I was doing really well with my eating & exercise up until about three weeks ago.

Then I took a temp assignment with ten-hour days. I didn't anticipate how much the early hours and long days would upset my exercise and sleep routines, and to make it worse, I've come to hate the job itself. (It's beneath my skill level, I'm bored, and on top of that, my co-workers and I are being micro-managed to a frustrating degree.) I'm starting to get seriously depressed about the whole situation, so I'll probably be resigning this position before long.

But in the meantime, I've quickly lost my drive to eat right and exercise. If I don't get it back, I'm in danger of regaining the weight I've lost. Somebody please remind me that it's worth hanging in there. I know it intellectually, but I'm losing sight of it emotionally. I need some encouragement (and maybe a fresh perspective or two).

Think how much better you feel now. That should be all you need hehe


I know it's not that easy...

Don't let anyone allow you to sabotage yourself. It's not worth it because you will only be hurting yourself.

Perhaps now is not the time for you to have an exercise routine, but that doesn't mean that you have to stop your food plan (whatever that is). Also, try exercising for 10 minutes at a time. Can you do 10 minutes before work and then 10 minutes before you go to bed?

They say exercise helps with mood improvement. I totally understand depression and how it works, but try to keep in mind that if you allow yourself to gain the weight back not only will you feel even worse than you do now, but it will be much harder to lose.

Smile! (Even if you don't want to)

Good luck.

Here you go.....(Kicks in butt)
There now do you feel better...Now get up and MOVE!!!!!!

The one thing I said when I start to lose again is that I would not let the small stuff bother me....My main goal is to lose this weight.....You have done so good so far. Dont let it go! Stand up and stay with it.!!!! You can and WILL
Do this!!!!!!!


Now we return you to your reg. Program.....

There are so many thngs in life we just cannot control. You will feel so much better if you take charge of the things you can such as your eating and exercise. Also exercise will help with the depression. As soon as you can get out of that toxic environment at work, but for now take car of those things that you can.
You have worked too hard to let this temp job spoil it.

Try to keep up the healthy food plan that you were doing and limit exercise to whatever your body is capable of at this time. Sometimes changing job situations is necessary, so don't feel bad if it comes to this. Put your needs first. Keep your head up and don't give up.

Hi and thanks for sharing. I understand the long days as with my commute I am gone 11 hour work days! Can you walk during your breaks and/or lunch hour? That is what I do and then I don't have to go out walking when I get home. Also I prepare crockpot meals on weekends to freeze so I have something good and healthful to take for lunch.

Hang in there and don't let discouragement cause you to stumble!!!!

Thanks for the replies.

Exercising before work isn't possible (I already have to get up before 4 AM just to get to work on time), and going for a walk during breaks is also difficult. (We have to wear special clothing at work, that can't be taken outside the building.) With travel time, morning preparations, etc., my "ten hour" day is really a 14-hour day by the time I'm finally home again in the evening.

So, after agonizing about this all week, I've just e-mailed my temp agency and asked them to reassign me at the end of this week. This job was never my career goal, but only a way to bring in a little extra cash while I'm looking for something permanent in my field. That means it's not worth this kind of stress, and it's certainly not worth gaining weight for.

If the temp agency can find me another assignment, great. If not, well, I never meant to stay with them forever.

Wow that does make it tough, Margarita! I am fortunate in that we have beautiful places to walk at work (if you don't mind HILLS, which is a fact of life in this area LOL). But we can even bring T-shirts to change into and some even bring shorts in the summer. I thought my 11-hour day including commute time was rough!

Thanks, Misti. I talked to my supervisor today, and told him I'll be leaving at the end of the week. So I have four more days of this schedule, then finally--back to my fitness regime (and hopefully a new job.)

Yay... good for you! Hope things work out better for you with the next job!