Anyone else feel this way??

midwesthiker
midwesthiker Posts: 144
edited October 3 in Health and Weight Loss
So I realized this week that if my husband and college-aged daughter were not here I would have time to exercise more and would be able to eat better. I love them both so much, but sharing the family room with them and trying to fit in work-outs sucks. I like to work-out right after work and I have them both constantly asking me "how much longer"! Argh! It is driving me crazy!

Anyone else feel this way? I feel so awful even thinking it. But darn, those single people must have it made!!! Nobody to pick up after, make meals for, spend time with. LOL I AM KIDDING! I don't want to be single but want to figure out a way to get my family to understand that this is important to me and they need to learn to deal with it. I only spend 30-50 minutes doing work-outs and any treadmill time I do is with them while we watch TV.

Help!

I would never have realized it but there were 2 nights that my daughter had class and my husband worked late. I was able to come home and get right into the work out without having to deal with dinner, chores, etc. It was nice to be able to work-out without anyone bugging me. :smile:
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Replies

  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,458 Member
    I actually prefer being single. Good luck.
  • leopardvice
    leopardvice Posts: 73
    yes weekends when my husband is off i gain all the weight ive lost during the week.
  • christenwypy
    christenwypy Posts: 336 Member
    Oh I understand! I have young kids. One is in school but the other is home with me and they big me when I exercise. I feel mean but I want to just concentrate and be alone while I work out. And sometimes I wish I could fit another workout in but I can't because I am running them around to activities or have cleaning to do and things like that. But I just do what I have to do. I make them play upstairs for 30 minutes or I get up before htem in the early morning and/or work out after everyone is in bed. Like right now I just did a quick 10 minute aerobic. I'd rather relax at the end of my day, but I figure I have to do what I have to do for now anyway!
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    I would tell them "Look, I'm going to come home and workout for 30 mins. As soon as I'm done, you can have the tv, I will fix dinner, etc" and then do it. Don't let them distract you from it or annoy you with their asking. If they ask "How much longer?" Tell them "I'll be done when I'm done". You deserve this time for YOU - they can wait. :)

    Just be firm and don't allow them to sway you from your goals. It won't be easy, but they'll live for the 30-50 mins you are working out.
  • Misiaxcore
    Misiaxcore Posts: 659 Member
    Instead of them waiting around for you to finish your workout, put THEM to work with dinner, chores, etc.
  • Queen_Christine
    Queen_Christine Posts: 342 Member
    hubby and I work out together... He's down 95 lbs and I'm down 48..... Together we've lost a whole person... And we'er empty nesters .... Good luck !
  • Deckershann
    Deckershann Posts: 272 Member
    I utterly despise being alone, but I will say that my workouts are far more consistent when there's no one around.
  • maryd523
    maryd523 Posts: 661 Member
    I am single and am SO glad I am during this period of 1200 calories. I honestly don't see how people with significant others can do it! I have tons of admiration for people who manage to get healthy while maintaining a normal family life.
  • ChristinaLConway
    ChristinaLConway Posts: 115 Member
    I actually prefer being single. Good luck.

    amen!
  • scythswife
    scythswife Posts: 1,100 Member
    I guess I am lucky. I get up with my 2 oldest to get them ready for school and the youngest 2 and hubby r still sleeping so I am able to get dishes going and get in some of my workout before my 3 yr old comes in. Although unlike most kids his age he doesn't harp on watching toons he would rather ask me to get the wii out if i'm not using it so we can run togeather. Even if I do it in the afternoon my daughter who is 5 usually asks to do it with me. Years ago hubby would laugh or ask me when I was going to be done but now if he is awake when I am doing them he just sits there and does his own thing and occasionally tells me to keep going I haven't done enough since I am not sweating enough. I prefer doing it first thing when they r still sleeping but thats me and I have a 1 yr old so I gotta get it done when hes not crawling around under my feet calling momma. lol hopefully you will find a balance and be able to work it out. How about changing when you work out when they are home some to see if that helps out any. just a thought. good luck with your weight loss journey.
  • miadvh
    miadvh Posts: 290 Member
    Yepp..It's always harder for me to eat right and get my exercise in when the hubby is home. My son is 2 and not too much of a problem..I just have to workout while's he's asleep :P My hubby on the other hand has the most unhealthy eating habits ever..and is always taking up the tv when he's home. :(
  • wannabesexymama
    wannabesexymama Posts: 367 Member
    I am a mother of 5 and I have a husband that to say the least is a tooth pick so Yes I feel your pain I actually waited tell everyone went to bed to do a work out and that limits me as far as what I can do unless I go outside and since I use my Exercise TV for motivation and great workouts that isn't possible! I do feel your pain!! I also dont like them staring at me asking are you almost done there's a movie coming on I would like to watch!! Just kills me WHY cant I HAVE 30 MIN to work out!!??? WHY??
  • astrosnider
    astrosnider Posts: 151 Member
    Could you possibly join a gym or the Y? I love going to the gym three or four times a week and knowing that my time there is mine, without any interruptions or critiques. I do some working out at home and lots of walking outside, but the gym is where I get the most vigorous exercise.
  • swimmchick87
    swimmchick87 Posts: 458 Member
    I'm single, but I notice that it's so much harder to eat healthy/excercise when I have more of a social life! If I really don't have anything to do, I'm great about planning out all of my meals and getting to the gym every time. However, as soon as I get really busy doing social stuff, it seems my diet and excercise go out the window. Last year I moved to this town over 10,000 miles away from anyone I knew for a job. It was really tough to make friends at first, so the first few months I was here I literally didn't do anything outside of work unless it was a small function with co-workers. I lost 20 pounds and was the thinnest I'd been in years. After a few months, I started to make some friends and actually be out and about on the weekends, and I gained all of that back VERY quickly. So here I am, haha.
  • RockstarVamp
    RockstarVamp Posts: 3
    I know the feeling! I would LOVE to come home work out or just go off for a nice walk without having to deal with. "can't we just chill and watch this show?"

