- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Cincinnati Babies
NBR: What motivates you re: weight loss and exercise?
I am so tired of carrying my baby weight but I am having a really hard time getting motivated to do anything about it. I see pictures of myself and I get upset at how I look but instead of doing something about it I get depressed and eat M&Ms. So what motivates you? And how do you find the time to exercise when you have kids, job, etc? If you are watching what you eat do you give yourself a cheat day or a cheat meal/snack a week? What kinds of sweet things do you eat during the week that help curb the craving for sweet/chocolate without derailing your progress? If only M&Ms could qualify as a vegetable 
This discussion has been closed.
Re: NBR: What motivates you re: weight loss and exercise?
I am in your exact situation. I think I posted last week about how to find the time to work out. I've decided that I will start making myself accountable for what I eat by logging everything with sparkpeople. I'm not cutting myself off completely or necessarily sticking to a certain plan, and not beating myself up about days I splurge, but seeing exactly WHAT I eat has made me rethink "do I really want that cookie, or just half of it?" Do I eat great, not always, but I think the number of days I eat junk has really gone down.
I also was really set on doing p90x with DH, but it just isn't going to happen now. There isn't the time for workouts that are an hour+ long. I found a couple of old workout videos I had stashed away that are 20-30 minute workouts, so I'm going to start doing those either in the evening or during DD's naps when I'm home just for something to get me going. SIL did the kettlebell workouts that are all 10-30 min and she has lost 30 lbs!
For motivation, running around with DD has definitely motivated me. She is so so active, and very physical, lots of running, climbing, and I know I would just feel so much better and have more energy for all of that with her if I could start working out. If I lose weight, great. But if not, at least I will feel better about myself.
I just finally got fed up with being so fat. I've been fat throughout my 20s and it's getting old. It's also not healthy. I don't want to have another fat decade. It is a DAILY struggle and I make mistakes, a lot of mistakes, but I'm a work in progress. I don't have a specific cheat day or meal, but if I do splurge I try to cut back the rest of the day, or even the next day. If I want chocolate, I have chocolate, but I try to just have 1 cookie or brown, or a couple Hershey Kisses (notice I said "try" I'm not always successful in this endeavor). I have also been drinking water when I initially feel hungry. A lot of the time, that takes away the urge to eat. If I'm still hungry, I will eat something.
As far as exercising, I don't do well "freestyling" it. Right now I am training for a half marathon with a running group. I have scheduled runs with a group, and I've only missed one so far, and that was due to illness. H or my parents watch Logan when I'm running.
Good luck, this stuff isn't easy!
I am terrible at exercising alone. But my family gets together and does Zumba on Tuesday and Thursdays, to top it off the instructor is a blast. On these nights DH watches Zac.
When it is nice outside we do 5K Wed. at the Loveland Bike Trail. I use the jogging stroller and take Zac along. On other off days my cousin and I get the strollers out and walk Sharon Woods with the babies.
Otherwise I wouldn't do something myself.
No eating habits. Ha! That's a whole new story.
What motivates me to work out/lose weight? I'm a cheap a$$ and don't feel like buying a whole new wardrobe.
I usually work out with DS in the room with me, he thinks it's funny that mommy is jumping around and being crazy. I usually sing to him while work out, so it's free entertainment for him. LOL. I'm losing it everywhere but my belly. So I still look like I'm bloated and have a early baby bump with the belly I have. NOT liking it!
DS #1 born January 2010. DS #2 due June 2014.
What motivates me is how great I feel after a workout. You just *feel* thinner, more energetic, and happy. Lately I'm also motivated by trying to fit back into my wedding dress and hey, spring/summer/swimsuit season is just around the corner again, too!
Thankfully I don't have kids yet so I have more leisure time but I find that paying for Jazzercise ($37/mth) and having scheduled classes help me to go, too. If I don't go, I'm wasting money and with structured class times you either go or don't. When I do go, standing in the front gives me motivation to work out extra hard because I figure the people behind me are watching lol.
If you're short on time, try Jillian's 30 Day Shred. The DVD has 3 workouts (3 different levels and 2 intensities within each level) that are 30 minutes each. You do circuits of 3 mins cardio, 2 mins strength, 1 min ab. It doesn't seem like much but it sure does kick your butt! My problem with this workout though is that there's no one to hold me accountable. Thus, I find structured classes work better for me.
Regarding food, I just don't restrict myself...which...could be a little bit of my problem. But, my philosophy is that if you want a cookie, eat a cookie. Everything is fine as long as you eat it in moderation. And, I work extra hard when I know I have (or will) eaten poorly.
