Working Moms support Jan2012

wpgmom

Hi! I am hoping there are other working moms interested in a topic where we can motivate each other and share ideas for eating healthy and squeezing exercise in where we can!

I am Jodie, I live in Winnipeg, Canada with my 11 year old boy, a 14 year old girl, husband, dog and lizard! I work full time at a job that keeps me at my desk most of the time, with lots of meetings. (does carrying my laptop from room to room count as weight training? LOL)

Hope a few of you join in with tips that work for you :flowerforyou:

butterfly0475

I am in the same boat. Two kids boy 13 daughter 9, single mom, live in mom (handicap from car accident in 2003). Feels there is not enough time in the day. Trying to get 7 hours of sleep to improve stress levels as well.

ajcrider

Glad to see this post! I too am a working woman, wife, and mother of three (9 year old boy and 7 year old twins - boy and girl). I don't get home until 6pm and try to get the kids in bed between 8 and 9 PM (usually have a strict 8PM bedtime, but with homework my 9 year old is often up until 8:30 and 9). From 6 - 8, I am rushing to get supper ready, help with homework, eat, get kid's baths, brush teeth and in bed. By the time the kids are in bed all I feel like doing is taking a shower and watching TV with my hubby til bedtime. I have started sitting on a fitness ball while watching TV (in my brain this is better than just sitting on the couch), but really need to work in some real exercise. This is my first full week on MFP, so I am hoping to meet others to help me get motivated

OlibecaMom

Amen, Ladies! My name is Daisy and I work full time M-Th 10 (or more) hour days - at a desk or running to meetings. Loved the comment from someone earlier that carrying the laptop is weight lifting! I have two little girls ages 3 & 6. I go to the gym 3-4x/week and they usually go with me. I totally related to ajcrider - 6-8pm is a sprint almost every night - and we don't even have much homework in kindergarten! LOL! I have found that keeping to my gym schedule is really important. It helps keep me feeling good and grounded in my weight loss goals. I also try to get out of my office - even for 15 minutes - and take a walk a few times a week. The hardest for me is planning for dinner. By the time we get through the sprint tonight, I'm exhausted and don't want to think about tomorrow's dinner.

caroldot

I'm with ya! I'm a single mom living in Atlanta, GA with a 11 yr old girl and 15 yr old son. I work full time at a desk job. I manage to get to the gym 3 times a week - would really like to make it 4 x but that's a struggle plus I fight with guilty feelings of leaving my kids at home while I go to gym. But I've come to realize that taking care of myself and making myself a priority makes me a better mom. Tuesdays & Wednesdays are definite workout days because kids are with their dad but other than that I don't have a good workout schedule so it makes it hard. Honestly though my kids don't really care if I run out to the gym for an hour - after all even if I am there, they would be on the computer, PS3, phone, whatever just doing their own thing!

Reedern

I concur... I work 9-1/2 hour days mostly spent at a desk and have a very active 1-yr old at home and my husband doesn't like to help much around the house so I end up doing the majority of that as well. Thank goodness that my work does offer us 3 hours a week during our regular work days for exercise and the gym is only a couple bldgs away so at least I know that 3 days a week I can get a good solid workout in. The other days, well I just try my best to find a way to get some cardio at least even if that means jogging in place while watching Dora!

Meghan0116

I'm in. You can start a group and that might be easier than a thread.

Hi all, I'm Meghan and mother to the most wonderful (usually) 3 year old. I have been a single mom since he was 6 months old. I work full-time and it is after 5 by the time I get him from daycare. I am considering joining a gym right by his daycare so I can workout before getting him. Although, the mom guilt is eating at me about that.

a6ftdiva

HI!! Im a semi single (seperated but ex sleeps on my couch because he is getting on his feet) Mom of 3 Girls (age 4, 5 & 11) I work full time M-F from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm and dont get home until 6:45 after picking everyone up from daycare and aftercare. I also help take care of my terminally ill Father... My 11 year old is ADHD and has major meltdowns with homework. The schedule is frantic at my apt almost everynight.

If I get dinner on the table by 8 it is a good night.

If the little ones get a bath it is a good night.

