Calorie counting as my last resort.
shelly_75
Posts: 5
Hi all. I am an antisocial (not because I want to be but because I emotionally can not handle being around people-so a gym is out of the question) working mom who does administrative work 40-45 hours per week then runs two kids to every sport imaginable, while trying to maintain the home, teaching Sunday School with attendance twice a week, balancing and paying my mothers bills as well as my own and the basic care of a husband who does not cook, clean, or feed himself even if it is a microwavable frozen meal. Typical probably but Lord help me I am overwhelmed. I pray losing weight will help and give me the energy to fulfill the daily chores & requests. I've tried everything in the past, including calorie counting. With small successes followed by larger gains I'm back to calorie counting with this new app. Looking for encouragement anywhere I can! Goal at least 60 pounds...
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good luck!0
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cook family meals that are "healthy" cut your portion size if you need to (and you probably know if you need to) play running about games with the kids when you play-(if poss)-you know, in those many many hours you have free- and try to not snack on junk (if you have done) , that's my advice for starters......oh and stop feeding your husband unless he cannot physically do it, he should be using cutlery by now. x0
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I found that staying within a calorie budget every day and incorporating exercise and weightlifting into my week I had increased energy almost immediately, even before the pounds started coming off. There is something very therapeutic about taking care of one's self, especially when one has lots of competing demands, like you do, with your work and your family's needs.
About 6 months into my lifestyle change, I started trying other fun things, like music lessons, and painting my toenails, little things that were not that time-intensive, but which added to my sense of well-being.
Good luck and I wish you the best.0 -
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P.S. Consider getting a Fitbit, that way you can monitor your step activity at work and try to get extra steps while there.0
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You can lose 200 pounds straight away by dumping the lazy husband.0
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GiveMeCoffee wrote: »
bingo!!0 -
Reading between the lines it looks as if you are aware that the pressures on you aren't entirely reasonable!
Unless you love household chores/running errands and consider them your personal hobby, more help is required... and more fun?
Losing weight is just part of a bigger picture - for all of us.0 -
Best of luck to you! Make sure to try to take an hour a day for exercise - I've trained my kids that it's "mommy's time" although sometimes they work out with me
(mine are 7 and 10 not sure how old yours are) plus if they both have practices I try to spend that time walking around the fields to get some extra fitness in. Does wonders for my mood and health! Most importantly it is me making myself a priority! And I do slack on the housework sometimes (ok, ok most times) for my exercise because I'd rather have health and energy over a mopped floor. 0 -
Sounds like you have a LOT on your plate! In my opinion, the decision to try counting calories again with all you have going on is an important and wonderful step!!
In addition to encouragement, are you looking for anything else via MFP (meal/workout suggestions, friends, etc.)?
Good luck with your journey - I'm cheering for you!0 -
Its absolutely do-able. I have two kids, I just finished a bachelor's degree (as a FT student), I work full-time, I do 95% of the housework. I'm also a birth doula. SO yes, it's absolutely possible to lose weight when you're busy. Just set your mind to it, and don't make it an option. Take care of you (get enough sleep, eat when you're hungry) and keep yourself accountable by logging EVERYTHING you eat. Good luck!0
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haha - my thoughts exactly, but whatever. Good luck to the anti-social sunday school teacher. We all have different elements of motivation.SonicDeathMonkey80 wrote: »
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Put an exercise bike in the bedroom and use it just before bed - that way he'll know weight loss is a priority for you and he might start helping out a bit in other areas too (so you have time to exercise before 8pm at night when he wants to do other things...). Good luck!0
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If your husband is disabled, I tip my hats off to you for running everything...if he is not ,, it appears the only weight you need to lose is him..what does he weigh?0
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Make him cook dinner for the sex0
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If you are looking for a workout suggestion....Walk at Home, Walk Away the Pounds are videos by Leslie Sansone. These are totally doable in home, in a small space. No equipment and no choreography so there's nothing to learn and you go at your own pace. Just put in 10-15 minutes here and there to get started.
