To think “healthy eating” isn’t the best way for lose weight?!

[dontchasewaterfalls]

I did Slimming World for a number of years and I managed to lose 3 stone and keep it off.

Since having my baby at the start of the year, I’ve gained 2 stone.
Since Slimming World classes were shut, and I wanted to try something different, I decided to just try and eat healthily rather than actually following the Slimming World plan.

I’ve been doing this a few months now and I’ve only lost 5lb, which I could easily lose in a week following Slimming World!!

So what exactly am I doing wrong??

Here’s what I’ve eaten today -

Breakfast
Two weetabix, topped with a handful of raspberries and a small banana. (Semi skimmed milk)
Cup of tea.

Lunch
Tuna (1tin made with light mayo) 80g Wholemeal pasta(dried weight) lettuce, tomato, pickled beetroot. Light Mayo.

Dinner
Fajitas.
Chicken breast, peppers, onions, mushrooms (dry fried) 2 x small wholemeal wraps.
Handful grated cheese.

Snacks
Pomegranate seeds
Large orange
Chocolate fudge Alpen light cereal bar

That’s a typical day for me. I do occasionally have some chocolate or a pack of crisps.

Once a week, usually on a Saturday night, we will have a takeaway. Hubby and I will share a pizza and chips, or I will get chicken tikka pieces in a pitta with salad.

I don’t drink any alcohol. I have at most 3 cups of tea a day and the rest of the time I drink water.

I don’t do any organised exercise, but I do go for a walk every day which is usually 45-60 minutes.

I’m not counting any calories, just trying to eat sensibly. But it’s not working well.

What do you think I’m doing wrong?
Should I just go back to Slimming World?

I really don't think the OP's daily intake is that bad, especially as she's breastfeeding. I aim to get around 50% of my daily calories from carbs, and 25% each from fat and protein. That usually includes carbs at every meal and a few snacks that I actually enjoy, which is way more satisfying than some of the joyless suggestions I've seen here. The OP's meals include complex carbs in the form of whole grains, which are more likely to keep her blood sugars steadier, she's not mainlining crisp sandwiches!

OP, if you're still losing weight, however slowly, and you're in a calorie deficit, do whatever works for you. Give yourself a break though, you are still growing a baby.

I'm not shilling low carb because I'm a pro ana crash dieter but because I found it very effective for losing weight while breastfeeding and constantly being fucking starving. More protein. Big piles of green veg. Oil, nuts. Brilliant. I felt totally out of control, I was so hungry (despite eating fairly healthily, but large portions of carbs and stodge) and now I feel so much better and have gone from being unfit and having to pause for breath walking up hills, to running 3k up the same hills with little difficulty. I'm also lighter than I have been in years and I feel great. I don't low carb because I'm pro ana and scared of toast ( still eat it just factor it in) but because its the only thing that has worked for my out pf control sugar spikes and hunger. Part of getting here was accepting that I can't just eat what I want when I want and expect to have the healthy body I also wanted

It's total nonsense to say this thread is pushing disordered eating. Obesity and being overweight is a result of disordered eating in the first place ffs. Personally I felt like total shit compared to now

A whole tin of tuna to yourself for lunch is a lot. And if you have a proper main meal, don't also eat pasta for lunch.

Reduce calories. Good luck.

But @ReallySpicyCurry “It's total nonsense to say this thread is pushing disordered eating” the OPs daily intake has been worked out at around 1500 calories, plus three cups of tea with a splash of milk. How can that be the “far too much food” that so many have said?

But surely you cannot think that telling a breastfeeding mother to cut out breakfast and carbs Is good advice or right

Nobody has told OP to do anything, except you, telling her to ignore other people whilst feeling you have a valid point yourself.

People have made suggestions, which is what OP asked for. Fasting and low carb are both effective weight loss tools. I'm sure OP is capable of researching safe ways to use them whilst breastfeeding, if she wants to try them.

@ReallyLazy

A whole tin of tuna to yourself for lunch is a lot. And if you have a proper main meal, don't also eat pasta for lunch.

Reduce calories. Good luck.

It’s 110 calories according to MFP. The pasta is 280.

I think OPs diet is just fine, just drop the takeaway, have one less frequently.

Not sure how an adult us supposed to survive on one weetabix.

Try walking more, get a fitness tracker and aim for 10000 steps per day. If you hit that easily then up it to 15000.

I don't think anyone has necessarily said it's the amount of food, but what it consists of. If I ate a similar menu, plus a weekly takeaway, I'd not gain weight but I'd not really lose it either, and I'd be constantly feeling hungry and wanting more, which is what OP is saying is happening to her.

Cutting out carbs is quite difficult but you can swap empty carbs like pasta and white bread for healthier ones.

Carbs like breakfast cereal and cereal bars, and white pasta and rice make you feel hungry when you are not. Cereal for breakfast makes you more likely to crave carbs during the day.

Snacks like yoghurt an nutritious but lower in calories than something like a cereal bar.

I'm not sure that someone who is BF should be trying to lose weight.

@Eckhart

But surely you cannot think that telling a breastfeeding mother to cut out breakfast and carbs Is good advice or right

Nobody has told OP to do anything, except you, telling her to ignore other people whilst feeling you have a valid point yourself.

