Let's try this AGAIN!

Hello everyone! I just turned 40 this year and was looking for a cute outfit to wear to a birthday party my husband was throwing me and everything out there is ugly or tent-like. I cried. So now I'm on a journey to eat better, exercise and lose weight. My goal is 75lbs. I have two very active teenage boys (soccer and football) and a very active 7yr old girl. I am in the car running the boys more often than not. So the whole exercise thing is getting me down. I never seem to have time to do it. I work nights, so when i'm ready to exercise I have to sleep or else I will not get through the day. Any suggestions? I was walking/running and would really like to get back into that...but... hopefully when school starts back up.


We eat pretty healthy, very rarely do we eat processed foods. Most everything is homemade. Fresh fruit is our favorite dessert. I'm seeing a nutritionist (she says just keep at it, keep logging meals) I feel like nothing is working.

Replies

  • mjst_2014
    mjst_2014 Posts: 133 Member
    Hi Tango,

    Welcome to MFP and Sorry to hear about that incident that made you cry but here is to hoping that now you are here you are ready to do this and fix that. You can add me for support, I am new here myself but I know you can't do this alone.

    You can add me to your friends list, I have sent you a request.

    Good luck to both us I guess.
  • CristineAdams
    CristineAdams Posts: 3 Member
    I'm a newbie here as well---only started 2 days ago---but I thought of something you might try. Before I retired and could walk with several neighbor ladies early in the morning, I tried----TRIED---to get up 15 or 20 minutes earlier in the morning and walk on the treadmill in the spare bedroom before I started my day. I didn't always succeed (treadmills are boring to me & I prefer to walk outside). But for me, it was better than nothing. And it had the added benefit of getting the old blood pumping, and I always found I had more energy during the day. Just a thought.
  • focused4health
    focused4health Posts: 154 Member
    Its a long journey and you are well underway. Cutting out processed foods is a positive step. Keep logging and instead of thinking about exercise too much buy a fitbit and aim at a manageable number of steps each day. From the sound of it you you are active and if you have a pedometer you can challenge yourself. Take to boys to soccer leave earlier and park a little away from the usual drop off and walk with them to the ground. Same with shopping. Park further away. Move around as much as you can. It all adds up.:smile:
  • trogalicious
    trogalicious Posts: 4,584 Member
    Suggestions?

    Here ya go:

    1. don't trust the initial setup that MFP provides. If you put in the wrong/inaccurate information, it'll tell you to eat an amount that may not be applicable.
    2. Make sure you eat enough.
    3. Figure out what works for you and is sustainable/healthy/long term.
    4. avoid fads. don't buy in to any "Hey, try the twinkie and vodka diet"
    5. Don't cut out anything now that you don't plan on literally giving up forever.
    6. GET A FOOD SCALE. Weigh everything. No, seriously.
    7. Get an HRM with a chest strap. You'll at least have a better idea of what you're burning. It'll be more accurate than the generic info in the exercise database.. and even more than the cardio machines. This is great for steady state cardio (run/walk/etc)
    8. Don't go balls out. You'll burn out. I see 300 lb people show up here, instantly start working out and cutting their intake SEVERELY... trying to cut out all of their carbs at once.. whatever. Take it slow. Figure out how much you need to eat FIRST in order to lose.. then incorporate exercise.
    9. Don't cardio yourself to death.
    10. Take the information on the forums with a grain of salt. A lot of people that have been here for a while.. and have been successful, may seem jaded. They give out GREAT advice day after day, only to be met with people that refuse to listen.
    11. Eat real food. Not diet food. Not "low fat, sugar free, now without X." It's easier to get/find/count.
    12. don't set time restrictions.
    13. measure yourself weekly. Don't just weigh. Measure and take pictures.
    14 BE PATIENT.
    15. Avoid forum topics that have "1200" in the title. It's just full of butthurt. Lots of it.
    16. If you ask a question on the forum, give as much information as you can ("yes, I have a food scale and weigh my food" is worlds better than "I eat a palm full of miscellaneous boiled chicken parts..sometimes.")
    17. Be honest with yourself and honest with us.
    18. This isn't a game, it's about changing your lifestyle. Do that.

    pretty much that.

