Struggling to be healthy

[ElizaBeatrice]

I feel awful but I am struggling so hard to eat right and exercise and I'm worried the baby isn't getting the nutrition it needs.
I am currently 27 weeks pregnant and all I want is fast food, chocolate or anything naughty.
The first 15 weeks of my pregnancy I was really sick so although I wasn't 'unhealthy' during this period, I wasn't able to eat a lot more than toast/dry/plain food.
Now I keep giving in and getting myself takeaways even when I've made the effort to do a food shop for the week because none of it appeals.

Can anyone else relate? I really want to be better and start eating more fruit and veg (which I do like usually, I'm not a fussy eater) but I seem to have no self-control. Can anyone relate? Please tell me I'm not an awful mum-to-be!

Totally the same! My appetite is insane and I'm constantly hungry and so keep snacking on chocolate and biscuits etc. One a day would be bad enough whereas I end up having the whole pack!!

Your not awful!! I was the same I had morning sickness for 4.5 months it was awful I could only eat certain things which were not healthy I ended up making smoothies like
Mango/pineapple
Mango/strawberry
Berries/orange

Just to make sure I was getting some 5 a day it made me feel
Better about eating junk food as I was having 1-2 smoothies per day x

So glad I'm not the only one. It's so hard being good when you constantly feel hungry. Plus quite often I get home from work and I just don't want to cook!

Yes, I think I might try and do the same @LouB1990xX … take away some of the guilt for constantly eating rubbish

I feel your pain ! I ate awfully in my first trimester as I could only eat beige food and it was Christmas ! And I’ve continued the naughtiness ever since. I am trying to keep it more balanced though - I’ll eat some chocolate and then have a banana. So I’m over eating but at least there is something healthy. Don’t be too hard on yourself though - it’s not easy !

Listen to your body. You're craving calorie-dense sweet foods. Try upping the carbs and fruits, dried fruit, homemade cake or flapjack etc. You need fat and energy to make a baby, it's what your body is asking for. It's possible to find it in healthier ways than Mars bars!

It's kind of the same with a newborn and sleep deprivation tbh, exhaustion makes you want easy energy from another source.

Make sure to take a multi and at least try to eat some portions of fruit and veggies along with the unhealthy stuff. I am used to eating what I want and that does not include many fruits or veggies. But now I try to include fruits and veggies with what I eat. I do not enjoy eating fruit really but I force myself...

Pregnancy was my piggy time and it was only when I developed gestational diabetes that I had to reign it in for the health of my baby.

I was totally the same. Whole packs of biscuits, double portions, chocolate yoghurts 🙈🙈🙈 awful.

Don't sweat it too much but do try and get some good nutrients in for baby. Start by making small swaps maybe? Sweet potatoes fries for white potato fries.
Hartley's no sugar jam was a great replacement for me too.
Turkey bacon for normal bacon
Chicken sausages for normal sausages... that kind of thing 😊😊

@BellaNutella88 I think we must have a similar due date as my first trimester fell over Christmas too which in some ways was good as I couldn't eat a lot at that time but what I did eat wasn't particularly nutritionally balanced. It was mainly toast, Snack a Jacks or, like you say, anything beige!

It's since I got over the sickness I've been taken over by some kind of demon and I cannot stop gorging on bad food. I think you're right though, it's a hard time and we should try not to beat ourselves up too much. I'm going to try to get a bit more fruit and veg in this week so even if I do have something naughty at least I have had something good too!

@HoustonBess I will give it my best shot to try a bit harder and replace some of the bad fats with good ones like you suggest!

I just feel like I manage it for a week and then slip back into bad habits when I'm tired at work and get lazy again 🙈

@ElizaBeatrice ah probably ! I’m mid July, when are you ? I think that’s the best way- then you don’t feel so guilty about some treats here and there and you know you are still getting the nutrients.

I lost a lot of weight and was conscious of it for years before I fell pregnant so eating this way is taking me back to old habits and really difficult. But it’s also quite liberating not to feel guilty when I eat one piece of chocolate ! I’m also eating more fruit and veg now than before - I’ve always been fussy. Just take each day and try to eat the best you can.

@Mamabear12 I have continued taking Folic Acid and Vitamin D and once I've finished those tablets I have a multi pregnancy vitamin to take.

I will actively try to up my fruit and veggie intake now, and actually I quite fancy something a bit fresher after a naughty Easter weekend!

@PlinkPlink yes they are all good suggestions. I will maybe do a food shop today and try to get myself some healthier alternatives. I just need then to stick to them and not think 'screw it I'll get a takeaway instead' 🙈 … I do blame Deliveroo for a lot of my problems haha.

Pregnancy was my piggy time and it was only when I developed gestational diabetes that I had to reign it in for the health of my baby.

I was totally the same. Whole packs of biscuits, double portions, chocolate yoghurts 🙈🙈🙈 awful.

Don't sweat it too much but do try and get some good nutrients in for baby. Start by making small swaps maybe? Sweet potatoes fries for white potato fries.
Hartley's no sugar jam was a great replacement for me too.
Turkey bacon for normal bacon
Chicken sausages for normal sausages... that kind of thing 😊😊

Yikes, some of the foods listed as healthy options are still not healthy! Sweet potato fries, chicken sausages, turkey bacon etc. Those things are all still bad for you and baby! Not to be a debbie downer, but your baby will take the vitamins and nutrients directly from you if you do not eat at least some healthy things. Some women lose teeth during pregnancy because of this! The baby basically sucks the calcium from your bones if you do not get enough. Its fine of course to eat what you want, but I would for example add to whatever junk you are eating - a banana (or some other portion of fresh fruit), greek yogurt (good source of dairy), at least one portion of veggie cooked and one portion raw a day. That way at least you have that covered. I would also be taking a multi already now to have it covered. But then again, I have done loads of research, reading pregnancy books, websites and just finished to nutritional books for pregnancy.

I have two dc already and I am naturally slim so before pregnancy I was used to eating whatever I wanted (McDonalds a few times a week and hardly and fruits/veg). However, when pregnant I force myself to eat a few portions. Anything to help the baby grow. Plus I was horrified when my hairdresser years ago told me about her friend who lost a tooth during pregnancy from poor nutrition!

Not healthy?

Are you kidding me?

2 x Heck Chicken sausages contain 1.1g of saturated fat, 0.4g of sugar and 28.5g of protein.

2 x Richmond sausages contain 13.6g of saturated fat, 3g of sugar and 28g of protein.

Please do tell me how those chicken sausages are unhealthy? They're lean, low in saturated fats, low in sugar and high in protein. What is unhealthy about that?

Shall I do it for the Turkey bacon as well or have I made my point?

Sweet potato fries are slightly better than white potato fries. Sweet potato has a lower GI which means the body will take longer to process it, which means your blood sugar will not spike as high and will give you energy for a longer time.

My original point was that you can swap the really bad for healthier options that still taste good and will still feel like you're getting a treat. I love those chicken sausages... I switched to them when I started losing weight and exercising after DS. I have lost 3 stone and my diet is the best it has ever been including those chicken sausages 😂

Yes, include lots of veg if you can - such a good source of different nutrients and vitamins. Nuts and seeds are great too in small quantities. Yes to the multivitamins. And yes to treats because you'd go mad without them... you do not have to be perfect but it'd be great to get those nutrients in for baby.