Ladies, I need some encouragement!

phira · November 2013

So, I've struggled with my weight for years--I gained about 60 lbs over 8 years when I was on the pill. When I went off the pill 2.5 years ago, I lost about 20 lbs almost immediately, and I found that it was much easier for me to lose weight. For a while, I maintained a very easy 25-30 lbs weight loss without any effort, but grad school has really been sapping me of energy and pushing me to my emotional limits. So even though I had kept those 30 lbs off without dieting or going to the gym, I'm eating way worse than I usually do (lots of, "Screw this, I'm ordering Chinese food!" nights), and I'm at my highest weight since I went off the pill.

While I'm grateful that I've surrounded myself with friends who don't talk about weight or weight loss (it's actually really nice!), it also means that I'm surrounded by people I can't turn to for encouragement and support now that I DO want to lose weight. And I can't talk to my mom about it because, well, this woman thought I needed to lose weight before I gained those 50-60 lbs (and used to think I was lying about exercising when I'd go running 3-4x a week and didn't lose weight).

So, yeah. I just need some encouragement, I guess. Going to the gym is very difficult for some stupid reason--I can't seem to go consistently, especially when I finish work late and my students have been making me feel crazy. I do not like to diet, mostly because I don't have a consistent meal schedule (thanks, grad school), but it would be nice to get some very easy to make dinner recipes that picky vegetarians might like (so we don't end up with my partner making fettucine alfredo!). And if there are any life hacks that have worked for you, to make it easy to eat right and work out, that'd be nice too!

smalfrie19 · November 2013

I get it! Its hard for me to exercise regularly and lose weight (im on a low dose BCP) and when I gained weight and my wedding dress didn't fit, I about LOST my shit. I have thankfully dropped the weight just by slightly altering my eating habits. First, EAT BREAKFAST, I have a special K bar every morning. I also started bringing lunch to work (before I was eating neither lunch nor dinner) and didn't go out to eat. I also make dinner at home instead of ordering out or eating out. I have started trying new recipes and getting EXCITED to make dinner. Also, try and incorporate something that raises metabolism. For me, that's drinking two cups of chai tea in the morning when I get to work. Also, drinking more water helps with the metabolism and keeping your system free of nasty toxins and stuffs!

Keep your chin up phira! xo

psychbabe314 · November 2013

YOU CAN DO IT! It sounds as if you have already come so far! The best way I find to work out is to schedule it with a bunch of friends so that you feel obligated to go. I am in the same boat with school and it is hard! Sometimes I don't want to come home and cook. I have also started parking further away from classes/grocery store/ etc. just to walk a little more.

Sauteed mushrooms seasoned with garlic salt. Quick, easy, and great dish to replace a snack with.
Also, try drinking mint tea with a spoonful of honey 2-3 times a day. It tastes delicious and it reduces bloating. You will just feel better. And, water, water, water, and more water!

CLoGreenEyes · November 2013

You got this! I think the suggestions from PPs are excellent, so I will just add that finding the right time of the day to exercise/cook makes a world of difference for me. If I tried to exercise after being in school/work all day I would lose it! So I try to pick a morning or two every week when I can do that before I get started with my day. (I know that isn't always easy when classes are scheduled at weird times.) Same with meals - I find a good time every week to plan 2 or 3 meals, do my shopping, and just make them when I can. So much the better if I can prepare it in the crockpot in the morning.

Major hugs to you! Taking care of your health is a challenge, but you have been doing great and I know you can keep it up!

blabla89 · November 2013

You most definitely can do it! I know how stressful it is to balance one more thing on top of a busy schedule, but you've got this. Like the PPs said, lots of water and cooking at home are important. I know it's time consuming, but once you get into a routine it gets easier. I'm sure pinterest has a ton of great veg recipes.

Maybe you and your partner could start a workout routine together? I know some people aren't always comfortable with this, but it could be a good way to boost your motivation.

GL!

mcmcmd · November 2013

I get the grad school/time suck thing. I'm in med school and it can suck to get to the hospital at 4:30am and when I get out at 6pm I often want to be like "FTS, I'm going home and sitting on the couch." I find that I do best if I have my gym clothes already packed and so I have NO excuse not to go on my way home. I also would invest in a pedometer if you think that might work for you as motivation. I'd also consider logging your food. It's not a diet, it's just being mindful of the 9pm goldfish binges and 3pm granola bars x3 that you're ingesting.

As for meals I'd recommend quiche (takes 4 minutes+baking time and can serve you both for 3-4 meals), lasagnas (make on a weekend and freeze until needed), crockpot soups (I love butternut squash). Look on Pinterest-- it's full of great recipes.

bethsmiles · November 2013

I struggle to lose weight too! I hate going to the gym but I know the times when I make it into a habit I do actually enjoy it. Even though you don't like to go I really suggest forcing yourself to go for a couple of weeks to make it habit. Once you start going it's easier to keep going.

natswild · November 2013

I've been struggling with it a lot as well-lost 120 lbs over 2 years, then gained 30 back over the course of a year (nutritionist was NOT my friend!

). PPPs have good advice-drink lots of water, eat breakfast...I also work out at home to Jillian Michaels, she has several 20 minute workouts. I also try to walk on a regular basis. Good luck!

phira · November 2013

Welp, one thing that'll help is that I love popcorn and have had to make it on the stove-top (with oil), which I don't like very much. My partner got me an air popper for our anniversary!!!!! No more oil!

blabla89 · November 2013

phira said:

Welp, one thing that'll help is that I love popcorn and have had to make it on the stove-top (with oil), which I don't like very much. My partner got me an air popper for our anniversary!!!!! No more oil!

