Question:
2 kids, no help and no motivation, how to exercising?

I am 4.5 months post and have lost a fabulous 70 pounds (slow loss to some; fast loss for others; perfect for me.) This (unfortunatley) has been with little exercise, excluding packing and moving to our new house. I have two young girls (ages 1 and 3) and a husband who works too much to help out. And at the end of the day I want to sleep. (No help from family either.) I do try to fit in little things like parking far from stores, and lots of stairs from putting toys away. I know I need to exercise more, but seem to lack the time, help and motivation. I would love to find a workout partner to help me motivate but don't know anyone around here. I have tapes, but they gather dust and its getting really cold to take the kids for a walk with me. Anyone else have a similar situation? How do I get past the psychological motivation prolems and JUST DO IT?? I HATE exercise, especially after all the years in school proving the fat girl could do it too. I live in a smallish town and have looked for a gym with daycare, no such luck. Anyone else looking for even an online partner that we can hold each other accountable for? Anyone local Sharon/Greenville PA area wanting a workout friend? Thanks    — candylnd24 (posted on November 18, 2003)

November 18, 2003
I am on the west coast, so that won't help you. I have 21 month old twins and I know what you mean about being to busy and when you do have time, you aren't motivated enough to do anything like exercise! I have been on a plateau for about 3 months now and I decided that I need to do something different. Tonight I am going to join Curves. The workout is only 30 minutes and it is pretty close to me. My kids will just have to stay in daycare an extra 30 minutes a few times a week (they are only in there part-time now). I decided that to be successful long-term, I will have to change my priorities somewhere down the line to bring exercise into my life. I guess the earlier you do this, the easier it will be down the road. Good luck to you! (And to me too!) Sheryl - Lapband 4/16/03 -72 lbs
   — Sheryl W.

November 18, 2003
Wow!!! When I has surgery my children were 2 and 5, my husband worked 8a to 8-9pm, and I lived in a small town w/o a health club. Sadly, I still do not have an answer to your question as I never found the motivation to do much of any eercising. The only thing I found was a yoga video that I could do after I put the kids to bed. They went to bed at 8, I would do yoga till 9, then that always put me to sleep. LOL I only did it for a short while, but I LOVED IT!!!! I still do it from time to time, not as often as I should, but more often than I did before surgery. Also, you might try one of those tapes you have as play for your kids. Look at it from that point of view instead of a work out. They want to do it with you! While it is best to have x number of minutes in cardo work out....do what you can, not every one has the time for that. My kids and I used to race down the hall to see whos shoes were fastest, who could get the mail first, race to the toy box with a toy. (this one was my favorite /wink) Little things....they will add up. It wears them out giving them the needed movement in winter, helps you, and gets your house clean!!! What a bonus. LOL
   — RebeccaP

November 18, 2003
Try joining the YMCA. They have child care. It will give you a little time to yourself to work out or swim and your kids will be taken care of. I think once you start, you will love the energy boost that you'll be addicted.
   — Kristin L.

November 19, 2003
Elizabeth... WOW, sounds like you have your hands FULL g/f... I'm not highly motivated to exercise either, never have been, but I went to my local Target store and bought a Leslie Sansone "Walk Away the Pounds" video that contains a one mile and a two mile walk on it. It only cost me $9.99, so it was fairly affordable. The one mile walk only takes 17 or 18 mins and the two mile is something like 25 mins. I'm finding those easy to squeeze in so that I get some exercise. I like the idea of having someone to be accountable to for exercising though, cause unfortunately I've waned a bit on my walking! Hope this helps & take care... email me if you'd like! God bless!!
   — Amy G.