Postpartum (ish) get yourself together thread

[DandelionNumber12]

It's 13m since I gave birth to my son. I'm 37. I have a serious sugar addiction. Never used to struggle with this, but since having a baby I'm constantly stuffing chocolate into myself.

I'd like to change this and I need some kind of accountability, even just on an anonymous forum.

There's a few other things I'd like to do too, such as taking better care of my appearance, have more sex with DP (if I was less hairy, I could be more spontaneous... It's a theory, anyway). Listen better to DP, I find these days I only half listen a lot of the time. Go jogging. Write a little every day.

Oh, and stop buying crap.

Sugar first though!

Does anyone want to join with their goals? We can keep eachother on the straight and narrow.

Ooh, I’ll join. I am… a long time postpartum, but that’s when the rot set in. Used to be very healthy, fit, active and polished, but not any more and I want things to be different.

So my goals are:

• get bmi back to normal levels
• run approx 20 miles a week
• stop eating UPF, especially shop-bought cake

This sounds similar to me. I’m 37 and 22 months pp. Am the same with the sex thing. Feeling hairy makes me feel unsexy but making myself sort it is so much effort.

I made a promise to myself to look after myself a bit more. So easy things like taking vitamins every day. Drinking enough water. I’m doing intermittent fasting (eating 12 - 8) which does make me feel better. Trying to drink less wine. I want to feel better before I hit 40.

And yes to getting my BMI back to normal levels. I need to lose a stone to do that.

Thank you for joining me! 40 feels like such a landmark, doesn't it? Much more significant than 30.

@IceStationZebra when did you have your DC?

@Kfjsjdbd DP says he doesn't mind if I have hairy legs...but I do! Bad how we're conditioned to feel like that.

I was just thinking it's about finding routines. I'm going to make a list of the things I want to do, and try to slowly work them into a routine.

But my target for this week (from tomorrow haha) is to not eat any sugary crap. Erkk the cravings are really strong, but I know the only way to change is to not give in and eventually it'll get easier.

@Kfjsjdbd how long have you been doing the fasting? And @IceStationZebra do you run at the moment?

I went from a muscly size 8 to a flabby 12 post-partim. And then I got pregnant again… I’ll have to somehow return to good shape after I deliver this one end of August.

My quick wins are: replace all sweets with dark chocolate; intermittent fasting.

I'm 11 months in. I'm pretty sure I've got quite severe untreated PPD.
I've got a face to face doctors appointment tomorrow about something else so im building up the courage to bring it up and finally get some professional help.

You guys all seem to be referring to physical health and fitness so sorry if mine doesn't fit!

May I join please? Two DDs, first is almost 3, second is 9 weeks.

I need to lose 4 stone and also have some perinatal mental health stuff I'm working to get on top of. Also need to find more time for my knitting (I design and publish knitting patterns as a hobby). Definitely need more exercise

Glad I found this thread

@girlmom21 I think physical and mental health go together! Please talk to the doctor tomorrow. I think I was quite shell-shocked after my first, and didn't tell anyone. It was hard, and combined with sleep deprivation and trying to figure out breast-feeding... well, I hope I'm better prepared this time around!

I really struggled with my first but this is my second and it seems to be at lot harder to get past this time. We've had a lot of stress so I think it's just compounded and I've never wanted meds or anything for my MH but I don't think it's fair on my family anymore so I think I need to do it for them. Thank you for your encouragement

I think the only way I’ve been able to address my physical health is by tackling my mental health first. I started AD’s about 4 months ago and want to be on them for life. They change me so much for the better.

I’ll join too. I’m 4 months postpartum, used to be slim and toned and now I’m heavier, and have the loose saggy c-section ‘overhang’. As well as that, I haven’t had my hair cut since February, and haven’t had a manicure since even before that, so my nails are bitten again.
My goal is to lose 2 stone, take care of my appearance by starting to go back to getting my hair and nails done periodically, and get my wedding ring to fit again!

Thanks for joining everyone! Meant to write earlier but didn't get time.

Agree physical and mental health so connected. And equally important for wellbeing.

First day of no sugar for me tomorrow!

Looking forward to updates 🙂

@girlmom21 please do talk to the Dr and let us know how it goes x

Here is something that blew my mind when I learned of it: craving chocolate can indicate a magnesium deficiency. When I was pp, I used to NEED my dark chocolate in the evening and I think I once threatened my OH with actual violence because he’d finished it and not replaced it. I didn’t just want I’d, I had to have it.
I started taking a pp vitamin and the craving totally stopped. Worth a try anyway!

Perhaps look up the Birth Recovery Centre on insta. They do a specific birth recovery exercise program with personal coaches (virtual? Plus diet coaching and baby tips. If you’re short of time and find it difficult to juggle exercise with baby it might be worth a go?

Oh gosh! I'm definitely trying upping my magnesium. Thank you so much! And for the Birth Recovery Center tip too.

12 months post partum, two stone to lose and a massive sugar addict! Try so hard to cut down and know it makes me feel once when I’ve eaten it. I’m just so exhausted all the time but want to start feeling better about myself!
good luck everyone!

Can I join?

I'm 7 months PP. I go back to work in 10 weeks and I'd love to shift the extra stone I've been carrying since DS arrived. I've gone up at least 1 dress size or 2 Jean sizes in river island and I absolutely refuse to buy that size 🤣

I need chocolate daily to keep sane it seems lol! I have zero motivation despite having a home gym!!

Eight months postpartum. Wasn't super athletic pre-baby but jogged two-three times a week and did long walks. Currently do not run on advice of pelvic health physio due to pelvic weakness and issues in pelvis and hips caused by episiotomy. No longer often do big long pram walks as baby in good nap routine at home. Need something else so want to start swimming as gentle and feels safer. Constant need for sweet treats, eating for the dopamine hit and to get through the day... Head back to work next month.

Oh and I want and need to get back to one of my musical hobbies, put on the back-burner due to moving one end of the country to another, Covid then baby.

Morning everyone!

@HettyMeg ah that sounds rough. Must be frustrating if you were active before.

I did a lot of walking too - I live near a national park with lots of hills to climb - plus cycling. I also had a reasonably active job. I'm back at work 2 days a week, but the rest of the time is fairly sedentary - just moving round the living room after an almost toddler aged child or going out to the shops or playgroups etc.

I've also made the link between sugar and a dopamine hit. I think maybe I started because I was severely sleep deprived and I've just continued even though my son's sleep is way better now.

Wonder what can replace the dopamine hit? Or if it's not really needed.

Welcome @boxboxbox and @Italiandreams too!

Right day 1 no sugar binges 🫤

Does anyone have definite plans about making changes?

@DandelionNumber12 my DS is 2. I’m blaming lockdowns for my dramatic slide into unhealthiness. I loved maternity leave and all the walking I could do, but it all went to shit as soon as I went back to work full-time.

I used to run, cycle, lift weights, yoga and swim - something every day. Don’t have time to do what I used to but I could cobble something useful together and I know it would make me feel better. Running 3 times a week and a couple of yoga sessions would suit me. It’s just getting off the sofa and doing it!

Had a healthy eating day yesterday and closed my exercise ring with a brisk post-dinner walk once DS had gone to bed.

Thank you. I blurted it out and cried like a knob. She was really kind and is going to phone me later in the week as she didn't have any spare extra appointments today and said she didn't want to rush through something that needed a proper conversation.
Thank you for the encouragement.
It's been a long time coming x