Your partner sounds like a winner. Practical gifts are the best!

JCbride2015 · November 2013

Yes, air popped popcorn is the best! So healthy. I have an olive oil mister, which is great in general for adding some flavor without pouring on the oil. I usually mist my air-popped popcorn with the olive oil, then sprinkle with garlic pepper and salt. Yummy.

I often take gym classes at my lunch break between classes (I'm in law school). One life hack I enjoy is to wear my barre/Pilates clothes with a cute tunic or long sweater over it. Leggings, a cute athletic shirt, and a big drapey sweater. Hair up in a bun. Then I can just refresh after the gym and go back to class. I'm already dressed so it feels dumb not to go to the gym once I have my outfit already on. This technique obviously doesn't work for days when I'm doing a crazy cross-training type of class, but for something where you don't get sweaty, you can probably pull it off. It's also a reason to get some cute gym clothes, which in turn makes you more likely to work out... win win!

arrippa · November 2013

@Phira- I am in the same boat as you. I have leaned that I need goals to accomplish something. Right now I am running with the Couch to 5K program. My goal is to rn the BAA 5K next April followed by the 10K next June. My ultimate goal is the Chicago Marathon in October. Now that I have goals, I have a much better chance with sticking to running.

Also- I asked Santa for an air popper. I love popcorn but I hate the microwavable kind. I have been using the stove with lots of oil.

buddysmom80 · November 2013

@phira I think @livleighton's post hit the nail on the head. I use MFP and it gives me motiviation to work out. The more calories you burn, the more you can eat. Set small goals. My early goals were to go to the gym once a week. I now go 4-5 times a week depending on how busy I am on Saturday. Find something you like to do. It can be yoga, running, weights, etc. For me, it was Zumba. I love it, I probably look like a goofy 6' woman dancing around like a fool, but I don't care. Even if you get moving once a week, it's something.

I never thought about a reward system, but any excuse to shop!

Also I'm setting a goal to run a 5K in April. We'll see how that goes because I HATE to run. My childhood friend and her H just ran their first 5K and she's the same as me (which is weird because we did indoor track in HS) and she was like "it's not THAT bad".

KateJ16 · November 2013

@phira I have been meaning to respond to this since Friday - but I worked late, Saturday got crazy, and Sunday I worked/hid from the storm all day (as a side note - you know how I told you my anniversary was two days before yours or something? Yeah, it was a month earlier, back in October. Shows you how my brain is working right now)

Anyway - I am majorly in the same boat as you, and only have four months until my wedding (eek). One of my biggest issues is that I don't actually like working out WITH people - for some reason it makes me both self-conscious and competitive at the same time. And no matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to get back into a healthy eating pattern.

Would you be interested in being eating/workout e-buddies? Maybe we can both hold each other accountable (along with other people who need it) - help to motivate to work out, track stuff or something... I dunno. I think I need someone else to push me a bit (besides my mom, because I just end up getting mad at her for doing that).

I know one of my girlfriends who is a shopaholic decided to (with another friend) create a shared spreadsheet where they both list out their purchases, the date, and cost, and it's made both of them much more conscientious. Maybe tracking workouts is the way to go?

phira · November 2013

I don't even know what I'd do without you ladies. Seriously.

@moemacWed30594 It's always good to hear when people have been doing well with C25K! I think I might try it. I'm very impatient, so I go, "I can already run a mile, I don't wanna do this!" But if my goal is to go to the gym and run a mile three times a week, it's auto-failure.

@LivLeighton Oh goodness

The worst part of chronic illness is the emotional stuff. I have ulcerative colitis, and my last flare lasted over a year and a half and took really serious medication to get into remission. I lost a lot of weight, which just made me miserable. I couldn't eat healthy--lettuce and veggies (and popcorn) would literally tear up my insides. The depression was the worst part. I definitely appreciate your advice--when you set up a goal that's hard to meet, and you fail it, you're less likely to try again. Smaller goals (and shorter goals) are often easier.

@KateJ16 I could definitely use a workout buddy, even long distance! My partner destroyed his knee several years ago, and the only gym activity he likes is swimming, so I haven't been able to convince him to join me at the gym.

And yeah, I keep thinking today is Thursday (spoiler alert: it is not Tuesday) and I also keep thinking that this weekend is only the 18th-19th (which is obviously yesterday and today), so ...

KateJ16 · November 2013

@phira I'm in if you are - my goal is to make it to the gym tonight (although my other goal is to actually not be stuck at work for an additional 2+ hours, which affects the first goal)

Have you thought about 1) Pinterest for meal recipes, and 2) looking at something like the 365 days of crock pot recipes? All stuff you can prepare ahead of time... and I have all sorts of ideas of crackers and things that you can make at home (which obviously takes time, but YUM).

phira · November 2013

@KateJ16 I can't gym tonight, but I'm thinking that I might plan things to start Couch25K on Tuesday next week.

I think I might encourage my partner to subtly ask his brother and sister-in-law for a crock pot or slow cooker for Christmas. We don't have one, but I think it would be really useful! We know we're likely getting wedding-related financial help from our parents for the holidays, so I'm not going to drop hints around them. So many crock pot recipes are so great!!

Ladies, I need some encouragement!

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