Can someone who knows about healthy eating please please come and help me here

[ABitAshamedActually]

I have name changed for this as I do really feel a bit ashamed of myself

Background: I am 6 months pg with DC2. I have a history of eating disorders, mostly anorexia, so my idea of healthy eating is rubbish but I generally try my best. This pregnancy has been very tough - I have had zero energy and a back problem that is making doing almost anything very painful, which I hate as I am usually pretty active.

Now this is the bit I am ashamed of. My diet is AWFUL. I mean, it would be bad enough if I wasn't pregnant but I am subjecting my baby to it and I feel terrible in every way. The thing is, I don't how to change it because if I don't eat like this my blood dugar levels and pressure drop through the floor and I am shaky and sick feeling. I was the same with my last pregnancy but because I was so active I didn't put on too much weight - this time I am porking out in a big way because I can't do much.

A typical day is:
2 weetabix or porridge with soya milk
A glass of fruit juice
2 or 3 bars of chocolate
A cake
A vegetable samosa
A cheese salad sandwich or beans on toast
A piece of fruit
A piece of toast with maybe peaneut butter
A healthy dinner such as last night potato, courgette and tofu stew with macaroni
A piece of fruit or some sort of pudding

It's terrible. But if I don't eat everything up to the sandwich by about 11am I am ready to faint. I tried making my breakfast huge but it made no difference. I tried eating loads of fruit and nuts etc in the morning but it made no difference. I DON'T WANT TO EAT LIKE THIS but I don't know what else to do. Please please give me any advice you can.

It's not that bad, take the choc out and it's fine!

But I can't take the choc out, that's the problem! I am like a heroin addict only with - well - chocolate.

Ok, first of all, that is NOT a rubbish diet! Apart from the chocolate and cake (which, by the sounds of it you are eating for the sugar) it is a very healthy and balanced looking diet.

What about dried fruit like dates as a substitute for the chocolate bars? They are packed with sugar but are also slow release so may stop you peaking and then dipping and feeling faint.

Well, I don't think you're diet is that awful at all. Take away the chocolate and the cake, and really, it's fine. You basically need to replace your cake and chocolate "snack" in the morning with something healthy.

What is it about your diet that you feel is so bad?

Apart from the chocolate bars, there really isn't anything there that is bad. You are having regular meals, fruit, fibre etc - all good stuff. I do know how our perception of food can vary when we have an eating disorder though. Do you feel you are eating too much? Too often? Are you scared of the weight gain that comes with pregnancy?

Ok, don't take the chocolate out, but cut down. By 2 0r 3 bars do you mean stuff like mars and snickers?

I don't think it's too bad, nothing wrong with eating regularly during the day esp. if preg. But the chocolate and cake isn't good. It will raise you sugar high and quickly but drop just as quick. I think you'd be better eating a piece of fruit (think grapes are sweet) instead. The samosa I don't kow much about.

Eat 1 bar of choclate instead.

You aren't eating nearly enough lean protein (meat and fish) and this is probably contributing to eating compulsively.

Try eating meat for lunch and supper, with a couple of green vegetables, a carbohydrate and a fruit or yoghurt based pudding.

You should feel much less awful in the morning within a few days and be able to eat a normal breakfast (cereal, milk, coffee, glass of juice).

I think it's fine too
If you are worried about the chocolate try buying a big bag of the small chocolate bars people but in kid's party bags - it has tiny bars of diary milk in it etc that might fulfil your need!

coco grapes will give the same sudden peak in blood sugar followed by a dip. What you need is more slow releasing sugars, and dried fruit are good for this.

How about covering dates apricots and figs in melted dark chocolate and munching on these instead? It willl have the same amount of energy but be more slow releasing.

Anna she's eating protein in the form of the tofu. Beans and cheese will also provide this.

your diet sounds fine to me! Have you been advised to eat chocs etc? Probably it is important for you to eat high fat to maintain a healthy weight?
I am pg too and I think if I fancy something like choc or crips then the baby does too.
try buying flapjacks with berries or something to keep you going, adding seeds/honey/berries to your porridge. But like you I often eat my lunch by 10.30 am.
Sounds like you are doing just fine, congratulations!

