Hi!!

Hi Mary,

Welcome! I kind of have a similar problem. I started my lifestyle change a little over a month ago and squeezed in some exercise by walking during my coffee breaks at work.

I know some jobs don't permit it and technically, by letter of the law, I really should not be leaving the building during my coffee break but I explained to our new executive director that I wasn't just trying to loose weight but I was also trying to energize myself for the next part of the day. She couldn't deny me because she left the building every cofffee break for a smoke.

Now over five weeks later, I find I long for those walks because it refreshes me. I work in a basement as a lab tech and at least part of the day is more or less at a desk on an analyzer. We have no windows down there and only artificial light. So these walks are really appreciated. And it gets me away from the constant complaining from my co-workers about the 1000 reasons why they cannot try to exercise more and loose weight. On days like today, I really miss those walks.....it was raining most of the day. And fortunately a patient gave me the idea to take an umbrella. I might try it because I really depend on those walks.

The other thing I did was just start initially doing 4 to 5 minutes on my elliptical three to four times a day. The first one was right when I got up just to kick start my metabolism. Initially those 4 to 5 minutes were agony but in about six days I was able to jump up to ten minutes. Now I basically do 15 minutes in the morning when I get up. I still do my coffee break walks and although I am not always exercising in the evening, I do keep active between family engagements, housework and laundry. I am just starting to add resistant bands to an evening workout some nights.

Just wanted to give you one bit of encouragement......you may agonize in the very beginning with even the smallest amount of exercise added to your routine. It does get better quite fast. They say it takes 21 days to form a new habit.......I can honestly say at this point that I am dependent on my exercise now. I do notice it when I don't exercise as much. I think the first indication that it was making a difference was when I did the stairs at work (approximately 3.5 flights) without even puffing just two weeks after I started. That became my first milestone because I usually felt like I was dying when I did them up to that point.

I hope that helped a little. Maybe others out there have some better suggestions. This is what worked for me. Good Luck, I know what it is like when your busy with family.

Shannon