I know that if I wasn't so permanently exhausted all the time I would be a much better Mum

[ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe]

What can I do to help my sleep be better quality as I am close to tears such a lot of the time as I am so tired. I couldn't see properly this morning with it. I don't eat properly (usually no breakfast as can't face anything, lunch is small, proper dinner in the evening) but want and need to lose weight.

This is one thing I am going to try and resolve as I need to take it one step at a time, and I know it will help a lot of my other problems.

No one to take the kids.

[Majeika]

You need to get the kids in bed at a reasonable hour.

YOu need to eat little and often so dont bulk up at night with a big meal.

NO COMPUTER AFTER 6.30PM!!

Warm bath with lavendar. Into PJs. Get into bed by 10pm with a book and you should be asleep by 10.20pm.

the hours you are asleep before midnight count as 2 hours.

IS THAT DO-ABLE??

[ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe]

Kids are in bed by 7 but the older two have been sharing a room in the holidays most nights and chatting late. One night I went up at 8.30pm and DS1 was chatting to DD. DD was fast asleep.

Lights out by 10.30pm but the last few nights has taken me ages to drop off and then I wake between 5.30 and 6.30 desperate for a wee and can't get back off to sleep.

I usually shower as I have never been one to lie around in the bath tbh.

I have eaten
BabyBel
3 slices of cheese on toast and some home made chocolate brownie for lunch.
Er, that's it.

[saltire]

I often think the same thing, except my problems are mainly physical not mental.
I have chronic fatigue(as part of something else) and some nights I'm in bed early, because I am so tired, couled with almost constant pain, yet my mind isn't tired, so i can still be awake at 1am, becasue the pain won't let me sleep.
Do you take any ADs?

[ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe]

Yep, been on AD's for a long time and will be for a while yet too.

[Majeika]

are you on the computer in the evenings? It stimulates the brain and makes it far more difficult to drop off ime.

Not enough food there to lose weight.

Start the day with hot water and lemon as this flushes toxins out. Bowl of kellogs cereal and ss milk.

11am piece of fruit

12.30 chicken salad and jacket potato

3pm tea and fruit

5.30pm eat lighter meal with kids

[MerryMarigold]

I have a sheet all about good sleeping practice from the hospital. I will try and dig it out. From what I can remember:

• the hours before midnight do count as more!
• go to bed at the same time every night and wake up same time, body gets used to it
• don't read in bed, bed should be for sleeping, train body into that

Personally I find reading a boring book really helpful!

[saltire]

I take Amityrptiline 20 mg at night. it is supposed to help me sleep and therefore lessen the pain. it does 9/10 times help, but recently I have been very wound up and stresed and this probalby isn't helping either.
Maybe some exercise, a walk perhaps (says she who at the mintue takes 30 minutes to walk what should take 10 minutes)

[ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe]

I do come on here most evenings.

That food plan sounds good. Will make a list.

I go shopping, spend loads and 99% of it is for the kids.

[ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe]

I love food. I used to eat loads. I am almost 2 stone heavier (11st 13 this morning) than when I conceived DS1 (10st 5ish then) and was 14 st when I had the baby (now 3) I lost all the weight by 6months with baby 1 and by 12 months with baby two. Nothing doing this time.

There are times when I feel dizzy with hunger and have stomach pains and other times when I can't face food at all.

[pagwatch]

I know it is corny but you are not really spendingthe money on the children if you are sopending it on crap food for their mother.
That diet would make any one knackered.
If you are eating so little your metabolism will slow down to nothing and you will be very tired and you will put on weight..
Tired and sleepy can be the result of eating so badly. Depression will also get factored in.
Start the day with a decent breakfast ( porrige is good) . It will give you energy. And then have fruit and nut snacks for picking during busy days with the children

Eat properly..
I hope I delivered that well. That was the lecture I got from my GP about 18 months ago.

[ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe]

I don't get your first sentence. I wouldn't have said cheese on toast was crap food.

[Majeika]

I wouldnt say it is crap food but high in fat and not very filling!

try not to spend loads on food for the kids....get them used to normal adult food and cook more from scratch. I never buy kiddy yoghurts for my kids - they can eat normal cheaper ones.

this will help you save money and lose weight!