    Or I'd adore to have a nice meal that involves something not greasy or bad for me, but I walk into this "Oh we're having hot dogs!" OR "want pizza?"

    *face palm*

    I love my boyfriend and my family, but its kind of getting difficult with them trying to keep me all sedentary and hooked up on junk food.
  • talia25
    talia25 Posts: 35 Member
    My hubby works away a bit, and I find it so much easier to eat healthy and exercise more when he isnt home. But, then I miss him and it does get a bit lonely as well, so its definitely hard to find the happy medium so Im feeling you
  • aimeelouwhite
    aimeelouwhite Posts: 181 Member
    when hubby is home...I use the exercycle whilst watching tv... he's even started using it this week - YAY
  • midwesthiker
    midwesthiker Posts: 144
    Glad to know I am not alone. :)

    I will push through but it isn't easy! My husband lost all of his weight through diet alone and is at his ideal weight. My daughter has always been thin (lucky her!) so she doesn't get it.

    Thanks everyone! I will have to just annoy them and please me I guess. :laugh:
  • lil_pulp
    lil_pulp Posts: 701 Member
    If you're determined to workout in that room at that time (could you get creative and set up a workout space in a less-used room? could you force yourself to become an AM exerciser?), tell them you're going to have 30 minutes alone in there when you get home from work. Each time they interrupt you, add 5 minutes. Keep doing this and they should get the idea. (However, I think that if my mom had tried this when I was younger, it wouldn't have worked because everyone else would have been too pushy and she would have been too nice. Don't be too nice! It's your house too.) Good luck!

    -LP
  • CoraGregoryCPA
    CoraGregoryCPA Posts: 1,087 Member
    Sorry, but your daughter is of a rightful age to take care of herself. You could make dinner meals for your husband. Or have it baking while you are working out. Some workout is better than no workout! You can do it. Just gotta be multi-tasking.

    I get it too, from my boyfriend. I feel I have to "hide" working out. Or find ways to keep him entertained so I can go workout and not feel guilty that he is alone or siting at home waiting for me. lol.
  • brucedelaney
    brucedelaney Posts: 433 Member
    I'm surprised that nobody else has mentioned this option but have you considered a gym membership. Most of them are pretty reasonable. I only pay 10 bucks a month for mine.

    I used to feel working out in the comfort of my home was the way to go but now I realize that was my problem. Home is too comfortable and there are other things to get into besides working out. When I'm at the gym there is only one thing to do. That's of course to work out. I find my 33 cents a day to be bargain when I see that it gives me a tool to focus my workout.
  • JeAnnRandallGraham
    JeAnnRandallGraham Posts: 8 Member
    I have been stressing myself out about the exact same thing. My hubs and I both work full time and my son is a senior in HS. Our schedules don't always mesh so I finally told them that I will cook nice family meals on the weekend and during the week we will all be fending for ourselves.

    We started shopping a little differently too. we are buying lean meat and veggies that are easy to portion out into Gladware. I also make larger quantities of healthy food on the weekend so we can portion out the leftovers too.

