Tons of questions...here's the first. Time Management.

[plsparties]

Hi! I have so many questions. Yet, I've been on this diet for almost a month now...still on phase one...kinda. I know I am eating under 20 g. of carbs, but may not be exactly what's on the list. Like, I'll eat a bar when I get hungry. And I am still drinking reg. coffee.

My problem is time management. I have a very busy life. I wish I could excercise. I really need to do cardio, but I don't seem to have the time. I have 2 very young children and work full time from home.

I am currently 175 and my goal is 145.

So does anyone have any time management tips? Cooking is even hard sometimes. I'd rather just pop something in the oven real quick.

Any advice? Thank you!!!

[Brook]

Welcome to ADBB! I'm so glad you found us!!



Life is sure busy, isn't it? It's amazing how fast the days go by and how they seem to just slip away without us being able to do everything we want to do. Blah.

We're all there! Honestly. Personally? I have 3 children, run a company with 70 employees from home and work outside the home full time as well. I volunteer at my kids' schools, do the after-school activity thing and there are even days when I'm fairly certain I'm going to run into myself coming and going. H.E.C.T.I.C.

I started out at 229lbs the day I took on this way of eating. I took a long look at the things I was doing on a daily basis that landed me there; miserable, unhealthy, frustrated, and self conscious as all heck. About that time I also started collecting quotes that really grabbed my attention and I took a "before" picture and hung it up on my fridge, my bathroom mirror, and one on my nightstand so I'd have to look at it.

Some of the things that landed me at 229lbs and a size 22?

-No time for meal prep. It was easier to grab something and go.
-No time for exercise. Who has time for exercise?!
-No energy for things like meal prep and exercise. lol

Viscious cycle, isn't it?

Okay, so what landed me at goal?

-I take time during the week to plan out the following week's menu (I actually have about 16 days worth of menus that I use to whip together a week's menu).
-I get up Sunday mornings and I hit the grocery store and Sam's Club.
-I come home and spend about an hour and a half in the kitchen. During that time:
* I throw a beef roast and a turkey breast in the oven to be sliced up and used for whatever!
*I wash all the vegetables. I cut them, dice them, grate them, slice them and store them in individual hefty containers stacked neatly in the fridge. This way the tomatoes, celery, cucumbers, jicama, chives, endive, escarole, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, etc etc etc are within reach for easy cooking of dinner, breakfast, making salads or whatever. They're also readily available for snacking.
*I make a savory cream cheese dip for dipping.
*I boil 12-18 eggs. I'll chop some and store them in a container for salads, I'll make some into deviled eggs and the rest I'll leave as is for grab and go snacks.
*I'll cut up 2-3lbs of chicken and cook it. Some stays in the fridge, some goes in the freezer. It's super easy to add a few spices to and toss on a salad or what-have-you.

-I purchased little plastic microwavable pans so that poached eggs or scrambled eggs take no more than 3 minutes in the microwave in the morning. Throw some of those chopped veggies and a slice of cheese in there along with some of that sliced turkey breast and VIOLA, instant omelette
-I don't exercise around my day's plan. I plan my day around my exercise time. If I don't, it doesn't get done. I do this 5-6 days a week, and it takes me about an hour. Some days a little less, some days a bit more.
-My children have learned to exercise with me or make themselves REAL scarce while I work out. The rule is: "There are no spectators, only participants." If your kids are little, then you make sure they're in clean diapers, have a fresh bottle or sippy cup, have a snack they're unlikely to choke on (cheerios? cut up veggies from those hefty containers from Sunday's prep session?) My children now see that exercise is a normal part of every day and they don't question it. I have a special needs 5 year old that can knock out more yoga than most adults
-I make sure I have something legal with me at all times. I have an insulated little lunch bag with an ice pack I'll toss in the car if we're gonna be on the road. I've traveled clear across country with my kids and eaten out of that cooler. There's no reason in the world why I can't go to a meeting across town or run the day's errands and not be able to go cheat free. Failing to plan is planning to fail.
-Goal set regularly. That doesn't mean "wish" or "think". Write it down. Write down real goals that are workable and achievable - things you have direct control over and then read them every morning before ya get up and every night before your head hits your pillow.


Here comes the reality check

Tell me this.........

You found time to sit at the computer to post tonight, right?
You found time to brush your teeth today?
You found time to snuggle kids and accomplish the day's share of business tasks?
You talked to your family/husband/friends and touched base with at least one of them, right?

These things are important to you and non-negotiable to you, so you MADE time for them.


Guess what. You have time for exercise and food prep

Remember those quotes I talked about earlier? Here's one of my absolute favorites:

"Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Louis Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo DaVinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein."

Jarring, isn't it? LOL I hated it when I first saw it, and then I fell in love with it

I wish you tons of success!!
~Brook

[valentine21463]

Brook- Excellent Post!

[MsChrissy]

Wow Brook that was a great post, very helpful to motivate me! Thank you for sharing! I looked at your Melting page, What an inspiration!!!!!!!!!!!

Chrissy

[ttdriver]

WHAT BROOK SAID!


Betty

[yemenitegreen]

[quote=plsparties]Hi! I have so many questions. Yet, I've been on this diet for almost a month now...still on phase one...kinda. I know I am eating under 20 g. of carbs, but may not be exactly what's on the list. Like, I'll eat a bar when I get hungry. And I am still drinking reg. coffee.

My problem is time management/QUOTE]

Are you still with us? Please post and let us know how you are doing

I am organisationally challenged, as some would say. I am the queen of disorganization. And right now I can hardly move because of health problems. But one thing I have learned even before eating low carb was that planning does half the job, if not more. Read Brooks answer, it is excellent advice. Plan ahead, cook ahead.Some people do OAMC, once a month cooking. I do once-a-week planning and cooking ahead. I just put a package of dump chicken in the freezer (basically, marinated chicken pieces you take out in the morning and pop in the oven in the evening with all the marinade stuff, I do a lime / chili powder / olive oil combo) because I could buy chicken in a bargain. And if you want to do yourself a favor, toss the bars, They are junk.

yemenitegreen

[cleochatra]

Woo! You guys, this is an excellent thread! Thank you!

[sweetdynasty]

Oh my goodness!! This is like the best thread I have ever read and Brooke is the absolute best. I took a look at your journal Brook, and you are truly an inspiration. I think you should follow Brook's advise because it couldn't have been put any better!! Best of wishes!!

[artgirl7]

Dear Brooke,

I just wanted to say that was a great post and very inspirational! By the sounds of it, you are one extremely busy individual and you have found the time to do what needs to be done-work on yourself and balance life in between.

Congrats on your success, both in life and with your weight loss goals. Sounds like you have it all together and I commend you on that!

Best to you and your family in the new year!

[plsparties]

Brook, I found your post a little harsh and a little too real. lol. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR TIPS! Brook, you look amazing! OK...cooking ahead of time...I'll try. I realized I need to shop better. I've been buying a head of romaine, when I should be getting the prepackaged, pre-washed lettuce. What was I thinking?

I'm just frustrated because I haven't been losing weight (or inches) as I'm supposed to. I am not excercising. (More of a motivation factor than a time issue.) So, I will work on it. My 2 year old does like to excercise with me. The 10 month old will stare for a second, then go find some trouble. UGH.

I'm going to work on it, I will. I'm going to post other questions I have in seperate threads. I am glad I found this board.