Beansprout I feel I never stop eating. I know my perception of that is rubbish but I do seem to eat more and more often than other people. And yes I do feel scared of the weight gain - I look dreadful. People comment on how big I am all the time. I did an antenatal class at the weekend and I was the same size as all the women there - except that they are 37/38 weeks and I am 26!

Cocolepew and everyone, I know I should eat less chocolate or none but nothing else seems to stop the shaking etc. Do you think I have become a sugar addict? It can't be normal to eat 2 bars of choclate, a muffin and a veg samosa in one 10 minute sitting surely? The bakery round the corner has started to put on an extra samosa for me every day! And I can't go in the same newsagent every day because people comment on how much chocolate I get through and my size

your diet sounds fine to me! Have you been advised to eat chocs etc? Probably it is important for you to eat high fat to maintain a healthy weight?
I am pg too and I think if I fancy something like choc or crips then the baby does too.
try buying flapjacks with berries or something to keep you going, adding seeds/honey/berries to your porridge. But like you I often eat my lunch by 10.30 am.
Sounds like you are doing just fine, congratulations!

Beansprout I feel I never stop eating. I know my perception of that is rubbish but I do seem to eat more and more often than other people. And yes I do feel scared of the weight gain - I look dreadful. People comment on how big I am all the time. I did an antenatal class at the weekend and I was the same size as all the women there - except that they are 37/38 weeks and I am 26!

Cocolepew and everyone, I know I should eat less chocolate or none but nothing else seems to stop the shaking etc. Do you think I have become a sugar addict? It can't be normal to eat 2 bars of choclate, a muffin and a veg samosa in one 10 minute sitting surely? The bakery round the corner has started to put on an extra samosa for me every day! And I can't go in the same newsagent every day because people comment on how much chocolate I get through and my size

your diet sounds fine apart from the chocolate.

you need slow release food.

are you vegetarian?

Yes I am vegetarian, always have been so there is no question of starting now. I am not lacking in iron though - blood tests by MW confirm that at least. I don't tolerate dairy that well hence the soya milk on my cereal but I have cheese every couple of days.

OMDB today's chocolate was a dairy milk bar and a bounty (full sized). Yesterday's was a Snickers, a twix and a kit kat. And I had some trifle. And a biscuit. Oh Lord it looks even worse written down.

Starting meat eating, that is.

That amount of protein is woefully inadequate for a pregnant woman with a history of eating disorders.

It''s not that bad. Too much sugar, which you know, but I am guilty of this too. Maybe you need to increase your portion size at your main meals? I'd also say you need a bit more protein for energy. Do you drink plenty of water? It can help increase energy levels. Also, the cycle of highs nad lows caused by eating too muc sugar can be broken within a few days. if you were to cut out the chocolate (not saying you should, but if you did...) within a week I reckon you would feel a lot better.

You could tweak your diet, for example: A typical day is:
2 weetabix or porridge with soya milk + fruit juice for breakfast - could you add a slice of wholemeal toast to this?

Do you eat the cake and choc mid morning? have a substantial snack instead. i often have 'two lunches' - a sandwich or fruit and toast at about 10.30/11am and then sometnhing else - soup & bread + salad - at 1pm

Allow yourself loads of healthy snacks in the afternoon without guilt - fruit, oatcakes, toast w/ peanut butter, yoghurt - + plenty of fluids - herbal tea, juice, milk, water

Include plenty of protein in your dinner and fill up with a massive portion of veg

Allow yourself a treat after dinner!

switch to dark chocolate at least, get some pulses and nuts into you too, these are not time consuming to prepare. Sardines on toast would do you the world of good if you could stomach it. Fresh fruit, (get some berries into you) and creme fraiche too instead of trifle. Make some smoothies for breakfast and have museli.

do you eat eggs? I would have an egg for breakfast.

MrsMattie I don't drink enough fluids of any kind. I have been making more of an effort lately. I am a really fussy drinker and only like fruit juice and diet coke (though I only ever have one a day) so I have to make myself drink water. I have had 2 glasses today so far though.

I think I could follow your eating plan without too much diffiulty. The irony is, I gave up sugar as soon as I found I was pg but I had to restart as it was the only thing I could keep down once morning sickness kicked in. But that has long since gone and maybe I do need to just bite the bullet and stop the chocolate

Rebelmum an egg with my breakfast I will cheerfully try, but don't kick me while I am down with your talk of sardines