To be finding it so impossible to work FT and lose weight?

[Fat13]

Of course, this is on some level ridiculous because people do work full time and do lose weight or maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle but for whatever reason I don’t. I had a long period where I wasn’t working as lockdown 1 ran into my maternity leave so I was off for nearly 18 months. I did so much walking and managed gym visits when they started again, lost a lot of weight.

Now back at work and I just … can’t. Just so tired and run down I crave food and the cravings are overwhelming in a way they weren’t when I was off.

Anyone find the same?

Presumably you have small children so this will be a factor in being tired and having no motivation! In fact that'll be the main reason!

Do you commute or WFH? If you're in the office then can you incorporate exercise into your working day? For example, cycling in, or at least cycling to the train station. Or gym/run at lunchtime.

I can’t really as am a teacher so while I do a fair few steps wandering around it obviously isn’t really intense exercise. I can go for walks in the evening now the weather is better but finding the motivation is the struggle.

You can maintain or lose weight without doing much physical activity at all, but you should adjust your calories. The issue seems seeking high calorie low density foods as they give a more immediate (but short lasting) burst of energy and are usually quicker to prepare ie open a packet! Can you do packed snacks for the day alongside your lunch- high protein? Sweet foods like grapes? If you turn to food as a type of comfort ie I've had a long, tiring day and want to sit and eat something nice then perhaps find something that isn't tiring but keeps you occupied? Sounds weird but I like paint by numbers or crochet to relax in the evenings.

Exercise alone won’t help you lose weight unfortunately anyway. In fact it’s just eating less that gets the weight off sadly.

I also struggled with tiredness and craving comfort food to keep me going. But got to the point where I just had to do something. I started 16/8 intermittent fasting and within 6 months was down to the weight I wanted. It’s hard the first couple of months, after that it just becomes normal.
My motivation was getting into a bikini for that summer!

I know @MissyB1 but for me it’s definitely the case that if I’m sticking to a diet I’m more likely to exercise but if I cave I just think oh, fuck it!

I suppose the issue is time as well, I’ve only maybe got around an hour and a half to two hours to myself every day after dc are in bed and then it’s just so easy to slump and eat!

I used to be a teacher too, and lost 3st over the course of a teaching year by changing my diet. I couldn’t find the energy to fit exercise in either, but I joined slimming world and identified that I was using food as a stress release or reward, and instead I started cooking from scratch and taking in healthy lunches like jacket potatoes or leftover pasta. I actually found the routine of the school day really helpful for weight loss as it stopped me snacking constantly throughout the day. I would take my lunch and a snack for morning and afternoon break, and didn’t allow myself to buy or accept anything extra in the staff room. I also used a big water bottle and filled it up regularly, I found I drank at least 2l a day this way (probably with all the talking teachers have to do!). See if you can make the routine of it all work for you, and if exercise isn’t possible you might need to come at it from a food angle instead.

The only realistic way is to hit the gym in the morning before work, understandable it is a challenge when you have DC too.
Would the 8/16 work, you can enjoy food during the day and finish eating by 7pm until 11am.

I don’t think so as that’s more or less my pattern now - more 8-12. It’s what I eat in between those hours!

If you have a couple of hours to yourself in the evening, that's more than most people have!

Some suggestions for fitting exercise in:

Go out early, before the rest of the house is up. I find this easiest- I can do a few miles run and be home before 7am.

Incorporate running, walking or cycling into your commute; even if only for some of the way if you have a long commute.

Run or do an online class (Caroline Girvan is good) after the kids are in bed, before your dinner.

And food is of course really important too..

Have a go at creating an eating window. There was a fab prog on R4 about it ‘Change one thing’. It worked for me - I’m an evening binger! So I banned myself from eating after 7pm. Clear and easy to stick to. (It’s ok to break it for the odd meal out treat etc) Seeing as I consumed the majority of my calories after 7pm it worked for me! Try and eat more in the day - something that’s quick to prepare and scoff. Things like cuppa soups even are low in cals but very filling. You can do this!!

