hello everyone im not exactly new here but i have a few ques

I can't answer the kiddies question because I have no clue but I will say for self esteem, don't be ashamed of how you look. You're really pretty and you're a really lovely person

First off, be kind to yourself! You will do better if you eliminate all the negative self talk about your appearance ( I am making an assumption about this, but most of us are not kind to ourselves when we feel heavy). Make time for you, remember that whatever things time that you take to improve yourself is good for your kids. I am a busy mom of 3 kids, and Yoga really helps me to find my happy place!! I prefer an intense power yoga, so I get in a good workout too!
I also make my workout time "me time", I joined a gym that has child care on sight, so the kiddos are safe and happy while I get my daily sweat on!
As far as gaining muscle, and loosing fat, you have to eat right, lift weights, do adequate cardio and get enough protein!!

Good Luck! You can do it!

You have to make time for you. Plain and simple. Otherwise, you'll be useless to the kids because you are burned out, stressed out and at the end of your rope.

Put the baby in his/her crib and put the older child somewhere safe (in their room with a gate works) and go take a bath. No, you don't have to take an hour in there. But, by all means - take some "you" time. When the baby goes down for a nap, make it "quiet time" with the older child. Again, have him/her go into their room and play quietly, watch tv, or look at books. Then you do your workout.

As for self esteem - it's a tricky thing. I'm at my goal weight and I still have days when I feel disgusted with myself. Getting your self esteem back on track takes time and it isn't just about your body. It's a mental thing too.


Take Care of you.

I'm not exactly sure what you are looking for as far as an answer goes then. If you can't workout with a dvd and you are doing what the other posters suggested, I'm not sure what else could be said? And you will get way further ahead in life being a wonderful person than being thin, so just be who you are and do it with your head held high.

i dont have money to buy any of those dvds let alone a dvd player.
libby: i dont ever seem to feel pretty because of my life i get let down so much in life since a baby that it took a tole on my self esteem when it comes to my looks and thank you i do my best to be a wonderful person but that doesnt ever and will never get me far in life

Hey less of that please!!!. You'll get a lot further with your personality than anyone being mean and you'll always have peopel around you fro support whenever, because people want to be nice back. Try and work on accepting yourself, you'll feel much better in the long run. You have so much to be proud of

Alyssa your husband is there for you and your family. When you get married you take eachother with the good and the bad. This means you are allowed to be both the listener and the talker. When you don't talk and keep things bottled up it puts a strain on you and him. I recommend talking to him. It's great that you have us to talk to but he's actually there and has more of an understanding than everyone else and there is amore of a connection.

alapoint - When I first finished school an dwas getting in shape I didn't have access to a gym, etc. I found a few books on pilates at the library and used those to get a handle on how I could do some exercise without any financial outlay. The local library should have a ton of resource sin terms of exercise plans to help you build muscle and its free! When i needed to add weight I filled empty gallon milk containers with water. a gallon of water weighs about 5 lbs. You can use the containers to do basic bicep curls and other weigh trianing type of activities. For cardio you have some built in motivators - play tag with your three year old, show him or her how to play hopscotch, soccer or how to hula hoop. Being active, even moderately, will help. Hope this helps.