One method that may not require logging calories (not for everyone) is the 5:2 Diet or intermittent fasting. You eat maintenance 5 days a week & eat 500 calories the other 2. I say that it "may" not require logging. Some people start by logging just to know that they can stay on track and not go crazy (binges) on days off. Long term maintenance would require some form of 500 calorie fasting here & there.
You can do this - just stay positive!0 -
Time to teach the kids life skills and kick the husband into touch - or do you enjoy the martyrdom/ready excuses?
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Well.... on the plus side I guess you have 100% control over the ingredients that go into your cooking.
You sound a bit overwhelmed. Don't worry, counting calories take extremely little time, though it does likely need a bit of planning.
The good news is it takes literally seconds to put something on a scale to see how much it weighs before you eat it. The bad news is you have to practice having availability of said scale and other plans when weighing is not an option.
I have "car-snacks"- a bag of pre-measured food I carry around with me in case I get hungry while out and about or tied up later than expected. I find this habit along with not having things in the house that I tend to over-eat on has resolved much of my undesired calorie intake.
As for exercise I pace when on the phone or do a few wall-push ups here and there or just little things to get some movement in. You don't "need" exercise to lose weight, and certainly not formal exercise at a gym. It sounds like you might be a bit active already anyway.
My last bit of advice would be to start SLOW. I set my goal at .5 per week to get in the habit of tracking and weighing and still set it back to that on some days when I want to eat more. Losing .5 a week and sticking to it is better than giving up and continuing to gain. It's been quite easy since I have not been trying to over-do it.0 -
lulwut0
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Support helps!0
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Welcome!0
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Totally agree - you didn't make those kids on your own right? If you can help make them, he can help take care of them. He's supposed to be your partner.
If you don't take care of yourself or invest time in yourself, who will? With so much stress, it's possible you could get sick down the road, will your husband be there to help you with things when you're sick and cannot do them? I hope nothing ever happens where it comes to that situation, but realistically it could.
Bottom line: if you want to change your life and lose the weight, it's a commitment and you need to invest the time in yourself. Further, you need the support of your friends and family. Otherwise, it's going to end up being a yo-yo diet instead of a long term lifestyle change.0 -
Just to set the record straight...you are not an antisocial:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisocial_personality_disorder
You're probably just shy.0 -
tracyannk28 wrote: »Just to set the record straight...you are not an antisocial:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisocial_personality_disorder
You're probably just shy.
Yepp.0 -
I see your getting a lot of flack for taking care of your husband, but I understand. I get up and make mine breakfast and lunch before I head to the gym and after work I make dinner for the family- we choose our burdens.
- That being said, there are ways to find time for yourself. I get up early on gym days (which I know you said you don't want to do because your not social- but I may say 5 words to people the whole time I work out, I'm not there to chat I'm there to lift my weights and then get out). I feel like a rock star when I leave the gym and it is the best part of my day. You could get the same feeling from a video at home or some kettlebells, or a walk at lunch possibly.
- my advice: treat your workout like one of your kids activities, commit and make it happen. Maybe you can even walk or do some body weight stuff on the sidelines if you have to hang around for it?
- Everyone is busy, i work, have a family, am in a masters degree program and volunteer, but we find time for what is important. If this is important to you, you can find time.
- Good luck, everything gets easier as you get used to doing it- build some habits and find a way to to carve out some time for you.0 -
I found that staying within a calorie budget every day and incorporating exercise and weightlifting into my week I had increased energy almost immediately, even before the pounds started coming off. There is something very therapeutic about taking care of one's self, especially when one has lots of competing demands, like you do, with your work and your family's needs.
About 6 months into my lifestyle change, I started trying other fun things, like music lessons, and painting my toenails, little things that were not that time-intensive, but which added to my sense of well-being.
Good luck and I wish you the best.
I love this0 -
Best of luck! You can do this.0
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