[jenfett]

Hi Everyone, I have been struggling for years to get my weight under control and have not been successful. I am a heavy emotional eater, I love food and all the wrong foods too. I binge nearly every night after work and don't know why I do it. Two summers ago I got my act together and I was doing so great, I was being selfish for once and I bought only healthy foods and I took my full lunch break and went to the gym everyday at work and when I got home I would put my family to the side until I had done my work out of we all went on a walk, but I needed to be in control and be able to do what I wanted to do in order for me to stay on track. Well now my daughter is in school and I have a job that expects me to live at work basically and I don't have the money to buy all the healthy foods that I use to, so I everyday basically feel out of control, which I think contributes to my binge eating every night.
My problem now is how to I communicate to my family that I need to be able to take control and that I need to be a little selfish to take care of me? I love working out with my daughter, but I need to be able to stay focused and more structured and she is only 6 so she can't really keep up, and my husband doesn't do the kind of exercise that I want to do. Any suggestions? I am sure ultimately I need to just cut the crap and just take control like I did before, I just don't want to seem like a total witch by doing it.

[Thighs Be Gone]

jenfett..first off, YOU MUST PUT YOURSELF, YOUR EXERCISE and SLEEP at the very top of your list--AND YOUR FAMILY"S LIST!!!! Your family needs you to be your best. As soon as I did that, things started working out better for me.

Okay, for your six year old--lots of opportunity there. Is there a place she can ride her bike while you walk along beside her. What about walking to a park or driving to a park and kicking the ball around with her? My own daughters really enjoyed belly dancing DVDs. Also, she is probably a great helper on the housework--what about you doing some cleaning and organizing with her to help?

I know this doesn't seem like typical exercise ideas but guess what? Every last one of them burn a heck of a lot more calories than the couch does! When I changed my eating I didn't discuss it with anyone. I just started. I didn't try to convince my family to "let" me exercise. I just went. You need to do this for you and for your family secondly. Be careful not to use them for an excuse not to be fit and the most fantastic YOU that you can be!

[Thighs Be Gone]

I also say that you mention work and budget concerns. Again, DON'T let yourself have any excuses. Healthy food is out there--even on a budget. There has to be a way to get some exercise while youre at work--plenty of women walk on their lunchbreaks or meet at the gym before or after work--on top of that I must say this. One can absolutely lose weight without exercise. There, I said it. It isn't optimal, but can easily be done. 80-90% of your weightloss will directly be a result of your eating.

[jenfett]

Thank you so much You are absolutely right I just have to do what I need to do and stop letting excuses stand in my way. I did get a boost this morning because I was able to put on a pair of pants I hadn't worn in months so that made me feel good. So that will help get through the day