My worst nightmare...

[strawberry2]

I'm sure this happens to the average woman...except for those Wonder Women who have great self-discipline & control...or have husbands that are workout fanatics too.

It has been a long time since I've been on this board -- I'm back! I was pregnant & now have a 4 month old baby boy. With having a husband that can't cook for himself, & a new baby...along with working full-time & keeping house. I have gotten out of my groove of working out everyday & eating healthy & 5x per day! I'm either always busy or exhausted. Of course, it's no wonder I get exhausted...I don't workout much anymore *sigh*. I am married to a man that doesn't workout nor really cares about eating healthy. I used to be VERY strict with my eating habits, & somewhere in the mix of having a baby I have slid.

How do you working ladies with kids do it all?? I need helpful hints on quick healthy recipes (mainly for lunch & dinner - lately for lunches I've been doing Lean Cuisines). Second, what I can do to get my butt back into the gym, or at least take a brisk walk with the stroller around the park? Help!! I don't want to end up being a lazy frumpy housewife!

Pre-pregnancy: 5'1", 110lbs, 17% BF
Post-pregnancy: 5'1", 130lbs, I dont even want to know my BF (but still wearing my maternity pants cuz I am stubborn & don't want to buy a bigger wardrobe!)

(by the way, I dont have a huge appetite for some reason - I did when I was preggers, but now it's the exact opposite)

 

[cindylou]

Hopefully Daisy or Bmom can come by and answer this - but dont worry - you will get back to normal, just give your hormones some time.

Its only been 4 months! I do feel ya - I want to have a baby and would like to know the quickest way to get the weight off myself...

are you breastfeeding?

 

[strawberry2]

Thanks for your reply!

Yes, my hormones I'm sure have some play in this -- especially "stress" hormones that have caused my middle area (theighs, butt, tummy) to get thicker. I'm also curious to know if there are any supplements out there now days that will seriously help lose fat (without lots of caffeine or hunger suppressants)..?

And no, I am no longer breastfeeding -- I wish I was, but the well dried up.

Hopefully Daisy or Bmom can come by and answer this - but dont worry - you will get back to normal, just give your hormones some time.

Its only been 4 months! I do feel ya - I want to have a baby and would like to know the quickest way to get the weight off myself...

are you breastfeeding?

 

[cindylou]

Thanks for your reply!

Yes, my hormones I'm sure have some play in this -- especially "stress" hormones that have caused my middle area (theighs, butt, tummy) to get thicker. I'm also curious to know if there are any supplements out there now days that will seriously help lose fat (without lots of caffeine or hunger suppressants)..?

And no, I am no longer breastfeeding -- I wish I was, but the well dried up.

Sorry girl, when I want a supp I want a hunger suppressant. I dont know much about fat burners hopefully someone will chime in.....

 

[jkmom]

Sorry to hear that you are not working out so much. After giving birth I found the weight slid off and yours will too. It was right around the 4th or 5th month. - That was when I started trining in the very early hours before I left for work. I usually ran at 4 or 4:30 am and snuck in a weight training session in the afternoon while the nanny was still with my daughter or even when she was at daycare - I did feel guilty - but I hated the way I looked!!Hang in there - the discipline will come back and life with a baby will get easier. I went through 3 babyjoggers!! I never left home with out one! Keep as busy as you can - even if it means walking with a stroller in the mall - I know this sounds ugly but it is something! As far as diet - start with the easy changes - get the junk out - increase organic everything. The amounts will fall into place.
Good luck!!

 

[Gymgurl]

Welcome back to EF

 

[Daisy_Girl]

I knoiw it is hard, but be patient. Things in your life have changed dramatically. You have to adjust your thought processes .... you no longer have the freedom you did pre-baby, but that is OKAY. Don't get down on yourself about not having the "drive" to go to the gym everyday - that is counterproductive. Instead, make small changes here and there.