Me too!
Lost weight over lock down as
I was less stressed not rushing about.
Now teaching full time in the building again- it's gone terribly!
It's all from rushing and stress. And evenings are just windows for school work and keeping on top of the house (already have low standards!).
Not sure what the answer is I'm afraid.
I have started to to ensure I drink more water instead of coffee- might or might not help.

I really know I wouldn’t do the morning thing. I’m up at 6 and exhausted anyway because dc don’t sleep through so I always have a disturbed night.

Again with the commute, I can’t do that as nursery drop off. Plus it’s a rush as it is.

After the kids are in bed is really the only time I have but that’s why I just can’t face going out again! But I’ll have to.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000zt7d

Here it is!

Same @grafittiartist, it’s a relief it’s not just me tbh. Life feels so frantic.

Intermittent fasting definitely. WFH helped me get into a better exercise routine but I started intermittent fasting 16/8 and lost half a stone ive barely been able to shift before! It’s really easy to do and only took me about 3-4 days to get used to it. I basically used to eat from 11am-7pm and that was it. Would fast from 7pm and then not eat again until 11am the next day which really isn’t hard. You can do whatever timings you want, so I’d work it around my life and sometimes do 12pm-8pm or 13.00-21.00 etc. I didn’t eat any special food or anything like that, just normal food amount and choices and I also didn’t do it over a weekend unless I wanted to so often would do it Mon-Fri then have Sat/ Sun off and start again Monday. I’d give it a go.

How far is your school? Could you walk? I do 13,000 steps a day just walking to and from work.

I’m working FT and losing weight, I agree it’s difficult but I’m doing it as I’m really determined to get my weight off. I am losing 2lb a week doing this:
I calorie count everything, and I take salad and some kind of lean protein for lunch, with a piece of fruit and another fruit for a snack. I drink 2L plain water, and aside from the days when I go to the gym I make sure i do 30 mins of walking a day. I also have stopped buying any high calorie treats like sweets, chocolate and crisps to keep in the house, to avoid snacking at night. If I want chocolate I just buy a single bar. It’s difficult but being consistent is getting me results.

It isn’t walking distance but also I do have the nursery drop off and pick up.

Also. People who get enough sleep eat less and better! Heard that on R4 too! Go to bed earlier. I know it’s hard to do. You get the kids to bed. You feel you’re owed that down time and you want to appreciate it awake! But using some of that time to sleep more will pay dividends. I went to bed at 6.30 last night! Feeling good this am and ready to get cracking! Look at your schedule. Re jig it a bit. Meal plan and batch cook.

Weight loss is mainly about what you eat so focus on that. Intermittent fasting might be helpful. Don’t eat anything til lunchtime. Just have tea or coffee. Then stop eating after 7/8 in the evening. Try to eat mainly nutritious food and get your 5 a day in that time and you’ll have less capacity for junk.

How many hours sleep are you getting a night? If it's less than 7 or it's broken, you're going to find it very hard to resist cravings etc. Is there any way you could go to bed earlier?

I think it's going to be very hard for you to lose weight in this stage of life, but you could try and establish healthy habits and not gain any more.

Agree with previous poster about pre-prepping snacks; I find if I get really hungry then all my sensible food choices go out the window.

I’m already in bed by 830-9, I really can’t go any earlier than that!

Op- don't worry! When we retire we know that we will be back to our usual selves!!
Just hang in until then

@Fat13

I don't work in teaching but have a full time plus job tweens at home and it's always frantic.

In lockdown I walked loads and was less work stressed. I lost weight I ate well and looked better for it.

Now I'm the opposite again.

I have to be really strict with myself food wise at work and I've managed to get 11 lb off since November so it's slow going

I try and do ten minute yoga in the evening and it's brilliant for relaxation.

I was going out early doors for a walk but winter was dark and so I haven't done that for a while but I do go on a Sunday morning early now it's lighter and get 5 miles in while dh is home with the kids
As soon as I'm up and out I feel great but it takes a while

Do you have a microwave at work? First thing I did when I started… well maybe day 2… Arranged a collection for an office microwave. (One that is probably feeling abandoned and his hopefully being looked after by others… covid measures blocked our access… people sat in their cars lunching!! then I moved department. Paid into the new microwave collection in new office!! I’m yet to use as I tend to half work from home but plan to use from September when I’m teaching more.)