Back to work and not doing well

I would be giving yourself some extra calories (aka, slow weightloss rate down) to allow for some low-calorie snacks to keep you going during the day. Don't forget cheese is quite high in calories so unless it keeps you full, don't bother.

It's a small hurdle, not a full stop to what you are doing - stay positive and you will get there!

I'm sorry to hear that you're feeling down. A change in routine can definitely be hard to adjust too. And I hate when it happens when you've just gotten into the swing of things!

First things first - don't be too hard on yourself. You said yourself that you're snacking on fruit or cheese instead of junk, so that's something. And you recognize that what you're doing right now isn't working - so that is also a BIG something.

You say that you suck at planning, but unfortunately it feels like that's the only thing that will get you out of this. That being said, I usually devote either Saturday or Sunday afternoon to making two big batches of food, portioning it out and freezing if. Then I have one thing for lunch and one thing for dinner all done for the whole week. Eating the same thing every day isn't glamorous but it is easy and cuts down on the planning for sure.

smileyahp wrote: »

I am horrible at planning, I just can't keep up with it. Did great over the summer, but now back to school teaching and I am doing horribly! So frustrated, I snack more because it's a long day and commute and I am hungry before dinner on the drive home. I'm not eating whoppie pies anymore, so that's good, usually a cheese stick or fruit, but I am going over in calories everyday. I haven't gotten my workout due to getting home late. I am feeling really down.

Try pre-logging your day into MFP in the morning. That way you know what your calories will be for the day, so you know ahead of time that you won't be going over. For snacks, take cut up vegetables along with you rather than cheese, which can be calorie dense. Try some celery, peppers, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, green onions, radishes, etc. Mix and match to keep things interesting. Vegetables are very low in calories and will give you plenty to munch on during your drive home before dinner without blowing your calorie goals.

Do any of the schools have a track, playground, or parking lot that you could walk a few laps around at some point during your day? Might give you a little energy boost to get your body moving during the day. Two or three ten-minute walks would give you a nice little daily workout. Don't forget a water bottle to stay full & hydrated during your drives.

pstegman888 wrote: »

Do any of the schools have a track, playground, or parking lot that you could walk a few laps around at some point during your day? Might give you a little energy boost to get your body moving during the day. Two or three ten-minute walks would give you a nice little daily workout. Don't forget a water bottle to stay full & hydrated during your drives.

Most teachers don't have enough time in their day for actual 10 minute breaks. You are usually doing some work, even without kids, or running to the bathroom if you have a little break. Lunch is rarely more than a half hour.

I teach too--re-entry has been hard!!! one rule I have is I only eat what I pack in my lunch bag. I put 3 cups of chopped up veggies in tupperwares on the weekend-that helps too. in the morning I can grab the veggies, a thing of 100 calorie yogurt, an apple and a little almond butter--that gets me through the day pretty well. If I didn't eat breakfast at home, I throw 1 cup of some low cal high fiber cereal in a baggie and eat it in the car with a hard boiled egg. all of that only required a little advance planning-I can boil eggs on Sunday, put three days worth of veggies in tupperware (more than three days in advance, they get a little mushy...), yogurts are no prep, apples and almond butter are no prep. I also buy those aseptic cartons of soup that are shelf stable--Pacific makes a bunch of them that are 180 calories a box--you can even bring 4 or 5 to school and just stick them in your bottom drawer. I also keep instant oatmeal packets at school--not terrible if you forget a lunch. I try to remember to keep a bottle of water in my car so on the way home I try to down the entire bottle--keeps me from snacking and gets me rehydrated after the day.

