Thinspirations for a stay at home mom

[kristi]

Hi,

I wonder if any of you are in the same situation as i am? I have two great kids and stay at home. I had my kids in mid thirties and I have about 30 lbs. to lose. I think Core is great, and I am good for about 4 days, but then Friday comes and I just "lose" it. If I am lucky I will get back on track by Sunday...most often its not until Monday.....
How do you all stay motivated?? Especially when your kitchen is about 2 feet away....

I do excercise at least three times per week, its just combining excercise and eating plan for more than one week at a time....I can't seem to do it...

I appreciate any advice.....

Thanks!

[ema2two]

Kristi--do you go to meetings? If so, can you go to a second meeting on Thursday evening or Friday morning, or even Friday night or Saturday morning. You don't pay again for additional meetings during the week. I have done this from time to time during a rough patch, and hearing the 'same meeting' from a different leader and with a different group of members almost always yields some new insights and recharges me again.

If you are only online, can you make a point to go back and re-read the meeting materials (they are posted on the web a week after the real-life meetings).

[kristi]

I actually don't go to meetings. I am trying this on my own. Been there though and you are right, I do better when I go to meetings. I looked at an old booklet where my weight was recorded at each meeting....and the results are better longer. I stop going after 8 or so weeks. Yes, it's helpful.....I was hoping to get there without having to go there if you know what I mean!

[sarpon]

Kristi, I don't have any personal experience being in your situation, so feel free to discount what I say if it is really unworkable. However, it seems to me that you are in complete control of your environment. Yes, you are only two feet from your kitchen, but you are the one who decides what is in that kitchen, aren't you? Stock it with fruit, cut up vegetables, Core dips, Core soups (canned or home made); enlist your children in helping you to prepare Core snacks for you and them as may be appropriate for their ages and skills as part of the activities you do together. Plan Core lunches and dinners.

As for exercising, I'm making the assumption that you are home with your children because you wanted to spend quality time with them, part of which means being involved in their play time. If they are very young, that means that part of every day can be spent taking them for walks outdoors, unless the weather is completely foul. And if they are too young to be taken out in miserable weather, then they must still nap -- and you can pop in a video and exercise while they nap. If they are old enough not to nap, then they are old enough that you can go out and play with them, or you can all spend at least 30 minutes a day dancing around the house together.

As I said, take it for what it's worth. Your time at home can be a great opportunity for you to make changes for yourself and lay a healthy foundation for your children.

[kristi]

Thank you (Sarpon) for your reply. I could improve in those areas. The kitchen is stocked with Core friendly stuff, but I do get the occasional treat for my 4 year old when he comes to the grocery store with me. We do go for walks, to the playground and even do some dancin too, but we could be doing more of that. I am an exsmoker and binge emotional eater and I am trying to get a handle on this. I keep coming back to Core because I think it is the best food plan out there (for me!)

I noticed your ticker. Congratulations on your weight loss. You have come a long way. Your current weight is my goal. You are a "thinspiration" great job! Thanks again!

[ema2two]

Kristi--rereading your posts and wondering how you are doing. I also think that Sarpon's advice was great (as it usually is!).

I'm struck by two things:
1--Why do you want to do this without meetings? If your priority is to do this (lose weight and maintain it for the long term), why not use each and every tool there is to help you succeed? To me it's odd that we often insist that we want something (and I don't just mean weight-wise) but insist that we only want it on our terms. If going to meetings helps you (and it clearly does) then why make the weight loss harder than it needs to be by insisting that you lose your weight without meetings. If you always stop going after 7-8 weeks, then have trouble staying motivated, why stop going? If you think about the cost of meetings, they are VERY cost effective in the long run. What you will save in health care costs, costs for buying new clothes as you gain weight or yo-yo between sizes, etc. is much MUCH more than what you pay for meetings for a few months (or even years). If you are totally strapped for cash (and some of us are), some WW regions offer scholarships to meetings. They do require committment on the part of the recipient, and won't continue them if attendence isn't regular (though not necessarily perfect) or there isn't any evidence of the recipient really putting forth the effort to lose outside of meetings. My WW meeting is a wonderful meeting with a great leader (who always makes sure to get equally great substitutes when she can't be there, which is unfortunately quite often) and a tremendous cadre of regular members. I have become quite friendly with some of them and look forward to seeing them each week. We help each other through the rough patches and enjoy each others successes. It's something I do for myself and really enjoy it. I used to think of meetings (and the meeting fees) as the 'tax' I had to pay for ever having let myself get fat (ahh, the dreadded 'F' word). Now I see it as a way to spend an hour with like-minded people, not unlike going to a hobby-related class or club.

2--If you are an ex-smoker and an emotional binge eater, you really need to make sure you have healthy outlets for your stress. As a mother of 4 (though not at home full time) I know what kinds of stress comes with the territory of parenting. Your children deserve a healthy, happy mother. If that means a sitter (even as a cooperative arrangement with another mother so it doesn't cost money) on a regular basis so you can have some "me" time, make sure you do it. It may feel like an indulgence at a superficial level, but giving yourself the things you need to releive your stress will make you less tense, less stressed, less likely to binge and more 'present' when you are with your children and on-duty parenting. It is really a way of giving them a better quality mother when you are having time with them. For me those things are going to WW meetings, getting a manicure or pedicure once a month, and taking a long walk or going to Curves for exercise 3 times a week. My exercise time is time to be alone with my thoughts, enjoy the feeling of improvement in my body, and not have a phone ringing or other interruptions, so I can clear my head.

[katelight]

I think being a full-time stay at home mom is one of the hardest jobs there is. I did it for 19 years raising our 4 kids and doing day care in our home. You can't leave your job at the end of the day and you don't have weekends off, you don't get paid vacation. But this is the most rewarding thing you will ever do. Congratulations.
It is tough being on a weight control program and being at home all the time. I found I am a boredom eater, and I like to cook and bake. So when I got bored I would bake. Bad combination. Try to get involved with other stay at home moms for adult interaction. It's good for the kids to have someone to play with also. Go to your local library for story time. In other words get out of the house and away from the kitchen.
Ema's and Sarpon's advise is excellent. I agree with them, give yourself the gift of going to the meetings. I find my meetings great for accountability, support and a wonderful social outlet. And keep checking in here. We will support you all we can. Good luck
Katie

[pugdoggy1]

"I wonder if any of you are in the same situation as i am? I have two great kids and stay at home. I had my kids in mid thirties and I have about 30 lbs. to lose."

Mid thirties, two great kids, stay at home, and 30 lbs to lose -- That was me 30 lbs ago at the beginning of the year.

I found having a Core kitchen works wonders. I drop my youngest off at a mother's morning out when I grocery shop so I can limit the non-Core foods that come into the house.

I also look at this as an essential part of my kids' education - what foods are healthy and which are not. This is something that is important to teach now, because many schools have let in advertising $$ for junk food.

I highly recommend the book Volumetrics. Core is based on many of the priciples in Volumetrics and it helped make things click for me to eat more fruits and veggies. As stay at home moms, we are constantly surrounded by and thinking about food. It used to feel like a struggle for me, but now it is peaceful because I am eating the foods that keep me satisfied.

[kristi]

Thanks to all for the great advice! I appreciate each one of you taking the time to respond to my initial post. I am happy to report that I am doing better! I have found that cutting down on splenda and diet coke has helped me to control cravings. I also make sure to eat a good balance of protein to carbs at all meals. I write down what I eat and try to space meals 3-4 hours apart. This helps alot. I am seeing a nutritionist which is a great help. Thanks again! Good luck to all!