    ...and don't fall into the "1200 calorie" vertigo of suck because of:

    the typical MFP users does this:
    1. I wanna lose weight, let's try MFP.
    2. OH! Wow, it tells me I can lose 2 lbs a WEEK? AWESOME!
    3. I just sit at a desk when I'm not working out, I guess I'm sedentary.
    4. MFP tells them 1200 calories, and they don't even eat that.. then they work out on top of it.. creating an even bigger deficit.
    5. Lose a lot, fast, brag about 1200 calorie success.
    6. Come back in a few months trying to figure out why they're dizzy, tired, not losing weight.
    7. Get on the forums, ask why they aren't losing.
    8. Get two responses (I eat 1200 and lose) (I eat 2200 and lose)
    9. Argument ensues about who is right.

    Now. That being said. These threads happen hundreds of times per day. Most times, and I mean really.. seriously.. 95% of the time.. people get the 1200 number because they don't put the right information in when they set up the account. There are a great number of people that are trying to help. I'm one of 'em.

    I'm a hardcore advocate of actually finding out what works for the individual.. by means of other calculators, averages, time, practice, and patience.

    Blanket prescriptions of 1200 calories "because it worked for me" is more harmful to the generic new user than the "figure out what you need to eat." Unfortunately, one is a LOT easier to type.

    Find out what you need: http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/

    and make sure to read: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

    ...and here's another approach.

    Block off 6 weeks. log EXACTLY what you eat for those six weeks, weigh at the beginning, weight at the end. If you've lost, you're eating under your TDEE. If you haven't lost, congrats.. you found your TDEE, if you've gained... then you're above TDEE.

    From there, look at how much you lost or gained and you have a rough estimate of how to shift your intake to balance it out.

    Online calculators are great, but they're just estimates. They give you decent ideas for starting points. From there, it's on you to fine tune it.
  • caramac49
    caramac49 Posts: 7 Member
    Is it possible to try doing activities that you can all do together, or the rest of you can do whilst one of you is busy with his/her sport? We have started family bike rides, I run (or at least fast push in my wheelchair!) around the park when my daughter is playing on the swings/climbing frame, we play tennis together, and dog walking and frisbee are great ways to get moving. Maybe you could try roller blading?

    I totally sympathise with everything you have said, it is so hard to keep the motivation going and I am the worst for stop/starting on my healthy eating. I don't even have an excuse in my home life as my husband is a health and fitness finatic and even my 10 year old daughter prefers to eat healthy, wholesome foods. However, I have found it easier to keep active because it is addictive and exercising with the family is so much fun.

    Good luck!
  • TJ_Rugger
    TJ_Rugger Posts: 166 Member
    Suggestions?

    Here ya go:

    1. don't trust the initial setup that MFP provides. If you put in the wrong/inaccurate information, it'll tell you to eat an amount that may not be applicable.
    2. Make sure you eat enough.
    3. Figure out what works for you and is sustainable/healthy/long term.
    4. avoid fads. don't buy in to any "Hey, try the twinkie and vodka diet"
    5. Don't cut out anything now that you don't plan on literally giving up forever.
    6. GET A FOOD SCALE. Weigh everything. No, seriously.
    7. Get an HRM with a chest strap. You'll at least have a better idea of what you're burning. It'll be more accurate than the generic info in the exercise database.. and even more than the cardio machines. This is great for steady state cardio (run/walk/etc)
    8. Don't go balls out. You'll burn out. I see 300 lb people show up here, instantly start working out and cutting their intake SEVERELY... trying to cut out all of their carbs at once.. whatever. Take it slow. Figure out how much you need to eat FIRST in order to lose.. then incorporate exercise.
    9. Don't cardio yourself to death.
    10. Take the information on the forums with a grain of salt. A lot of people that have been here for a while.. and have been successful, may seem jaded. They give out GREAT advice day after day, only to be met with people that refuse to listen.
    11. Eat real food. Not diet food. Not "low fat, sugar free, now without X." It's easier to get/find/count.
    12. don't set time restrictions.
    13. measure yourself weekly. Don't just weigh. Measure and take pictures.
    14 BE PATIENT.
    15. Avoid forum topics that have "1200" in the title. It's just full of butthurt. Lots of it.
    16. If you ask a question on the forum, give as much information as you can ("yes, I have a food scale and weigh my food" is worlds better than "I eat a palm full of miscellaneous boiled chicken parts..sometimes.")
    17. Be honest with yourself and honest with us.
    18. This isn't a game, it's about changing your lifestyle. Do that.

    pretty much that.