And breakfast kickstarts your metabolism so do eat it!!

[nowirehangers]

Try to take as much physical exercise as possible, I've been a shocking sleeper all my life and it really helps - walking for half an hour in the fresh air is all it takes. I know it's hard but it's worth it
Have your room as dark as possible and wear an eyemask if necessary, helps too.
and yes, no mn in the evenings Very bad!

[ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe]

I cook everything from scratch for the kids and I don't buy children's yogurts. They have the fruit corners with the seeds and the big pot yogurts between them.

[Majeika]

sorry I just meant that as an example!

Just wondering why you spend so much money on food for the kids??

[pagwatch]

cheese on toast + babybel + a chocolate brownie as a days food = crap .

cheese on toast with a salad + chicken with vegetable + fruit + cereal = OK diet.

is what I meant.

[TheProvincialLady]

For me sleep is dependent on how I have managed the whole rest of my day. Important factors are

1. Caffeine consumption - any more than 1 diet coke a day or later than 10am and it affects my sleep. I have no other caffeine except
   
2. Chocolate and sweets - again, need to be minimal and first thing in the morning
   
3. REGULAR meals, ie 3 meals a day at almost exactly the same time of day
   
4. Get DS to bed on time so I can relax
   
5. Switch computer and tv off early, read a book or something instead
   
6. Have fresh air and a little bit of exercise at some point
   
7. Write down any anxieties I have or jobs I need to do for the next day
   
   Unfortunately I also need
   
   
8. DS sleep well
   
   Which is not under my control! It takes a but of discipline but it does make a difference to my sleep. Maybe you need to be a bit discliplined with yourself too?

[ThatBigGermanPrison]

Up your iron intake, you sound typically anaemic.

[ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe]

Had blood tests, all fine.

Majeika No need to apologise. Was just answering you.

I spend so much as I am always looking for things for them. I buy bananas and even though I love them I rarely eat one as I feel like I am taking food from them. I know I could just buy more but it seems like all my allowance is going on food atm with the prices going up so much.

I stopped drinking coke but have had about 4 beakers of it these last couple of days as I forgot to buy any fizzy water for me. Drink it in the day to keep me awake. Doesn't work though.

I don't eat sweets and rarely chocolate as I don't buy it or would eat a bar in one day.

I have been taking vitamn b complex but not sure it helps tbh.

Prepped dinner for Dh and I and now off to get kids ready for bed. Hoping DH will be home by 7.10pm. Has tmw off.

[ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe]

Get you now, pagwatch.

End of the month = no proper shopping ismy excuse.

[expatinscotland]

I had suffered from insomnia for almost 25 years.

You need to start a night-time routine and stick to it.

First and foremost, your bed is ONLY for sleeping and sex. NOT for work, computer time, watching TV, even reading.

Your body will associate getting into it with sleep and actually alter its chemistry to prepare the body for sleep.

If you get in for sleep and you find yourself unable to sleep after about half a hour, GET OUT. Go into another room and do something like read a book or work a puzzle. Try to go to sleep again after a bit.

I cannot stress how important exercise is to sleep problems. I really can't. A ten minute walk, even.

Spend at least 10 minutes of every day outdoors. NO matter how shite the weather. Exposure to natural daylight actually helps the brain's circandian rhythm.

If you smoke, you need to stop, sorry, but it can interfere with sleep.

Ditto alcohol consumption in the evening before bed.

If you must eat before bed, try a teaspoon or so of roast chicken.

You really need to change your diet, too.

And if you take ADs, they may be affecting you, so discuss it with your GP.

I'm having a bad jag just now because I had a bad bought of sinusitis and am pregnant. Not being able to breathe well out of my nose, especially whilst llying down, makes me very anxious and when I do finally fall asleep, I wake up wiht a panic attack.

But I know it will pass!

[ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe]

Don't smoke and rarely drink so that is good.

Asthma has been bad lately and someone told me today it can be stress related which I agree.

Dhj now late and not due home until 7.20 so more stressed now.