Needs encouragement

annadchang

Hi, I am new here. I recently watched my husband lose 30+ pounds. Thought to myself, if he can do it, why can't I. First let me give you some background. My husband is a server at a restaurant and he walks probably 5-10 miles a day. He would eat once a day, come home late at night and eat two cups of rice and what ever he has made for the week. He changed from eating two cups to one and mainly veggies. So, I started watching what I ate, no fast food, bringing my lunch to work, and stopped all soda. I lost six pounds. I was excited and ready to roll. That was over a month ago. I am still only at 6 pounds lost and getting down in the dumps. I know I have to exercise and take the stairs at work (I work on the third floor). I figure that is better than nothing. It is hard to work out after work because I have prior engagements after work and then on top of that, I have a three year old. Since my husband works long hours 5 days a week, I am pretty much a single parent during those times. I really need some motivating, up lifting words to get my behind in that gym and lose more than my husband. LOL... Thank you for lending your ear and have a wonderful day.

DMTHope

I understand your pain...Diet alone does not work for me. I have to exercise to lose weight. I lost 12 lbs but then stopped exercising to care for an ailing family member and gained it back. I just go back to MFP and I am looking for an exercise buddy. We're probable not in the same city to work out together in person but we can encourage each other to go to our workouts and hopefully keep each other motivated. You interested?

annadchang

Sound wonderful. What city do you live in?

Drdisney

I agree with DMT, I can't seem to run my 500 calorie deficit a day without exercising. Maybe its because I have eaten too much for too long, but simply cutting back and changing to lower calorie food wasn't doing it. Thats just me.

A suggestion, the gym I belong to has free child care, maybe one around you does as well. I see lots of parents coming in with their young children. Where there is a will there is a way.

adreal

I can help Add me. I am struggling with finding the time to work out with a newborn. So I can help.

lisajsund

So many people have told me time and time again...

Weight loss is made of three things.
10% genetics (no control)
10% exercise
80% nutrition

My personal experience agrees with this formula.

When I started running 3 years ago, I actually gained 20 lbs of fat and lost lean tissue. 10% exercise (lots!) and 80% nutrition (didn't watch at all) lead to this weight gain.

The last four months, I am still running and will be completing my third 1/2 marathon next weekend. However, I have logged every day, and for the most part, stayed within my calorie goal. I have paid much more attention to the nutrition side, and keeping my protein intake over 100 g/day, and have lost almost 19 pounds during this time.

I do believe you can lose without exercise (I actually see the drop better on the days after I don't workout) and do think nutrition plays a bigger impact than exercise. But, I love how I feel when (or after I'm done!) I do exercise so I'm not going to stop.

Just my two cents - can't relate to time constraints as much and I don't have kids yet, but I'm sure that time will come.

lisajsund

Anna - what is your BMR?

annadchang

BMR?

lisajsund

Basal metabolic rate. Google it. You will enter your age, height, and weight and it will calculate a number for you. It does not take activity into account. (If it does ask about activity, it's not a basal rate.)
This is the amount of calories your body burns every day to keep you alive. Personally, I would never go below this number for a calorie goal.
My BMR is about 1620. I'm 34, about 5'6", and currently weight 185.
My apologies for not getting back to you sooner - things have been crazy in my world!!