I'm so miserable being healthy.

[Inmiserydieting]

On a weight loss journey, I've reduced portion size and limited certain foods but all in all no deprivation of anything in particular. I've been exercising 4 to 5 days a week. The only time I can exercise is after I put DD down to sleep. Which is usually 7.00pm.
I just feel so miserable, I've lost a stone nearly and yes, I generally feel healthier.. Changing my mindset to make better food choices and still having the occasional treat.
I've just sat down to eat dinner and honestly want to cry. I have so much to do after work and now incorporating exercise, I just feel utterly miserable. I'm sat on my sofa ready to sleep and pass out and still have a mountain of things to do.
How do I break this misery barrier.. I feel so down. I thought that exercise and diet combined with weight loss was supposed to lighten your mood.

Have a look at Lucy Wyndham Read on YouTube. She does 7 minute workouts that work! I get up and do it in the morning in my pyjamas. She has loads of videos targeting different areas and abilities. I started in January and do 4-5 mornings a week.

Just do what you feel comfortable with.

It sounds like you might not be eating enough. I lost weight recently (quite a lot) and never once reduced portion size. Just focus on changing what you eat for unprocessed, plant based food, and let the process happen. Avoid snacking on junk food, eat plenty at dinner time, including starches, and you’ll be fine.

How long do you exercise for? Jillian Michaels has a dvd, it’s about 25 mins, and it’s bloody brilliant.
It’s only a fiver usually. 30 day shred.

Any chance you could incorporate exercise as a natural part of your day rather than adding it on as an extra? E.g. walking/running/cycling to work? I find it's a lot easier if you use exercise as a mode of transport (or a social hobby at fixed times of the week, e.g. park run/dance class/tennis club etc, but tbh you sound way too busy for that!) as it's just part of your day rather than yet another damn thing to find time for.

Any chance you could incorporate exercise as a natural part of your day rather than adding it on as an extra?

Hoover rave 👯‍♀️ My Friday workout

i'm just listening to a song OP and the lyrics are "we all have to sin some day". Weird! Maybe you need a day off!?

oh yes and the PPs suggesting incorporating exercise as a natural part of your day are spot on. I stick on trashy telly and do a few yoga poses.

Being miserable is not healthy. Food is food. Portion control. Prioritise protein, fibre and complex carbs, you’ll be fuller for longer

Have you tried cutting carbs? It really does help with controlling weight. I read 'The Wheat Belly' and it was an inspiration to me.

Well done OP! You sound very focused and all the exercise and healthy eating sounds great. I wish I had your determination!

I used to get super tired in the afternoon. Check your not eating carbs at lunch. If you can, ditch them (soup or salad is the best) and ditch caffeine post 11am. See if that makes a difference??

Also, I agree with your suggestion to drop to 3 times a week. If you’re exercising lots, you have to eat more, so you may find your appetite drops a little and you should continue to lose weight, or switch one of your difficult sessions for something more mindful and relaxing like a walk or a swim.

Keep going until you find that happy balance where you’re energised and eating well.

Good luck!

It does sound like a chore for you and I would question how long you will be able to keep it up as it does not sound sustainable. I have tried lots of different ways to exercise but found it hard to maintain because I had so much more to do.

I now do my exercise whilst doing housework etc. It can be jogging on the spot whilst folding washing, or dancing whilst hoovering or running up the stairs to put washing away. I will also stop now and again to focus on specific exercises such as push ups or jumping jacks. If anyone saw me I would look crazy but this way of exercising makes me happy, keeps me fit and fits into my lifestyle! Exercise that is functional and fits into my life is most important. It is unconventional but It works well. I wear a heart rate monitor to make sure my exercise is intense enough.

I am also a single parent, OP, and I hear you. When there's only you to do the chores, you start very early and you still have mountains to do in the evening, and it's you and only you, it's very tiring.

I just cut myself some slack, I exercise when I can, your step counts look great, and so I'd try to do 2/3 times a week, but if you have to have a down day or two, so be it. It's better to keep off the stone you have lost, than panic, eat loads, put it all back on and then have to start again. Even if all you do is maintain what you've done for a week or two, then do that and then get the energy up to start losing again when you feel the time is right.

