Now or Never

[acd]

Well I'm going to try to make this short - no cliffs - Had a weight loss journal before, lost lost of weight then bam! Little plus sign on the pregnancy test, totally unplanned. Long story short, High risk pregnancy = no exercise, doctors orders. Diet was destroyed my neausea (?sp). Almost 3 months after giving birth, still overweight, forgot how to eat properly (still struggling to get in frequent meals), soooooo tired, still haven't been able to get a routine started.

My main problem right now is that I'm very tired. I don't sleep well (baby isn't sleeping through the night). This leads to not being able to eat properly since I'm too tired to prepare food in advanced. I can barely get any cardio in b/c I am extremely tired. Hopefully this journal will help me get an extra push to get back on track.

Gyms are off limits for now, can't squeeze it into my budget, graduated college and I'm still looking for a job, hopefully that will change soon. Cardio and body weight exercises will be my best friends right now.

Stress....right now there's alot of that going on. Whole bunch of life changing situations going right now. Seems like I just finished getting through something and something else shows up.

I'm just going to do the best I can with what I have, no excuses to not do something. I was considering taking some energy supplement to help me get through the weariness.

So...here we go. I just got through the hardest part....starting.

[acd]

Oh yeah stats. LOL

I have no idea nor do I want to know. All I know is that I gained 50 pounds during my pregnancy. That's all I need to know to know that I have to lose weight. I'm not going to check the scale b/c I know that's going to stress me out and possibly make me lose motivation to do this. Different things work for different people, I'm going to be as disciplined as possible but very flexible. I'm not one to follow strict regimens and I know that will lead me to failure so I'm not even going to go down that road. Right now it's baby steps, eat healthier and get into the habit of exercising.

[acd]

Well I'm stil here, I haven't been able to get anything done since my kids are sick. I try to get in a few minutes of cardio whenever I can something is better than nothing. I'm going grocery shopping soon so I'll start posting my diet soon.

[negid]

I'm not a mother, but I am a father to 2 boys (3 and 1). I know how difficult it can be to try and fit in everything you need to do, especially when you have a little one. My best advice I could give you now would be focus on diet first. Don't even start an exercise routine to begin with. This would just be too much to add to your already very busy schedule. But you have to eat, so why not start eating right?

You can even begin by just cutting out the things you KNOW you're not supposed to have. The sodas, chips, chocolate, etc.

Then once you have your diet under control and the baby gets old enough you can start thinking about an exercise routine. Of course if you have a stroller to hold your kids you can begin even earlier with just walking outside and getting everybody some fresh air and you some exercise. Just taking a walk at the park or down the street is better than nothing.

I kinda rambled in there some, so if you have any more questions or need any more advice I'll be checking in on your log.

[acd]

Yeah! Someone answered LOL


What you say makes perfect sense. I'm slowly cleaning up my diet, trying to take it easy. I don't want to overwhelm myself and end up quitting. I've already started incorparating veggies into my meals, still working one eating more meals. Protein shakes are great to have but I get a bad side effect....gas.

I def. need to get a stroller, I don't when I'll be able to pull that off. We're really tight on money, I guess when my college gives me what's left over from my loan (taking MBA) I could do it.

Exercise...I need to exercise, even if it's just walking. It helps relieve some of stress. I'm so stressed out that my hair is falling out.
*****************************************


Other news....Still job hunting, no luck yet. This is taking longer than what I expected, mainly b/c I don't have experience in my field. Hubby keeps on offering me to stay home but we're really tight, I need to help him. We're living from check to check..barely making it at times and there's really no way to cut down debt.

[acd]

Ok here I am, still in this. Last night I was able to do 17 minutes of cardio, seemed like forever! LOL I was so tired I just wanted to sleep, it was almost 12 am! But I'm proud of myself, I stuck to it like a champ.

Meals today (still haven't gone grocery shopping yet so I'm working w/ what I have):

Meal 1: Protein shake
Meal 2: oatmeal, coffee (I was too tired to make eggs )
Meal 3: 4 eggs(whites), 1 pc cheese, 2 crackers
Meal 4: rice, chicken (ran out of veggies )
Meal 5: Protein shake (tentative)

I had a piece of cake, it's my daughter's birthday but that's all.

Oh and I got 40 minutes of cardio in.

I'll include the other meals later.

***********************
Kids have gotten better, I'm exhausted. I have so much homework to do!!!!!!!!!! It's driving me nuts but I do as much as I can everytime I have a few free minutes. At least the kids have school tommorrow so I have those hours to get more work done.

[acd]

Meals 9/10

Meal 1: 4 eggs, 1 pc cheese, 2 crackers, cup coffee, 4 oz orange juice
Meal 2: Oatmeal
Meal 3: onion rings
Meal 4: rice, eggs

15 min cardio

Meals 9/11
Meal 1: pc of cake (bad start!)
Meal 2: yogurt, 2 strawberries, 8 blueberries, tiny bit of granola, 1 c coffee


WIll add rest later

[chrischap01]

good to have you here, I look forward to following your progress. good luck!!

