[nancylmrn]

Hello the the wonderful members here. I am looking for support, advice, encourgement --- basically the whole ball of wax (thats not fatting is it?)

This past year - Aug 07 to Aug 08 I managed to lose 20 pounds and put it back on so now I am am at the exact spot I was one year ago.

So I am hoping with the help of you I can stay focused and on track to make life changes not just diet.

I would love suggestion on exercise from those of you who work long hours and have a pretty long commute--how do you fit exercise, work and family in a 24 hour day?

As for the food, most days I am pretty good now about packing my lunch and breakfast so I can control the protions and not be tempted to eat out. And even most times at dinner I am good it is the eve when I am finally able to relax that I want something to snack on...and please don't ask me to eat more raw veggies at night when they are a big part of my day at lunch and snack time during the day...help

I look forward to all the advice and suggestions

[luckymommy]

Welcome aboard! I think you'll find that the support here is just incredible. Sometimes, if I want to pig out, I can just read some posts here and stop myself (not always, unfortunately!).

I workout a lot and don't really have time to myself. I have two boys (one w/ special needs) and they require a huge chunk of my attention. I often have my hubby stay home at night and relax while I go to the gym. I also like to do my hula hoop. It sounds dorky, but I can do it while I watch t.v.! If you've got time to watch t.v., you have time to workout. My hula hoop weighs about 6 lbs., so after a while, I really start to feel it. When i can't get to the gym, I have a stationary bike in front of my t.v., so I really have no excuse.

I highly recommend you choose a diet to follow. Sometimes, even though it feels like we're eating right, we might be eating just enough to maintain and then, we give up. Personally, I love counting calories. Ok, I love choclate, not counting calories, but that's what has helped so much since I started in the middle of March. Studies have shown that writing down food consumed in a journal helps a lot, but it's not for everyone, but I thought I'd just mention it. As far as snacks, I like laughing cow lowfat cheese (35 calories), nonfat yogurt w/ fresh strawberries, and my all time favorite: frozen grapes. I freeze them into 1 cup servings (65 calories) and they take forever to eat and taste very decadent. Again, it's not choclate, but it's delish!

So, good luck to you. Stick around and hopefully, by this time next year, you will be exactly where you want to be (or even sooner!).

[Annita]

i go to school from 8AM -> 9PM Monday to Friday so it's pretty busy as well. I don't have a husband and kids yet so I don't know if I can help you but here it is.

So normally, I'll make lunch at home and bring it with me. For breakfast, I'll just eat 2 pieces of bread, yogurt and a pear/apple. I make dinner after I got back from school.

I do exercise 15-30 minutes in the morning at around 5-6AM. Some days I get long lunch at school then i'll get back home and exercise for 15-30 minutes, then go back to school. I come back home late at night, so I usually exercise after I eat dinner 1 hour later (around 11 PM), or maybe i would stay up late so I sometimes work out at 1AM in the morning, and then go to sleep. So yes, it's pretty much fit into my schedule very well ^^ (btw, I love hula hoop too. 15-30 minutes hula hoop pass so fast if I watch my favorite anime lol).
I spend my time with family mostly on the weekend. I meet with my bf everyday since he works near my school so we always go together.

As for snack, I always allow myself to have 1-2 snacks per day (100-150 calories per piece). I usually eat 1 in the afternoon, sometimes 1 more before I eat lunch but rarely ^^ I allow myself to eat anything for snack (cakes, candies, chips, just as long as they stay 100-150 calories).

I eat out 2-3 times per week for change in lunch. But I usually go to Japanese food place, I don't go to fast food, or other restaurant much in general. I don't eat much for dinner, instead, I have bigger meal for lunch than the rest of the day ^^. My total calories in take for the day range from 1000-1500. I try to keep it around 1300.

I make dinner (take me around 15-30 minutes to prepare). Usually it's steamed veggies, meat, and tofu. Sometimes I eat abit of rice for dinner if my stomach hurts (i have stomach problem). But since I like steamed veggies, I eat them everyday without getting tired of them so...i'm not sure about your situation. I deep steamed veggie in soy sauce/fish sauce sometimes if that day I feel like to eat more salty food. In the weekend, I'll make some special meals for me and my bf, so i always allow myself to eat at the far range (1500 calories). If for a day I don't eat alot of veggie as I want to, I'll grab more fruits than normally

And lastly, i drink about 2.5-4 liters of fluids per day (tea, water, milk)

So i hope some of my schedule can help you have some suggestions for your schedule ^^ Looking forward to hear your progress too ^^

[BlzMaxGnrCCJkMly]

[cottagebythesea]

nancylmrn!

[Bonjul]

Hi there!
This forum is fantastic! Good luck and Welcome!
Bonjul

[nancylmrn]

Thank you for the the suggestions! I would never have thought about freezing grapes but I am putting that on my list as I have a bag at home right now.

And a hula hoop--never would have pictured that, I can do that at home while I am talking with my hubby or the few spare minutes watching tv...where would you find one that weighed 6lbs?

Now I am really getting excited and want to really jump into this with both feet. I have kept a food journal before on fitday, I should go back to that becuse it really did help

I am having so much fun it is almost making me giggle out loud here at work