The trick is not to panic, and if you have a bad day, or even a couple of bad days, don't write the whole thing off and binge. Just accept today wasn't that day, and that you will exercise when you can.

OP,

I'm sure PP have said it but focus on the exercise at the weekend and leave the weight loss to the diet only in the week.

You're all right. It's about getting the balance right isn't it. I've had days where I've eaten pizza, but just got straight back on it the next day and haven't dwelled on it. I'm trying to have a healthy mindset when it comes to food but still know its OK to have a treat now and then.

I"m a single mother in same boat (as in, i've lost 10 kg too, and prob another 15 or so to go) Except I'm barely exercising.

I would recommend def only 3 workouts a week. Maybe up the walking or stretching on other days. But PP are right, you dont' want to get fed up and undo all your good work. Stress of doing too much will likely make you sick - ie you will be exhausted and catch any bug your daughter brings home.
Food is 90% of it - exercise is great, but it can also make you more hungry, so makes the healthy eating harder sometimes too. if you don't have time to fit that much in, you'll be undoing the good from the exercise endorphins anyway. GOod luck!

I really don't mean to put you down, because I'm in awe of what you're trying to do (speaking as someone who's denying that he's morbidly obese) but the cynic in me loves the quote :

"eating healthily doesn't make you live longer, it just seems that way."

Best of luck

Can you aim to walk 10,000 steps a day and be more active during the day rather than trying to cram in exercise in the evening. Sometimes smaller more manageable long term changes make a bigger impact. It’s got to work for you.

Less is more when it comes to workouts. Do fewer, but make each one really count. You are already really active! And yes, if you need a down day, have one. There’s no shame in taking test when your body needs it.

Taking REST I mean :-)

I would switch out an exercise session and use it to de stress instead. The stress hormone cortisol can cause you to retain body fat and it impacts sleep quality which can also negatively effect weight loss. Have one evening a week which is just for relaxing and/or having fun. Not for chores, exercise, any of that. Get the absolutely necessary tasks done and then do whatever you find fun/relaxing/enjoyable. Being a single parent is a slog and we can forget that it's not just kids who need play, grown ups have a need for fun and enjoyment too. Time which is not focused on goal attainment but on letting loose.

Can you make up some heathly casseroles at the weekend and freeze in portions ie skinless chicken breasts? You have one cleanup and are dealing with far fewer dishes if you're just reheating a casserole and microwaving some scrubbed potatoes. I also have some quick go to recipes that cook in one pot and yes those one do involve a tin of soup.

Can you do some nice ham, lettuce and salad with some scrubbed microwave poatoes. Minimal clean up with that. If money isn't tight you could do the same with cold sliced salmon or hot smoked salmon which keeps well in the fridge in sealed packets.

Aluminium foil mightn't be green but it does save a heap of clean up especially the nonstick stuff. I line oven trays and baking/roasting dishes with it. Waste disposal units are also wonderful. An amazing discovery for me was finding out you could put frozen peas in a cup, put a plate on top and microwave for a minute to have hot peas. (Don't add water and don't fill to the brim. )

Around 80% of your health is down to what you eat, so it sounds you're doing great.

Just exercise 10-15 minutes a day. I second Lucy Wyndham Read on YouTube. Rebecca Louise also has loads of short workouts that are free. Just alternate legs, arms, abs workouts and you'll get fit in no time.

Do a longer HIIT or Tabata workout on days when you have more time. I recommend Growingannanas and Jake DuPree. Both have full body workouts running from 20 to 50 minutes - lots to choose from.

Maybe also look at your chores.. With just you and dd do you need to be doing laundry more than once or twice a week? Hoover once, wipe down surfaces sure but leave big cleaning to the weekend. Clean the bathroom with quick once overs while dd is in the bath, that sort of thing. You're doing great but yes, a balanced approach is needed in all areas.

OP I'm I exactly the same position, yet I haven't really lost much at all. I mean like 3 pounds or something. I'm also hungry a lot. I've oy really been properly doing it for about 2 weeks and I'm scunnered.
Food was my way of treating myself, now I feel like there's nothing. If I was losing weight a bit faster I think I would feel better, but it's so slow!
No advice but you're not alone.

I've got some fantastic little weights that tie round your ankles and wrists , I slap those on when I do my chores = workout
I think I bought them in sports direct