If the little ones are in bed by 9 it is a good night.

the 11 year old presents her own challenges and when I tell you we do homework for 6 hours I am not exagerrating. I am exhausted every day and never sit to eat with the family... I am always picking or eating waaay too late (after 10pm)
after bedtime its packing lunches, snacks picking out clothes, cleaning and then maybe by 1am I can get to bed.
, then up at 5:45 to start the day...

After my 2nd was born I did WW and lost 60lbs really easily. I did not exercise just changed the food I ate... Now that I am older and have had 3 C-sections I am finding it so hard to lose even a half a pound & it is frustrating. I had a bad week but am hoping today will be a good day for me!

Hitting 40 has been stressful along with all the other thigns going on and I started drinking a glass of wine to get to sleep at night... I realiazed that my "glass" of wine was really more like 3 because the glass is as big as my head lol...

my motivation right now is to be able to fit on the rollercoasters when I take my girls to Disney in April... (I got kicked off a ride @ six flags NJ over the summer because the lap bar wouldnt close) HOW MORTIFYING!

I hope all you ladies reach your goals with no obstacles, but if you do, I will be here if you wanna chat! Im sure to have some horrible days at the beginning but am really looking forwad to successful days weeks and months ahead!

GOOD LUCK!!!

tsornoza

i am a full time working mom. I know the feeling of working til 5 and rushing home to make dinner and then spend time with kids and hubby. I have 3 kids, 12, 14, 16, and a dog. I felt like i never had time and said, you know what, instead of sitting around watching tv, i can use that time to do a bit of working out. I play Dance Central 2 for about 45 minutes with the kids at times and love Taebo. Just half an hour of Taebo burns over 400 calories. You just need to set your mind to it. make it a ritual. I find that keeping the journal is important. It really makes you keep on track. I used to be the one watching biggest loser in tears wondering why i couldn't lose weight. For the past 2 weeks, instead of watching, i work out during the show. Welcome and good luck. feel free to add me.

tsornoza

HI!! Im a semi single (seperated but ex sleeps on my couch because he is getting on his feet) Mom of 3 Girls (age 4, 5 & 11) I work full time M-F from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm and dont get home until 6:45 after picking everyone up from daycare and aftercare. I also help take care of my terminally ill Father... My 11 year old is ADHD and has major meltdowns with homework. The schedule is frantic at my apt almost everynight.

If I get dinner on the table by 8 it is a good night.

If the little ones get a bath it is a good night.

If the little ones are in bed by 9 it is a good night.

the 11 year old presents her own challenges and when I tell you we do homework for 6 hours I am not exagerrating. I am exhausted every day and never sit to eat with the family... I am always picking or eating waaay too late (after 10pm)
after bedtime its packing lunches, snacks picking out clothes, cleaning and then maybe by 1am I can get to bed.
, then up at 5:45 to start the day...

After my 2nd was born I did WW and lost 60lbs really easily. I did not exercise just changed the food I ate... Now that I am older and have had 3 C-sections I am finding it so hard to lose even a half a pound & it is frustrating. I had a bad week but am hoping today will be a good day for me!

Hitting 40 has been stressful along with all the other thigns going on and I started drinking a glass of wine to get to sleep at night... I realiazed that my "glass" of wine was really more like 3 because the glass is as big as my head lol...

my motivation right now is to be able to fit on the rollercoasters when I take my girls to Disney in April... (I got kicked off a ride @ six flags NJ over the summer because the lap bar wouldnt close) HOW MORTIFYING!

I hope all you ladies reach your goals with no obstacles, but if you do, I will be here if you wanna chat! Im sure to have some horrible days at the beginning but am really looking forwad to successful days weeks and months ahead!

GOOD LUCK!!!

Hi, wow, i give you props for going through all this. I think you need help with your son and his homework. Maybe an after school program that can help him. My son has ADD. I know what you mean about spending a lot of time with homework. Getting him focused was horrible. Feel free to add me. I hope you achieve your goals. You will have a blast in Disney.

tpmomma

Hi, I'm a working Mom with three kids. By reading the posts, I'm not sure I need to say anymore...but...
I have two girls aged 8 & 10 and a three year old son. I completely agree with everyone else's comments about crazy hectic nights trying to get through dinner, homework and baths (if we're lucky!)
My youngest was born with many health issues that we continue to struggle with.
I want to be a good role model for my girls. I want them to see a happy healthy mom, and I think losing some weight will help me achieve that.
I too have that sedentary job that keeps me sitting at a desk all day long. I've been trying to make a point of getting out and taking a walk at lunch... but really need some support!!

