To ask whether I'm just a greedy so and so or is this a thing after pregnancy?

[CantStopEatinggg]

Has anyone else experienced a complete change in their eating habits after having children?

Before I was not the healthiest person in the world but I ate relatively well, didn't find it too hard to limit myself with treats and crap and was generally fairly slim and healthy.

I had my son 18 months ago and now it's a whole different story. I never really understood this before but now it's like I genuinely cannot stop myself from eating. I crave crap all the time, if it's in my cupboards I cannot stop myself from eating it, if it's not in my cupboards I can't stop myself from going and buying it. The only way I can describe it is like an addiction. I will think about it until I get it.

I am finding it impossible to restrict myself and going round in a constant circle of thinking "fuck it" and eating whatever it is to feeling horribly guilty and ashamed and then over again. I've never eaten so much crap in my life.

I started going to the gym after giving birth so I dread to think how I'd be if I didn't but I have still obviously put weight on from my pre pregnancy days.

Can pregnancy cause this? I'm at a loss how to stop it, it feels like so much more than just going on a diet, it genuinely feels impossible.

Could you be deficit in vitamins?

How does the baby sleep? Are you tired and looking for a quick fix?

Hope you manage to get to the bottom of it!

I'm definitely with you on the "fuck it" mentality. DC2 about to turn 1.

😩

He didn't sleep great at the start, and I can see it having been a routine I got into as a quick fix. There were plenty of times when he was much younger where putting him in the car seat and driving to McDonald's whilst he slept felt easier than getting lunch together whilst he screamed the house down for example.

But now, he's been a great sleeper and napper since about 11 months so I can't even blame that anymore.

I will try taking some multivitamins see if it helps.

It's to the point where I feel like I physically can't drive past somewhere like McDonald's for example without getting something. It doesn't matter if I'm hungry or not, it doesn't even matter if I'm on my way home from a 5 course meal. I'll still stop and get a mcflurry or a milkshake or something just for the sake of it.

Honestly I think a lot of it is tiredness but also your body looking for replenishment of vitamins and minerals following pregnancy and bf’ing if you went that route.

it’s worth a check up blood test if you can get a GP appointment to request it, but there’s nothing to stop you overhauling your diet independently and just not buy so much for the house. It’s worth researching some easy healthy snacks you can make in batches for ease of grabbing when you feel hungry.

Eggs are good, hard boil a carton full and leave in the fridge to grab on the go, devilled eggs might add an extra kick of flavour but can be fiddly. You do need to like eggs though!

With DD, I started low carbing when she was around 9 months. I was the same weight as just after having her. I felt like it really reset my hormones/system and now am back to normal (still half a stone above pre preg weight but that won’t be too hard to lose). Even when I fell off the low carb wagon over Christmas I somehow lost 3lbs so I really felt like it had sorted my body out!

Honestly I think a lot of it is tiredness but also your body looking for replenishment of vitamins and minerals following pregnancy and bf’ing if you went that route.

I just feel like this could have washed when he was 5 months old but 18 months? When does it stop being an excuse? I feel like my whole thing around food has just completely changed and right now feels like I'll never get back to how I was.

I've tried dieting and all sorts. I can't stick to anything (except the gym but I know it's mainly about food!).

It's to the point where I feel like I physically can't drive past somewhere like McDonald's for example without getting something. It doesn't matter if I'm hungry or not

that sounds like a behaviour issue iyswim. You subconsciously/consciously see McDonald’s as a treat and you’re rewarding yourself.

there’s an app, that for the life of me I can’t remember the name of sorry, I’ve seen advertised that helps you identify why you eat the way you do and supports changing that.

What sort of thing did this entail please?

Although DS is a good sleeper he is an absolute rocketship of energy in the day so I do find I need things to be relatively quick and easy if I'm ever going to stick at stuff. I'll never stick at anything that takes a lot of prep at the moment.

@CantStopEatinggg i don’t think it’s an excuse if you’ve not managed to identify what it is your body is trying to ask you for. You could be chronically low in something in particular and just never getting the right stuff.

Agree with @Cornettoninja, it’s not pregnancy but the tiring nature of parenting. I ate well before having DC and when I was on mat leave, but when I went back to work just slid into awful habits and my weight ballooned. No advice but sympathy!

Yes it probably is. It just seems like pregnancy/having DS was the trigger and I'm not really sure why.

I'll have a look and see if I can locate that app thanks

Very much sounds like tiredness to me.

It just seems like pregnancy/having DS was the trigger and I'm not really sure why

because it’s really hard! Physically and mentally.

let’s face it, lovely as babies are the rewards a few and far between when you consider all the work that goes on. Don’t be so hard on yourself.

It’s probably the convenient food mixed with habit and I wouldn’t be surprised if you have some vitamin/mineral deficiency going on. Perhaps a chat with the GP for a blood test, good multivitamin in the meantime and some
work on habits you formed will help. There are a few good eating apps that health with the mentality around why you eat what you do too

I'd ask your GP to refer to for you some CBT; or see if there are any NHS services that offer this with self-referal in your area. Might help you to understand the triggers etc.

NBT and Noom are the ones I’ve just found on the App Store.

Honestly sounds like exhaustion and the relentlessness of the baby routine. When my kids were that age I would literally go into random shops on the high street and buy random shit I didn't even remember buying.

Do you get any time for yourself? Maybe you just need a break.

Thanks for all the support. It definitely is draining especially mentally for me at the moment, as I say he is so full on during the day, I feel like I've been knocked for six sometimes by the time he goes to bed.

One thing I really miss is walking, I used to love going on a long country walk during the day, up hills and stuff. I really struggle to find ones that are suitable now. I've never been a gym lover but it's the only thing I can do with any regularity at the moment as DH has DS when he gets home from work so I can go. I bought a back carrier and it's so uncomfortable, but DS is a bruiser so is heavier than average for his age!

Apologies if you mentioned it (or something to the contrary) and I missed it, but are you breastfeeding by any chance? I found myself to be absolutely starving constantly until they significantly reduced feeds.

That must be really hard, that kind of walking does so much for mental well-being alongside the physical movement.

I’m struggling to think of a good replacement - maybe a walking machine/gym with some music you really love? It’d be a poor replacement but might be worth a go. Could you replace country walks with flatter forests that could be navigated with a pushchair?

I found that the sleep deprivation led to me eating a lot of carbs and refined sugar, which led to a consistent cycle of being hungry, feeding my low blood sugar with sugary foods, getting a blood sugar high and I think it's made me put on a lot of weight. When I seriously reduce my carbs, my hunger levels drop dramatically and I find it easy to regulate what I eat. When I eat carbs, all I can think about is food and with the best will in the world I can only resist them for short periods of time before falling off the wagon.

On the mental well-being side, I find music by pianist ludovico einaudi incredibly mediative (not sure that’s the right word). It’s purely instrumental and I know it’s a personal thing, but it’s genuinely music I can listen to and allow to calm my mind. I would genuinely compare it to the kind of feelings you can generate from a chance to be in nature with just your thoughts.

On the run, so haven’t RTFT but you might find the podcast Drs Chris and Xand did on ultra processed food helpful. I did. It’s called a through examination and it explains why the wretched stuff is so addictive. It’s called a thorough examination. Also, hormones make a huge difference. I am not friends with mine!