SparkPoints: (1,910)
Fitness Minutes: (1,345)
Posts: 4
6/15/11 1:25 P

We make weekly menus and I try to prep the food (chopping, etc) as much as I can on the weekend.

SparkPoints: (22,071)
Fitness Minutes: (50,669)
Posts: 454
6/11/11 10:28 P

In regards to meal planning, what I find really works for me is batch cooking! I use www.eatingwell.com as my resource for recipes and make 1-3 simple meals that serve 4-6 people. As it's just me, my dh and ds one recipe is enough for 2 meals at least. I bought some cheap plastic containers and portion it all out and freeze. It's so nice to have a freezer full of home cooked healthy meals for during the work week also you have instant portion control and only have to do a big kitchen clean up once a week!! I also make batches of oatmeal and hard-boiled eggs for quick breakfasts :)
as for exercise my ds is still a baby so I do my ST while he naps, and because my cardio of choice is running, he comes with in the jogging stroller. I have a treadmill as well, and use it when the weather isn't good!! I agree though, as a full-time working Mom it is a lot to juggle!!!

current weight: 120.5

152 144 136 128

120

SparkPoints: (36,367)
Fitness Minutes: (15,460)
Posts: 1,958
5/3/11 7:19 P

The boy and I went nuts today and ended up dancing away the pounds through 20 minutes worth of music!

19 Days until:  Summer Break

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SparkPoints: (36,367)
Fitness Minutes: (15,460)
Posts: 1,958
4/29/11 6:20 A

that sounds like a great idea to have fruit party instead of popcorn!

19 Days until:  Summer Break

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Posts: 3,459
4/18/11 11:12 A

Fruit plates are great!! I make fruit plates for my family on weekends when I don't want to cook. We get whole grain crackers and cheese and fruit and every body loves it. We usually eat fruit plates when we rent a movie to watch. Instead of dinner and pop corn, we have movie and fruit plate.

SparkPoints: (36,367)
Fitness Minutes: (15,460)
Posts: 1,958
4/17/11 9:12 A

my short on time is really high on distractions! my son always wants to play when I need some time to workout. so I got a jump rope we can both use and we take turns. we play, and mommy has some fitness to track! everybody wins!
for food we invented fruit parties when Ethan was small. he asks for a snack and he gets a plate with three or more different fruit and maybe celery with pb or a few wheat thins. he loves it and asks for fruit parties. mommy and daddy join in as well.

19 Days until:  Summer Break

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Posts: 219
4/15/11 10:36 A

For eating healthy during the week - I find the best way to do it is to plan out the dinners (not make them) when you buy your groceries. Then prep the night before as much as you can (with taking meat out to the freezer, chopping/washing veggies, etc.) Also - setting a rice cooker or slow cooker in the morning works well. It's all about the planning. Coming home after a long day at work and starting from scatch is too much energy for me! That's when I make less healthy options.

I like the idea about the workout clothes... interesting social experiment indeed!!

SparkPoints: (36,367)
Fitness Minutes: (15,460)
Posts: 1,958
4/11/11 8:44 P

I just read this on a fellow spark's blog and im trying it tomorrow evening!
"Wear your workout clothes around the house one evening instead of whatever you normally wear in the evenings. See if just wearing your clothes around doesn't or does make you want to drop and do some crunches, or take off on a walk or a run. Do it as a social experiment."

Edited by: MFLYNN8 at: 4/11/2011 (20:44)

19 Days until:  Summer Break

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SparkPoints: (50,847)
Fitness Minutes: (39,385)
Posts: 5,212
3/27/11 6:06 P

I try to exercise while my kids are at thier practices. I usually run or walk. I also walk for about 10 minutes of my lunch break.
My problem is finding time to cook and eat healthy meals during the week. My husband usually does the cooking but some days he is not home either.
Any suggestions on how other families do this would be appreciated. We have tried the cooking meals once a week and it doesn't seem to work for us.
Unfortunately we either end up getting fast food or eating a frozen meal on the run. Not good for any of us.

current weight: 186.8

188 184.75 181.5 178.25

175

Posts: 219
3/2/11 10:12 P

I like the ideas here - actually, jumping on the treadmill while the kids are doing homework is a great idea! I'm normally cleaning the kitchen, but they do homework longer than that - I do a lot of puttering around and I could be doing something else during that time. I would be better to re-juggle my night and be on the treadmill during that time. I also like the one load of laundry and one chore per night suggestion. I'll let you know how it goes!!

