Busy Bee Moms of MFP..Plz share tips on losing the 1st 10lbs! and how to keep losing :)

cherryjubilee23

Hey,
I'm 28 and my goal is to lose 50lbs and would love some tips on how to get over that first 10lb hump. I do have a Gold's membership but not a whole lot of time between work, school & my kid in activities. I just want to hear some ways some of you were able to still push forward! Thanks for sharing!

BellaGettinFit

Time: Get up earlier has got to be the thing that is working for me. I make excuses after I get off work. I gotta cook, I'm tired, I'm going to miss my shows, homework. I have found that working out early in the morning is the only time that I am not able to convince myself that I'm too busy.

Hair: As a black woman with a perm, I also was making my hair an excuse. I just got it done, got a fresh perm, I don't feel like doing my hair, blah blah. I got some braids and have lost 10 lbs.

It's amazing what you can accomplish when you get out of your own way.

Jennloella

Yup. No excuses. You just gotta make the time! For me that's in the morning before kids (4 of them) wake up! I prep meals for the week so dinner is easy, I go to bed around 9, and I'm up at 5. Whether the baby sleeps all night or not.

Cheri7477

Any suggestions for those of us who are not morning people. I can't get past the first 6 pounds. It's like my motivation is just not there.

cherryjubilee23

This sounds like a great action plan BellaGettinFit! I am going to give this morning workout a try. That's awsome by the way! May I ask how long it took you to lose the 10?

cherryjubilee23

Wow Jennloella!! That's simply amazing you are so determined no matter what.☺

dougl004

My goal is to lose 30lbs and it has taken me about 2.5 months to lose the first 10lbs. I'm on the slow and steady pace. I lose about a 0.5lb weekly. I have a 2yr old and workout around 8pm after my little one is in bed. Im no morning person. I've been doing Jillian Michaels dvds and love her 30min workouts. Good Luck

cherryjubilee23

Cheri7477 wrote: »

Any suggestions for those of us who are not morning people. I can't get past the first 6 pounds. It's like my motivation is just not there.

6lbs is still progress, just dont stop!

knitapeace

Just remember exercise is for fitness, managing your intake is for weight loss. So focus on your logging if the scale is your main concern. I find logging my entire day either the night before or first thing in the morning makes it a lot easier to do and to stick to. It's almost like writing it down is "setting it in stone" and I don't want to screw it up by eating something I didn't log already.

I second the posters above who work out in the morning. I have 2 kids who are super busy in the evenings after school but are not yet driving age, so I get to be taxi. Working out at night is NOT an option, so I had to adjust to a 5am wakeup and workout. Almost 2 years in and I actually feel weird if I sleep in and miss a workout! So fit in the exercise as you can, busy mom, but remember that the food choices you make are going to affect your weight the most. You can do it!

dinagonzalez96

I lost 10lb in a month.. is hard but u have to be determined. Think about ur goals, trust me been there I always think to my self if a eat it I'm going to b mad of my self no matter what so I don't eat it.. what is working for me is Im doing a flush water it help me to clean my body I cut some cucumbers, lemon, oranges, mint leaf put it in a bottle than add water an I drink from there all day I just keep filling up the bottle it send me to the bathroom to pee alot

dinagonzalez96

I lost 10lb in a month.. is hard but u have to be determined. Think about ur goals, trust me been there I always think to my self if a eat it I'm going to b mad of my self no matter what so I don't eat it.. what is working for me is Im doing a flush water it help me to clean my body I cut some cucumbers, lemon, oranges, mint leaf put it in a bottle than add water an I drink from there all day I just keep filling up the bottle it send me to the bathroom to pee alot

dinagonzalez96

Hope that help.!!!

KrunchyMama

For me to lose my first 10 lbs I had to cut out bread and pasta. Toast in the morning makes me very snacky for the rest of the day, and pasta makes me snacky in the evening.

For breakfast I have an apple, yogurt, and 2 eggs, and that keeps me full. Lunch is usually leftovers from dinner, and dinner is protein + veggie + green + rice or potatoes. Drinks are water, tea with honey if I need a sugar-pick-me-up, and black coffee.