Sweets that I enjoy that are healthier (though, like I said, I will eat the bad-for-you stuff occasionally, anyway!): Fruit! (preferably whole because they fill you up more but dried is okay, too), plain greek yogurt with honey and almonds, chocolate kisses (small so don't do much damage)
Latest Blog Update: Peanut Butter Cookie with Salted Peanut Caramel
Honestly, every time I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror when I'm in my underwear, I get scared enough to stop snacking for a bit!
One thing that I think really keeps my weight in check is that I don't drink soda anymore, and I pack my lunch every single day. Luckily, although I am a junk-food junkie, I do make my lunches count so that I can use that energy to keep going for the afternoon, so my lunches tend to be healthier than anything else that I eat. I cook most nights for dinner and try to sub in low-fat foods when I can. When it gets warmer out, we'll start walking every night with the stroller and I can't wait...I usually drop about 5 lbs. with that once we start. I am going to aim for 10 this spring, but we'll see.
My mirror. That is all the motivation I really need. Also, a few photos with the dreaded c section pooch (that does NOT go away with weight loss), and the horrible muffin top I have inflicted upon myself. I am just over it. So I diet, limit snacks, and try to work out when I am healthy enough to do it. This winter has been the worst one I have ever had as far as illnesses go. I am just dying for spring to get here and all the bugs to go away for a long while so I can breathe while I run.
I was working out the minute DD went to sleep for the night, and I tried to get a full hour in daily. I would run one day, then walk or do a video the next, and so on. I really saw the pounds drop right off with that routine. I can't wait to be able to do more than a moderate walk. I know I am out of shape again. I feel like a slug. I also know I have the flu now...going to get it confirmed tomorrow.
Bring on spring!
I am looking for a Zumba buddy in the Mason area if anyone knows of a good place to do it and can tolerate my wonky work schedule.
In summer of 2009 I saw a neurologist for migraines that had been plaguing me for years. He told me "Overweight women in childbearing years often get migraines" I was like STFU it isn't b/c I'm overweight that I'm getting these headaches. But, I was getting them probably 4-5x a week and they'd take me out for a whole day so I was willing to try anything. Drugs were just knocking me out which wasn't a good thing while chasing after a 18mo old. I started tracking my food on Sparkpeople.com and pathetically working out 3-4x a week (usually no more than 30 min) with my Wii (Wii Fit and EA active). I chose healthier snacks to eat at work and wiser options for lunches. I tried very hard to stay within the goal setup on Sparkpeople for calorie intake, fat, protein, carbs. In 3 mos. I lost 20 lbs....and the headaches were practically gone and greatly reduced. I couldn't believe what a difference it made in clothing and my attitude too. Funny thing is, I've always hated my weight, but when I started my diet I was actually content and happy with where I was and my body, even though it was the heaviest I'd ever been. It was weird to start a diet when I "felt good" (minus the headaches) vs. when I felt horrible which is when I'd tried to diet in the past.
I cheat believe me, but keeping the majority of my days in check kept the weight slowly falling off. I hit a plateau right before the holidays that year, got pregnant and said I'll diet after the baby...which is now.
As for sweets...I grew to love dark chocolate. The Dark chocolate roasted almonds from Emerald nuts are a treat...I suck on them first and then eat the nut. Might be worth a try for you. They are always in my desk.
I try terribly hard to not keep things in my house that I can't control or stop from eating until they are gone...Coke and Monster Trail Mix from Target are my loves.
Here is another thought process I had...I'm always online. I have an addiction to the nest of course, but I read a lot online too and of course there is FB. So my thoughts were, if I'm always online, what possible excuse do I have not to track my food? I'm already there practically and eating while online half the time too (like at work or snacking). There was no excuse not to start logging my food. Now exercising...I can find lots of excuses to not do that everyday.
My EVO phone also has some awesome apps, like smartpeople to help log my nutrition now too.
I *think* that Urban Fitness in Deerfield Town Center, Mason Community Center, and The YMCA Express in Landen all have Zumba. I'd be willing to try it with you but I know long-term I'm not going to want to pay for 2 different centers...just too expensive.
Latest Blog Update: Peanut Butter Cookie with Salted Peanut Caramel
I have my 10 year college reunion in June. I'd like to go to it and not be fatter than I was in college - which right now I still am. I also am committing to losing all of the weight I gained with DD before we TTC again. I'm doing WW and it's working.
I've also been trying to work out more. I won't say that I love spinning class, but I tolerate it and it gets over fast. I want to start running more too - sign up for a few 5Ks...