Also, know that is can take months or YEARS to get your hormones back to normal. Some people can bounce back to perfection within a couple months, others take longer. I, unfortunately, fall into the "longer" category (but I am also dealing with several hormonal imbalance situations too). Don't compare yourself to other people. Just make changes that fit YOUR LIFE and your schedule.

For example, at the store, they have pre-cooked chicken breast strips. Buy those for lunches so you don't have to waste time cooking. Have 3-4 ounces of chicken strips and some veggies and a small potato. Red potatoes are great - they are already small and easy to microwave.

Buy a large bag for almonds - pre-bag (in the Ziplock small snack bags) 16-20 almonds, that is a serving. Take them to work. Have a serving with a yogurt - great snack.

Apples make great portable snacks. So do bagged baby carrots. They have great frozen veggies - in the steam bags. All you have to do is toss the ENTIRE bag in the microwave and POOF, it steams them. Easy, simple, healthy and NO CLEAN UP.

Takes as many walks with your baby - gets him out and you get a workout. For extra woirk, find a hilly place and either walk with in him a sling or push a stroller. HARD WORK! Workout early mornings - before he wakes up. If you can't get to a gym, buy workout videos. If you have digital cable, check the "on demand" channels - they usually have a "Health and Fitness" channel and you can get FREE fitness workouts. They are really good. If you have DVR/TIVO, record off FitTV.

Couple other things .... first, enjoy your baby. I know it is frustrating to be fat, trust me, I KNOW. But they are truely only babies for a short while. Mine will be 2 in January - and I have no idea when she got so big.

Second, girl, buy yourself some bigger clothes. A blow to the ego, yes, but you are doing NOTHING for your self-esteem by staying in maternity clothes.

 

[Bikini Mod]

Wow - excellent advice from all the women before me.

1. Take baby steps. Small changes will help you stay the course.

2. Clean up your diet.

3. Eo whatever you can to be as active as you can be.

Daisy and jkmom made some great suggestions. There is NO REASON to pound yourself into the ground because you are having a bit of a time dealing with all of the changes in your life.

I had four children in five years and survived a miserable marriage and nightmarish aftermath...

It is just a matter of shifting your priorities and taking *this much* time FOR YOU. Remember, if mama ain't happy... ain't NOBODY happy!

Just to give you a little history about me. I was a chubby kid. Yo-yo dieting, starving, eating disorder-plagued young adult. You heard a brief synopsis of my personal circumstances. But I managed to model and compete (though I no longer do either) after the age of 30 and after all of the babies! And no, no weight "slid off ever" LOL I wasn't THAT lucky Now at the age of 40 I did a bikini contest and think I did OK pretty good for an old broad. (Had the hardest behind on the stage though I didn't make top 4... hehehehehee)

Look at my thread about devising a simple meal plan and feel free to ask questions! We're very happy that you are back and posting again. And I am personally looking forward to watching a lot of ladies taking themselves to the next level!

 

[Gymgurl]

I knoiw it is hard, but be patient. Things in your life have changed dramatically. You have to adjust your thought processes .... you no longer have the freedom you did pre-baby, but that is OKAY. Don't get down on yourself about not having the "drive" to go to the gym everyday - that is counterproductive. Instead, make small changes here and there.

Also, know that is can take months or YEARS to get your hormones back to normal. Some people can bounce back to perfection within a couple months, others take longer. I, unfortunately, fall into the "longer" category (but I am also dealing with several hormonal imbalance situations too). Don't compare yourself to other people. Just make changes that fit YOUR LIFE and your schedule.

For example, at the store, they have pre-cooked chicken breast strips. Buy those for lunches so you don't have to waste time cooking. Have 3-4 ounces of chicken strips and some veggies and a small potato. Red potatoes are great - they are already small and easy to microwave.

Buy a large bag for almonds - pre-bag (in the Ziplock small snack bags) 16-20 almonds, that is a serving. Take them to work. Have a serving with a yogurt - great snack.

Apples make great portable snacks. So do bagged baby carrots. They have great frozen veggies - in the steam bags. All you have to do is toss the ENTIRE bag in the microwave and POOF, it steams them. Easy, simple, healthy and NO CLEAN UP.

