Losing 8kg in 5 months, tips, tricks, hacks or suggestions, please

[ExhaustedButHere]

I’m early 40s, 5’1, currently 68.6kg. SAHM with a 5 yr old and a 1 yr old. No childcare, baby is with me all day and naps are unpredictable lengths.

Had a really traumatic birth resulting in hysterectomy and BF initially. Weight dropped to 55kg then crept up after stopping BF at 3 months. Baby is now 1yr.

DP works long hours and is out early and home in time for dinner and bed. Weekday evenings are very short.

Sleep has been quite poor but thankfully improving. Baby sleeps through maybe 4-5 nights a wk. I’ve cut out evening beers and started magnesium to help sleep and stop late night scrolling.

I feel really uncomfortable in my body right now and we have a beach holiday in 5 months time. shedding around 8kg would put me back at a weight where I feel healthy and confident.

Exercise is a sticking point. I’m often exhausted and have very limited uninterrupted time. Food wise I’m simplifying meals to a plate of protein, carbs and veg.

Looking for realistic tips, habits or approaches that might actually work in this phase of life, especially with minimal exercise.

Thank you!

I would try to walk for 1 hour to 90 minutes every day.
Download my fitness pal app. The paid version is worth it.

Track your calories and aim for a slow steady weigh loss . Keep protein up as it helps with hunger and muscle.
Be kind to yourself. If you don’t get to you goal you will be closer even if you lose less than you want to by the holiday.

Thank you @Ritaskitchen . Walking is a good idea. I could just take baby for a long pram walk. I’ve got ankle weights too, wondering if that could help boost the effect.

You’re right, moving the needle in the right direction is a win in itself and I should be a bit kinder to myself. I think it doesn’t help I’m feeling particularly bloated at the moment so that add as tk the discomfort, but perhaps also the motivation to do something.

I’ll go over tor MyFitnessPal, used to use it a long long time ago.

Op, you could get yourself a walking pad.
Walking is one of the most underrated forms of exercise .
Start with 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the evening
Buy some weights and watch some videos on YT
Increase your protein intake

Take baby for a walk in it's pram everyday. But your weight loss will come from food. You need to track everything that you're eating, including weighing it.

Walking with the pram is probably as good as anything. We aren't far off spring, better weather and lighter nights.

I'd try to use the step counter on your phone, rather than a watch, phone in hip pocket. Your arms stay still when pram pushing so watches don't pick up your steps.

Actually you could tie a walk into getting your older child to and from school.
Short way there, long way home, then in reverse in the afternoons.

Or if you have a gym with a creche use the creche for an hour and go for a swim.

A walking pad is a great idea! I’ve seen them about on sm and wondered. I think it would be a great addition to walking out and about. Will have a look at some options and consult my bank account 😂😅
Thank you

Just re- downloaded MyFitnessPal 🤞

Great point on using the phone. I was charging my Fitbit up again (haven’t used it in over a year as I got fed up of trying to optimise my humanity 😅) but it’s a good point that on pram walks it might not be very effective anyway.

Also agree the move into spring will help. I really hibernate in winter and don’t handle the cold well so the lighter, brighter, warmer days are definitely more of a draw.

@Needspaceforlego Didn’t like the crèche in the only gym nearby with one unfortunately. Good shout to just go for a walk straight after/before drop off though, less friction point ans less excuses not to go 😅

So if I am watching TV for an hour I tend to move- literally walking side to side for the whole hour
I would agree that getting some steps in would help- or you could look at home workouts- whilst baby is napping, or when they are awake and use a sling to add weight as they get easier
It's all about small consistent effort- getting off the bus 1 stop earlier- adding a bit more standing if you sit for periods of time can all help....

If walking outdoors try to walk places with an incline if possible, makes a huge difference to the benefits you get. Also if looking at a walking pad one with an incline would also give more benefits.

I don't know that I'd want a walking pad in the house with tiny tots. I'm thinking of them faffing with it, little fingers, trying to run on it etc, 🤔
(I also think they could be a 5min wonder).

