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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Grateful for advice for exercise & lifestyle change for new mum

12 replies

lizardqueenie · 23/03/2011 18:06

DD is 4 and a bit months old. I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia when I was pregnant and have unfortunately still got high BP. Been to see a cardiologist today and I hate taking the BP medication as it makes me feel crappy, weak and a bit dizzy.

I have to go back for some more tests, heart and kidney scan amongst other bits. Its going to have to be a serious lifestyle change otherwise I am going to end up taking tablets forever.Shock Had a straight talking Dr which is what I need really. I am only 29 and have probably spent way too long moping & feeling sorry for myself about this - finding myself in the biscuit tin more often than ever. I am v overweight with a high BMI. Pre-dd I was still overweight but would do loads of exercise even running. I am not really sure where to start now. I gave up my gym membership when I was pregnant and cant really afford to rejoin - Im walking everywhere that I can but my fitness levels are crappy. What can I do in terms of exercise to fit around the little one?

Thanks :)

OP posts:
Prinnie · 23/03/2011 18:19

Hi Lizardq - didn't want to leave this unanswered but am about to go out so will try and post more advice later.

Walking is probably your best friend at the moment - especially as you could take your LO with you.

However, the most crucial thing in weight loss and fitness is your diet.
Can you post a typical day here (include drinks) and I can try and help/make suggestions?

Chin up :)

lizardqueenie · 23/03/2011 19:00

Thanks Prinnie

Yes I think that walking is a good bet, she is as happy as larry in the pram so now the weather is better it makes it easier. How long would I have to walk for though to make a difference?

In terms of actual meals I think I am relatively good (I have been trying to follow the slimming world diet), its all the bits in-between.

So usually I have weetabix with a banana on top for breakfast and a cup of tea, this is usually around 630/7 when I get up with DD.

Then when she has a nap i get showered and dressed but I almost think I am hungry again but I am probably not - just bored but will def have another cup of tea and then a few biscuts probably fly in!

At lunch i'll have something like a jacket potato w tuna/ b.beans if I am home. But then in the afternoon, when DD has another nap I'll feel really hungry (I think) again and can easily have toast, biscuts, fruit and whatever other treat foods that DH has bought that are in teh house.

I have made good friends with a couple of other new mums and go out for lunches/ coffees. Everyone has cake (and a proper slab of it too) so I am having that a few times a week.

In the evening it will be chicken, veg, rice, spag bol, something fairly ok I think. But then its picking after meals again at stuff I know I shouldnt be having, chocolate etc. I drink a lot of tea during the day - the Dr picked up on that today actually and said it will raise my BP.

Feeling like i've bared my soul but actually writing all that down has helped me to see that all of the crap is going in between meals. Any ideas would be grateuflly received!

OP posts:
Prinnie · 23/03/2011 22:02

Thanks for reply, :) I think there are a couple of things - firstly improvements to snacks etc, and then also some 'psychological' tricks you can try and use to cut down on snacks/make better choices.

Firstly, I must declare that I am no expert but I am very in to nutrition and exercise and have a health sciences degree and I find this kind of thing very interesting and also like to try and help people. I just felt I should say before I go dishing out advice :).

I think with the walking, as much as possible but obviously without overdoing it if you're not that fit. I would try and do 30 mins every day, but have you thought about 30 mins (or maybe less time if you thought 30 mins was too much) twice a day? Could you go out in the morning, and then in the afternoon? Doing this twice a day would get your metabolism fired up twice. Then think about what other activities you do in your daily life - it can all add up - housework, gardening, cleaning the car etc - if you do these things already, try doing them with a little more vigor, and it will all contribute to improving your stamina etc, so that you can build up to other forms of exercise. Without knowing your fitness level, you could also do some kind of challenge (I have done this before) where for 5 mins in every hour (set an alarm) you will do some form of exercise - squats, lunges, dancing around to your favourite CD etc - whatever floats your boat!

Your diet, as you say is not drastically unhealthy, but is very typical of our British 'spiky blood sugar' diet. Can I suggest that the first meal you try and overhaul is your breakfast - weetabix and banana is 'healthy' in that it contains nutrients and is low fat, but as it's mostly carbohydrates it will spike your blood sugar which will then drop after a couple of hours, and even though you're not hungry, this is why you reach for the biscuit tin. Do you like eggs? Eggs on wholemeal is a perfect breakfast, the protein will help stabalise your blood sugar, and also, I find that by having a savoury breakfast, you don't 'kick start' your sweet tooth so early in the day either (something I have had a big problem with).