As for teachers walking a track or something during the day--totally not realistic. I don't know how others dress, but I wear a dress and nice flats 3-4 days a week--no way I am out walking like that, plus free periods are spent making copies, going to the bathroom, grabbing a cup of tea or coffee, returning phone calls, chatting with colleagues, making personal phone calls, returning emails-you get the idea. a lot of the teachers at my school do change into their work out clothes at school and stop at gyms on the way home. I don't, but it works for lots of them.

drabbits2 wrote: »

I teach too--re-entry has been hard!!! one rule I have is I only eat what I pack in my lunch bag. I put 3 cups of chopped up veggies in tupperwares on the weekend-that helps too. in the morning I can grab the veggies, a thing of 100 calorie yogurt, an apple and a little almond butter--that gets me through the day pretty well. If I didn't eat breakfast at home, I throw 1 cup of some low cal high fiber cereal in a baggie and eat it in the car with a hard boiled egg. all of that only required a little advance planning-I can boil eggs on Sunday, put three days worth of veggies in tupperware (more than three days in advance, they get a little mushy...), yogurts are no prep, apples and almond butter are no prep. I also buy those aseptic cartons of soup that are shelf stable--Pacific makes a bunch of them that are 180 calories a box--you can even bring 4 or 5 to school and just stick them in your bottom drawer. I also keep instant oatmeal packets at school--not terrible if you forget a lunch. I try to remember to keep a bottle of water in my car so on the way home I try to down the entire bottle--keeps me from snacking and gets me rehydrated after the day.

As for teachers walking a track or something during the day--totally not realistic. I don't know how others dress, but I wear a dress and nice flats 3-4 days a week--no way I am out walking like that, plus free periods are spent making copies, going to the bathroom, grabbing a cup of tea or coffee, returning phone calls, chatting with colleagues, making personal phone calls, returning emails-you get the idea. a lot of the teachers at my school do change into their work out clothes at school and stop at gyms on the way home. I don't, but it works for lots of them.

I bought some "fashion sneakers" for all the walking/running at work but I teach little ones and the dress code is lax so don't have to wear flats.

We started school again last week. I did awful! I didn't plan well and wound up ordering out for lunch twice last week. It is better this week. I have weighed and packed all my food when I make my daughters lunch at night. I have even avoided any of the food that has been dumped in the teacher's room.

pstegman888 wrote: »

Do any of the schools have a track, playground, or parking lot that you could walk a few laps around at some point during your day? Might give you a little energy boost to get your body moving during the day. Two or three ten-minute walks would give you a nice little daily workout. Don't forget a water bottle to stay full & hydrated during your drives.

Today I had a total of 10 minutes without my students! I had to eat lunch and use the bathroom during that small window of time. The rest of the day I was with my students : from 8:10 - 3:15.

Pre-log your days.

drabbits2 wrote: »

I teach too--re-entry has been hard!!! one rule I have is I only eat what I pack in my lunch bag. I put 3 cups of chopped up veggies in tupperwares on the weekend-that helps too. in the morning I can grab the veggies, a thing of 100 calorie yogurt, an apple and a little almond butter--that gets me through the day pretty well. If I didn't eat breakfast at home, I throw 1 cup of some low cal high fiber cereal in a baggie and eat it in the car with a hard boiled egg. all of that only required a little advance planning-I can boil eggs on Sunday, put three days worth of veggies in tupperware (more than three days in advance, they get a little mushy...), yogurts are no prep, apples and almond butter are no prep. I also buy those aseptic cartons of soup that are shelf stable--Pacific makes a bunch of them that are 180 calories a box--you can even bring 4 or 5 to school and just stick them in your bottom drawer. I also keep instant oatmeal packets at school--not terrible if you forget a lunch. I try to remember to keep a bottle of water in my car so on the way home I try to down the entire bottle--keeps me from snacking and gets me rehydrated after the day.

As for teachers walking a track or something during the day--totally not realistic. I don't know how others dress, but I wear a dress and nice flats 3-4 days a week--no way I am out walking like that, plus free periods are spent making copies, going to the bathroom, grabbing a cup of tea or coffee, returning phone calls, chatting with colleagues, making personal phone calls, returning emails-you get the idea. a lot of the teachers at my school do change into their work out clothes at school and stop at gyms on the way home. I don't, but it works for lots of them.

If you can't get to a microwave, those little lunch sized crock pots are great to heat soup.

We dress really casual in my district. I've more than once been asked, "you can wear jeans/shorts to work?" But still little time. Last year I often went to the pool on the way home.

I pre plan the night before and plan my snacks that I know I'm gonna eat. I only take the food that I have planned with me. I'm a teacher too and a stress eater, but pre planning works best for me.