Back at square one...

sgmomma

So here’s my story.

Late 2011 I had 2 children under two and about 50 extra pounds of weight left over from my pregnancies. I got my *kitten* together and worked out and started counting calories and running. (note at this time I was a stay at home mom). I felt great, and I eventually lost all 50lbs pounds. I maintained for awhile, then rejoined the workforce in 2013. I had some weight fluctuations, but it wasn’t terrible. Then just before I got pregnant with our last child in 2015 I had gained about 15-20 lbs back. Some of this gain I attribute to the stress of finding out my thyroid issues had turned into hashimotos and that I have precancerous tumors being monitored on my thyroid.

May 2016 gave birth to baby number 3 and am back at that 50lbs to lose mark. I’m struggling really bad to get going. Just like anyone else I have excuses, some are mental walls, some are legit issues I’m dealing with. One I’m so pushed for time. 3 kids, my husband works full time and goes to school. I work full time and will begin working on finishing my CPA in the spring. I have a full house to take care of and slack at it horribly on a good day, let alone when things are crazy with 1,000 different things going on. Even when I was losing weight and doing well I HATED counting calories, at times I became WAY to obsessive with it and it makes me not want to go back there. My husband and I’s crazy schedules make it difficult to get in exercise, because of not having someone to keep my children, particularly the toddler. He leaves super early and many nights gets home rather late. I already pay a small fortune in daycare fees and don’t want to add to it. I love to run (I don’t run with a stroller I’ve learned that it makes me hate running) and kickbox and those things require additional supervision for my children. I can do workout videos, but I struggle finding ones that I like. I’ve overly used the ones I do like in my previous weight loss journey. I like anyone else with exercise am less likely to do it if I don’t like it.
I have anxiety and depression that makes my mental struggle worse, I want to lose the weight again, but I guess not badly enough because I can’t get started. I just know I don’t needed added stress of thinking of the other things I need to be doing (my homework, kids homework, dinner, chores, etc) when I’m exercising or the stress I put on myself counting calories. In some perfect parallel universe I’d be able to afford to have someone cook all my food for me.

I think the reason I was so successful before was that I didn’t have nearly the amount of things to juggle as I do now and am having a hell of a time prioritizing and motivating myself. I’m exhausted, and I know I’d probably be somewhat less tired if I could get to exercising again. I just have so many mental walls I can’t seem to break down. I’m running out of ways to try and get my crap together again. I’d love some other way to do this than having to count calories because I fear the person I turn into as I count calories….

If you have made it this far thanks, I know I’m sure I sound like every other whiner with a thousand excuses. I just really need to get it all out maybe it will help.

magicaldryope

Omg I so feel you about counting calories. It exacerbates my mental illnesses if I'm strict about them, too. I've gotten around it by figuring out what low cal foods I like, looking at what my calorie goal should be, and then writing down what combinations of those foods I can have so that I don't have to think too hard about it in the moment. I'm sure I would be losing faster if I was really serious about logging and weighing but I'm losing so I'm happy with it.

As for exercising, granted I'm a SAHM so I have less to juggle, but I cope by telling the kids if they want to play with me they have to dance with me. So we all move around together. It isn't a perfect solution but it's better than not trying at all, right?

Idk if my methods will work for you but may as well share just in case. Best of luck!

middlehaitch

How would weighing and logging for 2-4 weeks work?
If you are like many of us we have a number of meals that tend to get rotated a lot.

If you could log for a short while and really pay attention to what each portion of food looks like, even take pics of your plate of food, you could probably drop the calorie counting and go by portion size.

If you are not adverse to weighing food you could also just have a list of your most common portion sizes.

My rice, potato, and pasta are all 100g. Most meats are 100-125g, and veg I just fill the rest of the plate with.

I used to weigh the portion out, but my eyeballing is within 10g either way. (SO will sometimes check my accuracy just for the amusement factor) so haven't bothered for a long while.

Just shaving portion sizes is the easiest way. You just have to be aware and consistent. Again pics could help.

Cheers, h.

fiddletime

If you did as above, and got some basic calories squared away, like a chicken leg or breast, rice or potato, 2tsp butter, and a sandwich for lunch and toast or cereal for breakfast, you could do it pretty easily. The key is portion control obviously. I know if I have 2 cookies in a day I've pushed myself into maintenance.

Bottom line, I don't see what's stopping you. Skip exercise and take your kids for a walk. You know how to lose weight. You can do it the old-fashioned way with portion control and limiting high calorie junk foods. If that fails, put 20 recipes into mfp to cover your major meals. I have 5 I use 1-3 times a day. Then my snacks and other things. When I had young kids I didn't eat what they were eating anyway.

mcafton

You can add me if you'd like. I have about 50 to lose as well. down nearly 20.

sgmomma

Thank you for the suggestions. I know refocusing on portion control should help get things started, but i hadn't really considered a calorie count for meals we eat frequently that's a good idea.

88olds

Keep a food journal. Skip the #s. Maybe you can start counting later but maybe not. Just make a list of what you eat. It's a helpful habit. Maybe you can use it later as the basis of a plan. Maybe just being mindful will help you gain control without obsessing.