I used to have a massive biscuit habit, and what helped me give them up was when I realised that 4-5 biscuits a day (which is fairly easy to do) is (depending on the biscuit) approximately 250 calories which over a week alone is almost a whole days worth of calories for a woman! Like you I also enjoy meeting friends for cake - I decided in the end that as I like cakes more than biscuits - much more delish, that I would give up all 'boring' shop bought biscuits and snacks so that when I go out with friends I could have a piece of cake without worrying too much. As for snacks now, I find the usual chopped carrot/celery/apple/peppers pretty good - if you cut down on the amount of sugar you consume, then things like this will actually taste really naturally sweet on their own. Also, eat a few nuts alongside (although watch portion control - a few means no more than 6 brazils, or 10 other nuts which are smaller, but eating nuts or seeds with fruit/veg will keep you fuller for longer.

Again, on the cakes with friends - realistically if you want to lose weight, try and restrict yourself to no more than 2 a week - a big slab of cake will probably be 600 calories - so bearing in mind a 2000 calorie per day amount for weight maintenance, this is a big chunk of your daily amount - but if you've been really good all week, then you should make sure you have something delish as a treat. Does the coffee shop you go to sell smaller things that you could have (like a small biscottti/shortbread etc) some of the times so you don't feel like you're missing out?

My only other advice is if you are drinking any sugary drinks - so fruit juice or coke etc, cut it right out and have water instead - again, you can take in a suprising amount of calories just from one glass of OJ.

Best of luck - feel free to keep in touch on this thread :)

foreverondiet · 23/03/2011 22:02

I have just lost 3 stone of babyweight Smile DS2 is 11 months old.

I have been dieting since October, lost a steady 2lbs a week. What works for me is logging EVERYTHING I eat (now using myfitnesspal its free and IMO just as good as the ones you pay for). I rarely cheat on days where I log everything.

If you generally get hungry mid afternoon plan your snack eg mullerlight and apple. Jacket potato high GI perhaps a lower GI lunch would keep you fuller for longer?

Also I have signed up for a triathlon which is keeping me motivated exercise wise - I suggest you a) sign up for race for life (its all women and only 5k) and b) doing 30 day shred each day while she is sleeping and c) aim to walk for at least 30 mins each day with the buggy... If you have a wii then get something like EA sports active and do that when she is asleep..

Prinnie · 23/03/2011 22:19

That reminds me - one last thing - forever's mention of mullerlight's reminded me. Please don't fall in to the trap of buying 'diet' versions of things. Have the real (much more satisfying) version but exercise portion control. The diet versions have a lot of sweeteners and won't help you lose your sweet cravings (in fact some evidence suggests it makes them worse). Yoghurt is a great example - just buy a big pot of natural yoghurt and then add what ever chopped/pureed fruit you fancy - if you need a bit of sweetness then drizzle 1/2 teaspoon of honey on. There was an awesome programme on a few weeks ago about 'diet' foods (BBC3) - it might still be on iplayer.

Prinnie · 23/03/2011 22:20

Oh and big well done forever :) Hope you don't mind me critiquing mullerlight as you've obviously done a great job :)

mrspink27 · 23/03/2011 22:24

Have a look at this website which will help you log exercise and calories - it has really helped me monitor what I am eating and given me a target to aim for. Good luck.

lizardqueenie · 24/03/2011 09:11

Wow! How lovely to come down this morning and see all of these replies!Thanks very much for the time you have taken to respond guys.