I'd be more inclined to try fitness stuff on you tube and resistance bands that don't take up much storage space (especially if they are a 5min wonder)

Walk with the baby everywhere you can. Especially get them to nap in pram.
Walk journeys you would normally use car, make it part of your day

Diet. Cut out crap and booze. Low carb options where possible. Lots of soup

I did think about that and I guess the draw with a walking pad vs a treadmill or something like an exercise bike is that it can easily be put away when not in use, rolled under the bed or sofa, so not really in active reach of the little one. In use would probably be when kids are in bed, nap times or I’d put little one in her play pen for a bit.
The problem with other workouts is that I know myself enough to know I might not stick with them and I think to get the ball rolling I need something consistent and so easy to do it would be ridiculous to avoid it, if you know what I mean.

DD2 lost 10 kgs in 4 months with a not particularly strict adherence to Slimming World.

Fairly flat where we are but looking at incline walking pad options right now
Great idea

I do a lot of steps anyway 20,000 ish by the time I do school run and walk the dog so weight loss slowed down (I no it should be majority diet but I like chocolate 😂)

i got a step machine thing and the scales have started to finally move again

so with the nicer weather walk baby in the pram to get your steps in then you could do the step machine of a night watching tv feels less boring when you have the tv on I’ve attached a picture as you can get some massive ones I only have this small type one and have got good results so far

Ooooh this is an interesting idea 👀
Would be easier to store than a walking pad and I imagine much cheaper too?
Come tk think if it I think I’ve seen this in person and suspect my mum might have one lying about the depths of her room of forgotten and discarded things garage 🤔

You can deffo get them for £40 so you will probably find them cheaper as well I don’t have the ‘handles’ so can’t comment but people have said you can work your arms at the same time

I just grab beans and lift them above my head as I step 😂

hopefully you will be able to rescue it from your mum then even cheaper sorted

never used ankle weights so can’t comment on that part whether it’s the same thing but a weighted vest would also be good to use whilst pushing the pram

Even better idea and no great loss if it does become the next 5min wonder.
There must be tons of fitness stuff lying around in houses barely used.

You just need a good pair of trainers, none of these gadgets.
The most important muscle for your weight goal will be the bicep you flex to bring food to your mouth. All the others are bonus .
It is the food, then the food and last the food you eat that will make it happen.
Fill your fridge with vegetables. Focus on proteins from food, not powders or bars, so a grilled chicken breast, poached cod, …
Be religious in your calories, have fibre rich food, be careful with nuts and seeds and eat don’t drink your calories.

8kg is very manageable. Just keep thinking about that holiday and how great you are going to feel. As others have suggested, make walking part of your daily routine, both you and your little one will benefit. Get a mat and some weights and start toning, which should be fairly quick at your age. There are plenty of sites to download routines. Monitor your steps and have a goal, even housework is exercise. Keep busy and try to avoid snacking - concentrate on healthy eating and when you want to snack, just keep thinking of that holiday. You are going to feel and look amazing….

Thank you, your message is very encouraging and you're right I just need to keep focused on that holiday and how awesome I’m going to feel.

Also from time to time I tend to forget just how much my body has gone through in the last 22 months (the whole pregnancy was risky and difficult too), I grew a miracle baby, had a near death experience and my body pulled me through it all.
I can manage 8kg weight loss with healthy choices and generous movement. My body deserves it.

Quick update if anyone ever comes looking at this thread and is in the same boat that it’s been about 4-5 days and I’ve dropped 1.4kg as of today. It’s important to note that some of that might just be water weight (I did feel incredibly bloated when I originally posted) and I’m under no illusions this is a reasonable amount to lose in such a short time or that this will continue as is. I expect the amount I lose to start going down and appreciate that weight will fluctuate as I continue.

I’ve not changed the way I move too much yet, mainly I’ve just started taking a slightly longer route home after school drop off and again on my way to pick up as a PP suggested and also doing a mini sprint every time I go up stairs (turns out I go up and down stairs in our house a lot!).

I think what’s made the biggest difference though has been:

• giving up alcohol completely
• downloaded MyFitnessPal and being intentional about I’m eating
• logging meals ahead of time and that’s really curbed my snacking so far
• started mild intermittent fasting (14:10) with a view to go up to 16:8 once that becomes easy to stick to
• made sure to get myself to bed by 10pm even if I’m not sleeping straight away

I feel better and today my jeans aren’t so tight. I have a long while to go and fully intend to bring in more movement but this is a good start. It’s also encouraging that it’s made such a difference although like I said I am fully aware not every week is going to be like this as it’s only been a few days anyway but I really hope I can stick to it.

For anyone reading this wanting to feel better in themselves just start, small steps. We can do this!