Fat & miserable or hungry & miserable?

[mypandasgotcrabs]

I don't know which I'd rather be. In an ideal world I'd be 'just right' and eat what I want. I've always been able to eat absolutely anything I like and still be really slim. I used to eat so much crap & drink lots of lager, and although I was 9.5 stone, never got bigger than a size 8. Now, DD (DC3) has arrived and I'm 11.5 stone, can't shift it whatsoever. I was just over 14 stone at the end of the pregnancy and by 6wks I was 11.5 stone. Now I'm stuck there.

I can't wear the clothes I want to as my thighs and belly are so huge. I'm only 5'1", so being a 14 makes me look fat and I don't like it. I like eating and don't want to have to restrict what I do eat too much so sometimes think sod it, I'll eat what I want and deal with being fat, then I get down about being fat, so try to eat smaller portions and not have anything nice, then I get down about not eating what I want and it's a big vicious circle.

It doesn't help when there are a few others at the ds's schools who have had babies since me and are all nice and slim, wearing nice clothes and not looking in the least bit fat. And no amount of telling me not to compare myself to others is any good because I just won't listen!

Deep down I know I should stop beating myself up over it as I was bloody huge with DD. I was almost as round as I am tall, and as I'm breastfeeding I know it's going to be difficult to shift this weight until I stop but that doesn't make me feel any better.

Anyone else feeling the same way?

The vicious circle sounds very familiar to me-at the moment I am at the healthy eating stage (again) and not feeling all that hopeful as I have failed so many times in the past. I know why I eat, why I am fat and what I need to do about it but I'm finding it really hard to 'deny' myself. Occasionally I have got to a good stage but Dh will bring crisps home or some beers and one is all it takes!

I am trying something different this time and trying to make interesting healthy food rather than denying myself the foods I love, selling it to my brain as trying new recipes and flavours. I have been making sure the right foods are in the house but it seems to take so long and its so boring to lose the weight but putting it on was so easy and fun.

I know what you mean about other mothers looking better, there is a lady at DD's school who had a baby a week before I did and she looks absolutely fabulous whereas I have put on almost 1.5 stone since DS was born for a number of reasons. I think a major lifechange and evaluation is needed but I am reluctant to do it..its so easy to slip back into the easy old ways.

If you want to have a go at being hungry and miserable with me-or perhaps we should rephrase that as healthy and motivated-that would be good! I need to lose at least 3 stone (currently 14.5 and 5 foot 7 which makes me an 18 and miserable).

mypandasgotcrabs Firstly I'd say not to worry about it whilst you are breastfeeding. I put on weight whilst breastfeeding as I had such a big appetite - ie was always hungry. Attempting to diet when BFing just made me miserable.

However, you might not be able to loose it and then maintain it whilst eating crap and drinking lager (metabolisms often slow down as we age). That being said you should be able to find a way of eating that doesn't leave you hungry and allows you to loose weight. Once you stop breastfeeding (whenever that is) it will be much easier to loose the weight as your appetite will be reduced.

I have recently lost 3 stone (babyweight, DS2 is 11 months old, started diet when I stopped BFing at 6 months). I know that some people just loose it... I wouldn't and have had to be very careful. I am now 9 stone 4lbs, and a size 10. I know that I'll have to focus on maintaining but I don't plan to go hungry. I am now thin and happy (and hungry before mealtimes!)

OKAY everybody come over to PAUL McKENNA .You can eat what you want (so no misery) and it really works I've just lost 2 stone on it it's NOT A DIET!!!! see you on our thread!!