Weight-Loss for Busy Professionals

Hello, I am a working mum, with a day that starts at 6:30 am and i finally stop at about 8:30 pm, I just cant find time to get in any exercise, and i know i need to change my eating habits (my husband thinks he is doing me a favor when he comes home with a block of chocolate). so how do i make time to exercise? I have the beach less than 3 mins from my house, but i just don't have the time. I have a fairly physical job, I climb a ladder and i am on my feet from 8:30am-6:00pm, I then pick up kids, cook dinner do some house work, then fall in to bed and start all over again, yet since starting my job about a year ago have gained more than 10kg Help!
Thanks
Naomi

I also work long hours. I get up at 5:00 and work out first thing. It is a killer at first but I have lost 60 pounds starting my day this way. I am actually used to it now. I have told my husband I will divorce him if he continues to sabotage me. He finally got it and is now afraid to mention food. LOL

I don't have kids so it's hard for me to give advice on this one, but I agree with meanjujubean to stress to your husband the importance of clean eating. I'm not sure I would go to the extent of threatening for divorce... but it certainly should be stressed in a serious manner. The thought behind the chocolates may be well intended, but it's actually hurting your goal. I've had the conversation about clean easting with my boyfriend many times. It works eventually.

You should also look into Oxygen Magazine. That did a world of wonders for me as far as education and motivation. They have a lot of exercises (many that you could do at home), receipes, motivating and educational articles, and it's real stuff... good stuff... not just the lose 10 pounds in 5 days fad magazines you see everywhere. You should be able to find this magazine anywhere (probably in the fitness section of a magazine aisle and online).

I lost 30 pounds in one year. I have to get back on track, but by reading Oxygen, going to the gym, taking spin classes (love it), and meeting with a kick-ass personal trainer I had more energy, I was happier, and I was smaller.

You can do it!!

why don't you ask your husband to eventually help you with your housework, or if he could pick up the kids once or twice a week and maybe cooking dinner? you're now a WORKING MOM that means, you're not home the whole day....so you need the help of others. usually the men are really understanding.....

Two ideas for you that might help with the motivation. Warning--I have not tried these yet, just decided to add them yesterday as a complement to my efforts here on FatSecret, so they could be awful, but they sure look fun and motivating as a way to build exercise into daily life.

Idea 1: a site called Fitocracy that you can access on the web or through the new iPhone (does not work on my elderly iPhone, alas). Just like FatSecret focuses on all the diets and nutrition and calorie tracking side of wellness, Fitocracy focuses purely on exercise and makes it a game, with quests you can set up yourself ("take a daily 30 minute walk by the beach" challenges, tracking, social community stuff. If you track your exercise in Runkeeper, it can automatically upload all your data. Anyway, I am brand new over there, also as Punkspice, so if you want to be exercise buddies on that site, look me up.

What I like is that while it has a lot for the hardcore folks, it also has lots of good advice and groups for the newbies. And you can get points for little itty bitty workouts, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or doing ten reps with dumbbells while you wait for the water to boil. Basically the idea is to make a game out of exercising and try to level up by doing exercises, both little ones and big huge efforts like marathons. I find I am looking for creative ways to scatter my dumbbells around the house (ten reps while I am on the phone!) (yoga while I watch NCIS!) so I can get points for exercising while still doing everything else I need/want to do.

Idea 2: a gadget I've read about a lot and finally ordered yesterday called FitBit, which is a little keychain-like thingy that you just keep in a pocket all day that tracks how active you are. You can use it to boost your steps per day from say 5,000 to 10,000 by doing little things like parking at the far end of the parking lot when you shop (extra steps! more points!). The theory is that you start noticing how you can work extra activity into daily life, which sounds like a good fit for your overscheduled and rich life. I'm a gamer and a gadget geek, so these might not be the right fit for everyone, but I'll report back on whether they help me or not.

I'm brand new here too, but really liking this site and the community it fosters. I agree with Joelae that hubby needs to help there a bit more, but I find starting with what I can control (me) is easier than what I cannot control (hubby/partner/wifey). Maybe he'll want to follow you on your daily quest walk to the beach and you can get some hand in hand romantic time!

Naomi,

It sounds like you have enough responsibility and pressure without taking on an exercise regimen. If you're painting or doing ladder work all day, that should burn a lot of calories and keep you reasonably fit. The problem may be your diet, rather than your motivation or the occasional chocolate bar. I see that you're on your own diet. You might look at the Diets link in FatSecret to see what has worked for other people and then put yourself through a series of those until you find something that works for you.

If you want to be buddies, I'm open.

All the best,

Dorsey

I do the majority of cooking in my house for my fiance and myself. (We both have full time jobs so I dont feel it is my responsibility to take care of him or cook). When I make meals, he can eat them if he likes. When I am dieting, my meals tend to be healthier. If I want to make a treat for him while I am dieting, I make something he really likes and I dont.

I am also new to this site and after reading this post feel like I wrote it. I am 35 and have 2 kids. I work 4 days a week, but on my days off I have the kids all day. Going the the gym is not possible and getting in a walk is virtually impossible. Husband is great, but is also very busy. I think I just need some others to movtivate me and from looking around there are quite a few people on here who have done it and I just need a kick in the butt to go. I like the idea of waking at 5am...might need to try that tomorrow

New to site via Calorie counter app on galaxyNote.
I'm 33 busy dad with 2 kids and beautiful wife.

I currently have a busy but low active job. Either driving, desk work or sitting in meetings. I have lost a bit since crimbo2011. Although up and down throughout, 6 pounds lost total.
Calorie counting felt like a chore and i was doing it alone
Exercise is hard to fit in as i want my kids to know i exist rather than not see me.

I enjoy swimming and sports when i did them (tennis n basketball mainly). Like others here i am looking for motivation and ideas how to fit/slot/add exercise into my life.

I have tried going to a dietitian , it worked for few months , i lost 15 Kgs ,but in my 1st business trip for 1 month , i gained 10 Kgs , and now my body is not burning food at all , we had Ramadan , 16 hours of fasting , i barely lost 3 Kgs although wasn't eating at all

my lifestyle is not having any physical activities , but it is highly stresed , i work after 1 hour of my wakeup until 7 PM , and if my team see me online , i get into helping them on their technical issues

I want my metabolism back , the problem with GYM is that it is a high commitment , and result ..damn , takes at least 2 months to start seeing a change

What is working for someone like me !!!

My number one rule on a business trip is to use the time you would in the morning commuting, making your bed, picking up around the house to get in a real hard work out. All hotels have gyms or go for a run in the nice weather. Make it a priority.

Number two rule take advanatage of your expense account. I am on the Dukan Diet and I get my best meals when I am traveling. Thats because I can order what I want how I want it. I use that to get some variety in my diet compared to the very regimentad menu I follow at home.

Number three rule- back some oatbran pancakes and go to the local grocery store and pick up some non fat greek fruit yogurts. I find that if I am hanging out with colleagues after dinner and they are drinking and eating penuts I can sit there with a smile on my face knowing that I can go back to my room and have a treat before bed!

Number Four- coffee or decaf. I drink decaf and only in the morning. I put enought milk to make it creamy and yummy and add sweet and low. If I am in meetings and the snack bar is rolled in in the afternoon. I just make myself a coffee and chew on a piece of gum. You got to suck it up.

Try these tips it works

Read the Dukan Diet book- It is a good book and the diet is easy to follow

NUTRITIONAL CLEANSING!! ALL THE WAY!! I've lost 44 pounds in 5 months with this program and I would love to share it with anyone who is interested
Pamela
pamelaglamm@gmail.com