Anonymous wrote: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.

Why are you feeding the kids crap? You know better but they don't. Why lead them on a path towards obesity, ridicule, and health problems? If anything, do it for your kids!

How do you not have the time to eat better? I've hear of people who don't have the finances to eat better but time? WTF?

Becoming a fitness trainer is a great goal. That might keep you motivated.

OP, it's all about the food (mostly). Nothing about your life (SAHM or whatever) is an excuse for not eating right. You can't blame lack of time, your schedule, anything. Stop eating shit and you will stop looking like shit. It really is that easy. Sorry to be so blunt about it but your kids will end up obese if they follow this path. They won't even know what hit them.

Anonymous wrote:Any quick food and snack options?

Fruit - as much as you want. "You didn't wind up at weight watchers because you ate too many apples." Best quote ever.

Raw, organic nuts. Just a few will keep you full for a while.

Almond butter and apples.

Raw carrots and hummus (watch your portions with hummus).

Avocados

Cut way back on sugar and bread.

Myfitnesspal works for me. I eat lots of veggies and lean proteins. I try to limit a carb item to once a day- so toast or cereal for breakfast OR a sandwich for lunch OR a potato with dinner. I take a couple days off here and there and then back on track or weight creeps back up. Pre packaged coleslaw is a great way to get veggies in- lots of crunch without calories and I mix different light dressings in for a variety of flavor.

I also agree that diet is the place to start. Here's what I'd do:
For one week, jus start writing down everything you eat. His is just research. At the end of the week, you should be able to see a pattern, and can address your trouble spots. E.g., if you are a person who doesn't eat all day because you're busy, then eats a ton of junk later because you're starving, it might help to keep healthy snacks with you at all times, but if you are someone who eats when busy or stressed, having snacks constantly available would probably just lead to more snacking. You need to see what your trouble spots are before you can know where to start .

Anonymous wrote:I'm SAHM who's lost 23 pounds over six months. I have another 20 to go. It'll probably take another six months. I'm giving myself a year or more to lose the weight slowly on the theory that I'll keep it off longer that way.
Here's what I do: Weight Watchers paper tracking religiously and take my kids for after dinner walks daily. On some weeks, I'll regain a pound or two. Then I have to look back on my paper tracker and admit that I ate too much or didn't walk enough. However, I only lose half a pound to a pound per week. WW's set up for a weekly loss of only 0.5-2.0 pounds per week. WW's theory is that fad diets doom people to quick losses and quick regains.
Taking my kids out for nightly walks of half an hour each (I have three) guarantees that they all get individual attention/discussion time and that they all get in the habit of exercise early in life so that I pass on healthy habits.
Note: I have a very supportive spouse who watches the kids when I go to weekly meetings and while each has an individual walk.
Hope this helps. Good luck.

Terrific way to get exercise!

I'm SAHM who's lost 23 pounds over six months. I have another 20 to go. It'll probably take another six months. I'm giving myself a year or more to lose the weight slowly on the theory that I'll keep it off longer that way.
Here's what I do: Weight Watchers paper tracking religiously and take my kids for after dinner walks daily. On some weeks, I'll regain a pound or two. Then I have to look back on my paper tracker and admit that I ate too much or didn't walk enough. However, I only lose half a pound to a pound per week. WW's set up for a weekly loss of only 0.5-2.0 pounds per week. WW's theory is that fad diets doom people to quick losses and quick regains.
Taking my kids out for nightly walks of half an hour each (I have three) guarantees that they all get individual attention/discussion time and that they all get in the habit of exercise early in life so that I pass on healthy habits.
Note: I have a very supportive spouse who watches the kids when I go to weekly meetings and while each has an individual walk.
Hope this helps. Good luck.

Why on earth are your kids eating cookies and soda? You need to rethink food choices as a family.

Start with diet first. That is easier to change b/c it's just making better choices. I recommend Weight Watchers or some other calorie-tracking app.

Cut out soda (even diet) if possible because that will help with sugar cravings. Eat protein at breakfast.

Try the Ideal Protein diet. It's a low carb diet. It's amazing and it really works! I recently lost 30 pounds in 3 months with this diet and I have more energy than ever. You have to go through one of their centers though and purchase their products during the weight loss phase. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Agree with PP who said its 80% diet.

Clean your pantry out. Get rid of the crap.

Don't eat carbs unless they are whole grains. Don't drink soda- buy some lemons and slice them and put them in water. Water is your new friend.

Eat as much as you want, but eat vegetables, lean protein, fruits (be careful on too much fruit). The weight will melt off.

Yeah lack of sleep is directly related to weight gain and 7 is the minimum you should really get. I hammered the OP earlier about excuses and time for healthy eating, but giving up sleep is a non starter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Crazy PP here. I agree that 7-8 hours is nice. But I am also a bit in awe of OP's "how do I find time" question when from where I sit she has at least an hour or two of "extra" time allocated to sleep as compared to quite a few other people. Given her SAH status though I do think she should be able to find time between 6am and 10pm for exercise.

PPPP here. Yes, she can find time. But not by giving up sleep.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Crazy PP here. I agree that 7-8 hours is nice. But I am also a bit in awe of OP's "how do I find time" question when from where I sit she has at least an hour or two of "extra" time allocated to sleep as compared to quite a few other people. Given her SAH status though I do think she should be able to find time between 6am and 10pm for exercise.

I don't eat any of the high calorie things you eat, yet I have to lose 50 pounds.You are doing great!