[acd]

Hey guys.

I haven't posted in while but I'm still here. My diet hasn't been the greatest but I've been doing the small meals. I finally went food shopping so I pretty much have everything I need to clean it up as much as possible. I always get the kids & hubby snacks, etc comprimising my healthy stuff but I'm sorry I'm not going to do it anymore. They either learn to eat what I'm eating or starve. Harsh but I keep putting off my health and well being.

I'm so bummed out, there's this really cool gym that just opened. You get spinning classes, weights, yoga, pilates, etc + child care for just $32 and I can't afford it right now. I really wish I could get it but we really can't afford it right now.

Still looking for a job...but I have a feeling that things are going to start looking up soon. Once I get a job and get organized one of the first things I'm going to do is join that gym. LOL I'm going to even con my husband into it too. It's just $52 for two people.

Meals today:
Meal 1: Fiber one bar, c coffee
Meal 2: 6 oz ff yogurt, handful of nuts.
Meal 3: ww pasta, peas & carrots, some chz
Meal 4: Same
Meal 5: Fish, avacado, onions, some bread
Meal 6: yogurt (was still hungry)

Other meals tentative. I bought this salad spritzer, I'm going to try it out later, great way to get some flavor w/o all the fat and calories.

[acd]

I'm losing my mind here. My uni recommended I start my MBA with just 2 class...but no I had to be a hard head and took 4. Now I'm up to my eyeballs in work and I'm so stressed. My hair is falling out!!!!!!!!! It's almost over though. I'm half way through, next semester I think I'll stick to two classes until I can deal with having more.

[acd]

I decided to forget about everything and everyone and focus on me. I'm tired of being miserable b/c I try so hard to please everyone.

From now on me first and then everything else.

And as painful as it is, I'm going to drop 2 of my classes, I'm under severe mental stress and I'm starting to get anxiety attacks. It's better to lose 2 then lose all 4 classes.

And I'm sorry for the kids but I think they're going to have to say good bye to the cable. I can't get a cheaper deal and I NEED to get to a gym. I feel miserable and if I keep up like this I'm not going to be able to take care of them.

[acd]

Ok /rant.

Now...


Meals:
Meal 1: 2 eggs, chz ( the kids took the other half of my breakfast )
Meal 2: FF yogurt, handful of nuts



Will add others later. So far about 10 min of cardio.

I need some tips...I'm feeling very hungry all the time. I've tried uping my fat and calories but nothing. I can't do flax, I've gotten an allergic reaction to it twice already. Last reaction was pretty severe(eyes swoll up, having difficulty breathing) so I'm not going to even try it again. I'm looking into fish oil maybe, don't know when I'll be able to buy it.

I'm also thinking it might be the amount of stress I'm going through right now. I get really anxious and get this urge to eat. I forgot to buy chewing gum, it kinda helps.

Nonetheless, I'm still going to do this by any healthy means necessary and possible to me. I'm sick of being fat, miserable and lacking energy. I'm young, I want to enjoy my life. It's time to take control of my life already.

[acd]

Ok so Sunday wasn't the best day food wise. I ate healthy food but I overate, freaking stress!!!!! Then yesterday I barely ate anything, not b/c i didn't want to but b/c I was so busy and I literally forgot to eat at times. I think I ate maybe 2 times or 3???? I have no idea.

I'm starting to come to the conclusion that I have to address some personal issues before I start anything. I'm really trying to get things going but I have so many issues going on that they are getting in the way.

I decided to drop 2 of my classes. I really need to do something about all the anxiety I'm going through. I figured that a lighter schedule would help me greatly. I'm really saddened by this but I have to do this for my well being. I'm starting to fall into depression.


Today
Meal 1: 2 ww pancakes tiny bit light syrup, 1 egg
Meal 2: Cookies
Meal 3: salad, 2 slices tomatoes, ww croutons, 1/4 c rice, 1/4 beans, 1/4 chicken breast

Haven't eaten anything else.

exercise: I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to do. My body is in so much pain, just the amount of stuff I have to in a day. My legs are burning!!!! My neck and back of my head are tense, it hurts. I think I might just stretch and try to get to bed early.

[acd]

Uh...anyone is welcome to comment or give advice.

Strong smiley use LOL

[acd]

Ok, still here. I've lost a few pounds, don't know how much, I don't have a scale.

I'm working on becoming more consistent. If things go according to plan I might be able to get a gym membership this month or the next. I would love that so much, it would help greatly.


Life.....has been so crazy. Really busy, still not job This sucks, I feel like I'm never going to get my career going sometimes. I'm trying my best to stay positive.

Well that's it for now, eating healthier just struggle at times b/c I'm too tired to eat. I'll just drink something and keep on moving.

[derickonfire]

Read your first post . congrats on the baby - and good motivation you have.

You have the biggest reason to be healthy now - if ya know what I mean.

Have you had a chance to figure out your daily caloric intake?
Keep logging your meals - and add totals for protein / carbs / fats / calories.

I'l subbed now and will keep track and help along the way.. GL!

