My Job is Making Me Fat!

I would definitely recommend a HIIT workout. Try Youtube...LionsGate BeFit, Melissa Bender....15-20 HIIT workout will work you out pretty well....

I understand what you are going through. My way of getting in exercise throughout the day is climbing 2 flights of stairs before I go to the bathroom and after I go to the bathroom. It takes maybe 5 additional min. each time I go, but it's worth it. I can climb up to 12 flights of stairs in one day. When the weather is nicer than it is now I also do a 30 min. walk during lunch. Then if I can only get in two evening workouts in the week, I still lose weight. But that's mostly dependent on my food intake. Exercise is good for you, but what you put into your body and the amount of calories you consume are far more important than the exercise when it comes to weight loss. The exercise is just the normal part of a healthy lifestyle. It doesn't add that many calories you can eat in a day unless you are aggressively exercising (crossfit, high intensity workouts).

A lot of people here are making good suggestions that I'm sure you have already considered. You have the most control over your situation. You need to make some changes for YOU.

So, I began an exercise and eating program with the help of MFP. I dropped 6 lbs in 2 weeks. I was very pleased.

The problem is my job. I work 8 to 10 hours a day with a 4 hr commute (2 hrs each way), plus I am a mom and wife, so family time is very important to me, given I have so little of it most of the week.

I have tried getting up at 4 am to work out, that didn't work, I am wiped after 2 or 3 days. I have tried logging nightly half hour sessions, but that is also very hard to do. My husband is not always home at a decent hour and most of the time dinner and homework help fall solely on me. By the time I get to sit down and eat I have an hour and a half to enjoy my family and have dinner before I have to go to bed and call it a night to start all over.

I am thinking that given my current (and long term) situation, I need to find another schedule for my exercise. I know for sure that I can dedicate time on Friday night, Saturday and Sunday. Has anyone else had success with 3 workout sessions a week? How did you do it? Did you do full max out session those 3 days? Did you alternate cardio/weights/full body???

Any help is greatly appreciated. I really want to and need to make this work.

As a side note I am already set on 1200 cal for my allowance on MFP, any tweaks suggested to that are welcome as well.

I would start with more food and then add in exercise at work...not sure if your work has a gym or one close but that works...30mins of walking or lifting or something and 30mins for lunch.

I only work out 4 days a week and I've managed to get down to 18.6% body fat.

On those days, however, I lift extremely heavy for my size and put all I can into my workouts. I usually work out Mon-Thurs and have Fri, Sat and Sun off... I'm in the best shape of my life.

I still stay within caloric range though on days I'm not exercising.

I also have a desk job and get no exercise during the day. I only workout 3-4 times a week for about a hour each day. I ended up raising my calorie goal to 1400 and I have done a lot better. I have ended up losing 15 pound in 3 months doing this so it is possible!

Other then the 4hour drive for work this is me all the way... I have a desk job that I'm at for 8 hours a day... I have to kids that I'm helping with home work and cooking dinner at the same time...I hate getting up any earlier to work out in the mornings... and I have very little time at night... I have lost 7lbs in the past 3 weeks just from changing my foods... I'm adding in work outs if I can and bout to force myself into working out in the AMs even if I have to come to work later and get home later...

I'm wondering the same as a lot of other people are but haven't seen you answer... why can't you find a job closer to home? i have a 30 minute commute and I still think that is too long lol.

I only work out 3X a week. I am seeing great results. Although I lift weights so doing my workouts 3 days in a row would not work for me.

I know what you mean about wanting exercise... I sit on my butt all day long as well at work. It is so not healthy. That is one of the main reasons I decided to make exercise a priority in my life. But it's hard when you have a family. I go to the gym after work, I get there around 6pm and workout for only 30 minutes. It's not much but I value my time with my family too much to stay there for an hour or more.

I have a desk job. I work 8 hours a day and I spend 3 hours commuting.
It's not your job that is making you fat, it's your mind.
You could exercise for 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the evening IF you wanted to even that is better than nothing.
Sorry to be harsh but I hear so many people moaning they can't lose weight and blaming everything and everybody but not themselves that I have no sympathy left

If you live near a big area like DC, LA, Atlanta sometimes you can't help how long you are in the car. Just because the time is long doesn't mean the distance is long. I lived in Woodbridge VA and Worked in McLean, it was like 14 miles maybe but the commute took forever. Hour plus. Even when I moved closer because of all the traffic it still took me 30 mins. Sometimes you can't help how long the commute is. You can though if it's a reasonable distance perhaps in nicer weather bike to work?

I am a stay at home mom during they day and I have a full time job at night. I exercise about 6 times a week. I have found a way to do exercises with my kids around. Or I exercise when they are in preschool. Jogging strollers are great for kids of all ages. It's not as fun as running or walking by yourself but you can do it. And then the kids are involved. Get hubby to go with you!
Or when you are at home with them, just do a quick circuit workout or something. Go up and down your stairs for 15 minutes.

I know exercise isn't a huge part of losing weight that a lot of it is diet but I know I eat better when I work out. Does it make sense? No. but for me it helps and so I am one of those people who if I don't work out I don't lose weight. It's like if I'm busting my *kitten* I'm not going to waste that on crappy food. But if I'm being lazy physically, I start getting lazy with what goes in my body.

Good luck!