Posts: 4,583
3/2/11 12:55 P

Monday thru Thursday I get up at 5:00am and spend 30 minutes in scripture reading them it is breakfast for everyone and getting ready for work for adults and school for kids. My schedule at work is I have a meeting during the normal lunch time so I take that time later at an on-site gym to work out. Then after work I fix dinner and then get lunches ready and check homework. in the few minutes I have left before bed I do one chore per day and one load of laundry per day. On friday it is allot different because my work day is from 2:00am-Noon so I get up and go straight to work. Then at about 6:00am I have breakfast at work and my husband takes care of the kid. I do the grocery shopping and other shopping from noon until I pick up the kid from school at 2:40pm then I spend the afternoon with our child and we all meet up for dinner. Friday night is a get caught up on all chores before the weekend. The weekend is at least 2 hours in the yard working so I use it as my exercise for the day. I think the best advice is to look at your own schedule and see if you can get at least 10 minutes 3 times a day to do some form of exercise if you cannot get a large block of time. I hope this helps

Posts: 3,459
3/2/11 11:15 A

I am pretty good about making excuses myself. I am too tired. I have a headache. I ate too much. Of course, deep down I know that if I exercise regularly, I would not be so tired and probably have less headaches.

When I first started SP 3 years ago, I actually walked on treadmill at home for 10-15 minutes at a time. Kids were smaller and I would walk for 10 minutes and then answer homework questions and then walk another 15 minutes, etc. I know it does not seem like a lot, but I did loose almost all my weight that I wanted to within a year. So, I guess any exercise is better than none. Unfortunately, most days, I can't even get on the treadmill, even to talk 15 minutes.

Now, I try to work when I take my lunch hour at work. I can eat at my desk while I work, so I sometimes take my lunch hour and go the mall and walk for 30 minutes. Unfortunately, that does not happen every day. I really need to go back to treadmill at night, but after cooking and cleaning and laundry, I just can't seem to get with it.

I am doing Ok with food. Over the years of counting calories, I can now tell how much of what I can eat. So, when I pack my lunch and snacks at night and in the morning, I know that I am only that I not exceeding my 1200 to 1500 per day.

I hope this helps you a little. Good luck.

Posts: 729
3/2/11 10:24 A

Right now I'm still trying to find time for the workouts. I am nuts as well. I am only working part time right now 4 days a week and then collecting unemployment as I lost my job in June. However, those 4 days make it hectic. My daughter's school schedule this year is nuts. She has drama club after school on Tuesdays, Chess club on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 6:30, today she has a b-day party for triplets at school from 4:30 to 6:30, Fridays she has children's choir practice from 4:15 to 5:30 and Saturdays she bowls at 9:30 and on the 27th will be in a Pepsi district tournament about an hour away for 9 a.m. Friday I get her cross country schedule as well so this should be interesting to see what will happen.

I really don't know how to fit it in anymore and anyone that has any ideas please help. I already get up for 6 a.m. most days so getting up earlier will not work. I tried it a couple days and was just too tired.

current weight: 119.0

130 126.75 123.5 120.25

117

Posts: 219
3/1/11 10:56 P

I imagine most of you are in the same boat as me - not enough hours in the day! I have not been great at being consistent since November - a little on and off with this journey. I have a thousand excuses why it is so (yes, I do now recognize them as excuses.) I've been working insane hours and life at home is running at its ususal hectic pace. So here's the question to the team - to you working moms out there - when do you exercise and prepare your meal plans/meals/snacks? What does a typical day or week look like for you? I'd love to know as I obviously need some inspiration to redesign mine a bit...

Thanks!
Stephanie