miatutu :hug: I can relate. I quit my really awesome job in Washington, D.C. to move to India with my fiance. I can't work fulltime here due to visa restrictions, so I have been doing contract work in my field from home. I remember the first few months being so stressful and confusing and deflating... I really did feel like I lost my sense of self.

What helps me is: getting dressed and working out, usually first thing in the morning. Even if that means just 20 minutes of light yoga or a walk around the block. Have a routine. I MUST start work by 9 AM (like a normal job) and I MUST take a break at 1 PM. I usually use this time to cook a delicious lunch for myself while I listen to NPR. I then surf online for a bit and get back to work by 2.

I set up certain parts of the house for different purposes- my yoga stuff and resistance bands are always laid out, ready to use in one room. I always work on my computer in the office, or on the couch, never in the TV room. I keep an iPod shuffle full of news podcasts that I can just pop on and go for a walk. Having things in order, set up, ready to use makes me more inclined to actually DO something rather than watch TV.

When I'm between contracts I make to-do lists for the day/week. I have to study Spanish for 1 hour a day, I have to exercise- even just a walk- for 30 minutes. I have to go grocery shopping and make dinner. I have to do 20 minutes of physical therapy on my hip and knee (usually while I watch the Daily Show on my computer :D).

Giving structure to my day has helped a lot. Last month I had 2 analyses to write for a consultancy, plus a paper to research, and grad school applications to work on. I made a calendar for October with what I would work on each day, sometimes dividing up my morning and afternoon. Only allowing myself specific days to work on specific things helped me push through them and not procrastinate or waste time.

I think that can apply if you aren't working either. You can make a calendar with a to-do for each day: Exercise, go for a walk, make a new dish for dinner, read for 1 hour, etc. Or make rules: you can only run errands on M/W/F- T/Th must be doing house work, meeting friends for lunch, going for walks. Having "deadlines" helps me make the best of my time and feel like I'm busy and on task. For me, it helps give structure and purpose to an otherwise terrifyingly unstructured life!

I also do not watch TV from the hours of 9 AM- 6 PM. We no longer have a TV so I can't anyway, but when we did I found it HUGELY helpful to not permit myself to watch TV. I think it's easy to waste a day or half-day in front of the television and then get depressed. TV provides noise and human voices and comfort, which lures you into thinking it helps break the silence of the house. When you turn it off, the house is silent and you're "alone" again. What I found is better is opening lots of windows and doors, sitting on a balcony or patio or porch if you have one, and letting that be your connection to the outside world. Learning to be okay with a quiet house really has brought a lot of peace and calm to the days I stay at home to work. (I do watch The Daily Show and Colbert on my computer but that's all.)

THe last thing: keep your brain mentally sharp, every day. I listen to NPR and The Economist podcasts when I go for walks and runs. I listen to NPR on my computer when I'm in the kitchen cooking lunch and again cooking dinner. I study Spanish with textbooks and online games. I subscribe to The Economist and because it's so freaking expensive I feel compelled to actually read it every week. Even during the times I would go 2-4 weeks between consulting gigs, having this built into my day every day was critical for not going insane!

Just some thoughts. Sorry I didn't realize this was so long. Hope it helps- at least knowing that other people have gone through similar stuff!! :)

Ok now onto writing about Day 46 :)

Exercise: 30 minutes lifting
IF: Started eating 1:30 PM
Food:
1 serving pumpkin ginger soup
diced bell pepper + cucumber + carrot in dill and lemon juice
15 almonds
1 apple
2 pieces broccoli sauteed appetizer + 1 bite potato appetizer + ~ 1/2 c dal + 1/4 c palak paneer (dinner out with friends)

POP today, ate just at calories! And, I saw 121.8 on the scale today... not moving my ticker yet, will wait until I'm safely in that number before taking it as a loss :)

:hug: Miatu It is hard to stay at home!

Tyla, I changed my name because I told some people about this site and dont want IRL stalkers LOL

Indi, can you send some of your dedication/energy over to Louisiana Please. You inspire me to turn off all the screens!

Down 1 lb to 187.8 this morning, :carrot: I was 188.8 last thu, went back up to 190 this weekend and now back down. My graph is crazy!

We are going camping this weekend :dizzy: so I will be out of pocket all weekend, hope everyone has a great time!

Thank you everyone for the tips and just understanding. I have been staying home for a while now, but we just moved and that makes it so much harder. And Indie, you hit it right on the head. I feel so unappreciated. And being home all day with the baby can be really stressful sometimes. My boys are 13 and 10 and they are good boys, but they have been having issues listening lately. I guess when my husband gets home I would just like his attention and help, but he kinda has that "well I woked all day" thing going on. He doesn't understand how much work keeping our house nice takes. Anyway, lie I said today is another day and I am going to do my best to make it a good one. It is supposed to be in the high 50's today, so I am going to try to take the baby out for a walk today.

Have a great day ladies!!

NoMore THIS board is where I get my dedication!! Hehe. For weight loss that is. As far as the TV WAY TO GO for turning it off!! I got rid of ours (well, we technically have one, but we can only watch dvds on it) because I really think it's a total waste of time. Don't get me wrong- I love watching TV shows, but I would rather buy/rent the ones I specifically want. It helps limit screen time if I have to pay per show. Having a billion channels always available to me is too tempting to just sit in front of the TV at all times.

