Single Mom of a toddler and full-time nursing student

I am a single mom of a toddler and a full time nursing student. I have no time to breathe must less exercise and meal plan. However, if I don't make the time, then my VSG surgery would have been a waste of money and time! I have joined a gym and my plan will be to go every every evening after work( yes, I work 20 hours a week as well) this exercise time added to my schedule means that I will only get to spend about an hour a day with my son. This breaks my soul into pieces, but the surgery, the weight loss, the nursing degree, as well as every single breath I take is for him! I keep reminding myself that when he is five, I can not only afford a trip to disneyworld, but I will have the energy to walk the park with him.... Oh and not to mention actually fit on the rides! I am looking for meal planning suggestions from others who may be in the same boat as myself, or a similar one! Anything would be helpful! 

I'm in a similiar situation- I'm a full time single working mom of 2 (ages 3, and 1).  Why not take your son along with you when you exercise outside?  I take my daughter jogging with me (son in stroller) and that way not only are you getting exercise yourself but you are teaching your children that it is healthy and fun by setting such a great example.  My daughter now asks ME if we're going running tonight, and she looks forward to it.  The bonus of this is that you don't then have to sacrifice any time with your son.

I do plan to do this later on. I also plan to take some nights at the gym with him in the pool with me. But at first since I am still a pretty heavy weight, I will not be jogging for awhile. But walks around the block on a nice night is something we will do. Depending on my clinical assignment for this semester I have also looked into putting him in a soccer program. It is more of a mommy and me type thing where I will play soccer with him. But it is only on Monday nights and not sure if I can do it yet. The reason I had the surgery was to set a better example for him as far as food and lifestyle choices are concerned. I think meal planning will be more tricky than anything else for us.

I don't have any suggestions for you but I wanted to say I think it's great that you're doing this while your child is young so that you are setting a good example for him . also like it was stated before try to put him into your exercise routine it is beneficial for him to see you doing healthy things and it gives you a good quality time together.

wishing you the best of luck

Thank you very much! It is amazing how much you are willing to change about yourself when you have a little person that looks up to you! 

I wish you all the luck in the world keep up the good work

What postop stage are you asking about -- where you currently are, or after you have progressed through them?

I so greatly admire you for working so hard for your and your son's future and for having this surgery to help you be here a long time with him.  You have that great attitude.  My son's youngest child's mother (complicated) has that same attitude and is pressing through the now with her eye firmly fixed on the future.  You are a true heroine to me!

Thank you! The first thing I learned about being a parent is that I can only set expectations for my child that I myself am willingl to achieve. I made sure to graduate with my AS degree before having him. I wanted to be able to check the box saying that I was a college graduate on his birth certificate. 

I am currently in the soft foods stage. I start mechanical on Friday and can add tuna and fish.. But I don't eat that..so.. I am where I am for another week. Next Friday I get to add in ground meat! I am so totally excited for that! Only because an ounce of meat has more protein than an ounce of eggs... I am not focusing too much on carbs and fat right now, just trying to get in my protein so I don't lose my hair. So today I had 10 ounces of skim milk and 1 tbsp of peanut butter for breakfast. Lunch I had an EAS protein shake with pb2 added. Snack three small pieces of watermelon. Dinner. Scrambled egg with cheese and snack another scrambled egg with cheese. Obviously eggs are going to be my friend this next week. So ideas from the ground meat stage and forward.

Deli turkey and ham (LF); egg salad; ground chicken in chicken salad; the ever-popular protein shakes; cottage cheese; mashed beans; reduced-fat cheeses like light string cheese sticks and Laughing Cow light wedges; lean ground beef if your sleeve can tolerate it; turkey pepperoni; turkey sausages; MorningStar Farms Original Grillers veggie burgers.  That's just off the top of my head.  Protein, protein, protein. 

Hang in there!

I'm not sure how far out you are, but at the beginning, I would cook some taco meat, some meat balls, some other things I liked all at once.  Then I would put them in individual servings in the freezer (freezer bags).  Each morning I would pull together my bag for the day from the selection.  I also had plenty of low fat cheese sticks, cottage cheese, humus...  I would also do veggies in individual servings bags for grab and go convenience too.  I wasn't a great "meal planner" - but had stuff ready to build good meals that were vsg friendly.

I too am a single mom and was completing school when my daughter was little - the time will fly and your son will appreciate all the sacrifices you are making for him!