HELP

Hi,
I am so frustrated so I wanted to turn to the community for help. My work situation is nothing but stress for me now. Luckily it will all be over in a few months but I really need HELP in the meantime.
I want to lose 28 pounds. I weigh 171.2 and am 5'7". I want to be 143.
My job consumes so much of my week and weekend that I don't know where to begin or how to get organized. Can you guys help me with a few tips? Here's my schedule:
Monday: 7am-4pm work
Tuesday: 7am-8pm work
Wednesday: 7am-4pm work
Thursday: 7am-8pm work
Friday: 7am-4pm work
Saturday: off
Sunday: 3pm-11am work
Help!!! I need to get to the grocery store and get good food, pack lunch, eat breakfast, and figure out when to get the gym. I feel like I'm always running on fumes mentally and I turn to comforting food or junk to get me by. I want to be fabulous in about 4 months. I like working out but I'm just not getting there. I'm in a total fog.
Any tips or advice would be awesome.
Thank you so much!
CJ

Wed. Mar 19, 9:31pm

holy crap what kind of a job do you have? Quit!
... Can't do that huh?

- M W F night 20 mins weights (M legs W back & bis F Chest & tris) & 30 mins eliptical or treadmill - go hard
- make healthy meals in advance on Saturday and freeze / store / refrigerate for the week take them to work & never eat out.

Breakfast - whole grain cereal with skim milk - that is fast & easy
Lunch - Chipotle Veggie Chili make it good and make lots for the week - done deal
Snacks - raisins, almonds, carrot sticks and bananas - those are fast, easy & portable
Dinner - Hamburger helper (just kidding) - Chicken breast w/ oilve oil & fave spices whole wheat pasta & steamed brocolli - pretty fast & easy
Snack - protein shake (so you don't waste your weight training)

Wednesday, March 19, 2008, 9:54 PM

Well seems like your busy, a few suggestions walk on your breaks at work and at lunch you should surely get some with those hours. I have 2 jobs so I basically have the same schedule except luckily I am off on Saturday and Sunday, I get my workouts in between 8 and 10 a night but luckily I have all the work out equipment in my basement. I shop on Saturdays and take the day off from working out. Cereal such as Kashi or Fiber one are good options for breakfast, snacks should be fruits and vegetables you like. I have lost 60 pounds in 7 months so these little things to help. Good luck with everything.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008, 11:00 PM

OP

Thank you both for your helpful hints! I am still struggling but trying to get a good schedule of eating and exercising going. Groups seem to be super quiet lately, so I'm having more trouble getting my rear in gear lately. Gotta find some much-needed strength within.
Thanks again.

Friday, March 21, 2008, 2:34 AM

This is the best advice I can give you. Add Salba to your food. You can look it up on the Internet. It is a "superfood" that decreases your hunger cravings and gives you more energy without getting the jitters. It is really, really good for you. The only down-side is that it is a bit tricky finding ways to get it into your food without noticing that it's there (doesn't taste bad, just has a jelly-like texture when wet). However, you'll notice a definite help with appetite suppression right away. You only need to take 2 tbsp per day. That's it. Trust me, it will help you stay on track when stress and a busy work schedule play havoc with your plans. You can get it online, or at the Bulk Barn. Some Superstores carry it. It's not a pill, it's a seed, which also comes ground like a powder. Let me know how you make out. It's really helped me get closer to my goal. I'm only 6 pounds away now!

Friday, March 21, 2008, 7:52 AM

pp- Do you own stock in Salba, because this is the 3rd post I have read that is promoting Salba. Must really be good!

Friday, March 21, 2008, 8:31 AM

pp here

No, I don't! haha But it is really good stuff. I'm surprised no one else has heard of it. My aerobics instructor told me about it. She is NEVER into fads, so I trusted her info. She takes it for health reasons. It just happens to also alleviate hunger cravings, which is a definite bonus for those of us trying to lose weight. Did you look into it?

Friday, March 21, 2008, 9:04 AM

Forget "salba" just do Flax & Vinegar

Salba?

