Working mom, Three kids 3 and under...how and when to lose weight???

mrndbsn

I have a three yr old, a two yr old and a 5 mo old and about 25 lbs I need to shed! Problem is I work full time and feel like if I work out after work I don't get to spend enough time with the kids in the evenings. The older two go to bed btwn 8 and 9 and baby around 10. I am pooped by their bedtimes and can't imagine getting a quality workout that late. I would have to work out at 4:30 am if I did mornings to get it in and then shower before work. I feel stuck right now but I don't feel healthy and I don't feel like "me" in the shape I am in. I try to tell myself to cut some slack I just had three kids, but I feel the excuses/reasons piling up and any advice on how or when to make it happen would be appreciated!

lindsayandjamie

It sounds like you have two options:
1 get up at 4:30am and work out
Or
2 focus on eating clean and getting as much activity into your day including playing with your kids, walking, taking the stairs etc.

If I was in your shoes and wanted to lose 25lbs, I would focus on eliminating ALL sugar including processed foods, desserts, juices etc, all starchy carbs like rice, pasta and white potato, and all alcohol. Give it a month and see if it makes a difference. Focus on vegetables, lean protein, and drinking 2L of water a day.
Drink nothing but water. If you want carbonation, drink soda water with a lime wedge.

You don't sound like you are currently willing to prioritize exercise which is fine as long as you are still being active for at least 30min a day cumulative is fine. But if you want to lose weight you need to focus on a healthy diet.

Good luck.

mrndbsn

Thank you for the advice. The only thing I drink is water except one chi tea in the morning, but carbs are a weakness for me. I know yrs ago my endocrinologist gave me a 45 carbs or less per day food list to follow. Maybe I will try to find that and do what you rec focus on my intake. I am signing up for a Shamrock 5k today to get me motivated towards training activity!!!

Arnegard

Sounds like a good plan with your eating.

I know it can be hard.  I SAHM now, but worked when DD1 was little.  Is walking during lunch an option?  A gym nearby?

Before my wedding, when the weather was nice I'd walk my entire hour lunch and then drink a slim fast or something from my desk.

After I had DD, a co-worker and I would go to the gym.  We could get a 1/2 hour cardio in, change and be back to work.  I would keep some fresh veggies in the fridge to snack on and usually have one of those soup to go things to drink from my desk.

Of course, small changes like take the stairs instead of the elevator and all that jazz as well.

vlagrl29

mrndbsn:

Thank you for the advice. The only thing I drink is water except one chi tea in the morning, but carbs are a weakness for me. I know yrs ago my endocrinologist gave me a 45 carbs or less per day food list to follow. Maybe I will try to find that and do what you rec focus on my intake. I am signing up for a Shamrock 5k today to get me motivated towards training activity!!!

I'm not working full time, but part time .  if i did work full time i would probably do it on my lunch break.  I'm not a morning person and would rather have sleep and I would want to spend time with my kids after work as well.  start with what you eat since 80% of weight loss is what you put in your mouth.  check out websites like spark people.  that would be a good start 

jglenn4

lindsayandjamie:

It sounds like you have two options: 1 get up at 4:30am and work out Or 2 focus on eating clean and getting as much activity into your day including playing with your kids, walking, taking the stairs etc. If I was in your shoes and wanted to lose 25lbs, I would focus on eliminating ALL sugar including processed foods, desserts, juices etc, all starchy carbs like rice, pasta and white potato, and all alcohol. Give it a month and see if it makes a difference. Focus on vegetables, lean protein, and drinking 2L of water a day. Drink nothing but water. If you want carbonation, drink soda water with a lime wedge. You don't sound like you are currently willing to prioritize exercise which is fine as long as you are still being active for at least 30min a day cumulative is fine. But if you want to lose weight you need to focus on a healthy diet. Good luck.

This.  I'm a hardcore fitness person but I have come to realize that for most women their diet is the key to losing weight.  A good exercise plan is important but moreso for a healthy heart, etc.  I can workout 7 days a week for two hours a day but will continue to gain weight if I don't keep track of my food intake. 

brewcitybride

First of all, you have enough on your plate to worry about losing weight just because you think you need to lose all that weight right now! It took me 12 months to lose weight with baby #2, and I didn't do anything drastic...I think my body just needed 12 months to do it!

 I fit in two really good workouts on the weekends, so that right there is huge.

Then I bought a dvd, 30 Day Shred. It's great, and I noticed results right away. I fit that in either if I ever get home before the kids and the DH (maybe once per week this happens) or I fit it in when DH is playing with the kids in the evening.

A note on bedtime - I could never manage with those late bedtimes for the kids! DD is in bed by 7:30, and DS in in bed by 7:00. That way I know I am getting at least 3 hours of alone time, or time with DH to just talk. Can you move up their bedtimes?!

dukestar5

Could you fit in 10 minutes at 3 different times during the day?  Maybe right when you wake up, on your lunch break, and in the evening.  If your kids are around, they could even do some of the exercises with you.  You could do a combo of strength training, cardio, and abs.  Rotate squats, push-ups, crunches, and some other exercises to get in a varied workout.  Also, check out some exercise DVDs...there are some great ones with short segments so you can do chunks at a time.