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Original poster

Is cortisol really a thing with weightloss?

28 replies

Sundaysundaebananasplit · 27/05/2023 10:05

I don't know how many times I've posted about this under various usernames over the past year, but I am so, so fed up.

So fed up.

I have a 16 month old baby who doesn't sleep well. I'm still breastfeeding and haven't had a period since she was conceived, which I think is relevant.
I work full time. I have two other kids. I've about 3kg to lose. That's all.

I lost most of the baby weight within 6 months and have 3kg stubbornly hanging on. I've tried different diets, failed, binged on sugar, stuffed my face, gone low carb/high fat, stuffed my face, gone low calorie, binged, on and on and on.

So last weekend, I decided to up my exercise and really be mindful about my eating. So I've been getting my 10,000 steps each day and doing some pilates in the very few windows of opportunity I have.

I've been very careful with my diet but I'm aware it's not ideal. The only thing I can stomach for breakfast is a banana, coffee and water. I can't skip breakfast as I can't concentrate I work, so it is what it is.

Lunch is a protein like chicken or fish with a cooked veg like broccoli/peas and a big salad with a bit of oil and apple cider vinegar.

Afternoon snack is normally another piece of fruit.

My evening meal will be similar to the lunch or will be a small bowl of bran flakes with some chopped nuts/sunflower seeds, depending on my exhaustion levels!

I've not been tracking on myfitnesspal but have done so much tracking in my life to know I'm in a calorie deficit. I've committed to this for the week and have gained 1 kg.

I am a habitual water guzzler, have been for years. Water is my favourite drink and I easily drink more than the recommended amounts each day.

So, in the past I remember pseudo scientific concepts such a starvation mode being a supposed reason for weight gain, which I never bought. Another was 'fat turning into muscle and weighing more' which I know is flawed on so many levels, especially if the only additional exercise you've been doing is a few extra walks 😒

So, I'm reading a lot about cortisol levels affecting weight loss. I don't get more sleep than 3 hours in a row most nights. Im planning to sleep train and reduce/stop breastfeeding in July so for now I'm just muddling through. Do you think this is why I can't lose weight? I have belly fat that I never had before, even when at this current weight in the past.

Can I just get a bit of advice or solidarity? I'm not overweight in terms of my BMI, but I'm towards the upper level and yesterday my 5 year old commented on how fat I am 🤔 I'm not fat but you can definitely 'pinch an inch' as my dad used to say!

OP posts:
maskingitup · 27/05/2023 17:38

It will be the breastfeeding, 3kg sounds about right for breastfeeding weight, and should come off once you stop breastfeeding.
Personally I have never been able to lose weight when breastfeeding, and struggle in times when I'm stressed/ have poor sleep, which often is also the time I've been breastfeeding, but other times when I've had a lot of stress and poor sleep it's been true then too. But I know a lot of other people lose weight when stressed. I think it's because I have more sugar when stressed, so eat more calories but all poor quality calories. Whereas other people often hardly eat when stressed.

Original poster
Sundaysundaebananasplit · 27/05/2023 18:33

Bubbles254 · 27/05/2023 17:20

How long have you been breastfeeding for? I lost weight fairly easily in the first 5 months but as soon as I started weaning it was really hard to loose. I carried on breastfeeding until LO was 2.5 and only really lost more weight when I stopped.

I think you are doing brilliantly with you diet especially given your lack of sleep which always gives me hunger pangs. If you are desperate to loose weight now you could try switching some of your more carb heavy food to protein and fat but I wouldn't be too hard on yourself and just try to be as healthy as possible for now without depriving yourself.

Baby is 16 months. I did high fat/low carb and loved it but my nails started breaking and getting papery. I'm not vain about my nails at all but felt it was a bad sign that something wasn't right. My nails are back to normal now I moderated things a bit. Thanks for your message: making good choices and holding on for the last little while is good advice too @Mrsmillshorse

OP posts:
Original poster
Sundaysundaebananasplit · 27/05/2023 18:33

maskingitup · 27/05/2023 17:38

It will be the breastfeeding, 3kg sounds about right for breastfeeding weight, and should come off once you stop breastfeeding.
Personally I have never been able to lose weight when breastfeeding, and struggle in times when I'm stressed/ have poor sleep, which often is also the time I've been breastfeeding, but other times when I've had a lot of stress and poor sleep it's been true then too. But I know a lot of other people lose weight when stressed. I think it's because I have more sugar when stressed, so eat more calories but all poor quality calories. Whereas other people often hardly eat when stressed.

Yes sugar and sleep deprivation are a deadly mix!

OP posts:
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