Fat, no control and no motivation

[firsttimeyoungmum]

Soooo,
My partner works away and I look after our 6mo DD. I also have anxiety and depression (officially diagnosed and on medication plan). I find it so difficult to be healthy. Junk food and takeaways are so easy and when I'm so shattered from looking after the baby I don't want to cook. Also cooking for one is a bitch. I can't go out to the gym because of anxiety. I just have no energy at all.

put baby in pram go for a nice walk for an hour

buy ingredients for nice meals when out and no junk food

Give yourself a bloody break! You have a very young baby, you're I'll and you're mostly on your own. Things will get better but for now it's about looking after your baby and staying as well as you can.

That should say you're ill

If you don't buy the junk, then it won't be there when you're peckish..

Try small steps. Could you have some fruit in the house so the first thing to snack on is healthy even if other food isn't.

How overweight are you? I agree that getting out for a walk would be good for you mentally and physically. The weather is good and you might be surprised at how it picks you up. Try and go for a walk each day.

The lack of energy and motivation to exercise sounds like part of your illness and not something you should be beating yourself up about at the moment. For some people with depression and anxiety, exercise is really beneficial if you can make yourself do it. But it's a very personal illness that only you can make judgements or statements about.

The junk food however, doesn't sound like a mental health issue to be honest. You say you can't find the energy or motivation to cook which suggests you aren't having a problem with addiction to food or using food as a comfort, enjoying binge eating etc. You sound depressed and like food is too much effort. In which case there is low calorie food that is just as little effort as healthy food. I exist on fruit, rice cakes and diet coke in a really bad mental health phase. It's not healthy AT ALL but it certainly keeps me underweight and is no more effort than chocolate, crisps and regular coke would be. If you aren't interested in food, then you might as well eat low calorie stuff.

Have u tried Weightwatchers? Most meetings are quite relaxed and you could just pop in to get weighed with your wee one in a prank. They offer lots of help and support xxx

Sorry should have said "in a pram "

Low carb/low sugar diet is meant to be good for anxiety. It's quite a lot of effort to begin with though.

I answered in the chat thread first

It may be normal to worry about this after having a baby, but this is not the time to focus on weight as such.

You are already looking after your baby all alone for the first time. Of course you are shattered.

I did not say this on the other thread, but could you plan some meals and snacks in advance including easy, ready meals and frozen vegetables to add, and have help with getting this shopping done? Then try to eat regularly. When you are very tired it is likely you will feel hungry all the time and reach for the first thing. Schedule three proper meals and several snacks and have plenty of water.

Are you BF?

Once you start getting out and about and eventually get more sleep everything will settle down,

Well done for all you are doing, and congratulations for your new baby!

Slimming world readymeals from Iceland. Taste like a takeaway, loads cheaper and take minutes in the microwave. No thinking or planning required. Add bag salad and a bowl of fruit and its almost a healthy diet.
If you are eating crap, add a daily multivit/mineral supplement, as things like zinc deficiency can mess your anxiety and energy levels down further.
Make a huge bowl of popcorn for when you are snackish.
Put a bottle of water/ squash by everywhere you sit down, especially if you are breastfeeding.

Try to get out for some fresh air every day, and make sure you talk to someone other than your baby.
If you have got through the day with your daughter happy and healthy without eating your bodyweight in crisps and chocolate give yourself a cheer!