Working Mom-Struggling to do it all-100 lbs to lose

bug1114

Feel free to add me as well. I'm a mother to an 18 month old, work full time, go to school full time, and try to fit working out into the mix of it all . :flowerforyou:

emjay1971

I absolutely feel your pain. I may not have the children to take care of, but I have employees, that's close.

I have a live-in boyfriend... again, close enough, right? Ha, just playing, but really. I'm 40 years old, full-time, every day, open til close manager of a growing custom tattoo shop. I tattoo, I do body piercings. I do paperwork. I clean. I keep everything under control. That's just work. Home is dishes, laundry, cooking, and basically everything at home. I used to also be a landlord, but I now have an empty apartment downstairs, because I can't even do that anymore, way to much stress.

I am totally the do-everything person. Do it yourself to get it right. Right? And now try to fit in food diaries and exercise?! You can do it, I can do it... we all can do it.

I love my life, and would not trade what I do for anything, I just need to make some improvements on me.

christinacrisfield

I work as a nanny, a private tutor and I'm in grad school. So not exactly the same boat, but a very hectic and erratic schedule. I'm married, no kids. Struggled with weight for so long. But when I started taking it seriously then I started to lose. The main point is you have to make time for yourself. I know it's the single hardest thing to do.

fitmommy75

I am a working mom with 2 kids. The best thing I ever did was to carve out 30 minutes a day for myself. I bought all the Jillian Michaels DVDs so I could workout at home. I send my kids into another room and they watch tv or play games. Everyone needs time for themselves.

ndblades

This is by all means, not meant to sound harsh, but what I learned on my own: When you stop making excuses, you will find the time. And when you realize what is important to you, you will realize you can do it all, but suddenly "all" won't be the same.

I have 5 kids, 3 dogs, 5 acres of lawn, a huge garden, a sick mother. I volunteer, I shuffle kids (my oldest is 6 mos away from her license!), I work a full time job out of the home, and a part-time job in the home (doing books for my husband who is self -employed). People always ask me how I do it (keep up with everything), my answer is this, "We are all busy, just in different ways, I am busy with family mostly, but still make time for things I enjoy - it keeps me sane, so does letting things go sometimes!

You can do this, set realistic goals and do it! I will always take friend request, and support you if you are supporting yourself. If you want to know what I do around the house to save times, just send me an email and I'll gladly help out there too.

eziskowski

Hi Mom ,
I am a seventy year old male and i can speak about over weight problems as an adduction simalar to drugs , alcohol.
One thing that has helps is to become involed in a excerise program , i work out each day at least 30 minutes on a excerise bike and walk one mile on a track, U must do this every day for the rest of your life !! but if u need to talk moree about it then u could em me and we could carry it forward. FYI last year my weight was 226 lbs, now i am down to 195lbs , if i can do it so can u.

EM eziskowski@aol.com
bye

RockyMtnJhawk

I spent most of the day doing some cooking, trying out new recipes and cooking ahead so I'd have things ready in the freezer, etc.

Anyone else do this?

I'm trying out some new recipes and hope to get enough in the freezer that it will make having lunches for us and my daughter quicker and easier to prepare.

This past week was horrible for me and part of my problem was not planning ahead & that led to lots of last minute choices that weren't at all good for me.

I'll post my recipes here and if you have any you'd like to share, please do!!

RockyMtnJhawk

Ok...here's one of the recipes I tried out today & it was amazing!! Not only that but someone has already entered it into MFP so it's ready for you to make and log!

http://www.canyoustayfordinner.com/2010/11/04/petite-lasagnas/

macx2mommy

I spent most of the day doing some cooking, trying out new recipes and cooking ahead so I'd have things ready in the freezer, etc.

Anyone else do this?

I'm trying out some new recipes and hope to get enough in the freezer that it will make having lunches for us and my daughter quicker and easier to prepare.

This past week was horrible for me and part of my problem was not planning ahead & that led to lots of last minute choices that weren't at all good for me.

I'll post my recipes here and if you have any you'd like to share, please do!!

Planning and batch cooking is really essential for me. I have found that when I am rushing (which is pretty much always), and if there is no food planned or ready, then I tend to make quick choices which often are poor ones, just to get the family fed.

I buy almost everything in bulk, and prep as much ahead of time. You can buy lean ground beef (or ground turkey), and brown it up with your favority general spices (I do onion and garlic), and then portion it off in freezer bags. I think I do 2 cups cooked per bag. Use this for when ever you need some quick meals. I use it sauces, healthy sloppy joes, lasagne, any ground beef dishes really.

