Anyone have a spouse who travels?

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DisneyAddictRW
DisneyAddictRW Posts: 800 Member
in Motivation and Support
I've used MFP on and off since January. Hit it hard with a new sept challenge. I had a VERY scheduled life style VERY busy for the past 10 years. My hubby worked M-F 530am to 4pm with a saturday on and off. However he switched positions in March and now travels 50% of the time. I'm struggling to adjust to a life style with a traveling husband. We have a great marriage no issues there. My problem is.....one week I have a schedule/routine but then the next week I have to change it up b/c he's gone. Sounds crazy but when he's gone I do great.....kick butt with workouts, calories, no eating out, etc. I have to b/c my 3 kids only have me here when he's gone so if I don't take care of things no one else is going to. However when he's gone I struggle to get up and work out, I get behind in housework-laundry, stay up late, etc... Does anyone else have a similar situation and how do you stay on track? any tips?

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  • My1985Freckles
    My1985Freckles Posts: 1,039 Member
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    bump... My hubby is going to be a truck driver starting in November. I'm going to need this info.
  • CandiJo1
    CandiJo1 Posts: 9
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    My husband is a over the road truck driver and is gone M-F and is only home on the weekends if I'm lucky. I have 2 precious little girls, ages 3 and 6. I go to college on Tue and Thur, and work Mon-Wed and Friday's. I do a lot of walking for work and if I don't do to much in those days I jump on the Gazelle at night while the kids are winding down for bed. Since I am so busy I do get behind on the work at home but then I just catch up on the weekends, and my husbands helps a lot when he get's home, because he knows how CRAZY BUSY I am. So since I know how busy I am I really only take in my recommended calories a day and only drink water, and I make sure that I at least fit in a quick 10 minute workout at night! And this site really helps, I have lost 20 lbs since July 5th.
  • Chunkabutt83
    Chunkabutt83 Posts: 461
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    same thing with me, my hubby builds grain bins all over the country and is gone for 2 weeks at a time and when hes gone, i do great but when hes home its the same, hard to stay on track and stay up late and the house is a pit, then it takes me days just to get back on schedule when he leaves, its rough to stay on schedule!
  • Laurayinz
    Laurayinz Posts: 923 Member
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    I have a similar situation, but I don't do any better! In fact, the only diference is that I have 2 kids, not 3. I actually like it when he goes on trips because I can feel OK with having somerthing small and not elaborate for dinner. Plus, I get to sprawl out on the whole bed and park in the middle of the garage. :devil: :laugh:
  • ursy87
    ursy87 Posts: 287
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    Absolutely, my hubby has worked away from home on and off (more on) for the past 19 1/2 years! Sometimes home at weeknds, sometimes once a fortnight, but just now he is based in Egypt and Dubai, so its once every couple of months or so he is back.
    All routine goes completely out of the window when he is back, cos he wants to go out and do stuff, visit places and people, eat out etc.
    I can offer no words of help, as, even after all this time, I still just end up falling behind with my life, my routine etc when he is back. I don't know if its cos I want to spend time with him when he is back or I like to take a backseat from the normal day to day decisions that I have to make when he is away. Its strange, I am a perfectly competent individual when he is away though.
  • ThePhoenixRose
    ThePhoenixRose Posts: 1,985 Member
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    My husband does not go out of town, but he's a college professor, math specialist (tutor!), and college soccer coach. He leaves the house every day at 6am (if not before) and doesn't return home until after 10pm. Weekends are a little better, though still busy with games/practices/grading. I find I do really well all day and week while he's gone, but then he comes home and I stay up way too late so I can spend a little time with him, then I'm tired the next day. It's a viscious cycle. Then, the weekend comes, and I want us to spend all our free time together as a family, not cleaning, doing laundry, whatever. Our kids don't see him during the week, so it kind of stinks to make them clean their room when they could be playing with Daddy.

    Also, I work out to dvds at home, or go walking/running. When he's here, I can go walking/running, but I feel self-consious doing the dvds in front of him. I know I shouldn't, but I do. Needless to say, I don't do great on weekends either, and spend the first few days of the week playing catch up!

