Help with motivation

imlphelps1
imlphelps1 Posts: 7 Member
edited November 2024 in Motivation and Support
Hi everyone,
I need a bit of help!!
I am a mum to four and on my own with them!! However, I'm also a student nurse, just starting my third year, my eldest is just about to start her GCSEs and my son is in the year below and keeping for his too.
I feel like I have no brain power to set aside to lose weight and exercise. Once I've either done shifts at the hospital or sitting trying to do my dissertation, I can't find the energy or motivation to do anything other than keep the children focused and doing what they need to do. I'm so stuck on where to go with this, I have alot to lose, about 4 stone, so need to get things shifting.
I'd be really grateful for some help and tips on how I can move forward.
Thank you and hope to hear soon
Laura

Replies

  • rj0150684
    rj0150684 Posts: 227 Member
    If you don’t have time to exercise, exercise isn’t necessary for weight loss. Eating less doesn’t really take more time than eating more, and logging only takes a few minutes per day. If you can handle all that stuff going on in your life, you can handle logging your food and sticking to an eating plan, just give it a shot and see what works.
  • Bocch
    Bocch Posts: 191 Member
    What you do is commendable. I do not think you need to go to a gymn to lose weight. Yes, watch food intake especially at work. They say if you have a job where you sit you need to force yourself to get up every 30 mins to walk. down the hall. Nurses around here do work but also sit a lot. Good luck
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    The funny thing about exercise, is the more you do it, the more you can do. If you can start your day with five or ten minutes (maybe a workout video) and work a few intervals into your day, it's better than nothing. Try a short dance video before you sit down to work, something fun. Also consider that as a nurse you may be getting plenty of exercise running around!
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    You are an incredible woman. So put a note on your bathroom mirror that says "I, Laura, am an incredible woman and I deserve to lose weight and feel better." In your shoes (I really can't even imagine) I would probably start by eating my maintenance calories for a week or two then moving to .5 a week loss and if that is comfortable for a few weeks move to 1 lb. Ease into it nice and slow because weight loss can be stressful if you go to quick and you don't need any additional stress.
  • L1zardQueen
    L1zardQueen Posts: 8,753 Member
    Yep, your plate is full! Could you save some of calories for a little snack while you are studying? Did you pick an aggressive goal to lose? Sometimes going slower is better on sanity since you have so much going on.
  • imlphelps1
    imlphelps1 Posts: 7 Member
    Bocch wrote: »
    What you do is commendable. I do not think you need to go to a gymn to lose weight. Yes, watch food intake especially at work. They say if you have a job where you sit you need to force yourself to get up every 30 mins to walk. down the hall. Nurses around here do work but also sit a lot. Good luck

    Hi.
    I'm on a really busy ward and flat out all shift just sitting for my two half hour breaks. I think i eat healthy for breakfast, lunch and dinner. So weetabix x2 for breakfast, chicken with either brocolli/salad/rice/ pasta and then dinner is pasta/rice dinners. I've tried to cut potato type dinners down but as the children are very active I need to fill them up haha!!
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    edited April 2018
    Log everything you eat, that will let you see how many calories you eat now. To lose you have to have a calorie deficit so that'll mean shaving 500 cals a day off what you eat now for 1lb loss a week. Totally doable :smiley:

    Exercise is all fine and well but weight loss first and foremost happens in the kitchen and with the amount we eat.

    Have confidence you can do this and you will.

    All the best. :smile:
  • imlphelps1
    imlphelps1 Posts: 7 Member
    I probably could but I get bored studying haha and end up eating which I need to stop but i think it's a default and I don't really know how to get through It!!
    I've picked 0.5lbs a week to start with does that sound ok or should I change It??
  • imlphelps1
    imlphelps1 Posts: 7 Member
    rheddmobile wrote: »
    The funny thing about exercise, is the more you do it, the more you can do. If you can start your day with five or ten minutes (maybe a workout video) and work a few intervals into your day, it's better than nothing. Try a short dance video before you sit down to work, something fun. Also consider that as a nurse you may be getting plenty of exercise running around!

    I will try. Just find it hard as we already have to be up in the morning for six to get out for school and work. I need to be more strict with myself I just feel like it's a vicious cycle as I'm tired but I know it's because I'm fat but then it's so hard to get any motivation!!
  • L1zardQueen
    L1zardQueen Posts: 8,753 Member
    edited April 2018
    How many calories are you eating a day? How are your energy levels? Other than being exhausted from all you do. Can you sneak in two 15 minute walks somewhere in your day? That will add a few calories to your intake.
  • imlphelps1
    imlphelps1 Posts: 7 Member
    L1zardQueen wrote: »
    How many calories are you eating a day? How are your energy levels? Other than being exhausted from all you do. Can you sneak in two 15 minute walks somewhere in your day? That will add a few calories to your intake.

    I'm trying to stick to the calorie intake mfp set which is around 1900 per day. I'll admit I'm not great at it. I do well until the evenings then I let myself down. I feel like I'm so lazy and just constantly letting myself down.
    I need to be harder on myself and stop giving in. I think I can try and put something in after my shifts and then maybe a bit longer when I'm not working.
  • L1zardQueen
    L1zardQueen Posts: 8,753 Member
    Are you not losing weight?
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    Definitely start logging - weigh everything until you have a good idea how much it weighs. Just a few small changes in preparation and serving sizes can shave a bunch of calories. What I always suggest is to log for a week without changing a thing, then you can see where it's easiest to make changes. Good luck!
  • imlphelps1
    imlphelps1 Posts: 7 Member
    L1zardQueen wrote: »
    Are you not losing weight?

    No I seem to lose focus easily. I haven't been back on mfp for long!! But it seems to always be the same. I'll do ok for a week or two then I just slip back to my old ways because it's easier due to the busy schedule.
    I just want to be able to stick to something and then add exercise to my regime.
  • imlphelps1
    imlphelps1 Posts: 7 Member
    rheddmobile wrote: »
    Definitely start logging - weigh everything until you have a good idea how much it weighs. Just a few small changes in preparation and serving sizes can shave a bunch of calories. What I always suggest is to log for a week without changing a thing, then you can see where it's easiest to make changes. Good luck!

    I will. I just feel like I make excuses all the time for not having time to spend time prepping as my time is limited but then I feel agility and feel like I'm just being lazy!!
  • L1zardQueen
    L1zardQueen Posts: 8,753 Member
    If you have been logging, you must have grabbed some insight on portion sizes. Use what you know, eat the right amount and a little walking to your day, even fidgeting helps. You can do this. Baby steps.
  • Hamsibian
    Hamsibian Posts: 1,388 Member
    Maybe get one of those bike chairs (or something similar) for your desk/table? That way you can exercise and study at the same time.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories