[Dieting Diva]

Hi there...

I am new here and I am hoping to connect with some great people that can support me, and I can support them in the healthy lifestyle process.

I have stuggled with weightloss since the 8th grade, I am now 31 years old. I am hoping people have suggestions about trying to strike a balance between being a working mom, wife and healthy ways... how do I make myself fit in healthy eating and exercise?

I look forward to reading all of your great posts and hopefully helping out.

Kindly,
Robyn
Dieting Diva

[adaem]

For me I get up first thing in the morning (6am) and walk 2 miles. If I don't get up in the morning I will not do it. I am a stay at home mom so that doesn't work for everyone. I am usually done by 7am and in the shower before anyong else wakes up. I hate every minute of it but it is a great way to start my day! I can really tell the difference if I don't walk.

I also just started forcing myself to eat carrots for a snack or with my lunch. I hate veggies but have noticed that I acually and starting to like them.

This is a great place to come for advice and support! I love looking at the before and after photos. They are very inspiring.

Good luck and welcome.

[tart]

Well, I am neither wife nor mom so my schedule is probably different than yours, however I think I understand the questions. For me, it was just a matter of doing it. There is no way I can "make" someone else fit in fitness and health. Goodness knows, I could barely make myself do it. I started working out when I was 30. It took at least 6 weeks for it to become habit and 3 months to get where not working out felt weird. I was vigilant with excersize for about 1 1/2 years then I stopped. When I went back to the gym, it was another 6 weeks of making it my habit. Really just forcing myself to go. I set up a little rewards sytem to get in gear. Sounds silly, but I put a cute Hello Kitty sticker in my date book for every day I worked out. It made me happy.
Now I am doing South Beach as well as working out. I had the extra incentive that I needed to get the carbs and sugars out of my body for health reasons, but I know it will take at least 6 weeks total for this life style to become habit, not just something I am trying. I am learning to squeeze vegatables into every meal. After two weeks of no sugar, organic baby carrots tasted so sweet! As did almonds. I replaced my nighttime snack with a cup of plain soymilk. Again, with the absence of other sweets, it tasted perfect.
However, the temptation is always there. I like chocolate and don't like to cook, so I always want to run to a convience store for a quick can of soup, but I know that is a slippery sloap for me.
Anyway, sorry, I am getting off the point. How old are your kids? Are they yourg enough that you can work this into a game? Some way to read the nutrition lables and have everyone peice together a meal w/a certain about of fat/carbs/sugars/whatever that you are monitoring? Are there gyms in your neighborhood w/daycare services? Someway that you could work your whole family into the changes would probably work best.
Good luck! I hope I helped a little.

[CrimsonClover]

i go for my walks before dinner

i have a higher stress job and it calms me down for the evening

i also find i eat dinner a little later and not as hungry to snack at night

welcome =)

[LBH]

Hi Robyn!

Welcome to 3FC and 30-Something's! Come join us on the "Daily Chat" thread, you'll find lots of support there!

[GatorgalstuckinGA]

i am a wife, working but not a mom. But here's what i can tell you. First find something that works for you. Everyone has their own way to lose weight. You need to find what you will stick to. Remember this is a life change, not a diet. I personally like calorie counting...but others use weight watchers atkins etc. I recommend trying to encooperate fresh fruit and veggies in place of chips. I try to eat whole wheat instead of white carbs including pasta. I find great recipies that taste great using fresh ingredients. I also try to cut down on the processed food i eat. In addition exercise. Go out and play with your kids....take you kids for a bike ride while you walk. ( i don't know how old your kids are, but incoorperate them into you workouts). Or if you need harder work outs..have DH play with kids for 30-60 min a day while you work out. Start off slow at first...walks..then go from there. Come here for support and advice. Good luck! BTW...join us on our daily chat

[michelinwoman]

Just don't read my weight ticker when you read this post (since it is up 1 lb over my starting weight!). I have a teenage daughter and husband (who are thin and eat a lot of junk food!) What has worked for me in the past is limiting sweetened drinks limiting sugar and "white" bread/pasta and sometimes either eating a bowl of cereal or slimfast as a meal replacement. At one point (probably 5 years ago now) I got down to 126 by making these small changes and walking daily. I told myself I would never let my weight creep back up to anything higher than 130....I don't know what happened. I guess consistency is always the key! Now I am trying to get back on track and anything under 140 would make me happy.

I think we all know WHAT works in this forum...less calories...more movement. It is just really hard to do sometimes. Consistency!!! I also put an unattractive pic of myself up where I can see it (like on the refrigerator). It keeps me motivated...just remember to remove it before company comes over

A guess a digital bra and panties or bikini pic would do wonders for the appetite when a late-night snack attack comes on!