    ...and don't fall into the "1200 calorie" vertigo of suck because of:

    the typical MFP users does this:
    1. I wanna lose weight, let's try MFP.
    2. OH! Wow, it tells me I can lose 2 lbs a WEEK? AWESOME!
    3. I just sit at a desk when I'm not working out, I guess I'm sedentary.
    4. MFP tells them 1200 calories, and they don't even eat that.. then they work out on top of it.. creating an even bigger deficit.
    5. Lose a lot, fast, brag about 1200 calorie success.
    6. Come back in a few months trying to figure out why they're dizzy, tired, not losing weight.
    7. Get on the forums, ask why they aren't losing.
    8. Get two responses (I eat 1200 and lose) (I eat 2200 and lose)
    9. Argument ensues about who is right.

    Now. That being said. These threads happen hundreds of times per day. Most times, and I mean really.. seriously.. 95% of the time.. people get the 1200 number because they don't put the right information in when they set up the account. There are a great number of people that are trying to help. I'm one of 'em.

    I'm a hardcore advocate of actually finding out what works for the individual.. by means of other calculators, averages, time, practice, and patience.

    Blanket prescriptions of 1200 calories "because it worked for me" is more harmful to the generic new user than the "figure out what you need to eat." Unfortunately, one is a LOT easier to type.

    Find out what you need: http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/

    and make sure to read: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

    ...and here's another approach.

    Block off 6 weeks. log EXACTLY what you eat for those six weeks, weigh at the beginning, weight at the end. If you've lost, you're eating under your TDEE. If you haven't lost, congrats.. you found your TDEE, if you've gained... then you're above TDEE.

    From there, look at how much you lost or gained and you have a rough estimate of how to shift your intake to balance it out.

    Online calculators are great, but they're just estimates. They give you decent ideas for starting points. From there, it's on you to fine tune it.


    ^^^^ ALL OF THIS! Matt gives out GREAT advice.

    The big thing is take things slowly. Results that come from slow and steady work last a lot longer than quick fat melts. Keep in mind you're trying to make a lifestyle change, not dropping 2 lbs so you can fit in the prom dress in 1 week. You're trying to change how your body functions for the long term.

    Just keep in mind that one great day is not going to change your body .... also one bad day is not going to ruin your work. I still eat bad foods like pizza, burgers, ice cream, ect, but rarely... but when I do I try to enjoy them. I realize that eating that kind of food everyday got me to the point where I needed to loose weight. But from time to time, enjoy things that you enjoy.

    Good Luck and keep us posted. This community here can be GREAT support.
  • kansas_km
    kansas_km Posts: 73 Member
    I have a 10 yr old boy in basketball and I try to walk around during his practices. Its the perfect amount of time and by the time he is done I've burned some good calories. I have 30# to lose and menopause is messing me up. Add me if you'd like! You can do this!
  • gymboreejunkie
    gymboreejunkie Posts: 25 Member
    I believe what another poster said about getting your eating habits worked out. Even when we think we're eating "healthy" we realize when we plug in all the info we're eating above our macros (calories, fat, sugar, sodium, etc). Once you feel comfortable with logging food then incorporate exercise.

    I know it's hard to exercise when you have busy children, but when my son was playing football I would run around the football field doing my Couch to 5k app. At first I was self concious thinking that everyone was looking at the "fat women" running around the field. Then it hit me, the fat lady is running around the field. I was able to get my workout in without feeling I was taking time away from my family.

    Eventually other Moms started running/walking with me. It was great!

    Good luck to you on your journey.
  • mamanewland
    mamanewland Posts: 281 Member
    You can do this! Add me as a friend if you'd like. I'll try to encourage you along the way!