I'm new and need support to start my journey

[FatDre]

Hello everyone!
I'm new to Shape Fit and I'm excited to get started. Let me tell you a little bit about me and my day. I've been married for 8 years and I'm a mom to 2 wonderful boys one is 5yrs old. and the other 2 yrs old. I'm a preschool teacher so I'm pretty busy all day. I have gained almost 50 lbs. after my pregnancies and have had a hell of a time trying to get rid of it. I don't workout because I'm tired by the end of the day. Lack of motivation is a definite factor. I really don't feel like I have the support from my spouse. I would like to be able to play with my kids and not be tired or aching! I'm pretty good about eating healthy food, the problem is eating enough I have the worst eating habits. So I would like to hear any advice or stories on how I can get on track. I know there are so many people that have changed their lives by being fit and I know I can be one of those people too. I just need to know how I can start.

Thanks I hope to hear from you
Dre

[fitoverforty]

Hello & Welcome!

I've been married for 8 years and I'm a mom to 2 wonderful boys one is 5yrs old. and the other 2 yrs old. I'm a preschool teacher so I'm pretty busy all day. I have gained almost 50 lbs. after my pregnancies and have had a hell of a time trying to get rid of it. I don't workout because I'm tired by the end of the day. Lack of motivation is a definite factor. I really don't feel like I have the support from my spouse.

You have a very busy life, and I know how hard it can be to find the energy and motivation to exercise after a long day of work and children, home life, etc. But you have to look at it from a different angle. Think of how you take care of your boys...you make sure they are fed, you tend to their daily needs, making sure they get adequate rest and healthy food, & playtime. You need to focus on yourself the very same way. YOU are just as important to focus on and take care of as the rest of your family. One thing we as wives and moms do is put everyone and everything else first and what usually happens is that we don't have anything left for ourselves.
However you have to do it, have some "you" time to devote to exercise. Do your kids take a nap? You could get a quick workout in then. Trust me, when you start carving out that little piece of the day that is all yours, you will feel more motivated and energized and begin to really protect that time and look forward to it.

I'm pretty good about eating healthy food, the problem is eating enough I have the worst eating habits

This is a common problem for working moms. But if you begin to plan out your meals for the day, pack snacks and lunch, it will really help cut out making bad food choices. Try to cut out quick easy "instant" foods, or processed sugary foods (even those little "100 calorie" snacks). Eat whole wheat, lean proteins (chicken, fish, lean beef), fresh veggies (steamed veggies are great!), and salads with lots of veggies.
As far as exercise, what do you like to do? Some of us join a gym and get guidance there, some of us work out at home with our own weights or just bodyweight exercises, or workout videos, stationery bike, or treadmill.
Please take advantage of this website's wealth of info on exercise programs, diet advice, etc. Don't be afraid to ask questions, there are so many great folks here who can help you fine tune a workout and eating plan, & give you tons of support and encouragement.

I know there are so many people that have changed their lives by being fit and I know I can be one of those people too. I just need to know how I can start.

You already have, by coming here! Good luck to you, you can do it! Believe in yourself, make your self a priority, stick with it, even when it seems hard or impossible - you can make it happen!

[Boopster]

I have gained almost 50 lbs. after my pregnancies and have had a hell of a time trying to get rid of it. I don't workout because I'm tired by the end of the day. Lack of motivation is a definite factor. I really don't feel like I have the support from my spouse. I would like to be able to play with my kids and not be tired or aching!

Welcome to one of the best fitness sites and congratulations on having one of the toughest jobs around....being a mom! Well, being a preschool teacher probably runs a very close second, but I so admire your prosfession. Helping develop the young minds of our children is such an important role and I commend you for that.

I have gained almost 50 lbs. after my pregnancies and have had a hell of a time trying to get rid of it. I don't workout because I'm tired by the end of the day. Lack of motivation is a definite factor. I really don't feel like I have the support from my spouse. I would like to be able to play with my kids and not be tired or aching!

Somtimes we need a little push to get ourselves going. I totally agree with fitoverforty in that we moms have to take care of ourselves first, in order to take care of our children and others. It's so easy to get in the mindset of being a wife and mother that we have a natural habit of putting ourselves last. When I began really focusing on my goals to be the best mom I could, that enveloped taking care of my body. I made a firm commitment to start off slow with just a few days a week and when I began to see a change in my body. Once I started seeing the physical results, I also began to see a change in my mental health as well. I was becoming a better wife, mom, friend and coworker. Certain daily stresses that would set me off before I use to workout don't seem to bother me as much. Plus I was beng a great role model for my kids. They are my life and I needed to show them that we only have one body and we need to fuel and train them properly to avoid injuries and serious health conditions in the future. Maybe when your spouse sees the difference in you he will be more supportive of your efforts. If you can sit dwon with him and really talk to him about why this is so important to you, you may find that his reaction may be something different than what you think. I don't know him, but I'm just trying to make a suggestion.

I'm pretty good about eating healthy food, the problem is eating enough I have the worst eating habits.

What types of food are you eatng now and how often? You should be eating 6 small meals a day with variety of lean meats and fish, fresh veggies, carbs and healthy fats.

The best advice I can give you is that your desire to change your lifestyle must far outweigh the obstacles that you face. Set a goal and stick to a plan. Make the goal a reasonable and attainable goal. Don't say, I'm gonna lose 50 pounds in 3 weeks. That will never happen and it would never be healthy for you. Good health and fitness should be a lifetime goal, not a temporary fix to an underlying issue. On a personal note, I have a son who was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at age 9. There is no cure and until there is one, he will be insulin dependent the rest of his life. He is now 15 and can outswim his mom in a 500 yard freestyle at our local pool. If he does not control his blood sugar levels now, he runs the risk of losing his eyesight, kidney failure, or even amputation. I cannot think of any other better reason but to show him that I will do whatever it takes to support his physical fitness and if that means getting my butt out of bed a bit earlier than the average bear, than so be it. The rewards are priceless I wish you all the luck in the world and keep us posted on your progress