Feeling Ugly

Exercising becomes a habit after a while. For me to get there I used to tell myself I would have to do it for only 15 minutes but the truth was after I started I would keep going. I also have equipment in my home so there is no reason I can't do it.
I also cut simple carbs and all foods with sugar out of my diet. I don't eat any bread, cereal, crackers, pretzels, candy, cake or ice cream.
I eat a ton of salads, fruits, nuts and meats. I eat some cheese but it is not my favorite food. I don't eat any thing that comes in a box.
The first week was the hardest but it was so worth it . Now I really love being able to go into a store and have everything fit me.
FYI... I started exercising and eating this way last January. I lost about 15 lbs.

I am doing this great program called TLS. It's a 12 week program. You do need to prepare a bit but it teached you how to eat the right foods. It targets belly fat which I needed. I have lost 18 lbs and I have to be honest I have cheated and I have not exercised which I should be too. I have no excuse other than I don't want to. My kids are in school all day.
If you want more info let me know. The biggest thing is accountability. You need someone to hold you accountable which is easy with this program..
Good luck

Since working out is a challenge right now start with your food and eating habits. Let me tell you, I love to work out, but hit this plateau. I just finished the advocare 24-day challenge and the change in my food/sugar intake made a HUGE difference (especially in my belly area).
Regardless, go to the closet and toss anything maternity - take it to the goodwill, garbage or women's shelter - just get rid of it. After I had my second and was having a hard time getting back into the groove, that was the best thing ever. Next, cut yourself some slack and remember that even if you don't like this body you are in - it is yours so love it and dress it up. go to a different store than when you went when you were skinny so you don't psych yourself out - buy three new, beautiful outfits (even if one is yoga pants to replace your maternity sweats - LOL).
Get some great eye/hand cream - try like the dickens to get enough sleep (studies show that if you get 6 hours only 2 hours less than 8 that plays a HUGE role in your body's ability to lose weight) and drink more water than you could ever imagine (10 glasses a day).
After about 30 days of this, see if you can't squeeze in some work out on Saturday and sundays when your hubby is around to watch kids (seriously it is 30 to 45 min so don't tell yourself that is "family time") after you get used to this, start getting up early ONE day a week and add that to your weekend workouts. Here is what I have to remind myself - if I have time to watch TV I have time to workout. I love all the little workouts that you incorporate into TV watching - like a drinking game, but with sit ups, pushups, lunges, etc - to to Pinterest and search for TV show Workouts and see what comes up.

Best of luck and remember You can do it, but you just have to start ;)

80% of weight loss is diet.
Calories in need to be less than calories out. Period. No complicated math, no need to worry about what kinds of food you're eating.

Use something to track everything you eat. Including stuff like coffee. You'll be amazed how fast you go through your recommended daily intake (I had eaten through mine by lunch every day when I first started..)

Limit your intake to around 1500-1600 calories.
You'll feel hungry while your body adjusts for a week or two. Deal with it.
And then the weight will start to fall off.

I've lost 15 lbs in the last 6 mos by keeping track of my food.

I started working out in the morning. I did the 10 minute work out series. It was perfect. I started with 10 minutes, and gradually added together a few workouts, doing at least 20 minutes 5 x a week. Start small like this. Soon your body will be craving more exercise.

Only finding 10 minutes in the morning keeps it manageable.

If you can manage to exercise 30 minutes a day 3 days a week you will feel better quickly. When you exercise you release endorphins and start to feel better. If you have cable look for on demand channels on exercise and healthy eating. The cool thing about on demand channels is you can tune in anytime. You can also search places like Goodwill and other thrift tores for exercise tapes or DVDs. Start small and work up to a full 30 minutes.
Healthy eating involves a lot of thought in the beginning but becomes easier as you go along. Watching what you eat involves the salt content as much as it involves the fat content. Part of the reason you look tired and your hands look old could be fluid retention. If you are consuming too much salt you will feel sluggish and look much older.
Exercise does not have to be tedious or difficult. You can put on some good music and dance with the kids for 20-30 minutes a few times a week. You can also enlist a friend to start walking even if you only go around the block at a good pace you are at least doing something.
Instead of making big changes all at once start by reading the ingredients of the food you buy. Read the labels look for sodium content, fat content ect. If it has a high sodium content find an alternative or make it from scratch. Add a salad with low fat dressing to every dinner, eat the salad first.
As far as hubby goes, men can eat about 50% more calories than we can and still not gain or sometimes even lose weight.

Wow. I think I could have written this post. I don't have any great advise, because if I did I would be following it. I just wanted to let you know you are not alone. I feel exactly the same way you do. When the kids get older, we'll have time for ourselves again.

