Frumpy Mom Blues

S., you are on the right track. Life happens and some things you just can't control, but it sounds like you are willing to try. That is all that counts. Keep it up.

If you do things that are too much for you in first place (due to your tiring day routine) you will set yourself up for failure. I say, try baby steps that you can keep up with. For example: need lo lose weight? Don't go straight for a diet, reduce the portion of your meals and start eliminating the foods you eat but you could do without; Need to tone up? If running isn't for you, try going around with a bicycle or (better yet ;-) sign up to a gym where they have spa with Jacuzzi...you'll be amazed how those powerful sprays of water "move" your skin around and help removing cellulitis!!! When you feel like it (days when you have more energy) you can run on a treadmill and burn those extra calories. It is proven that as soon as you see signs of change on your body, THAT will give you the motivation to keep going...you are going to look the way you want by next Spring!!! Good luck and make it fun!!

Besides the exercise...there is other things that can help. Painting your nails a nice bright pink, curling your eyelashes, highlighting your hair, a tan...all of these things help get me out of a rut. Sometimes wearing lacy panties can help me feel good...lol! I have put on a little weight too. It is not fun. As long as you know that you are still pretty...it helps. I wish you luck :)

You can do it! You are already determined which is half the battle. I agree with some of the previous posters that say don't do too much at once. Start in small increments because this will make is much easier to stick with. Just remind yourself why you are doing this and hopefully you and your kids are enough motivation to get out there and do it.

For me I don't make it an option. I wake up and work out. It is engrained as part of my daily routine as is brushing my teeth and eating. No excuses. Even if I have a cold, PMS, flu, whatever I still do it. There are some days I don't want to do it but I ALWAYS feel better after. I work out every day but at different intensities. When I work out I feel better and am better at everything I do. It is a lot harder to do it at the end of the day then the morning, even if it means 5:30 am.

Excercise is always good but if that is getting too hard there might be another thing that you might be able to do is watch your diet. I am not saying these are mutually exclusive but my personal experience is that extra weight is more tied with diet whereas your muscle tone is more tied to excercise.

Weight Watchers is a wonderful diet program. My mom tired it and it did wonders for her.

Exercising, even when you are feeling too tired to, can actually make you feel better. Whether is a simple walk around the block with the kids, or a full workout at a gym.

You could also start simple.
- Get a new hair cut/style
- Dye your hair
- Purchase a new pair of jeans. I have a pair of black jeans that are so faded they look gray in some parts. Just found a new black as black pair that are the same size, but they look 100x better!

I hear you. It's been 11 months since my son was born and I've still got "baby weigh"...that's what I tell myself right! It is so hard!! I too have had sickness and surgery the last few months and every time I start a routine it gets ruined...so I feel you pain. My suggestion is to join a gym or community center with a child care. I finally got to the point with myself where I just made it happen. I had to pick a time that worked. Incidentally, it was a time I really didn't want but I decided I needed to make it happen, so I did. It's only been a couple of weeks for me, but I'm sticking to it. I drop the kids off in the day care and go work out. Most days I only have 30-40 minutes so I do what I can. I find that once my husband comes home and the sun is setting, I'm done. I won't go back out or do anything unless it's a family walk. You have to find what works for you and take advantage of that gym child care!! I know that money is sometimes an issue, but your health and wellbeing is worth it!!

I so HATE exercising, but I force myself to do it. I lost about 20 lbs, it took almost a year, but I didn't have to torture myself to do it. I used the balance log, it's a computer program that counts calories for you. Very helpful. Then I found an exercise video that I liked (Biggest Loser cardio max) & I stuck to it only 3 times a week & only 20 minutes of exercise. I've been able to keep the weight off for a year now. Once I was where I wanted to be, I just upped my calories & kept the exercise @ 20 mins, 3x/wk. Seriously, it's not that bad & not doing it every day helps. It's a more attainable goal. My children where 2 and 5 when I started & now they know when the video is in, they wait for whatever it is they need. 20 mins isn't that long to them either. Good luck, most of us have been there :)

Good advice from everyone! Make sure you only drink water, and the only thing that works for my adult acne is neutrogena's acne stress control scrub. I totally agree, while you're working on weight, take care of your hair, wear makeup, paint your nails and toes, wear clothes that fit and make you feel your best. All of that is taking care of yourself too, in addition to being healthy. Hang in there mama!