Make 'egg cup muffins'. I take chopped up veggies, mix with eggs or just egg whites if they are for me, add a little shredded cheese pour and bake in muffin tins. Freeze. Microwave when needed.

Premarinade your meats. I will buy 20 lbs of chicken breasts, portion them off to whatever you would make for your family, and then make marinades. Pour a little marinade in each bag, and freeze. Just thaw it out the night before or the morning of, and bake or prepare as you normally would.

Grill up a ton of chicken breasts on the barbeque or indoor grill (I will do 10 lbs at a time). Let it cool, slice, and then spread the sliced chicken on a cookie sheet. Freeze, once frozen, put in a ziploc bag. Just take out what you need at a time and microwave or thaw and microwave. Great to add to meals, or sandwiches, wraps, salads, etc.

Make large quantities of veggie chillis and stews, and freeze them.


Other suggestions would be look up healhty OAMC (Once a Month Cooking), or the 'Big Cook'. I just make healthy substitutions for these recipes.

As you can probably guess, I have a very large freezer.

eziskowski

I hear you when u are rushed , I do the same and they also bad choices , I try to set aside time to think ahead to tree meals a day , Mostly with Chicken brests ,(purchesed fron Costco Prudue frozen brests) I swer buy them because they can easly prepared and have little fat, alond with fresh vegies , Good rule of thum is use your hand as measuring .

Let me know if this helps
ED

wolfettex3

You can do it. I promise. I speak from experience. I have three kids. My youngest is 1. I started at 226 and am down to 130. Me time is scarce. I add exercise to dailly task. I do lunges when clean carpet. I do squats when picking up. I jump on trampoline with kids and that helps alot. I walk about a mile at my kids pace in park at least 3 times a week. Just use your imagination and take small steps that lead to big rewards. Just smile and keep your head up cause you are special and can do this.

FitCowgirl8

Add me if you want I am a single mother to a two year old little girl trying to keep up with her my full time job and a barn of horses. there isn't enough time in the day to do everything I need to do! I definitely understand where you are coming from.

thenewkayla

You can add me .
Im a stay at home mom to a 10 month old but soon to be working mom! Yikes
I Live in missouri so im also in the midwest.

doxielover08

Have you considered adipex it was recomended to me by my OBGYN to lose 100 lbs. I too am a home mom and busy I have been takeing Adipex for 3 days and it feel it has helped some. I live in Texas and recently had major back surgery so excersise is out I do laps in the pool however. Good Luck!

uubulldawg06

I am right there with you! Full time job full time student 2yo son and husband. It is a constant struggle but some how it works. feel free to add me

doxielover08

:yawn: :yawn: Not feeling motivated today, anyone else? I have my meal plan made out i just dont feel likr doing laps in the pool.

mss_anthropy

Not in the same boat per say. I'm busy with just a hyper puppy and a boyfriend, keeping our small apartment picked up and being the primary source of income. He pays his half, but I have to make sure I'm buying and cooking food as he is not at full time status with his job yet and we're working to keep his truck fixed up so it'll last till he gets a promotion or new job. I used to be in the fire department till I moved, have a demanding full time job as an administrative assistant that is now as my boss says "her right hand". So busy yes, but in the terms of your level no.

Kudo's to you though on all you do! That's just fantastic. Especially the volunteering bit

i think we're in the same boat. i almost didn't respond because i don't have children lol. full time work, with a full time los angeles style commute. primary source of income, with a kitchen impaired boyfriend. when i first started, i was going to the gym 5 days a week (or trying to) but then i was super tired all the time and my boyfriend was complaining about how we never see eachother. now-a-days i try to make it to the gym every other day, and on the days i dont go, i cook a big enough meal to have left overs. weekends are wild cards, and i try to get to the gym in the morning. i still haven't mastered "me" time lol but i'm getting there....

RockyMtnJhawk

Ok...WARNING...I'm going on a massive pity party rant here...don't judge.

I'm am DONE! Work is a mess right now-it's insanely busy and I'm incredibly behind. My daughter had surgery a month ago and I was out for a week-I came back to stacks and piles and a new employee to train on top of that. A week and a half after getting back we had a death in the family and I had to leave to go out of town for the funeral, etc...and yep, got back again to the already existing piles and stacks being even bigger than before.

The new employee who I was training then left for her wedding...leaving me to handle her docket, on top of mine.