People have made suggestions, which is what OP asked for. Fasting and low carb are both effective weight loss tools. I'm sure OP is capable of researching safe ways to use them whilst breastfeeding, if she wants to try them.

@Eckhart

Funny that because every single poster has been telling the OP what to do.

I actually think @hahoohayou is right.

The OP shouldn’t be cutting out breakfast or any food groups being a breastfeeding mother!! She should definitely ignore that advice.

I say that as a breastfeeding mum who has experienced low supply due to insufficient calorie Intake.

Eckhart I know low carb can lead to weight loss. I'm not debating that. I'm saying that carbs in themselves are not bad for you. The calories in a person's diet can come from a variety of sources, as long as a calorie deficit is created they will lose weight. Also the 'diet' has to be sustainable in the long term so it forms good habits that can be continued. Seeing carbs as unhealthy is not helpful. Understanding the different food groups, portion size and your own BMR whilst building regular activity into your day. For many a low carb diet is unsustainable and actually quite depressing.

I'm not sure that someone who is BF should be trying to lose weight

Why not?

@Rollmopsrule

We agree.

Nobody has told OP that carbs are the devil. Low carb is not no carb.

I think you are focused on the wrong thing, losing 5 lb a week (unless you are very overweight) is quite drastic, and would suggest a diet that is unsustainable long term. If you aim to lose 1 lb a week it will take longer overall but its not such a big difference in what you are eating between that and maintaining. So in theory easier to not put it all on again.

A whole tin of tuna to yourself for lunch is a lot.

Comments like this are bonkers. It’s 120 calories and actually properly filling because of all the protein.

every single poster has been telling the OP what to do

They haven't. People are making suggestions based on their own experience and knowledge. The only imperatives I've seen have been the ones telling OP to ignore people who don't share their opinion.

Two weetabix though, is a perfectly sensible portion (I normally have 3 tbh. ).

I started MFP at a similar places after my last baby was born, I strangely enjoy the helping of being more in control of what I'm eating. I don't exclude any food types, but do eat a bit less of the high calorie stuff than I did.

Also I don't actively try to reduce carbs, but I might have 3 eggs and one slice of toast instead of 2 eggs and 2 toast as in theory it should be more following for fewer calories. So it makes me think about what I'm having over time.

@eckhart, because you are feeding two bodies.
A BF woman's body is quite different to pre and post pregnancy bodies, fat stores are in different places, and the body will try to keep the weight on.

@MikeUniformMike

So you're saying it won't work, rather than it's bad for you?

@Eckhart

every single poster has been telling the OP what to do

They haven't. People are making suggestions based on their own experience and knowledge. The only imperatives I've seen have been the ones telling OP to ignore people who don't share their opinion.

@Eckhart

Myself and other posters have advised the OP not to cut our breakfast or carbs due to the fact she is a breastfeeding mother.

That’s not an opinion. It’s a fact.

You shouldn’t be cutting anything from your diet if you’re breastfeeding.

OP did you know that you can actually follow Slimming World as a breastfeeding mother?

There’s a reason it’s approved by the Royal college of Midwives.

It’s a healthy balanced diet. No food groups are cut out.

You’ve said that worked for you before, so maybe consider going back to that for now.

*the feeling (not helping)

*more filling

🙈🙈

You are getting some very bad advice on here. Anyone who has suggested a fad diet/cutting out food groups/fasting etc is giving you bad advice.

Losing weight at the rate you are doing is a healthy sustainable way to do it. Slimming didn’t work because either regained the weight I.e you have been unable to maintain those changes long term. This is why diets do not work in the long term for lots of people. The goal weight is not the end point. A better approach would be to adopt healthy eating habits which you can keep up for ever. That way you are not ‘on a diet’ and are more likely to maintain a healthy attitude to food.

@Hobbitfeet32

You are getting some very bad advice on here. Anyone who has suggested a fad diet/cutting out food groups/fasting etc is giving you bad advice.

Losing weight at the rate you are doing is a healthy sustainable way to do it. Slimming didn’t work because either regained the weight I.e you have been unable to maintain those changes long term. This is why diets do not work in the long term for lots of people. The goal weight is not the end point. A better approach would be to adopt healthy eating habits which you can keep up for ever. That way you are not ‘on a diet’ and are more likely to maintain a healthy attitude to food.

I don't think anyone has told the OP to cut out anything. Some suggestions to have less carbs than she is now, but I haven't read any extreme dietary advice.

In terms of the OPs weight loss 5lb in 3 months is not sustainable as it is so little it could make her downhearted and give up trying to eat healthily. However some people just can't lose weight while breastfeeding OP, you may find once you've stopped the weight will be much easier to shift :)

@PurpleDaisies

A whole tin of tuna to yourself for lunch is a lot.

Comments like this are bonkers. It’s 120 calories and actually properly filling because of all the protein.

Thank you! I was seriously starting to question my own sanity on this since I eat whole👀

Have not rtft sorry as I'm rushing but have you tried 16 8 op? I find only having an 8 hour window to eat I am full quicker, I don't miss any meals. I eat breakfast at 9am and lunch between 12-1 and evening meal no later than 5pm. I don't get hungry in the evening. I've been losing 1lb a week since doing this and feels like I'm not really trying, I do ruin every other day as well but wasn't losing weight with just running alone.