    Small changes can really be liberating. Good luck :)
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    I actually prefer being single. Good luck.

    taxidriver.gif

    --

    To the OP, do your workouts and ban everyone from the room while you're doing it. Tell them if they bug you, they have to do some chore they hate.
  • Alice230
    Alice230 Posts: 66
    Tell them when you are working out it is your ''personal time'' and you are NOT to be disturbed unless someone is going to die within the next hour!
  • Lazlocats
    Lazlocats Posts: 22 Member
    Why isnt your daugher helping out? You work she should be doing a lot in the house, same goes for your husband.
  • gsenriquez
    gsenriquez Posts: 181 Member
    I have a four year old...i explained to her that mommy needs to exercise to stay healthy. So two nights a week, I take her to the gym with me (they have a child care that I pay for for an hour)so I can go to my class. And the other 2 nights, I wait until I put her to bed...then I exercise using my dvd then followed by cleaning up the kitchen and other chores.
  • midwesthiker
    midwesthiker Posts: 144
    Thanks everyone. I checked out a few of the gyms around here but they were expensive - and full of thin and athletic people. I don't like anyone seeing me work out - that is part of my problem. Our family room has the only TV and is open to our entire lower level so there isn't even a door to shut. :) I tried to work out in the morning, but I leave for work at 6:30 so I am already up very early and then I don't get home until around 5:00, so I only have a few hours before bed.

    Most nights my daughter is usually not home, she has night classes and works part time. She likes to pop in when I get home from work and bombard me with "what's for supper?" I have started responding "whatever you are making!" LOL. Sadly it is my husband that drives me crazy most of the time. I bought him a tv for his office so he can watch tv on the main level and I can go downstairs to the lower level and work out. We'll see how that works.

    I still think that if I was here by myself I would probably exercise more. Perhaps I am fooling myself and I wouldn't. I have moved the treadmill closer to the tv so I can be on it while the rest of the family sits around and we all watch tv. We'll see how that works. I just don't want my husband watching me doing any exercise dvds. He wouldn't say anything, but it makes me feel very self-concious.
  • midwesthiker
    midwesthiker Posts: 144
    Why isnt your daugher helping out? You work she should be doing a lot in the house, same goes for your husband.

    They both help but for some reason they need someone to tell them what to do or they don't "see" anything that needs to be done. :huh:

    After all the years we have been together I gave up trying to change him and just steer him in the right direction. :wink:
  • Raf702
    Raf702 Posts: 196 Member
    So I realized this week that if my husband and college-aged daughter were not here I would have time to exercise more and would be able to eat better. I love them both so much, but sharing the family room with them and trying to fit in work-outs sucks. I like to work-out right after work and I have them both constantly asking me "how much longer"! Argh! It is driving me crazy!

    Anyone else feel this way? I feel so awful even thinking it. But darn, those single people must have it made!!! Nobody to pick up after, make meals for, spend time with. LOL I AM KIDDING! I don't want to be single but want to figure out a way to get my family to understand that this is important to me and they need to learn to deal with it. I only spend 30-50 minutes doing work-outs and any treadmill time I do is with them while we watch TV.

    Help!

    I would never have realized it but there were 2 nights that my daughter had class and my husband worked late. I was able to come home and get right into the work out without having to deal with dinner, chores, etc. It was nice to be able to work-out without anyone bugging me. :smile:

    Your best option would be to exercise outside the house. That way you avoid having any interruptions in your exercise by anyone in your family. And you can focus only on yourself. If you have gym membership utilize it, if you can run around a park, blocks, etc. You honestly need to get away and have your own space. I'm sure your husband knows how to cook, clean and do some domestic chores. I do everything for myself, cook, clean, the whole nine yards.

    If you can't get yourself out of the house during the times you want to do your exercises. Your exercise dynamics will definitely be affected. And progress could virtually be at a stalemate. Just continue assuring your family that your devoted to your health and weight loss, and let them know you will be gone for an hour or so. They can survive without you for at least 1 hour or so.
  • fiberartist219
    fiberartist219 Posts: 1,865 Member
    You might be a wife and a mother, but you're nobody's b!tch. Do what you need to do to take care of yourself.

    Personally, I like to get my workout in right after my husband leaves for work. He goes to work at 7, but I don't have to be in at work until 9. I just get a few minutes of jump rope in after he leaves.

    Even then, I still manage to have time for myself. I know it is tougher for parents, but if your daughter is old enough to be left unattended, you really need to go off and do your own thing once in awhile. It's not healthy to be together ALL THE TIME if she's old enough to care for herself.

    If you really must be supermom, you can exercise with the whole family. You can do a family bike ride or something.
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