h2onut

LOVE this idea!
I'm Kerry - Mom of 2 (12 & 9yrs) and work away from home 45+ hours per week! I am very lucky to have a very helpful husband who also works similar hours. We are often headed in 2 different directions every night with the kids activities or our own so... the eating healthy is the easy part (and the most beneficial for weight loss) but fitting in time to exercise regularly is definitely my challenge (I also have a torn acl, waiting for surgery, so limited in the type of exercise I can do).
Looking forward to getting to know you all who are in a similar situation - feel free to friend me if you want:)

ks_mommaof5

Love this idea! Thank you to everyone who posted before me ... I take so much comfort knowing I'm not alone!

I'm a working momma of 5 amazing lil ones ... 14, 12 1/2, 9 1/2 and twins (boy/girl) who just turned 6. I had great success getting back into shape after the births of my first three. But the surprise addition of the twins brought a level of chaos to my life that I'd never before experienced!

Seven years of excuses later, I rang in the New Year at the very same weight as the day I delivered the twins ... 6 year ago. ACK!

This is the year I stop making excuses and start living!!!!!!!!! Please add me!

P.S. I totally love hearing about everyone's day-to-day life ... it's nice to know I'm not the only one who struggles to get everyone fed, helped with homework, to/from sports, bathed effectively and to bed on time! ))))

shalinimunjal

I have a lot of respect for you single, working mommies specially. I don't know how you do it all!

I am mom to two - a 7yr old and a 20 month old and have a very supportive hubby. I work full time as a software developer. While it is challenging work, it is sedentary and that's partly the problem. I have slowly accumulated the weight over the years. It is hard to fit exercise into my routine. I got serious about exercising 2 months ago. I can't go to gym because 1) we don't belong to a gym and 2) if I were to buy membership I'd never find the time to go. So I started doing exercise videos. Figured I could do it at home on my own schedule. Started with the 30 day shred and completed it. Yay! Now I'm doing the Brazil Butt Lift videos. I am so motivated now that I feel like something is missing if I don't workout one day. I find I can fit in exercise in my routine afterall.
Feel free to add me ladies!!

wpgmom

HI!! Im a semi single (seperated but ex sleeps on my couch because he is getting on his feet) Mom of 3 Girls (age 4, 5 & 11)

wpgmom

HI!! Im a semi single (seperated but ex sleeps on my couch because he is getting on his feet) Mom of 3 Girls (age 4, 5 & 11)

Wow! that's a challenge I can't even imagine. I wish you all the best on all sorts of fronts!

wpgmom

YAY! I'm so happy to see so many here with similar challenges!

I'll look into starting a group and let you know if I figure it out. LOL

stwalsh226

My name is Shannon. I have a two year old little boy and am a single working mom. I work night shift and am with my boy all day. I work at a psych hospital in the crisis department and boy does that keep me on my toes!!! It's time for me to lose my post-high school, post-baby weight and get back to being fit and active!! Between my toddler and my job, I can't afford to be unhealthy any more. I'll end up getting hurt or sick or something. It's hard though not having much support. But my son really is the joy of my life and every time I want to give up all I have to do is look at him and I have all the motivation I need!!

wpgmom

OK now I feel like a goof! I just checked the groups and most are for moms of some sort or other! That's what happens when you are new!

I am going to join one of these groups. Probably the one for moms who work outside the home. Hope to see you there!

smurfette75

Hi, single mom of two teenage girls (15 & 13). So much fun in my household. My youngest does gymnastics so I'm always running her back and forth to practice (4 days a week). I try to get my workouts in while she's at practice as well as make dinner. I don't belong to a gym, so all my workouts are at home. Dinner is a big task...I try to have it planned while am at work so when I get home I just have to do it...most of my meals take 30 minutes or less to make! I also work a desk job..but I find time on my lunch break (when possible) to get a 30 minutes workout in.

pdworkman

I work full time, and homeschool my LD teen the rest of the time. Both hubby and son have sleep disorders, so some nights I don't get much sleep. My husband is home with the son during the day, so the house is a mess when I get home. I cook all from scratch, as I am vegetarian, dairy free, grain-free, with other allergies between me and my son. Busy mama!