Prinnie I could definately do eggs & wholemeal for breakfast, thats a good idea actually, and will prob be a lot more satisfying that weetabix. Also I think I could kick the biscut habit and then actually enjoy some cake in the coffee shop - I did opt for biscotti on a couple of occassions and always got comments that I was making everyone else feel bad! No problem really with sugary drinks but defintalety need to cut down on the tea, i drink a ridiculous amount which isnt doing anything for my bp according to the dr. Sitting here with some camomile tea as we speak (can I have a halo? Grin)

With the exercise I think it would be good to get a daily minimum 30 minute walk in and then think about doing something else- in case its tipping it down with rain, dd isnt well at least I have another activity that I can do. forever thanks for your reply too & well done with your fabulous weight loss! I take my hat off to you. I really like the idea of the wii fit - we have a wii but not the fit board, could prob hunt around on ebay though. Does it actually work? Or is it a bit faddy ( I mean obviosuly you have done very well indeed but I mean would i actually be working out or just thinking that I am, iyswim?) Also I have heard lots about the shred dvd, quite terrified interested - does it have a beginners option? With the high bp i dont really want to go nuts but am up for a challange! the race for life sounds good too - have done it before and tried to get a couple of other mums invovled who were a bit meh so might have to go it alone or just get DH and dd to come a cheer me along. Am so so in awe of you doing a triathlon- it is compeltely something (in my head and heart) that I have always always wanted to do but have always been too unfit. I would be really interested to know how you got started on that?

I think that planning snacks is a great idea - at the moment all I know is that I have kitkats and other crap in the biscut barrel. Hmm I should probably actually save things like that for a treat than when I am feeling hungry as they are not going to fill me up and only leave me wanting more. The natural yoghurt with fruity bits is a good idea- seems there would be a bit more too it than just a little pot of flavoured yoghurt!

MrsPink thanks for your post too - will have a look at that website once my computer sorts itself out - internet connection is awful this morning.

OP posts:
foreverondiet · 24/03/2011 12:31

lizardqueenie

Yoghurts - I do enjoy diet yoghurts. I always go for ones with no added sugar, generally the natural ones - and I have learned to taste the sweetness of the lactose (esp with yeo valley), but I am also partial to activia fat free (no sugar, but sweetened with aspartame) as a treat, but I limit to one (or maybe 2) a day. Would much rather have that or diet sprite than a chocolate in terms of weight loss. Personal choice, but I agree avoid any yoghurts with added sugar. Apart of fat free dairy (eg skmimed milk, cottage cheese, yoghurt, fromage frais) and occasional diet coke/sprite as a treat (never more one can a day) I don't buy any other diet products.

In the coffee shop I'd just order a giant latte made with skimmed milk and take an apple out of the bag and ignore any comments. Or say, will have to pass on the cake, doctor's orders. They will not say anything.

wii - don't buy the balance board, no need (it is a fad) - I really enjoyed the ea sports active (the first one) - you don't need a balance board and not faddy, and its not expensive. I also bought riiflex dumbells as the band you get with the game not very good (not the more workouts of the version 2, just the straightforward version 1 with the 30 day challenge).

shred - yes beginners option (sort of) - could do instead of sports active

triathlon - no real reason, just wanted to have a fitness focus, and thought the timing (early June) was about right for me (diet started in October). I like swimming and thought that the distances of the sprint one sounded like realistic goal.

I also love myfitnesspal. I did tescodiets (same principle or logging everything but have to pay and have weekly support), now moved onto myfitnesspal as don't want to pay anymore.

Joby1970 · 24/03/2011 13:26

one thing - when you think you feel hungry drink water - your body confuses thirst and hunger.

Prinnie · 24/03/2011 21:04

Hey Lizard Queenie - just wanted to say good luck - let us know how you get on if you want :) and feel free to ask questions at any time.

lizardqueenie · 26/03/2011 09:18

Hey guys

Thanks very much. Have made some real changes in the last few days but feel good about them rather than deprived. Have been doing lots of walking and also found a website walkit which allows you to plan a route for walking from either A-B or a circular route so you can get back home, putting in your speed, time you want to walk for etc!

Also passed the mummy coffee shop test - didnt have any cake or biccies in Neros on Fri- actually didnt feel like it and when i explained to the mums what i was trying to do they were actually really supportive. Went for a picnic yesterday with 1 other mum and the babies, she brought lots of healthy picnic goodies for us both so it was lovely. Feel much better about it now.

Forever thank you for your info about the shred etc. I think I might try to order the dvd next weekend as its payday :) Wishing you lots and lots of luck with your triathlon. Its encouraged me to sign up for the race for life - there is one at Crystal Palace which says its suitable for pushchairs so that might be the one for us.

Joby thanks for that - funnily enough I have really been trying to drink more water the last few days and have actually felt much better for it.

Thanks for your ideas and encouragement - will report back to let you know how I am getting on. :) x

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