Losing Weight Sucks

As a mother, and avid eater, trying to lose weight just sucks. I know so many women struggle with this. I hear ya sister! Having a child can make it really difficult to lose weight. From the weight gain, the weight that stays on, having energy or time, it is not an easy process.

Before I got married I was on the slimfast diet (the equate brand is awesome), doing nightly yoga and sit ups. That was enough to get me in to better shape, physically, emotionally and mentally.

When I was pregnant with my daughter I gained a lot of weight very fast. I was getting pinched nerves all the time, had difficulty walking by the third trimester because my hips hurt so bad, and my doctors were worried about diabetes. After she was born I didn't have the energy to work out. I was constantly tired, cause duh, newborn. Add chronic depression and I wasn't moving. As she grew I was always tired and busy running after and taking care of her. And still, depression.

I would try the slimfast diet again but without any physically activity it didn't help. I then developed carpal tunnel in my right wrist which made yoga difficult, when I actually had any time or gumption to do it, By the time my daughter started pre-k, I was so depressed with my life and where I lived in West Virginia. I tried walking with some friends, but we never kept it up.

After I moved to Florida a fire was lit in me. I was going to lose weight and get fit. My goal is to act in movies and I knew my weight could keep me from being cast. I started the slimfast diet and portion control again. But I looked for apps to help motivate me to keep working out. I swear by 8fit. It creates a personalized work out starting at the level you're comfortable with and building from there. It even makes personalized meal plans, and you can track your calories, steps, weight and any kind of physical activity. They even count "pokemon hunting" and sexual activity. I'd walk 3 miles and do a 10 minute workout and add some weight lifting (5 pound weights) and yoga if my wrist wasn't acting up too bad.

I lost 30 pounds and got under 200 for the first time in 7 years. But I had to do all of it to lose the weight. Sadly, I got heavily involved in a community theatre, doing just about everything on and off stage, and didn't have the time for my workouts. I slowly gained most of that weight back.

I recently started working out hardcore again. I'm dieting, I walk my dogs for 3 miles after dropping off my daughter at the bus stop, then I look up kickboxing cardio videos and do those (my wrist hasn't gotten too bad for yoga). I also have a specific arm and weight work out I do every night and add in the 10 minute workouts from 8fit. I should be under 200 again by the end of this week.

But all of this is a pain in the ass, I'm not going to lie. Anything you see online that says "Workouts for Lazy People" is full of shit. You can't be lazy and get physically fit. It takes a lot of work and dedication. You have to change your way of thinking about food and your schedule. So often our lives revolve around when we eat and what we eat next. This has to change if you want to lose weight.

So here's some tips that help me!

1) When I'm walking I try to think about things to distract me from how difficult it is. I listen too music, but I find focusing on a subject and building around it helps the time fly and I forget about being uncomfortable. This morning I thought about writing this post!

2) If you can't get slimfast or something like it, do portion control, and substitute with healthier foods where you can. I've stopped getting so many snacks and just get some fruit I know both my daughter and I like with one special snack for her. Getting 1% or skim milk instead of 2% or whole. Don't get soda, get flavored water. I LOVE Clear American. Has the carbonation and the flavor is wonderful.

3) Give yourself workout options. Sometimes we get tired of the same thing everyday. Find different workouts you like, there's so many on youtube, and switch them up through out the week. Cardio is good for weight loss. I know, I hate cardio, but it has helped me the most. I've found cardio kickboxing videos that are amazing.

4) Set you're workout times. When you have specific times set aside for your workout you're more likely to do it then just "Oh I'll do it when I have time today".

I'm no expert, and some of this might not work for you like it has for me. We're all different, but these are the things I've found that work for me. Hopefully, something here works for you too,

#women #humor #lifestyle #weightloss #mom #diet