Weight gain and self esteem

Chantel01

Hello, 

It has only been 7 months since I got married and I have gained 15 pounds! I am at my highest weight ever and I have very low self esteem. I started a graduate program and september and have really gained weight since then due to lack of time to cook and eat properly, what type of exercise program should I be on and what are some tips for eating healthier? Also my husband has gained a bit of weight too but he refuses to even weigh himself and every time I ask him to start to eat healthier and exercise with me he will not do it any tips onto how to loose weight as a couple  

cloudymeatballs

Oh, that is a wonderful question. I too have gained a little weight Since the wedding as he has as well. My H runs everyday, but it doesn't do much. Lol I would love to exercise with him too, but his run is his own time. I cook clean at home for dinner and try to keep healthy snacks in the house, mostly. I try to cut back on sugary bevs and stick to mostly water. Just try to do a little at a time. When you are watching some tv or standing somewhere you can do squats, lol I swear I do it sometimes. Stretch a lot. Just work on yourself ffirst then him. Once he sees you getting healthier he will want to join in I bet.

cloudymeatballs

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GilliC

We were both on an extremely stressful project right after getting married, and I gained a lot of weight because I wasn't putting the energy into healthy options. We were eating out for almost every meal, because we were both working such long hours. For me, the easiest place to start was to simply eat less. I was hungry for a little while as my body adjusted, but honestly I didn't need as many calories as I was eating, and it wasn't long before I felt full after a much smaller meal. I also started looking up calorie contents of some of the things I ate and learned a lot about how to choose the smartest options off the menu. Some of them were surprising.

As for motivation, everyone is a little different, and you know your H best. For me it was finding out from a medical check-up that my BMI was much farther from the ideal than I thought. I actually felt like I looked okay, so I had no idea that my weight was unhealthy.

lildevil968

My DH and I have been together for 12 years, and in those 12 years, I have gained almost gained 50 Ibs (

In the past few months I have lost almost 10 Ibs just by eating better, and exercising more. With 2 kids, working full time, and going to school full time, it can be really hard to make time for your health. One thing that I do to help me is, I bring left over healthy food for lunch. I also pack all my snacks the night before. My snacks consist of pumpkin seeds, and dried fruit. I make a trail mix out of it, and add in a handfull of chocolate chips. It satisfies my craving for sweet stuff. In the morning I make myself a protein smoothie with 1 banana, 1 cup of almond milk, and 2 cups of any frozen fruit I have on hand. I add in a scoop of vanilla whey protein, and it tastes really good.

As for working out, I believe that quality over quantity is best. I try and hit the gym 6 days a week after the kids go to bed. I work out for an hour. An hour my not seem like much, but I wear a heart rate monitor, and i really push myself to my max heart rate in that hour. One thing I had to realize, and it was really discouraging is that the weight was going to take alot of time to come off. It wasn't just going to just fall off like I had hoped it would.

Leftie22

I fell into the trap of thinking I didn't have time to cook after I had my son, but the truth is, there is always time. It takes a little effort to do some preparation in advance, but in the end, the time I spend is about the same. Now, once a week I make a meal plan for the whole week, and make a grocery list. We shop once, then everything is in the house, I know what I'm making every day and have it all on hand. So yes, it takes an hour or so to make the list, but then I don't have to think about it for the rest of the week. It's been amazing. To find recipes you can make quickly, just google "easy and fast dinner ideas" - there's TONS of recipes out there that can be ready in a half hour or less. Since I motivated myself to cook all our meals at home, we've saved tons of money, eaten better quality food and never find ourselves asking "what the crap are we going to eat for dinner?" We still order food or get take-out once in a while as a treat, but we've also found places that are fast but healthy (like Thai or Vietnamese). You can do it, you just need to start somewhere. Find one easy recipe and make it, and go from there! Good luck!

blaqueirish320

Like you I am extrememly busy and do not have tons of time at night to cook. What I found worked best for me and my family was to do my grocery shopping on Sunday and do the cooking for the week on Sunday as well. This way when I get in from a busy day all I have to do is make a plate and pop it in the microwave. I also do the same with preparing snacks to take with me. I keep my snacks simple such as small protein bars, greek yogurt, jerky some nuts and seeds. I keep fruit intake to a minimum because of the sugar content.

In the way of exercises, have you heard of tabata..it is 20sec of an exercise and 10sec of rest. repeat for 8rds. The exercises can be simple and done in your home. Also why not take the stairs instead of the elevator or park a bit farther away from the door in order to get a bit of extra walking into your life. I agree with PPs, that you must work on yourself first and your DH will see your efforts and follow along.

Sigmatam

I definitely understand the weight gain/ self esteem issue. It's something I am currently working on as well. I tend to get discouraged easily, since my weight tends to yo-yo back and forth due to my thyroid issues.  It really messes with my brain and is demotivating. I have found a lot that does/ doesn't work for me (example diet fads do not work for me...just can't do the no carbs/ no fat/ no sugar/ juice cleanse, etc). It helps hubby is a gym nut and encourages me to go with him. I also excersize at home when I can. In the long run here is what i've learned:

1. Find someone willing to excersize with you or join a class (zumba, yoga, aerobics). The point is to make it fun. I hate running, I mean really hate running, but it goes much quicker if I have hubby or a friend to chat with. With practice I can now use the ellipitical, treadmill, etc. while reading. If not inclined to hit the gym, try something like the wii fit or zumba. Wii fit also has a step option the clicks while you watch tv, you just step up and down/ back and forth to the beat.

2. Count calories. I am not saying to do it for a lifetime, but it helps you realize how much (and of what food) you are actually eating. Use that to adjust your diet/portion sizes, not cut foods you really love. Yes, you can still eat what you love. It's all in moderation and finding healthier versions. Love pizza? Try a thin crust loaded with veggies. Love Starbucks, get the tall, non-fat version, no whip instead of venti with all the trimmings. Also, eat breakfast. I find I eat a lot less for lunch when I eat a healthy breakfast. It's when I skip breakfast that I scarf food down like a hungry hyena without a thought to what I stick in my mouth.

3. Spend 30 minutes one day a week separating and portioning healthy snacks/ quick lunches. Make salads, cut veggies, portion nuts and stuff in plastic containers then grab and go. It works with freezer and dinner meals as well.

4. Technology is your friend. Today we have more websites, gadgets and gizmos to help us. I like myfitnesspal and bought a fitbit to help monitor steps I walk each day. Half of my friends did the couch to 5K app. There are a ton of options out there take a look and see what suits you.

5. Don't have unrealistic goals and use moral support when needed. I initially set out to hit the gym 6 days a week... for me going from nothing unrealistic burn out/ muscle soreness really helped set the real goal.

Hope this helps. Remember, what works for everyone is different. Don't be afraid to get moral support when feeling low either.

CowgirlK39

I hear ya too. I used to be a super skinny athlete. I was one of those people whop had zero shape, just bone. When I stopped competing I put on a lot of weight because I met my foodie DH. He gets worse cravings than a pregnant women, but seems to lose weight so easily. But now I have put on too much weight, and am trying to better myself. I agree with all the suggestions from PPs. Watch what you eat, and how much. Try replacing a meal a day with a protein shake or smoothie.

TarponMonoxide

"Freshman 15" also affects newlyweds.:) it happens.

Try cutting back on junky sugary foods, cut out eating at fast food places and brown bag your lunch.  I swear by brown bag lunches; pack something healthy and nutritious and take those items to lunch with you.

Bananas or fruit during the day for a snack helps, too.