fighting a losing battle, im losing, but not weight

I hope this doesn't come off with offense, because I really don't mean anything rude; this is just trying to be helpful.

You seem to have every single excuse in the book covered in this post.

- Use the workout DVDs with your baby in a crib or playpen.
- Have your husband commit to an hour or two a week in which he will watch the baby and let you go to the gym.
- Write down what you eat in a notebook and record it later in the day if you can't remember or access a computer.
- I personally think HCG is a bad idea to begin with, but that's just my opinion. There are multiple threads on here which discuss it if you're interested in further reading.
- Try getting up an hour earlier to get some sort of workout in then

You aren't supposed to be fat; you just need to make time for yourself and you need to get your husband to help, or get help from some outside source because you can't handle it all on your own.

Good luck

Wow! That is a LOT of stress! Your biggest problem right now isn't your weight, it's lack of sleep. You need to break down your issues and tackle them slowley, one at a time. Work out with your husband timing. You need to get sleep in larger increments. How old is your baby - it does get better. Perhaps the timing isn't right for you to go to the gym. ONe of the best things you can do for yourself exercise wise is walk. Put the baby in a stroller (doesn't have to be fancy) and walk to the park, push the swings, walk to the grocery storyo and pick up some healthy snacks (for you and the baby). When you are more rested, you can start working harder on what you are eating. Drink lots of water - that will help you in so many ways. But work first on getting some sleep, then on what you eat and just walk. Get off the bus a stop earlier and walk a little farther to your job. The weather's fine so get the baby out (better for both of you) and walk. Buy a pedometer if you can afford it and try to log 10,000 steps a day. You'll be surprised on how fit you start to feel.

Maybe you need to rethink your goals at least for this stage of life until you can find the right balance and what works. Maybe start with just trying to fit in a quick walk during work breaks (if you have them), do a few squats/lunges while at work, make a goal to stop eating or drinking a couple higher calorie foods and replace with fresh fruit and vegetables once you can go to the supermarket again. Maybe take your little one to a park on a weekend and try and play with them to burn a few more calories. Don't beat yourself up about a difficult time in life. Just start making small changes and gradually build them up. That way you don't give up completely but it becomes more doable. Good luck!

I understand how tough it can be. Just remember to breathe. Deep IN slow OUT.

Panda DOES NOT use MSG. I am deathly allergic to MSG and I eat at Panda all the time. It is safe, and there are healthy foods served there, such as the veggies. Also if you do the Broc/Beef, it is fairly low in calories. I'll attach a link for you to check out, so you can decide what you can and cannot eat from there.
http://www.pandaexpress.com/images/pdf/nutritioninformation.pdf

I belly dance (or at least my version of it) in my kitchen while cooking. It's not a big calorie burn, but it knocks out 50-100 calories if you add the cooking as a workout (be sure you are actually chopping, peeling, etc and using energy). I use filled water bottles to do curls while watching tv. I stretch when I take a shower. None are BIG calorie burners, but they keep my body moving and help ward of stress by triggering endorphins.

Eat oatmeal. It is high in fiber and lowers cholesterol. I have 2 bowls in the morning of fruit and nut oatmeal, I am full for a LONG time and I only use up about 400 calories.

The most important thing is SLEEP. If your sleep is off your ability to cope with stress greatly diminishes. You will eventually have a breakdown because you are sleep deprived and stressed. If that means multi-tasking exercising with cooking, then do it, it will buy you an hour of sleep doing it that way.

And finally, do not focus on losing weight...although that is the goal for many of us here...instead, with your life being hectic, focus on being healthy. My fat *kitten* is 260 pounds, and I am 5'5"...but my doctors are all amazed at how healthy I am. They honestly expect me to be at death's door, and do treadmill tests, blood tests, they put me through the ringer!! Guess what...I always have a good laugh...No diabetes at all, no high cholesterol, no heart issues. It is because I have always made healthy food choices. I have just hit a point in my life where my vanity is pushing me to lose some pounds/inches. Focus on being healthy for now, you can work on losing weight later. If you are healthy and moving around, even a little, it will be so much easier when you are able to commit the time and energy to losing weight. So be GENTLE with yourself. Losing weight isn't the only answer. Being healthy will help you cope with all the things life throws at you. Actually I should say...being healthy and maintaining a sense of humor.

You have a crappy 1 bedroom place, but you have a place, you aren't on the streets. You have a husband working 3 jobs. At least he is able to work. You have a new job at Panda. Cha Ching....a paycheck AND yummy food. The point is, instead of looking at your reasons for not being able to lose weight, turn those things that are stressful around by seeing them as blessings.

Good luck in whatever you do, and please don't just quit here. We are a community of like-minded people who want to help support others and be supported. Many of us are going through similar struggles, others have been there, done that and found ways to make it all work out ok. So if you are looking at that Banana Cream Pie and about to face dive into it...check in here instead. Tell us why you are about to scarf a whole pie. Sometimes just the act of writing it out and seeing it will help you to focus on what is causing that action.