work and going back to school

I don't anymore as I am done school but I used to park as far as I could away from where I was going and then walked, add the back pack with all my books, my laptop and my lunch and i got a fairly decent work out - I also used to park at the top of the parking structure and used the stairs in the summer, and in the winter I would park in the farthest underground parking place and walk across campus. Not sure if that is an option but it worked well for me.

I never used elevators either - my university was rather large and had a lot of old building with lots of stairs, I would use those stairs to my advantage.

I also packed my lunch that way I wasn't tempted to eat out every day - and I allowed myself one meal that I would buy every 2 weeks. And I made sure my snacks were packed as well. It worked well for me when I was in school I actually lost 20 pounds... unfortunatly when I finished I got a desk job and gained those 20 back and then some because I got lazy.

thank you both, I really need to get into it. Before I started working I was doing really well but have really let it slip since I started working and now im scared that it will only get worse.

I still remember my early days at Law School back in England at your age, just starting out, well away from home and family, adjusting to the cultural differences and working too to boot. It is a challenge, but it comes with a whole lot of personal sacrifices - like sleep for one, where you'll need to play catchup in that department, if there is a free day from classes and work.

Whatever you do - do not give up! And if you're finding difficulty - never hesitate to seek direct counsel from within the limitations of your College's resources. Lauren is correct@turning down social invitations and abstaining from alcohol.

I am going back to college starting in January and I am working as well. Right now I'm just working
and I am having a hard time getting back on track. I really need help with ways to be able to stay on
track as well as finding time to work out as well. How do you guys do it?

First of all, good for you! Going to school and working full-time is not easy...many of us (myself included) have done it...and I did it with small children (which is REALLY tough!)

I will confess that when I was going to school that I was more focused on just having something to eat - and not as concerned that it would fit with a healthy diet, so I ate lots of PB and Jelly sandwiches. Needless to say, I gained... Probably drinking lots of coffee with cream to help with sleep deprivation didn't help any.

If you are able to plan healthy meals in advance, I recommend it. Don't be afraid to make a healthy casserole or other healthy meal in a large quantity and either portion out your meals for a few days in advance - or freeze them in Tupperware or Rubbermaid containers that can be microwaved. Obviously, if you don't have access to a microwave at school to heat your meal up - that poses issues. In which case, I would recommend planning sandwiches for the week (in advance) and making sure that you have healthy snacks such as cut up veggies and nuts for when you are stressed out and need to put something in your mouth. I bought a skinny thermos that fit in my handbag when I was in school, and was able to take hot water (pack teabags) or coffee to help save on $$...

This will be a hectic time of your life...and so I won't say enjoy it because while there will be parts that you will love, there will be tears, too. Don't be afraid to ask friends and family (if you have them near) to help however they can. Can you stop over for a meal once a week? What I will say is that all too quickly you will be through and will look back on amazement at how you survived, and found ways to make do. Also, once you have that degree in hand, you most likely will get a better paying job (I did!) and no longer have to eat cheaply.

Some other cheap meal ideas:

Split peas make a delicious soup with just the tiniest remnants of ham
Chili beans can be made into chili with a little bit of hamburger and tomatoes - or can be vegetarian
Rice (I shop in bulk and make my own mix of brown and wild) is a staple that we eat with pork, beef and chicken
Potatoes can be made into wonderful soup with a cheap package of bacon, an onion and a large can of cream of mushroom soup
Get used to thinking most protein bang for your buck
Buy cheapest fruits and veggies...we eat bananas daily because they are cheap. Would we love peaches and grapes? Of course, but we only buy the cheapest... Likewise, we eat lots of broccoli and carrots...

Get used to cooking in bulk and discover that leftovers are your best friend! To this day (after learning to we learned to live on casseroles) I still cook in bulk and only cook once or twice per week. (Obviously, cooking is not my *thing* and I'd rather spend my time doing other things I love. For those that have the time and *love* of cooking, this would look very different.)

Best wishes! You CAN do this! (Also, I found that the more people I told about my schooling, the more people I had to hold myself accountable, and when the going got rough - and it will get rough - I couldn't just drop out, because I couldn't disappoint people)...so plan to give MFP friends monthly updates on how school is going. :flowerforyou:

Plan, plan, plan. Know when you're working, when you're doing homework, when you're working out and when you're shopping/cooking healthy stuff. Plan ahead and pack your lunches.

I work full-time, go to school half-time, have a 6-year-old daughter, and keep my house relatively clean and running smoothly most of the time. It is busy, but it can be done. You just have to use your time in a purposeful manner.