Takes as many walks with your baby - gets him out and you get a workout. For extra woirk, find a hilly place and either walk with in him a sling or push a stroller. HARD WORK! Workout early mornings - before he wakes up. If you can't get to a gym, buy workout videos. If you have digital cable, check the "on demand" channels - they usually have a "Health and Fitness" channel and you can get FREE fitness workouts. They are really good. If you have DVR/TIVO, record off FitTV.

Couple other things .... first, enjoy your baby. I know it is frustrating to be fat, trust me, I KNOW. But they are truely only babies for a short while. Mine will be 2 in January - and I have no idea when she got so big.

Second, girl, buy yourself some bigger clothes. A blow to the ego, yes, but you are doing NOTHING for your self-esteem by staying in maternity clothes.

Awesome....just awesome advice!

 

[Bikini Mod]

Update please Ms Strawberry!

 

[pheroshus]

I agree with the other ladies on here, don't beat yourself up!!! I always find when I do that it becomes even harder to get back into healthy habits. I find when I love my body no matter how out of shape it motivates me to love it even more!

 

[strawberry2]

Hi ladies!
Thanks so much for your replies and advice...VERY wonderful advice!

I am slowly but surely getting into a routine. I've been so busy lately -- that whole "rocky marriage" thing. But come next week, I will have more time on my hands because my husband will be in rehab for 6 months, so I'll be using that time to work on ME!

I definitely love to eat healthy, it makes me feel better... I'm trying to get back on an eating schedule like I used to...so hopefully my appetite will increase just a smidge so I can at least eat and eat healthy. Great idea with the pre-cooked chicken and almonds/yogurt, as well as apples for at work.

I have a Gold's Gym membership, and I need to use it...put the baby in the gym daycare. Then, if I'm running low on time, I have a stair step, dumbells, rubber band, and an exercise ball...I used those some during my pregnancy. I need to find a great workout video though...any GREAT ones out there that also do a good muscle workout and isnt just another boring cardio/aerobic workout? I know using core muscles is great, perhaps I'll find one that incorporates the exercise ball or something....

I welcome any more suggestions, especially for the diet. I'll probably cruise the recipe board to see if there's anything fast and simple for lunch, since that's what I struggle with the most.

Thanks again...you guys are very helpful and sweet. I'll keep ya updated!

 

[vixensghost]

Hi ladies!
Thanks so much for your replies and advice...VERY wonderful advice!

I am slowly but surely getting into a routine. I've been so busy lately -- that whole "rocky marriage" thing. But come next week, I will have more time on my hands because my husband will be in rehab for 6 months, so I'll be using that time to work on ME!

I definitely love to eat healthy, it makes me feel better... I'm trying to get back on an eating schedule like I used to...so hopefully my appetite will increase just a smidge so I can at least eat and eat healthy. Great idea with the pre-cooked chicken and almonds/yogurt, as well as apples for at work.

I have a Gold's Gym membership, and I need to use it...put the baby in the gym daycare. Then, if I'm running low on time, I have a stair step, dumbells, rubber band, and an exercise ball...I used those some during my pregnancy. I need to find a great workout video though...any GREAT ones out there that also do a good muscle workout and isnt just another boring cardio/aerobic workout? I know using core muscles is great, perhaps I'll find one that incorporates the exercise ball or something....

I welcome any more suggestions, especially for the diet. I'll probably cruise the recipe board to see if there's anything fast and simple for lunch, since that's what I struggle with the most.

Thanks again...you guys are very helpful and sweet. I'll keep ya updated!

Idea for "fast" food prep: Cook on the weekend. Yes, it does take one or two hours outta your time During thE weekend. However, there is nothing better than coming home and having a pre-made healthy dinner in the freezer waiting!

I've cooked on the weekends for several years(working mom on this end) It REALLLLLLY does help to curb the temptation of ordereing out or making bad food choices when you are tired after a long day!

Good luck!