Day 47
Exercise: 1 hour volleyball!
IF: Started eating at 1 PM
Food:
200 g red cabbage salad with mint + cilantro + fish sauce + lemon juice + rice wine vinegar dressing
200 g beets with mustard
100 g blueberries

2 figs
5 dried dates

HUGE serving of dal (Indian lentils)
120 calories dark chocolate

NoMore, congrats on losing this week!!! :congrat:

Day 48 :)

Hi everyone!
(long and personal post...sorry!)
I know I vanished for about 3 weeks and I feel so bad about it. I was really trying to give it 100%.. I was meat free for over 30 days and then i got kinda sick. I was unsure what was up. Veggies just made me gag. I went two days eatting very little, then two days living off of cereal with real milk. (and I haven't had real milk in almost a year)

So last week I headed off to the doc.
Turns out I'm having a baby. @.@
I still can't really eat/ look at a veggie without feeling ill. I also can't be in the kitchen to cook because it really makes my stomach turn. So DF is doing all the cooking. ( kind of a scary thought but he's doing okay so far)

I'm not really excited about this. It was unplanned.
I admit that I'm rather upset that back when we were trying for a baby and could afford it easily nothing happened. Now.. over 3 years later...when we are just scraping by and not trying at all...now, now I get pregnant. and at about 100 pounds overweight...I'm not the weight I want to be to carry a baby. I'm worried about my job because it is very active. Lots of lifting, pulling and climbing. I can't afford to take more than two weeks off work or I'll miss my house and car payments. So I've sworn to try and keep active and my weight as down as i can keep it so that I won't be put in a place where I have to take time off if I can help it.
Lack of funds also put us in a place where we can't keep this baby. We're looking into adoption.
But it is very early, only 7 weeks into it, so things could change. i think i'm still just freaking out about being pregnant and the threat of gaining even more weight and then dealing with the hospital and pain and bills.

One question...things should be better in after the first three months right? I'm so tired I can't do any sort of working out. I feel lucky enough to drag myself to work every night. Also, my adversion to veggies has me eating meat and simple carbs made my weight jump up 8 pounds. I've already started trying switching over to more complex carbs and leaning more on fruit when nothing seems to want to sit well. But I was told after the first three months I'll feel more like myself. is this true?

sakai I know there are a lot of emotions going on, but I do want to say congratulations. Whatever you decide to do I wish you the very, very best!!

Day 48
Exercise: 45 minutes volleyball
IF: started eating 2 PM
Food:
on track. It's already late in the day on the 49th day here so I am not going to go back and record everything, but it was fine :-D

Where is everyone?? Don't stop posting now, we are almost halfway there!!!!

Day 49:
GOOD GRIEF. Crazy day.
Exercise: 1 hour run + 3 hours of volleyball
IF: No!!! Ate before my run, after my run.... had to keep fueled for such an active day.
Food:
1 banana
1 apple + 10 almonds
75 g dried figs
1/2 idly + chutney (Indian breakfast food)
1 c dal
200 g steamed broccoli
1.5 c chickpea salad
Then went to a birthday of a colleague's son, lots of food there. Ate some dal, raita (yogurt with cucumber), sambar (vegetable soup), vegetable curry. It would have been fine actually except then I had some cake and Indian dessert (off plan).

Not worried. Had an exhausting, fun day.

Here I am.LOL

Day 50 :)

Indi, we did it! We made it to the halfway mark!! :woohoo:

Congrats to all of us who got to day 50! :congrat:

I lost another 1/2 lb. :yay:

Sakai, what a wonderful surprise...a new baby! :)

It is difficult to be on a diet and pregnant at the same time. If you stayed at the same weight for the next 9 months, that would be safe for the baby, I think.

I hope you can keep your baby. Can you check into whatever financial aid might be out there for you?

A friend of mine adopted 2 children in California. They are open adoptions. The mothers come and visit the little ones. Her two little ones are so precious. They have a wonderful life.

:hug:

I have lost another 1/2 pound this past week.
I hope all of you can lose a little more this coming week!

:hat:

MY BODY IS A TEMPLE, WITH AMPLE PARKING IN THE REAR.

Hello everyone. I'm still here too. Just not posting everyday like I used to. Have to get back to that though because it really helps me stay on track. I have been exercising and staying on track the last couple days. I weigh in tomorrow, so I will see if it shows up on the scale.

haven't been posting much and haven't been working out as I haven't felt well. Finally went to the doctor today when I still wasn't feeling any better and it turns out I have strep throat. I started the antibiotics today and I think I can already feel a difference so I'm hoping I will be doing better within a couple of days and able to get back to my normal routines including working out. I haven't been able to do that for a few days now, so I'll have to start back up slowly to make sure I don't over do, but I'm sure I'll be back up to full speed quickly.

Wow Sakai, Congrats and HUGS! I have to say money isn't everything, that baby needs love more than material things! I hope your morning sickness isn't too bad. Yes, the fatigue should decrease around 12 weeks but you are crafting another human being, it's hard work!! Your body is retaining a lot of fluid so your weight will increase just from that. But I do have a friend from high school that actually lost 30lbs while pregnant just because she started eating healthier and walking. (which I admire but I gained 60 lol) I have a friend that chose an open adoption and placed her son with a distant relative, and I think that has worked out really well for her. Your state will have automatic free medical care and food vouvhers for pregnant moms, http://www.azwic.gov
I went camping over the weekend, we wont even discuss all the smores, hot dogs, and rotel I ate over three days. Blah. I've also come down with a lovely cold/flu with fever and body aches while we were gone.
Ready to start a new week!!