Today I walked in to a huge mess and was in tears by 8:30am.

By 10:45 I was leaving the office and heading to my daughter's school to pick her up for an emergency Eye Dr apt-verdict: multiple corneal abrasions brought on by sand in her eye from the sand box at school. Now...Steroid & Antibiotic drops and an Eye Wash. That's going to be loads of fun for the both (she's two) of us!

I feel guilty for being stressed out about leaving work when I really need the time at the office. I feel guilty when I take care of her and I feel guilty when I take care of her/home.

I *hate* being a working mom with a demanding job. At the same time I'm so thankful for a job that provides for our family financially with great health benefits. I just really struggle with always feeling like I'm failing somewhere.

AND...I can't stand that my answer is to stress eat...which is what I did today.

I'm just sad, angry, stressed, lost and a mess right now.

UGH...I also realize how lucky I am to have a job, to have a healthy (for the most part-no major issues) child...but why does everything still seem so overwhelming and out of control?!?

Told you...rant.

Sorry. I'll shut up now.

aida0720

Im here and need support as well!!! i have a 2 year old and a 9 month old !!!! a full time job, another part time (just started) and a hubby!!!! and i want to lose 30 pounds and get my body back!! lets do this ROCKYMTNJHAWK!!!!!!!

ggsmamma

I LOVE these ideas. Thank you for posting. I have 4 freezers in the house because my husband is a commercial fisherman and hunter and right now they are fairly empty. I think that I am going to claim one of them for some of these ideas. THANK YOU!

kissie10

I too would like to lose a substantial amount of weight. I'm a full time working educator with the school district and I am an adjunct instructor at the county college. I have two little ones involved in so much and therefore, the priority in my life is rarely ME.

sweetpea142

YES! AND YOU CAN DO IT! GOOD LUCK!

kithalloyd

It can be done slowy but surely. I am the same way two kids, full time job, and full time master student. I am doing it squeezing in at least three days a week exercise but I try to aim for four. Good luck!! Add me if you want we can stay motivated together!!

alexisbanks12345

i am new to this an i am a a teen mother sad to say. i have been struggling between raising Lananie and working off all my fat and baby weight ): support would help me and my self esteem so much.

changling82

You can add me! I still have a little ways to go, but i've lost 100 pounds working full time and have 2 kiddos that are in activities. You can do it!

mommy1126

Definitely right there with you all! 2 boys - 1 is 12 years old, oh the joy of preteen hormones. I also have a 16 month old, and the terrible twos definitely hit this one early! I work full-time, and have been out of town for a total of 6 weeks this year for training! When I am home, my typical week at work is somewhere between 45 and 60 hours, and my husband works a 12 hour swing shift! Somehow in all that I forgot to say that I have the two most spoiled Weiner Dogs on earth!! So yeah, I definitely get the busy thing!

MonisNatural

I'm definitely in the same boat...single Mom to a 7 year old, Executive-level job, volunteer, administrator at my church, and always asked to be on someone's committee. Sometimes I feel like I'm going to drown in all of it but I need to be healthy for myself and my son.

Sending you a friend request now!

Shara126

3 toddlers- 3 year old twin boys and a 2 year old daughter. Hubby and I both work full time. I take care of 100% of the house work and 90% of the laundry. It took me 8 months to lose 26 pounds (18 with WW and the last 8 here) but I am 6 pounds away from my goal and it is the most awesome feeling in the world!!! You can do it honey!!!

Lady_Senie

I've been on this sight a while, but I just kee losing focus when emotions run high in my life (since I'm an emotional person...). I'll be doing well balancing my nursing job, husband, and 3 year old (sorry, no dog), then it'll just all fall apart! So frustrating. My problem is I'm an emotional eater. When things go wrong or I have a crappy shift, I eat. When I've reached a goal and all is well... I eat! I like fitaries2be's idea of tying emotions to exercise instead of eating, the effect would be MUCH better in my opinion ^_^ Anyway, feel free to add me, just please know that I have my good days and bad days, okay?

Dawna954

I hear ya! I have 3 kids, only one at home now but when they were all at home, I worked 2 very stressful jobs. I was putting in 70-90hr weeks. I finally broke down and hired a housekeeper. Best thing I ever did! Well that and joining MFP, What it has taught me is that my health and well being is most important and that so many others are feeling the same way. Everyone is in a different part of their journey but they all have the same destination. Welcome aboard and feel free to add me! Best of luck on your journey.