Pam

Elizabeth2point0

I'm a mom to two- ages 3 and 5.. I work 25 hours per week, go to school (online - I'm currently challenging my way through a few semesters), and my husband works in another province, so I do things on my own all but 5 days a month.. I currently only have 2 hours per week that I can slip to the gym because of the way I have my daycare set up (I don't want to pay for after school care..)

My fitness goals are not weight related, but on strength and "toning".. I'm currently doing 1 hour of yoga 5 times per week to youtube videos, getting whatever time in I can with my kids (tobogganing and such), and doing strength training at home - pushups, squats, obliques, etc...

mstankowski

I would be for a group like this. I have 3 boys 5,7,and 12. They keep me super busy with soccer, hockey and boyscouts. I am starting a new job on Tuesday after being unemployed for the last year. I am hoping to be able to go to the gym in the morning while everyone is still sleeping but we will see how it works out. I could use some support!

jules7664

HI!! Im a semi single (seperated but ex sleeps on my couch because he is getting on his feet) Mom of 3 Girls (age 4, 5 & 11) I work full time M-F from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm and dont get home until 6:45 after picking everyone up from daycare and aftercare. I also help take care of my terminally ill Father... My 11 year old is ADHD and has major meltdowns with homework. The schedule is frantic at my apt almost everynight.

If I get dinner on the table by 8 it is a good night.

If the little ones get a bath it is a good night.

If the little ones are in bed by 9 it is a good night.

the 11 year old presents her own challenges and when I tell you we do homework for 6 hours I am not exagerrating. I am exhausted every day and never sit to eat with the family... I am always picking or eating waaay too late (after 10pm)
after bedtime its packing lunches, snacks picking out clothes, cleaning and then maybe by 1am I can get to bed.
, then up at 5:45 to start the day...

After my 2nd was born I did WW and lost 60lbs really easily. I did not exercise just changed the food I ate... Now that I am older and have had 3 C-sections I am finding it so hard to lose even a half a pound & it is frustrating. I had a bad week but am hoping today will be a good day for me!

Hitting 40 has been stressful along with all the other thigns going on and I started drinking a glass of wine to get to sleep at night... I realiazed that my "glass" of wine was really more like 3 because the glass is as big as my head lol...

my motivation right now is to be able to fit on the rollercoasters when I take my girls to Disney in April... (I got kicked off a ride @ six flags NJ over the summer because the lap bar wouldnt close) HOW MORTIFYING!

I hope all you ladies reach your goals with no obstacles, but if you do, I will be here if you wanna chat! Im sure to have some horrible days at the beginning but am really looking forwad to successful days weeks and months ahead!

GOOD LUCK!!!

1st of all YOU ARE AMAING!!!!!!
I was a single mother for 1 year before my 7 year old son passed of meningitis and although that year was the longest year of my life due a miserable divorce, I would do it over again a million times!! and that was with 1 child, being a single mother is 2 full time jobs!!!
2nd the teacher in me can not help but to comment on your ADHD child. I have had a lot of my parents whose children are ADHD always come and ask how i manage to get their middle school child to concentrate on math for 90 minutes. You may have already tried these things, but i feel they are worth mentioning.
1. I KNOW your routine is tough on everyone in your family, but the one thing i know for sure is my ADHD students THRIVE as well as the rest of my kids because we have a routine, flexible but routine.
2. Short span= short time assignments ex. set a timer for 10 minutes and have him work on 1 subject. timer goes off, short 2 minute break, the repeat in each subject he has homework in . this process takes a bit, but it should cut down on the melt downs due to frustration because he is not able to focus for long periods of time and or understand the concept...
3. If he has an Individualized education plan, his assignments should be shortened and modified due to his ADHD that should also help with the meltdowns.
4. tangible immediate rewards for each section of homework he completes.
5. ADHD world is kinda like turning up 4 radio stations, the tv on full blas then asking a person to focus on a subject at hand and be able to concentrate.
6. I hope you are not offended at my suggestions, my heart just breaks when i hear parents in your situation, I teach Math and in aa colaborative setting over 50% of my students are students with special needs. if you have any questions I would be glad to volunteer anything i can do to help you. the end of the homework breakdowns...may open up a small window for you to squeeze in some time for you....good luck and God Bless!!!

sapphirechic77

Hi, everyone. I just happened to stumble upon this board and had to share my two cents :-) With school, work, home remodeling, and raising the kiddos, I know a little bit about being pressed for time. I have several workout videos, but little time to complete them. Tonight, I pulled out my Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred dvd that had been packed for a year and completed workout 1. It was a 20-minute continuous workout with modified exercises for beginners and advanced athletes. I absolutely love it. It's the best workout I've gotten in a long time. My arms and legs are still twitching, and I feel a small knot in my stomach. I expect to be a little sore tomorrow. Long story short, if you're pressed for time and still want an effective workout, I would highly recommend this video. It's really inexpensive. I paid around $10 for it at Walmart. Hope this helps!!

