Advice on how to lose weight with hectic lifestyle!

[tammybear]

I've been wanting to lose weight for a long time now, ideally 2 stone, but to get 1 stone off would be fabulous right now. However, I don't seem to have any time at the moment. My life seems to be so jampacked that I don't have time to think about losing weight. I am a full time student, and live on my own with my DD. DD goes to bed at 7 every night. I seem to spend my evenings studying.

Our days go like this:

Mon and Thurs: Get DD to school, spend most of day either shopping, cleaning flat, studying, DD has lessons after school. Get home about 5:30. Do a quick dinner before DD goes bed. I study, maybe wash up til bed.

Tues, Weds and Fri: Get DD to school, college til 5pm, pick DD up from afterschool club at 5:30, get home 5:45, dinner, DD in bed at 7, me studying til bed.

Weekends: Try to spend as much time as we can together.

Unfortunately at the moment, any time I have available is spent studying because I have loads of projects due. I had one due in yesterday, got one next week, and then 3 in January.

I keep wanting to go to gym on my days off, and I even book classes, but then usually have to cancel them because I have to go into college to study or to do some shots (I'm doing photography).

I tried the kick start on WW, which went okay for like 5 days til I just didn't have time to keep to it. I want to also be able to cook proper meals, or at least prepare on days off or something, so we can eat properly and not be eating microwave meals or junk. I don't have time for breakfast either, so essentially I am eating lunch, dinner, and then snacking in between.

I got a Wii Fit, hoping that will be an incentive, but again I don't feel I have time, or the energy to do it, by the time 8 or 9pm come after I've settled down.

So any help, tips, advice or pointers would be great. Or some kind of miracle to make my lifestyle seem easier would be even better! Lol.

[ClaudiaSchiffer]

Hi Tammybear

As you are so busy I think the key to weight loss for you is to be super organised. I would plan your meals for a week and do 2 trips to the shops ie Shop 1, for meat, veg, household stuff. Shopping trip 2 for veg/fruit.

EAT BREAKFAST - even if just fruit - take a banana to college with you.

LUNCHES - Sandwich that you prepare the night before, put in Salad/Ham/low-fat cheese. Also eat fruit - apples are VERY good. Eat loads of them if you are hungry.

DINNER - Once a week you could make a large stew - um how about a lovely chicken and tomato or Beef casserole, put in loads of veg - pumpkin, potato, mushrooms, carrots etc etc it will be delish and last at least 2 if not 3 meals - if you make lots you can freeze into portions and just microwave when you want one. My dds always like to eat this too and is very low in fat and nutritious. Also my eldest dd enjoys helping me make this stuff so you could do it at the w/end with your dd.

Otherwise buy LOADS of veg and make a veg pasta sauce - again split it up and freeze some. Then you just need to cook up some pasta (WATCH your portion size tho, you don't need much). Again this is good food for your dd to eat too.

DO NOT buy microwave junk or snack stuff. Invest in lots of fruit and veg (buy from lidl if mmoney is tight) go twice a week so stuff is fresh. Drink lots of water - drink a pint before meals if you can so you aren't confusing thirst with hunger.

Instead of going to the gym can you take dd out for walks? How old is your dd? Can she ride a bike can you do things like that together? Swimming?

Congratulations on the Photography course - I did one of those too. Great fun.

Have you got friends or family you could leave dd with for an hour at the w/end? Then you could maybe go for a run? Honestly if you can increase your exercise then the food stuff becomes easier ie if you are feeling happy and fit then you will be far less likely to eat rubbish unhealthy food iyswim.

Good luck, it is worth doing. I know it's hard at this time of year when you just want to curl up but Go for it Girl x

[ClaudiaSchiffer]

God that was a lot wasn't it!

[blartins]

I have been trying to lose weight after having my baby, and I know how difficult it is when you are so busy, and you can't get out to the gym, etc. Have a look at www.slimming4mums.com - you have to be patient (I lost 1 1/2 stones in the last 4 months), but it works. The useful thing about it is that you don't have to think about it apart from on 2 days a week, so it suits a busy lifestyle. I agree with the suggestion about going out walking with DD if possible - it's great exercise and also gives you some thinking time for yourself. Good luck!

[tammybear]

Thanks Claudia. That's some really great tips there, thank you!
DD is 5. Problem with us doing walks is that she has an obsession with having to sit on every bench we come across, and we seem to just keep stopping and starting. We do go swimming together once a week, but I don't feel like I do much because I'm concentrating on her practicing. I have family nearby that I could try to do that with. My mum sometimes has her the odd night but she doesn't usually go around til evening.

Blartins, I will have a look at that website, thanks!