It will get easier as your kids get older (at least, this is what I tell myself with one almost 4-year-old)... I also have resolutions to do good things for myself, and then fall short sometimes.... none of us moms are perfect!! But the key is to keep making the effort, and know that you are worth it. The more you care for, and about, yourself, the better of a parent you can be to your kids.

Good for you! We've all been there, and it's so hard to get motivated! Try setting your alarm and running early instead of late in the day. No sane person has energy at the end of the day. Besides, it interferes with your sleep if you run in the evening. Exercizing in the morning energizes you for the day, and helps you sleep better at night,and it's always cooler in the AM. Sometimes the evenings are still sweltering. Good luck!

I've been exercising since I was a kid, so it's difficult for me to relate to someone who doesn't do it on a regular basis. After baby #1 ( I'm not trying to brag), but I lost all of the baby weight, plus 5 lbs. more within 4 months of having my child. Now, with this last baby, I've lost almost all my weight and my baby is 8 months.

Basically, I think you have to exercise at least 3-4 times per week. I got a double running stroller as a gift. This way I can take the kids. If you're dependent on others, then you won't exercise...believe me! Also, I've had 4 cases of mastitis with this baby! I know what you're going through. So, there have been several weeks of not being able to exercise too!

Hang in there- other advice...get your hair and nails done. Buy a few new clothes. It does make a difference in how you feel about yourself! Sometimes, it isn't really the weight gain. You can do other things to help your physical appearance.

Oh...try a baby yoga class too or a gym with babysitting. Whenever you can take the kids, that helps!!!!

no advice, just wanted to cheer you on!!! GO YOU!!

oh! maybe i do have some advice, i don't remember seeing anyone say this, make yourself a soundtrack!

a little Eye of the Tiger or what ever gets you pumping!! make it fun. I get excited when i listen to grown up music--I love Raffi Dearly BUT enough already!!! Shake your groove thing, ya ya!!!

S.,
It sounds to me like you are looking for a lifestyle change that includes regular exercising to lose weight and be healthier. The problem is that I think people can quickly get discouraged because the benefits to regular exercising are cumulative and you don't see a change immediately. As a result, I agree with other responders about the quick fixes to get you feeling better about yourself - new hair, clothes, nails, etc. Also, you may want to see a dermatologist. I know that when my face is clear, I feel more confident. These things will get you feeling better (less frumpy) quickly and act as an inspiration to keep up with the lifestyle change.
Personally, I have never been able to regularly exercise, but I have a series of exercises that I do throughout the day. For example, when I am making breakfast, I do leg lifts; when I watch tv, I do sit-ups; when I am in the shower, I do squats; during the day, I try to do ten jumping jacks or 3-4 flights of stairs fast; etc.). I know it sounds really silly, but by the end of the day it adds up and I have lost weight. I see it as the exercising being built into the day rather than me building my day around exercising (which unfortunately, I do not have the luxury of being able to do). I hope that helps and good lick - you deserve to feel great about yourself every day.

By not exercising. Seriously. I HATE exercising. Despise it. Boooooooring. (The only time in my LIFE I've "exercised" was when I was required by law to do so -aka military).

<grinning> So what do I do INSTEAD???

Fun stuff.

I LOVE swimming. I LOVE snowboarding. I LOVE horseback riding. I LOVE sailing. I LOVE surfing. I LOVE crew. I LOVE rapelling (the climbing part, not so much... oddly a fear of height kicks in. So I need to start from the top). I LOVE river rafting.

I LIKE: hiking, biking, treeclimbing, painting (the house), yard work (like taking a rototiller to my schtupid yard so I can reseed it), dancing, tons of stuff.

With all of those fun options of things I actually enjoy, why on EARTH would I go to the gym, or go running in yucky weather, or go for a walk around the same boring neighborhood? I mean... I don't mind walking to go somewhere, or to walk alongside my son while he's riding his bike... or taking the dog for a walk... but for no purpose other than exercise? Nope. Huh-uh. Not happening.