Wouldn't flax seed be easier to get your hands on and good O-3s.

and for the hunger do the vinegar trick - 2 tbsp vinegar in a 12 oz bottle of water at your hungriest time (I like to add a little crystal lite powder to it to cut the bite) I eat way little and this actaully seems to work and has university tests behind it.

Friday, March 21, 2008, 10:01 AM

1. Get plenty of sleep. Do yoga after one of your 13-hour work days.
2. Lift weights at least 3x a week for 30-40 minutes
3. Other snack ideas: apples, oranges - don't let yourself get so hungry at work that you come home and binge eat
4. Log all your calories
5. Don't be frustrated if you can't lose all the weight right now. Be patient. 1 pound a week is all you can expect with a stressful schedule. I would say aim to lose 15 pounds in the next 4 months. All the weight training will help re-shape your body, and build muscle to help you burn fat once you can really focus intensely on eating well and adding more cardio.

Friday, March 21, 2008, 2:42 PM

Do you get a lunch break? If you get an hour lunch break, take a brisk walk or run the stairs on your break.
I would advice looking into investing in a good piece of home gym equipment. Buy yourself and quality treadmill and some free weights. That way your 30-45min exercise takes 30-45 min not 15 min to the gym, 15 min home, plus waiting time etc. I've also found I make a lot less excuses when I don't have to leave the house on a 20 degree day to exercise.
M W F workout either at the gym or at home, Tues and Thursday try to do something on a break but once you get home rest. Utilize your weekend time as you can.

Is your Sunday a misprint? Is it 3 pm - 11pm?

Friday, March 21, 2008, 4:35 PM

hey! take a breath....relax...nothing can be accomplished when you are under stress! that's for sure! do what you can! since you won't be with this job much longer..just stick with it for a little bit longer! take what you have and make the best of it! when you Do have time to hit the store, pick up some whole grain bars, WATER, on the go foods..that are good for you. also, its helpful to do miost of your errands WHILE your out..that way when you get home, you can focus on what needs to be done THERE!

Friday, March 21, 2008, 7:47 PM

OP

Thanks you guys for all the support and helpful advice. I am joining a gym that opens at 5am, and trying to get myself organized enough to have food and water with me instead of eating on the run all the time. I also have had the experience of not eating during the day because the stress had my stomach in knots and then eating like an animal at night. Ugh. Thanks everyone, for the supplement tips and tricks too! I'm saving them in a Word doc to refer to!

Friday, March 21, 2008, 11:16 PM

You will LOVE being done with your workout first thing in the morning! At least I do, anyway! :) I find it really helps to get the day started on the right foot, too! Keep us posted.

Friday, March 21, 2008, 11:23 PM

Op, I can relate- I'm lucky if I only work 60 hrs in a week. (This long weekend makes me giddy because I actually really have TWO days off in a week :D) However, I only work 4-6 hours on the weekend, and then 10-12 hour days m-f. I make sure I work out on the weekends, and then try and do a 15 min workout on lunch in the office, if I get a lunch break.

Making sure I'm eating healthy food while at work is the most important thing- I shop on Saturday and make sure I get enough for the week. I'm a smoothie, scrambled eggs and turkey bacon in the AM kind of girl, salad and meat for lunch, oatmeal as a snack somewhere during the day, and dinner, well that varies a bit. Basically, I do a lot of prep on Sunday- make the large batch of oatmeal, cut peppers, tomatoes, onions, etc for on salads, cook some meat (roast beef, turkey breast, whatever)

Really, the key thing when you have virtually no time is to become incredibly disciplined. It's hard, but it gets easier.

Friday, March 21, 2008, 11:39 PM

Well OP, how is it going so far this week?

Tuesday, March 25, 2008, 2:01 PM

Suggestion

I drink a ton of water while I am at work during the day...so everytime I go to the bathroom, I will do squats, lunges, jumping jacks, whatever I can to keep my metabolism moving and working. Also, even thought its not a lot of food, try the special K stuff, like the protein water mix, it really works!

Tuesday, March 25, 2008, 2:45 PM

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