I can sooo relate to this. Would you ever consider a diet like Medifast or the HCG diet on 1400 calories a day? You will loose weight quickly (even without exercising) and that will give you the motivation to get moving? I am currently on the Medifast program (I order on-line I don't go to a center...don't have time and it costs less) and have lost 25lbs. I have a friend who is doing the HCG diet at Medshape in Mesa and she said she eats 1400 cal a day not the usual 500 that most HCG plans follow and she's lost 27 lbs. Something like this could give you the a nudge in the right direction. Good luck with whatever you chose to do.

C., it sounds like you need some serious "me" time. Don't wait for when you are thinner, but tell yourself you can be beautiful just the way you are!!!

Curves are beautiful too, even though today's media may not think so. Get a new hairstyle, new outift, mani/pedi and maybe even try on some red lipstick. Age is only relative to attitude, and even those of us who are older can look fabulous by putting a smile on our faces. Signs of age come with time, but I think the experienced look gives us something special. Be proud you have gained some life experience.

Give your husband a big kiss and tell him how fabulous he is and how glad you are to have him, and he will recognize the difference in you, too. YOU CAN DO THIS! Tell yourself that every day, and give yourself a smile.

Why not work out with the kids by just putting on some good music and DANCING! You don't have to do a formal workout, just get moving! Also walking is a wonderful way to help lose the belly fat and tighten those muscles. Take a brisk family walk in the evenings.

You can do this - it will actually be fun dancing with the kids and taking a walk as a family. All good quality time with the kids while getting healthy. Win/Win!

I totally feel you! I am feeling this way too. I just found out this week that I'm pregnant with #4, so I'm going to be gaining even more weight!

I've found that unless I set my alarm and get up before the kids wake up, I do not exercise. It's the best time to do it because it's done and out of the way. Plus it gives you some extra energy throughout the day. On days that I just can't get up, I make it a priority to do it while my youngest is napping and the others are at school.

Google for 'Harcombe diet'. This is how I lost 25% of my body weight in 6 months, and it has stayed off for over a year with barely any effort on my part.

Other than a book, there are no products to buy. No shakes, bars or pills. No calorie counting, and only in a specific instance do you restrict a portion size of something.

You eat only real, normal food. You avoid refined and processed things. It isn't about how much you eat, but what you're eating.

Exercise is great for a toned body and mood improvement, but it is not a key factor in weightloss. Even if you work out all the time, if you haven't addressed what you're eating, you won't lose much weight.

If you are tired, then things are really tough. I feel for you, I am working on improving me, but with 3 kids and a job find it hard to find the time (and the care) to do more. I have been reading a book about health at any size, and have found some basic logic to be really helpful. (A 'diet' plan that is obvious... :) )
1- Eat when you are hungry.
2- Sleep when you are tired.
3- Move more.

Which really means-
1- No eating if you are bored, tired, crabby, angry, sad..... Listen to your body, are you actually hungry? If so, then eat something reasonable. If not, then do something other than eat. :) (I eat to stay awake sometimes, it works (to stay awake), but does not help my waistline!)
2- If you are tired, then it is hard to regulate eating, or have energy to move much. Try to get more sleep, and see if that helps out your motivation.
3- Exercise - doing anything is better than nothing - and thin is not the same as healthy. Just doing things with the kids, counts, and while it may not make you thin, it DOES make you healthier. Health trumps weight, any day!

Also, just because you cannot jump into an exercise/diet/life changing plan now - does not mean that you can never do it. :) Your priorities have needed to shift since having kids - being a mom takes time and energy. This does not mean you have to accept where you are now, forever - but you can cut yourself some slack too. :)

I have felt the same way! Taking the right vitamin supplements has made a huge difference in my energy level. I was taking prenatal vitamins until recently.

Check out FairhavenHealth.com or Beeyoutiful.com for their mommy pills.

Buy some digestive cookies. You will only need to eat ONE in the day and one in the evening.

Cleaning your system will help your skin, stomach pooch, and lighten your mood.

I know motivation is the key. What I did is begin by eating right. I picked up this book called the FLAT BELLY DIET. It was the easiest diet or way of eating I have ever encountered. I lost 5 pounds the 1st week (according the this book this is mostly gas and water in our system) its was unbelievable because I was eating so much food. Its how you combine your good fats carbs and protiens that make it work. I got a lot of energy that motivated me to exercise with my videos when I was home and started going to gym when I can. I have had friends try it and they all love it. You can look it up in the internet. I found it at Wal-mart. Let me know if you try it and how it worked for you.

My good friend has lost 20 pounds over the past three months on Jenny Craig. She is 54 and hardly exercises at ALL.
Of course everyone should exercise for their health but you will be the most successful at losing weight if you cut your calories.
Jenny Craig (and Weight Watchers) cost money, but if you're motivated they work!
In the meantime, try to exercise WITH your kids. Can you all go out for a walk of a bike ride after dinner, or on the weekends? When my kids were little I did a lot of 20 to 30 minute workout videos, is that something you'd be into? There's no need to wait until they go to bed, I just did it while they were playing or otherwise occupied :)