How to juggle being a mom, housewife and dieter??

Could you make some meals to stash in the freezer on the days your man is around? Then your food prep (and cleanup!) would be much less on the days he's at work.

As for the good night's sleep -- I used to really struggle with falling asleep at night, with my brain running at 150 mph. I started reading a page or two of a novel as I lie in bed, and it really works. My brain forgets to think about my own life, I guess, because it's been distracted by fiction!

I feel you! I have 4 kids and babysit a 16 month old, and decorate cakes. When you figure out how to get it all done let me know! I don't know what I'd do without my hubby's help! I'm thankful that he does a lot!

It might help if you put yourself on a scheule. Planning helps...even when interruptions happen. Make a point to get up early to exercise maybe 30 minutes, if you're new to exercising or haven't done it in awhile, you may want to start with 10 minutes and work your way up. Experts say exercise in the morning gives you energy throughout the day and helps brain function and all that kinda stuff. LOL Remember changing your lifestyle is mind game...you have to change your mind to change your habits/routine, to change your life. You can do it... take small steps...only do what you can do...make sure not to over schedule yourself. Best of success to you!!

I'm a single mum of 2 boys who works full time also! It is difficult to fit everything in, but with a bit of juggling I manage to fit in work, housework, running, time with the boys and still have a smile on my face :-D!! Its all about priorising, deciding if the floor really needs hoovering twice a day and the pots always washed the minute dinner is finished or is it more important to spend time with your family and make time for you!?!? My house certainly has "that lived in" look, but its clean and respectable, my boys are happy and I'm on my way to a fitter, healthier lifestyle. Do you have friends or family that can help out with anything? Or even just be around to support you whilst you cook dinner/wash pots/iron!? Its amazing what a difference having a friend there makes even if you're doing something really mundane. Im sure if you get a routine in place and try and get some exercise in, your energy levels will increase.....good luck :-D

I'm not a mom but am a medical student and work long hours. I've found it makes meals SO much easier when I meal plan at the beginning of the week. Each weekend I decide what we're eating Monday-Thurs and plan out all 4 meals, complete w/ a grocery list of the ingredients I need that week for lunches and dinner. Knowing what you're having and having all ingredients on hand is the majority of the battle, I think. Also, I try to pre as much the night before. Good luck!

I have three kids 2, 5, and 11. I get up before them to work out. My days are calm until they get out of school. Then we are running every where for every sport under the sun. By bath time I'm dead to the world. I will say I have so much more energy since I started getting up earlier and working out though. It really does help. Plus I feel like it's "me time".

FYI-While I was typing this, my kids who have been ready for school for 40 minutes, were late getting to the bus because none of us looked at the clock.

A+ parenting moment of the day. **sigh**

My hubby works out of town most weeks and is only home on weekends, so again, I get where you're coming from. I do my best to work out in the morning, so that it is done and I don't find excuses to not do it. It was really tough forcing myself out of bed an hour early for the first couple of weeks, and i was tired (even more so than normal) but now that I've been doing it a few weeks, it is a lot easier and I am sleeping a lot better.

I also meal plan. I sit down every two weeks and write up a menu based on what's happening in our lives. some nights it's quick and easy meals, when I have more time, I make stuff that involves more effort. and then I have no excuse to not make healthy meals. You could certainly plan that around when your BF is working and not.

I certainly don't think I've got it all together (one look around my house confirms it) but letting the housework slide some days so that I can get healthy will, overall, make me a better wife and mom to my boys.

I'm a mom with a 4 yr old and 2 yr old boys. I run a company that requires me to work at minimum 40 hours a week and then I go home and make dinner, give baths, read books, all the things my kids need. I made a decision about two months ago I really need some me time...mostly as a stress reliever and I tell you my work outs have made me a better person and mom. I don't yell or get as stressed out as I used too. I think for me it's about schedules and choices. I make a choice everyday to do as much as I can and let the little stuff go when possible. I want me boys to grow up eating the right things and seeing their parents working really hard to accomplish something important to them. So some nights I have it in me to make dinnner...and sometimes it's whatever we can throw together. I am not a meal maker on Sunday for meals throughout the week, but I have recently (which has helped) picked out 4 receipes for the week (one night off with just eating leftovers or whatever) and then picked up the groceries I need for those meals only on Sundays. Then I know what I will make each day and it's not as much of a challenge. I also am not wasting food which is important. Don't beat yourself up when it does not work for a day. Take a step back, relax and breath and start again tomorrow. Good luck.

you're day sounds so busy! maybe on the weekends or days that your dh is home, you could make larger meals and freeze half of it? ...and on the days when he's at work you can pull out the meal to thaw. ...Or just do simple, one pot dinners. Over the years I've learned to do just a little bit every day (as far as cleaning goes) and to not stress about it. Also, if you feel you're kids are old enough give them some stuff to do.

My kiddos are bigger and can help out some so that's a big plus! I used to feel kinda guilty about giving my kids "chores" becasue I'm a sham; but really how are they going to learn to do anything if I don't let them? So slowly I have handed somethings off to my kids.

My 4yr old can easily help dust if I'm just 'dry' dusting w one of those swiffer things. ...and she helps w her laundry (she matches socks and her clothes that go in the dresser she puts away. I still have to fold for her tho.) She also helps to set/clear the table (i just need to put the plates and such on the table so she can reach. ...and she puts all the dog's toys back in the basket.

My 9yr old does lots more! He wipes-down the kids' bathroom upstairs and that makes going in to clean it so easy for me! He also helps by dusting and vacuuming the playroom, set/clear the table, unload the diswasher (what he can't reach I do, like the glasses) and sometimes dishes. He also takes the trash out and will pull the bins down to the street and back up. ...and he puts all his own laundry away (if I remind him too).

I don't have them help w the table or dishes or whatever everyday. Just a few times a week. I look at it this way, we are a family, a team, and we all need to work together. When my son starts to talk about how much he doesn't want to clean I show him my to do list and ask if wants to trade; that usually takes care of that (on day we traded; he was done being the grown-up by lunch!)

Oh, and w the laundry, each of them have a basket in their room, on Thursdays (laundry day because I don't want to have to worry about over the weekend) they bring their baskets down to the laundry-room. When the clothes are done I'll fold and put it all in the basket and they can carry it back up stairs.

As far as their bedrooms go. I don't even fight w them. They know what I expect; they know how to pick up their toys (yes even my four yr old knows where her barbies go). There have been times when they have missed out because their rooms weren't picked up. ((For some reason my son is much better at helping out with "community" areas of the house than he is about is room...???))


I love that my kids have learned that things don't just magicly get done and that mom works hard to do keep up on the house and everything in it. The house stays cleaner for longer now!

That's all I got... hope I said something that helps!

I'm not a mom but am a medical student and work long hours. I've found it makes meals SO much easier when I meal plan at the beginning of the week. Each weekend I decide what we're eating Monday-Thurs and plan out all 4 meals, complete w/ a grocery list of the ingredients I need that week for lunches and dinner. Knowing what you're having and having all ingredients on hand is the majority of the battle, I think. Also, I try to pre as much the night before. Good luck!

I second the Crockpot Meals ... they have been a godsend for my sanity too ....