April

Bikini_Bound150

I consider myself a mom BECAUSE I am raising my sister. She is 16 and I am 22. I have all of the motherly responsibilities as everyone else. I am a care giver to a man with special needs and there is just NO time in my day to do anything else. It's difficult, I'm glad I don't have little ones (YET) because my days are solid....

timadotcom

I consider myself a mom BECAUSE I am raising my sister. She is 16 and I am 22. I have all of the motherly responsibilities as everyone else. I am a care giver to a man with special needs and there is just NO time in my day to do anything else. It's difficult, I'm glad I don't have little ones (YET) because my days are solid....

good for you!! You make my life sound easy:)

timadotcom

I have a beautiful baby boy, he just turned 2 this month. I wake up at 5:15 am to get myself to the gym. I'm at work by 8:30, work until 5 and then go home to be with my boy and my husband. I'm married to a chef, so I have forgotten what cooking is like. But if you think i'm lucky, think again. I never get to pick what I want to eat and am not allowed to complain about food, Oh and if he is mad at me I go hungry..heehee. Anyways, I get up early and am always sleep deprived just so I can be with my son at night. As you ladies would sure agree, being a mom is the best thing in the world and it can be the worst.

Good luck to you all.

cabaray

I'm a married mom of two (10 & 12 year old girls). My husband works second shift, so he is not home in the evenings with us. I work day shift from 8-4:30. I also teach college part-time (3 online courses, 1 course on campus). I get up at 4:40 every morning so that I can ride my stationary bike an hour before I have to get the kids up. One Tuesdays, I teach my on campus course. I get up at 4:40, work 8-4:30, leave work, grab Subway and eat in the car. I go straight to the campus and teach from 6-9. I get home around 9:30. Needless to say, Tuesdays are long days for me. The only way I get the exercise in is to get up before the kids and get it done. Also, when the weather outside is decent (40 degrees or above and no rain), I try and go for a walk in the evenings. My oldest rides her bike and the youngest walks with me. I'm able to get in some additional exercise and I'm teaching the girls a healthy lifestyle which they need as they are both a little overweight (not bad, but I'm trying to stop it before it gets out of hand like it did with me). We live next door to my parents and they are such a help...I couldn't do it without them!

msafeatthird

I can't seem to find motivation right now, or energy is a better word. I'm a single mother that works and does school. I work 10 hour days watching a 7 month old and I have a 2 year old of my own. They are both on separate schedules, never napping at the same time. The baby leaves at 6 then I feed and bathe my son and have him asleep between 9-10(he has always had trouble sleeping). At that time I begin to do my class work that usually lasts until 12-1 am. By that time I'm exhausted and just want to sleep. I don't know how so many mothers are able to meet fitness goals, every day is exhausting. So much to juggle and not enough time in a day to do it. When do all of you prefer to work out?

brinak2005

I love this post!! I'm so glad there are others who understand how crazy I feel sometimes running around like a lunatic!

I am married, have 1daughter that 5 1/2 yrs old (always have to put that 1/2 in there). My husband works nights, 12 hour shifts. So when he gets home in the mornings, we literally kiss each other in passing on the front walk as I'm heading out to drop our daughter off at school and go to work. I get home 30 minutes before he leaves for work. One thing that has helped me is cooking dinner for the next day and putting it in the fridge. When I get home (5ish), we have dinner together, he leaves for work, my daughter and I go over schoolwork, I do my workout video for 30 minutes to an hour, take a shower, get daughter bathed and everything ready for school the next day, put her to bed, cook dinner for next day, do a load of laundry in there somewhere, clean kitchen from cooking, I go to bed around 11:30-12.....all in that order except on Fridays when my daughter has gymnastics at 6.