Well I am 22 years old, and I have 4 wonderful kids that I would never take back for the world.I had my first son when I was 15 years old. He is now 6 I also have a 3 year old son that I had at 18 and a 1 year old son that I had at 21. My daughter is 6 months old. All of my kids are 3 years apart other than my last two, my daughter was not planned at all after having my last son about a month after having him I found out I was pregnant again and so my daughter and my youngest son are 11 months apart. When I had my First son I was about 102 when I had him I was about 205 and it took me 3 years to loose the weight to be back down to 105 and then I found out I was pregnant with my second son. I was able to watch my weight with him and after having him I lost a lot of my weight and was about 140 then I had my gallbladder removed and started to gain weight again out of no where. my weight stayed at 150 for about 3 years then I got pregnant again with my last son and I did ok only weighting out at 180 after having him and then got pregnant with my daughter, I didn’t get the chance to loose any of my weight or even try after having my youngest son when I got pregnant with my daughter. When I went into labor with her I nocked out at about 210 after having her I lost about 6-7 pounds my first week then by the second week I was back up to being 207 and I am breast-feeding which I thought would help me loose the weight faster but it seems like my stomach has just bloated and wont go down for nothing, I drink tons and tons of water and I try to find the time to work out but it’s not so easy with a 4 year old and a 1 years old and a 6 month old around the house.Plus trying to do my online classes and getting my oldest son off to school every morning and getting him home from summer school is just a big hassle. My Fiance works about 45 hrs a week so he is gone most of the time and I stay at home with the kids because I chose to go back to school to go higher in my career, I am a medical assistant but im working on my CNA degree online and attend a class every week one night. I just feel like I can’t loose this weight for nothing and when I try it does nothing and I see no changes. I know it takes time and I just feel like Im a fat whale when I try anything on it doesn’t fit and I can’t do anything about it. I know I am writing alot and its just me blabbing on about myself but when you sit at home with kids all day and have no one to talk with it takes a toll on you and by the time my fiance comes home we both are worn out and ready to just go to bed to do it all over again the next day. Our sex life has changed ALOT since we have had out last 2 kids and I feel like he just dosn’t look at me the same as he did since i have gained this weight, Im sorry this is so long.
You should be so proud of what you’ve accomplished and all the hard work you’re doing. Maybe try not to focus so much on losing weight but focus on eating healthy. Weight loss is 70% what you eat and 30% exercise. I found the less I focused on losing weight and more I focused on getting healthy I lost ten pounds without even trying!
Good for you for being so ambitious! You have been through a lot, and it sounds like you have a lot on your plate, too. Maybe give yourself a break if you can’t focus on weight loss right now…
I use a website/mobile app called Calorie Count. (caloriecount.about.com). There’s another popular one called MyFitnessPal. You put in all the food you eat and all the exercise you do and it calculates your net calories, and there are tools to help you decide how many calories you need to consume a day to lose weight. It helps A LOT and the communities are very supportive.
Good luck, and hang in there!
Wow! You are a warrior woman! I am so in awe of what you are doing as a mother and as a woman. From where I am standing (over here in the UK) you have enough to do to take care of your kids, yourself and your work/education. Go easy with yourself over the weight. Let things settle a little maybe? You sound like someone with immense strength and will and in time will be able to deal with the weight. Just so much kudos to you !!
Hi Briana!
You’re such a supermom! Young, and still you’ve got four amazing kids already. I can only imagine how little time you have for yourself and that it seems impossible to find time to work out. I myself have only two kids (3 years and 6 months), but still I have not found that much time (or effort) to get to the gym. Then my sister gave me a hint about Zuzana Light (a fitness and tv-person, check out on google i.e.) who makes these 10-15 min long at home workoutprograms. I tried and got convinced: this really works. So, if you have only 15 min for yourself each day, you can work out effectively and start to feel better about yourself and your body. I really wish all the best for you and your family. And remember, more important than looks is a functional, healthy body!
Oh goodness! Can I relate! I had my gallbladder out 10 years ago and it is so much harder to lose weight! But it is possible. There are a lot of resources online that might help you to compensate for your lack of gallbladder. There are certain foods that should be avoided and some feel that it’s helpful to do liver cleanses since the liver works harder in those of us who don’t have a gallbladder to store bile in! And yes, it sucks that a process as hard as weight loss is even harder. But just think how much more of a triumph it will be when it does happen. Note that I said when and not if. Working out with small kids around is a challenge. Don’t beat yourself up about it. Try to find workouts that maximize calorie burn in short periods of time. The health and fitness section of Pinterest is full of workouts like that. Shaun T., the dude who does “Insanity” has just come out with a 25 minute kick-ass routine, appropriately called T25. I’m trying it. I have two little ones and my husband works out of town for 2 weeks out of 3 and I am 2000 miles away from family and friends. So, yeah, I completely empathize with the frustration of wanting to find the time and the reality of it not always working out. Also, remember to feel good about how much you move in a day. Even when a workout doesn’t happen I am allover the place in a day, up and down the stairs, lifting kids, laundry baskets, walks to the park, etc. It adds up. I don’t know what your diet is like but weight loss is mostly about what you do and don’t eat. Workout to build lean muscle and keep your heart healthy but the majority of wight loss comes from eating well. Most of all, find room to love yourself as you are now. You will succeed. One step at a time. If you feel like your fiancé looks at you differently then talk to him about it. I know it’s awkward but it might help you to have some peace of mind and to feel more confident. Confidence is sexy no matter what you weigh! Trust me.
Although I’m reading this years late, u feel how you felt. I’m 26 years old, I have an 8 year old boy, who I had when I was 17years old. I have a 4 year old girl and 23 month old twin boys! The age is different but the stress is the same. I can’t seem to lose weight!!