First of all, THANK YOU! I joined this site today, and it is so refreshing to read positive, honest feedback from people with a common goal and at a common place in their lives.

Here's where I need your advice... I have been stressed and very busy at work lately. I rarely make time for exercise, meals have been whatever I throw in my lunch bag in the morning or stop and buy, and I do not sleep enough at night. This is not a healthy pattern and it is catching up to me! Any advice on how to devote time to my weight loss goals in a way that won't sacrifice too much time spent at work or preparing for work?? Thanks for you help!

Hi Charlie!

First off, welcome, from a fellow shortie

I have a wacky work schedule myself (it involves night shifts), and so I really have to think ahead when it comes to eating, sleeping, and exercising.

What works for me is setting aside time on my day off to food shop, and then cook my food for the week. This is often a simple stir fry or chili. Then I portion it out and stick it in the fridge. I supplement this with veggies, fruit, yogurt, cottage cheese-- all things that can either be grab & go or be portioned out into smaller containers. As for the exercise, I love group fitness classes and I go to them at my gym because otherwise I feel like I am wasting the $ I am spending at the gym if I'm not attending. I also thrive and do much better in a group setting.

When it comes to sleeping, you have to figure out a schedule that works for you, and stick to it. This means a repeating pattern-- same bedtime, same wake up time, etc. For me, it's a little different, but the concept is the same-- making an effort to carve out the time for self care.

Hope this helps!

I work two jobs, I prefer a nap before job number two then going to the gym (It seems to help with me not over exhausting myself...because I get 5 to 6 hours at night before my full time job and about a 2 hour nap during the day before my part-time job) Yes I know the gym would be better but when I don't work out I do my best to concertrait on my diet instead. (though that's been a fail lately LOL but I know it and I know what I need to do to change it.) So my day starts at a 5am wake up to be at work for 6am. I then work until 2pm, go home and sleep until 4:30 pm and head to work for 5:30 to 9pm.

I usually head to the grocery store after my afternoon job around 9 (because obviously I can't sleep right afterwork and need time to unwind and I don't fal asleep until about 11 maybe sometimes 12am.) and get home a little later but I spend that time once I get home, watching tv and making my lunch for the next day. If I don't procrastinate and do a zillion things at once (which I usually do because I can't just concerntrait on one thing) I could have my healthy meal for the day done within 15 minutes. haha

Find time, theres always a moment in your day where you are sitting on the couch or something. If your scedule is too clusterfacked take two days and write it out to figure out when you get your free time and that way you can start to change the patterns and start encorp more time dedicated to weightloss and so on.