Busy Mom...need dieting and exercise advice

T

tifffany

0
I am a stay at home mom with three young boys. In the winter we don't do much outside, so I do not get much exercise. I do not have a lot of time, either. Other than finding time, finding energy to exercise is one of the hardest things for me. I crave junk food, although I'm careful not to eat a lot of that stuff. I suffer from depression and anxiety. How do I get more energy?? I think it's more of a mental energy than anything else that I am needing. What do I do? How do I find time for ME??? Everytime I make a plan, something always comes up, whether the kids get sick or I have too many errands to run to get my workout in at a certain time. I only have so much time during the day when my husband is at home. Any suggestions??:eek:
 
How do you not have time? I'm a full time student, always working hard at keeping up my grades, pulling 6-12 hour study sessions, and tutoring! Yet I still manage to get to the gym 5 times a week, for a good hour or two. I always keep my gym bag loaded, and ready to go. I might end up hitting the gym at 8 in the morning, or 4 at night - but either way I find the time.

Obviously I'm 'one' person, and your taking care of your entire family. I can think of a few suggestions... First off you have 3 kids, it's time to teach them how to do their own laundry, and clean their own rooms (unless their like really young...). If your spending time going to the store and back for produce, consider buying wholesale products from Costco or Sam's Club. Around here we do a weekly purchase of frozen foods, that we eat through out the week. Also cooking takes up a lot of time, consider frozen foods, like frozen chicken, that you just slide in the oven then 'set it and forget it'.

Once you start working out, and cleaning up your diet, you'll notice you have more energy. And you'll feel better. I use to be really depressed, and stressed out, but now nothing brings me down. Hell I spent last night studying for my nasty discrete math exam, I took it this morning, and I still felt great. It was also a nice day outside :D .

I'm sure you can find the time!
 
I'll just add that once you make a goal... it has to become your mission statement. Make your goal tangible. Give it a start date, an end date. reasons why you want to complete it, what you will do when an obstacle arises, etc.

It sounds harsh, but when you are truly ready to change your life... you'll find the time. :)


Im absolutely positive about that! To get you started, I would recommend talking with a trainer or purchasing a fitness ebook. Obviously I am a bit one sided as I do online training and have an ebook designed for people looking to get started... but aren't sure where to go.

The point is this... you CAN do it. You CAN find a way to succeed. The more you make fitness and nutrition your life...the more energy you will have and the EASIER it will be to stick with your plan :)

Good luck!
 
depression

tifffany,
I get depressed from time to time too. It's a vicious cycle though and if you don't workout you'll feel WORSE. For example, I skipped my workouts three days in a row because i was "tired" and then I just continued to feel worse, more irritable, etc. I worked out this morning and I feel great!

There have been studies done that even light workouts have the same affect as taking an antidepressant for people with minor depression (obviously severe psychological disorders are a different story).

If I were you (and I think I might be similar to you except that I don't have kids) I would drag myself on a walk or jog or to the gym for a few days in a row and hopefully you'll see how good it feels. Hopefully you'll be like me and that will break you out of your "downward spiral."

Keep us updated...just being on this site may help motivate you to do what you need to do :) Good luck!

~teresa
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top