    I'm up for any suggestions as well!!!!
  • DisneyAddictRW
    DisneyAddictRW Posts: 800 Member
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    My hubby works for a rock crushing company. He sets up the equipment and repairs. Right now he's only traveled in the U.S. but over time will start to travel internationally. He's not able to travel to some areas overseas b/c of the requirements for immunizations. Due to cancer 11 years ago he can't get some required shots. Bad for his employer but good for me b/c those are the areas he wouldn't have access on a regular basis to computer and phone. Most of trips we know about a week or two in advance. However some trips are last minute. Goes to work at 7am on Monday and at noon is at home packing b/c he's gotta catch a plane or drive 9 hrs for a situation that came up. The "honeymoon" stage of being new and traveling has worn off and now we're trying to figure out how to fit this in. He loves what he does but misses us when he's gone. I have 3 kids 11, 6, and 4. I do have our parents and my sister around to help but can't expect them to come over to do laundry and my dishes. I wonder if I'll ever figure this out or if I'm just fustrated b/c he's been traveling almost every week since mid July.
  • vanessaclarkgbr
    vanessaclarkgbr Posts: 765 Member
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    Yup! Mine worked away, and I was often travelling, right up until a couple of months ago. Do you have anything in common that you enjoy which burns calories, sports of any kind or walking (big long trekky walks?) This is what we did - my OH is not a big fan of the gym etc but loves getting out on the coast, hill walking etc. When we have his daughter we can't do the hills but we do do miles through the woods (we had to build little one up but she'll happily do 2 1/2 hours now, especially if we can borrow someone's dog!) I've even persuaded him to go ice skating this weekend, he'll kill me for posting this as he thinks he's big and butch ;-)
  • vanessaclarkgbr
    vanessaclarkgbr Posts: 765 Member
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    I have 3 kids 11, 6, and 4. I do have our parents and my sister around to help but can't expect them to come over to do laundry and my dishes.

    I used to turn around every Sunday afternoon after he left and suddenly realise it looked like a bomb had gone off, so busy 'honeymooning' hadn't realised I kept saying don't worry about the mess ARRGH!! As for being on your own with the kids, I do miss my 'me' time now he's back all the time, much as I love him lol
  • DisneyAddictRW
    DisneyAddictRW Posts: 800 Member
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    I have 3 kids 11, 6, and 4. I do have our parents and my sister around to help but can't expect them to come over to do laundry and my dishes.

    I used to turn around every Sunday afternoon after he left and suddenly realise it looked like a bomb had gone off, so busy 'honeymooning' hadn't realised I kept saying don't worry about the mess ARRGH!! As for being on your own with the kids, I do miss my 'me' time now he's back all the time, much as I love him lol

    When he's home we do get walks in once in awhile. We try to go out to dinner but then I struggle with calories/sodium. I wish I had local friends who worked out however I enjoy the me time at the gym. It's just me and my IPOD. I tend to block out the others at the gym. If I don't get to the gym in the morning (5am) I tend to have a moody day. I like to sleep in but overall getting up is a better deal even if I didn't get "good" sleep that night.
  • FearAnLoathing
    FearAnLoathing Posts: 4,852 Member
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    My hubb y does not travle but he works 13 to 15 hours a day sometimes with only sundays off. I miss him:sad:
  • LisaKyle11
    LisaKyle11 Posts: 662 Member
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    My husband travels for work about 2-3 days a week lately... sometimes even more often. We have four children, so believe me, it's not easy - on either of us. This may sound strange, but when he is gone, I somehow manage to get MORE done... I think it's because I know he is not here, so I can't depend upon him and I don't have any other expectations beyond what I think/know I can manage. To put it simply, I am more productive, most of the time, when he is gone (a little harsh, but honest). He is a wonderful father, husband, and help in general, but it takes him time to re-adjust to 'family life' and not just having himself to take care of and/or other responsibilities outside of himself and work.

    I plan and STICK TO my workouts when he is gone because I know that the opportunity will not be there if I don't take it when I can.

    Best wishes!
  • angiecakes82
    angiecakes82 Posts: 28 Member
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    My husband is a police officer and occassionally has to go out of town for training, Sunday afternoon- Friday night. I find it easier when he is gone, but I only work weekends. I have a 9 month old, she naps a lot, so I can get a lot done. Its easier b/c there is less laundry, less mess to clean up, and I don't have to cook, so less dishes too! I eat frozen foods, salads, and sandwiches all week.
  • DisneyAddictRW
    DisneyAddictRW Posts: 800 Member
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    seem like most struggle when they're home instead gone. I'm glad I'm not the only one!

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