[acd]

Thanks so much for your post. I could use all the motivation.

I have no idea how much I'm eating but I know it's not enough. I'm so tired most of the time that I'll eat whatever. Good thing is it's getting healthier, instead of cookies I'll have a whole wheat bagel, etc.

I'll try my best to log, I never thought I would be so busy. But I've been doing cardio every day and making healthier changes. I'm really hoping I can get that gym membership, I don't have weights so I try to use my body.

[derickonfire]

Bodyweight and calisthetics is WAY better than nothing...
I used bodyweight exercises as a good warmup for my body before I got into the gym.

Pushups, situps, crunches, stretches of all sorts, and pullups.

Don't forget that you have things around that house that equals = weight!

A gallon of water is about 8-9lb.. Do some weighted crunches, or work your obliques and abs by doing bends, start curling - whatever.

These are things you can do WHILE cooking dinner, or breakfast if ya think about it - do a set, then go do a daily task, then do another set, etc..

Check this to see how much ya should eat...

http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/
http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-ca...dict-equation/

Try to get a 40% carb / 40% protein / 20% fat split between your meals -
try a site like fitday.com to log your food.

Fitday.com is probably the greatest tool I have used and is my greatest contributor to my health and diet.

eat these kind of foods if you can -
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...1#post62255371

Hope this helps..

[acd]

Thank you so much! I will look into everything after I get the kids to sleep LOL Nearly impossible to do anything with them awake. I do get them to do cardio with me though

I can't rep you, says I have to spread reps around before repping you again.

Thanks

[derickonfire]

How's it going?

[acd]

Hey, thanks for stopping by.

Everything is doing good, becoming more consistent. I'm having a problem at night though, I'm getting really hungry. I have to buy some PB or cc just in case.

I'm doing cardio only at the moment. I want to get back into the habit of working out first. Once I'm firm, I'll get into weights, body weight, etc.

Doing pretty good on the meals to. Tommorrow's my birthday so I'm going to cheat and have some cake.

[derickonfire]

My first month or two I hardly did any workout - I think I walked 2-3x a week for 30-40minutes, and may jogged 2-4miles once or twice every two weeks.

Diet is key, keep it up.

there isn't a problem with 'cheating'.. but if you're going to eat some cake - maybe cut off some of the meals earlier and later in the day.

Make sense?

I treat myself to mini-cheats often, and I'll just go without some peanut butter in my oats, or something similar.

[FrostFox]

Read your journal... congratulations on your newborn!

I know it's hard to get in shape in a hard financial situation, but there is still a lot you can do.

http://www.buffmother.com/

This is the site of a woman who got into shape after having four children. I suggest you read up on what she has to say.

Good luck!

[acd]

Derick-makes perfect sense and it seems easier for me to follow.

Frost-thanks, I've checked out the website, that woman is incredible! I'm going to join but I have to write to her b/c I can't pay for the subscription fee.

I'm doing pretty good. I'm constantly reminding myself why I want this when I want to give up. I've had a few more carbs than what I would've wanted to this week but I think I've been able to keep within my calorie intake.

I'm getting a lot of anxiety so I've been drinking alot of water. It's getting so tempting to start picking my I'm doing my best to hold out.

I think my body composition is alredy begining to change. I'm getting some muscle definition on my back and thighs, my abs have slimmed down too.

[derickonfire]

Awesome!

It's a slow slow process - and because of that, it's hard to see a change.

Eventually though, it'll just hit you that your pants fit different, and you'll just smile.

[acd]

Thanks, I'm starting to notice changes already. I just wish I had a better way to deal with anxiety. I try to keep busy or work out when this happens but it doesn't always help. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

[derickonfire]

Thanks, I'm starting to notice changes already. I just wish I had a better way to deal with anxiety. I try to keep busy or work out when this happens but it doesn't always help. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

I'm looking for a cure too..

I'm a full-time college student while working a full-time job living 100% independently and trying to maintain several active hobbies..

I'm following this guy's log to see how it goes, it looks like it might be worth a bottle to try?

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=5099633

[acd]

I am an MBA student, mother of 3 and wife. LOL 24 hours is not enough to get things done around here

[chrischap01]

Derick-makes perfect sense and it seems easier for me to follow.

Frost-thanks, I've checked out the website, that woman is incredible! I'm going to join but I have to write to her b/c I can't pay for the subscription fee.

I'm doing pretty good. I'm constantly reminding myself why I want this when I want to give up. I've had a few more carbs than what I would've wanted to this week but I think I've been able to keep within my calorie intake.

I'm getting a lot of anxiety so I've been drinking alot of water. It's getting so tempting to start picking my I'm doing my best to hold out.

I think my body composition is alredy begining to change. I'm getting some muscle definition on my back and thighs, my abs have slimmed down too.

good job sticking with it so far! keep up the hard work.

[acd]

good job sticking with it so far! keep up the hard work.

Thanks. Welcome to my journal!

Need as much motivation as possible. My DH supports me but he seems to forget what I'm trying to do. He bought me a chocolate donut yesterday. *sigh*