This is the meal plan I strive for every day because it makes me feel full and I lose weight

cherryjubilee23

KrunchyMama wrote: »

For me to lose my first 10 lbs I had to cut out bread and pasta. Toast in the morning makes me very snacky

I just recently cut bread! You are so right, it really does make me snacky

cherryjubilee23

knitapeace wrote: »

I second the posters above who work out in the morning. I have 2 kids who are super busy in the evenings after school but are not yet driving age, so I get to be taxi. Working out at night is NOT an option, so I had to adjust to a 5am wakeup and workout. Almost 2 years in and I actually feel weird if I sleep in and miss a workout! So fit in the exercise as you can, busy mom, but remember that the food choices you make are going to affect your weight the most. You can do it!

Oh yes, mom Taxi right on!! Im just starting to make sure I log every crumb I put in my mouth and I will be giving the AM work out a try. May I ask how many times you workout in the morning a week?

hyperbeth1

I work out in the evenings. I am not a morning person either. I cut out all sodas (including the diet ones). I plan on Sunday what the family's menu will be during the week. Some of it I can precook and place in the fridge so there is no reason why I cannot have a home cooked meal. My portions usually include protein+2 vegs (+sometimes rice or potatoes). I usually eat dinner before I work out so that my workout high keeps me from eating again after dinner. In my lunchbag I bring a protein powder I can mix with water and ice for snack or lunch. The trick is to eat small meals throughout the day so you don't feel hungry. I make homemade chicken salad (rotissere chicken, greek yogurt, celery, green onions, salt, and pepper) on Sundays and portion it into half size cups for work as well. It makes for a great snack lower in calories and high in protein. Don't give up.

SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage

Weight and log every morsel of food you put in your mouth. If you stay within your calorie goal, you will lose weight. That being said, I had to stop doing the mommy-thing and finishing my child's food (it adds up).

As for exercise, the biggest change I made was to make more of an effort to incorporate my family and to find excuses to exercise. My son loves to go to the park and play soccer, have running races, ride his bike while I run, etc. While he's in his 30 minute swimming lesson, I swim lengths. Look for those little opportunities to sneak in some exercise. It doesn't have to be dripping-with-sweat exercise. If your child/ children are young, get yourself an inexpensive jogging stroller and go for a walk/run. Not only are you getting exercise but you're instilling a healthy attitude about activity in your kids.

SezxyStef

I am a busy wife/mom/employee.

All you need to know is this. Exercise is not needed for weight loss....it's for health and fitness and I encourage it. You just need a calorie deficit to lose weight.

For me I prelog my food for a week and know what is on the go because I keep a schedule that i can see easily (yes I use a day timer)

I log consistently and accurately using a food scale (even stuff when it puts me over my goals) I do manage to exercise almost everyday...lifting weights which is about 20mins and a walk with the family (husband) which is 30mins...my son isn't small so he doesn't come often.

My exercise is in the evenings...I make me a priority now...I did lose 60lbs and kept most of it off over the winter (save 7-10 from vacation a couple weeks ago) which is what I am losing now plus an extra 5 because I want to see what 140 looks like on me.

KrunchyMama

^ Yes! I dance around with my kids, play 'chase' with them, walk on the spot and do jumping jacks whenever I have a few minutes. I lift a couple of weights in the evening when they go to bed, and do a few bicycle crunches, push-ups, and side leg raises. Nothing too strenuous, but it adds up. Oh and because it's only a few extra things here and there I don't log them as exercise.

apagemartin

It is so so tough to lose weight as a mom! I have a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old, and they require so much time from me, leaving not much time to exercise!

I've been trying to become more faithful to the food journaling here and I also have been working out at Planet Fitness since last October. I've been trying to get there 2-3 times a week in the mornings before my kids wake up. On the other days I've been letting them stay at daycare longer so I can squeeze in a jog or a workout. I feel like working out helps me have more energy for them, and also when I'm not as faithful to the food journal, it allows me to not gain as much.

