high on the list and I have no sleep or energy. I am hoping this is just a season that will pass.

But somehow you manage to overeat.

I don't mean to sound harsh -- but seriously, eating takes time. buying junk food takes time. Please apply the decision-making power you use at work and with your kids to your own body.

OP here. Thanks everyone for your suggestions, you gave me what I needed to hear: discipline vs. motivation, building better systems, etc. I am pretty educated where fitness is concerned due to proximity to DH and what he likes to talk about (ex athlete who still trains every day), and there were times in the past where I was super fit and doing challenges but I always revert to my slothful ways! I am going to check out atomic habits.

Try the Peloton Hardcore on the Floor (HCOTF) Facebook page. Start with the daily 10 min CORE workout whenever you are able and build up from there. It's a very supportive community and members motivate each other through slumps, injuries, cancer, and the hardships of working through a pandemic with kids. It takes the pressure off of feeling like your only option is to do a ride every day.

Separate weight loss from health. Dieting is for weight loss and exercise is for health. Get out of the mentality that you need to go all out for exercise to be worth it. 5-10 minutes a day will add up quickly!

Anonymous wrote:"You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems." - James Clear

I highly recommend reading his book Atomic Habits, which has helped my life tremendously. You need to build on the healthy habits, reinforce them, and make it easy for you to follow them, day after day.

And I just wanted to add that, like you, I have struggled with consistency my entire life. I would do great for a couple weeks, fall off the wagon, etc. And I also used to think that it was a lack of discipline or motivation, but that is not the problem. So I can totally relate.

The key is the systems you put in place to make it as easy and rewarding as possible for you to follow and keep these new healthy habits.