Because I need to be happy

Solosesso

Ok MFP, I need your help/support. I've been really good at loosing weight in the past years. In fact I lost all the weight I wanted (30 lbs) and never felt so happy with myself. And then I got pregnant...and lazy. I was struggling with eating right, staying active and I gained A LOT of weight. About 50 pounds... Yeah. Now I'm 7 months post-partum and I still have about 20 lbs to lose.

I tried to commit myself to exercice everyday or so but some days I'm so tired and unmotivated that I can barely walk out of the bed to look after my son. I got some really bad habits in the past few months and I hate what I'm becoming. A grumpy, chubby, lumpy, impatient and unhappy mother who's literally spending her days watching youtube videos and binge eating like a freak all day. And because I'm unhappy with myself, I'm always in a kind of bad mood. It needs to stop because my family deserve a happy me.

Being active and staying on track was way more easy when I only had myself to look after, but now that I have my son, I really have a hard time with this weight loss thing. I always start the day like a champ thinking ''I can do this!!'' and eating a healthy breakfast. But around the middle of the afternoon I just seem to black out and eat like a pig (Proof : I just binge into one mozarella cheese stick, multiple spoons of nutella, a cereal bar, a boiled egg and some homemade roasted chickpeas...)

Any advice/words of encouragement/thoughts would be greatly appreciated here.

holliebevineau

That was not a bad binge. Your only 7 months post partum. Give it your all to eat better and get exercise but most importantly enjoy this precious time with your baby. IT GOES FAST!! You will lose pounds soon, just wait until you kid starts walking. My youngest is 3 and just keeping up with her is great exercise.

Sharon5913

Be kind to yourself, your body has gone through tremendous changes in the last year: hormones, childbirth, now you have another human being to care for!! Maybe try starting out slowly, just go outside for a few minutes, walk around the yard, or go to the mailbox. If you need a nap, take a nap!! You need to take care of yourself as well as the rest of the family, and babies don't stay babies for very long, before you know it, the little one will be off to school. If you are having issues with depression, find someone to talk to... therapist, counselor, friend, whatever. Maybe see if someone can watch the baby for a while to give you some time to yourself.

Hope this helps.

Sharon

Sora4ever

I know what that feels like. I have pretty bad anxiety and at my worst, I'd feel exhausted and like life is just too much effort to live. I really had to drag myself out of bed to go exercising. But let me tell you, it gets easier. All the exercising helps regulate hormones. Now, I find myself happier during the day, sleep better at night, and losing weight.

Just take it one day at a time, and breathe.

enitsirhck

If you don't look forward to your work outs, you're working too hard. This is a lesson it's taken me a REALLY long time to realize. I have been "a runner" since 2011 and working on getting in shape for a lot longer than that - I've done 3 half marathons but never really felt that great about any of them because I always felt like poop after, and training was a miserable chore and very inconsistent.

A few weeks ago I found a training program that required me to slow down - A LOT! - with the promise that in the long run if I followed it, I'd be a stronger runner with better endurance. I've been on this program for three weeks now and I've only "missed" 3 days - and I should be doing 1 rest day a week anyways. My pace is laughable, my daily runs are quite short, but I find myself looking forward to getting up and doing it every morning, trying to find ways to give myself more time, and it's overall been a major difference in how I used to "have to" go work out.

ValGogo

My mind is screaming "Long walks with the baby buggy." There's the answer.

MinnieInMaine

Start from square one. Log everything, good or bad, for the next week. Then start trying to hit your daily goal at least a few times a week. Then try to hit it at least 5 out or the 7 days. Set goals each week to improve your food planning, food choices, etc. For me, sometimes knowing I have go log something high calorie will make me think twice about having it. Not because someone else will see it (my diary is private) but because I have to face those numbers. But if having it public helps you stay honest/accountable, that's good too. And maybe get the tempting junk out of your house, at least until you get over this hurtle.

As far as exercise goes, again, start from the beginning. You're already on youtube so search for workouts, get off your tush and start moving around. Again, there's no reason to go gung ho today, just start incorporating that into your routine. When baby goes down for his nap - you might want a nap of your own but just take 10-15 minutes to get some movement in first. Then you can allow yourself to veg on the couch again, knowing you accomplished a goal. Once you find a workout or two that you really enjoy, keep doing them more and more.

Or as suggested above, get out the stroller and go for a walk. Go with whatever you enjoy most so you stick with it!

And just because you mention being unhappy - if you have any inkling that you might be suffering with post partum depression, please seek professional help.

kristen49233

My mind is screaming "Long walks with the baby buggy." There's the answer.

This is my thought too. I was a broke single mom and couldn't afford to go to the gym. I would put my daughter in the stroller and walk walk walk every day. Might boost your energy too.

Solosesso

Well thanks y'all! I'll try some of your advices, like going to walk with the baby more often and trying to log EVERY food I eat. One baby step at a time. It's kind of you to care about me, but I don't think I suffer from post-partum depression though. I'm just often a bit moody and/or irritable because I don't take a lot of time to take care of me and when I look in the mirror at the end of the day I feel like crap.