Good luck! It's tough but we can do it! I still really want to lose 25 pounds. Trying!

KrunchyMama

apagemartin wrote: »

It is so so tough to lose weight as a mom! I have a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old, and they require so much time from me, leaving not much time to exercise!

I've been trying to become more faithful to the food journaling here and I also have been working out at Planet Fitness since last October. I've been trying to get there 2-3 times a week in the mornings before my kids wake up. On the other days I've been letting them stay at daycare longer so I can squeeze in a jog or a workout. I feel like working out helps me have more energy for them, and also when I'm not as faithful to the food journal, it allows me to not gain as much.

Good luck! It's tough but we can do it! I still really want to lose 25 pounds. Trying!

It gets easier! My boys are 3 and 4 and I've noticed this year is much better because they run faster, and walk faster, and are learning how to bike. I'm excited to be able to jog alongside them

knitapeace

cherryjubilee23 wrote: »

knitapeace wrote: »

I second the posters above who work out in the morning. I have 2 kids who are super busy in the evenings after school but are not yet driving age, so I get to be taxi. Working out at night is NOT an option, so I had to adjust to a 5am wakeup and workout. Almost 2 years in and I actually feel weird if I sleep in and miss a workout! So fit in the exercise as you can, busy mom, but remember that the food choices you make are going to affect your weight the most. You can do it!

Oh yes, mom Taxi right on!! Im just starting to make sure I log every crumb I put in my mouth and I will be giving the AM work out a try. May I ask how many times you workout in the morning a week?

I work out five or six mornings a week. In the winter it's a Fitness Blender video every morning (they vary from strength to cardio to HIIT to Pilates). Once it warms up enough it's a strength/crosstraining video every MWF, and running every TThSat. Sometimes I take the entire weekend off, depending on how I feel. Exercise has been important for my weight loss (about 44 pounds) because I like to eat and I need to keep that deficit. But the main thing I like about it is how it's reshaping my body: no more Bingo Wings, tighter waist and hips, nice muscles in my arms and back.

Cindeeee

BellaGettinFit wrote: »

Time: Get up earlier has got to be the thing that is working for me. I make excuses after I get off work. I gotta cook, I'm tired, I'm going to miss my shows, homework. I have found that working out early in the morning is the only time that I am not able to convince myself that I'm too busy.

She's right. If I wasn't working out (to dvd's at home) in the morning then I wasn't working out at all. For me, it isn't about "making excuses", though. Mothers are busy. We have too much to do at night, and if I work out at night, I have to wait until the kids are in bed, then shower, then blow dry my hair, etc. It causes me to go to bed way too late. I also started working out at home 3 times a week during my lunch break. It helps, but I don't beat myself up when I can't. We also try to walk for a mile twice a day at work, once in the morning and once in the afternoon as our "smoke break". If you can, do it. The only time I get to go to the actual gym is on Saturday mornings. I sleep in and everyone is awake at home, and I don't want to work out in front of them because they bug me nonstop (you know what I mean). Don't compare yourself to the mother that does everything and then hits the gym for an hour at night. If that isn't realistic for you, then don't even consider it. You'll just get discouraged, then quit.

The point is, I try to find ways to insert some exercise here and there. I don't work out every morning or lunch. I don't work out at all on Sundays. I've lost weight because instead of getting frustrated and giving up, I take it day by day. Some days, I did awesome. Others, not so much. But I'm not giving up.

I saw major progress when I started being honest with myself and logging EVERY bite I put into my mouth. Using this app consistently opened my eyes to how high my caloric intake was. Use the app faithfully. Be honest. I make better food choices now, and I feel great.

cherryjubilee23

Thank you ladies! This is so awsome, I am looking forward to incorporating some of the tips you all have shared with me. I will continue to move forward and not get discouraged. Please feel free to add me as a friend, as I only have a few right now. I would love to read your updates and post mine as well to encourage progress!! Happy Tuesday

hutchy100

Try insanity at home

Willogurl1231

No pop no sugars. I have lost 26 lbs. U can make it. I work.. run foster care.. and married to a needy husband.