Good wishes in your efforts to trim down some!

In reply to your activity with the children, it's different than exercise. Many people think the same way, though, so don't feel frustrated. When you are active and under great stress, it just doesn't "count." People can have very active jobs and still be overweight. This is because of the stress hormone cortisol...it dumps into your system and wreaks havoc.

When you get out and away and exercise like walking, then you are relaxing in a different way, and destressing, and fighting that cortisol with good stuff! So if you can walk just around the block each day, and take some good music or think good thoughts etc, it will help not only physically, but emotionally (which will also help you lose weight.)

Good wishes!