Do you think it would be easier to lose weight if you had more time ?

[kitchenlover]

I am really really struggling to sort myself out with this.

Are these all just excuses though ?

I have lost weight successfully in the past, but I've also been exhausted by the whole thing.

I need to be super strict and spend around 2 hours in the gym a day, ( 5 days a week at least ) in order to see a change in my body. It's exhausting.

I have a full time job, two preschool aged children and a completely absent H, due to his work.

I also suffer from a condition which causes fatigue. So I start off with less energy than most people anyway. That is not even taking account the fact that I do all night wakings with my kids.

I just can't do all of this AND spend the time shopping/ meal prepping and going to the gym a lot.

How do people manage ? I really need to get back to a healthy weight and the only way I can see this happening is if I just don't work for a bit. I can afford to do this and yes I posted about this the other day. However I keep thinking- what if I take some time out from work to sort myself out and then I don't even manage to lose weight ?

Am I just making excuses ? How do people with so many responsibilities do it ??

a partner that’s “whatever” about his partner

giving up work to lose weight
losing half the family income
and still paying for nursery and gym

really?

I can’t imagine hating being fat so much that I would be that miserable.

it obviously doesn’t work either.

My baby was not in nursery - baby was in the crèche at the gym while I worked out. I don't know why you want to tear me down to be honest.

Slimming world is working for me. Slow and steady and changing how you understand food. I don't follow it religiously but it's made me aware of my flash points and problem areas around food and how to make small changes to have results.

It also depends how much you have to lose. Going to the gym will give you better toning and cardio health but you may not lose weight as muscle is heavier. It depends really if you want weightloss or fitness as your primary goal. My goal has been health so a small but sustainable weekly weight loss and some exercise has been enough for me to see good changes.

Stopping work for this reason though - unless paired with other valid reasons probably isn't what you need to do. You may need to carve out some supported leisure time or find a gym with a creche.

Once I've lost the weight, I find maintenance much more bearable.

i do not understand how you have concluded in given you have gone from a healthy weight on maternity leave to very overweight in presumably only a couple of years if both children pre school

You don’t “need” to do that much exercise. I workout between 4/5 times a week because I choose to for my mental and physical health. I also know that this isn’t a magic answer for my weight. When I eat too much/the wrong things I gain weight and when I eat better I weigh less. It’s all about calorie deficit.

I am exercising so that I have a better chance of good mobility and strong bones when I’m an old lady. I work 4 days a week but manage to maintain a good routine because I plan my workouts around work and all my other commitments.

i don’t want to tear you down

i am trying to make you avoid making a big mistake

Why not get a set of dumbells for home op?

I don't want to exercise only for weight loss. I need to be fit. It's really important for my overall health.

That’s not what your OP said. Weight loss and fitness aren’t really related. I go to the gym to gain weight.

You could use something like Hello Fresh for meals, so all the thinking and organisation is done.

It makes little sense to be walking for long periods at the gym. Walk during the day - park further a way from nursery, or go for a walk at lunchtime. A walk during the day should help your energy levels, rather than doing it late at night after a weights circuit.

Could you take a couple of months of parental leave to focus on this and see how you get on? I don't know what your job is, but it seems really extreme to feel you have to not work to be able to lose weight.

Most people do not have the luxury of not working. Losing weight is a mindset. Cut down on one or two workouts a week - and lose the low impact cardio at that time, and work out shopping and recipes for the week.

I know it's distressing to be overweight and not like the face you see in the mirror, but it is possible to lose weight without this Herculean effort.

@WashItTomorrow well I have serious health issues, which mean I need to maintain a strong body.

So do I - which is why I need a strong body and to gain weight. But your OP is about losing weight, not building strength.

I also hate my job. And I don't have the energy to look for a new one and force myself into another job I don't like ultimately. I would like to have some time to consider my next career move and look after my health for a bit.

@WashItTomorrow yeah it might be, but that's not all this is about.

*I can see myself getting back into work. I've seen colleagues have career breaks and come back in. I don't think while my kids are this young, my career is going to take off even more- whilst also maintaining my sanity health and my H job. Something has to give. I am not enjoying work anyway at the moment either, which doesn't help.

I'll get back into something once I've sorted myself out and feel ready.*

Yeah, that’s what I thought too.

If you want, and can afford to, stop work, then do! (I did). You don’t need MN’s permission. But don’t tell yourself it’s because it was the only way to lose weight. And have your eyes open to the chance you may find it tough to go back to work - for all sorts of reasons, including everyone getting used to the benefits of being at home, and your own priorities shifting.

Just how big are you OP?

@Flamesatmytoes why does it matter ?

@kitchenlover when you lost weight before it is likely you were eating far too much which is why you felt like you had to do a, frankly ridiculous, amount of exercise. Seriously, that’s body builder level.

COUNT YOUR CALORIES and reduce them to about 1500 a day.

Combine this with 3x45mins light strength training a week and walking more and you’ll lose weight well.

Well if your DH can afford to cover costs while you're not working and is happy to do so, then go for it not jealous at all.

Ultimately unless you don't need to go back to work at all, you'll still be faced with this dilemma if you feel you need such a time heavy exercise routine in order to maintain or lose weight.

How much does your Dh (husband) earn Op? @kitchenlover

IF he earns a massive wage, I don't know what you are doing here.

Ditch the job you hate/ and to lose weight as you think that will happen.
get a PT
Eat healthily

you just seem to want to vent rather than sorting your weight. You need to see someone irl to help you sort your weight /life out.

Of course he earns good money. Otherwise this wouldn't be a consideration.

I also have other security outside of my H anyway, otherwise it wouldn't be a consideration either.

The problem isn't you need more time to lose weight. You have plenty of time to consume fewer calories - in fact, the more time you have, the more difficult this becomes for some people.

The thing you want more time to do is to get your body to look a certain way and yes, that might involve a larger time investment.

If you feel it's worth quitting your job to do, and you're prepared to continue doing that in increasing amounts for the rest of your life - because gravity and time happen to all of us - then go for it.

So what does a typical day's food look like?

Today for example I had 3 coffees this morning. With milk.

Then I had half a sandwich that my son didn't eat and a few nuts and a tangerine.

Then I just had a chicken thigh and potatoes that I made in the oven.

I'm going to try not to eat anything else today.

I try not to eat until 12-1 pm. I have coffee with milk instead.