Where am I going wrong?

[bessyboop]

Hi all, I'm overweight, need to lose 3 stone (the amount I gained after my last 2 pregnancies, booo!) but really struggle with the low carb diet. I feel so weak and tired - not a good thing with 3 little ones around.

Am off the low carb diet by now - couldn't bear it. I had tea and toast yesterday for the first time in 2 weeks, and I felt so much better afterwards!

Where am I going wrong?

Today, I've had ...

Breakfast - 2x weetabix (warm, with a spoonful of stewed apple in it)

Snak - Apple

Lunch - 4 Ryivitas with cherry toms and a little a small chunk of cheddar (grated on top)

Banana

Snack - Cereal bar

Dinner - Caulieflower cheese, bacon and new potatoes

(Had plenty of water and squash through out the day, and 2 mugs of coffee)

I'm just not shifting the weight, and am lacking self confidence because of my excess weight. I used to be a size 8. Am now size 14/16 :(

I also try to excerise daily - even if it's only on the wii fit.

Any tips? I like my carbs too much to go back on the low carb diet... TIA

Have you worked out roughly how many calories your eating in a day? Cauliflower cheese for example could be quite a lot. How big are your portions?
I couldn't manage without carbs either, but now have one piece of toast in the morning instead of two and maybe a banana if still hungry.
Is there a weight watchers or slimming world near you that you could join?

Hi, I am in a similar position, trying to lose about 2 and a half stone after pregnancy. I have started weight watchers on line and find it great, you can eat everything as long as it is counted for. I have lost 11 pounds so far and I dont have to find the time to go to a class with a baby. It's a bit faffy at first but great once you get into it. Best of luck, it's such hard work. I have had many days where I just want to pig out but if you save points you can have a little pig out once a week.

I don't have a very big portion, just a small plate. I'll look into WW and Slimming World, but can't go to any meetings though, no childcare. Would be a nightmare to take all three :)

I'll have a look online now. I don't really count calories - but would like to give Weight Watchers a go if I like what I see on their website. I had an eating disorder when I was a teen, and I can still get a bit obssesive with food/losing weight. But am determined not to skip meals etc to lose weight quickly. I need energy to chase after my little girls! I have a happy relationship with food now, since having kids - so don't want any drastic diets that would take me back to the way I was.

Do you exercise as well Ciwi? If you do, what do you do? I find it difficult to get time with the kids around, and am too knackered to do anything once they are all in bed! Well done on your loss so far :)

Try the 30 day shred DVD (£5 from amazon). It's 3 different 20 minute workouts. I sweat as much doing this in 20 mins as I would doing an hour on the treadmill! I do it while ds2 has his nap.

If you look it up on YouTube you can see what it's like. I've only just started it, but it has great reviews

How about just cutting carbs completely after 4pm and otherwise just avoiding processed carbs (pasta, white bread etc) generally? The food you list probably isn't lots of calories but it's probably not going to keep you from feeling hungry either...how about

• swapping the weetabix for porridge with berries or wholemeal toast with eggs or spread with almond or cashew butter

-swap the apple for some raw veggies and small portion of houmous or a small bowl of Greek yoghurt and a palmful of almonds

• make lunch more substantial! Eggs on wholemeal toast (if not had that for breakfast), cheese omelette and salad, Tuna or salmon with a big salad that includes beans/avocado/olives. A baked potato with a filling if you are really craving carbs occasionally

• a couple of squares of dark choc, something like a twister ice lolly or a latte as a treat in the afternoon (always the hardest part of the day ime)

• healthy dinner, lean protein with loads of veggies (eg tuna steak with stir fried veg, a steak and broccoli drizzled with balsamic vinegar and a couple of tbsp of some kind of sauce if you like, roast chicken with lots of veg, smoked haddock on a pile of buttery cabbage and a poached egg on top) plus a glass of wine a few days a week if that's what you fancy.

If you mostly eat like this and exercise every day (another vote here for the Shred) you should gradually lose weight without feeling too deprived and like you are on a diet...it may even become habit forming! If it doesn't seem to be working then try logging on MFP for a few days to address where your portion may be too big or where you might be going wrong.

I am sure you will start to shift weight eating only that but if you want to do so more quickly how about:

• just have one thing for breakfast: So have a weetabix and stewed apple, but only one. Or have one piece of wholemeal toast with an egg on it, OR have a large fruit salad.

• swap the cereal bar (as many calories as a sandwich quite often) for, say, a banana. Or some sushi. Or a handful of nuts.

• rather than thinking about cutting down on carbs, try to positively eat MORE protein as it limits the appetite eg have an egg for breakfast, have hummus and carrot sticks for your snack, (or nuts) and/or eat some cold chicken with your lunch.

Good luck! I am sure you will get there.

Finally, remember it doesn't really matter to anyone who loves you what you weigh as long as it is not unhealthily high or low. A size 14 doesn't sound unhealthy.

Thank you so much for all your advice, really appreciate it. The 30 day shred DVD looks fab - I'll have a go.

My weight went back to normal nearly straight after my first birth, but I had SPD during my last two pregnancies (DD2 is 22 months, DD3 is 7 months) so it's been an intense few years, and have been housebound and on crutches. But am a lot better by now, so hopefully could cope with that DVD work out!

I like the idea of cutting out carbs after 4pm. But it will be hard because I tend to do pasta bakes/lasagne etc for the family and eat together every night...

Thanks sleepwhenidie for your suggestions. I agree with you on the substantial lunch - I was so hungry dinner time last night! I has a 2 egg scrambled egg with cherry toms on one slice of wholmeal tost today, and a banana - and was a lot more satisfied.

And thanks Housepouse - I really hope that I shift this weight, I still look around 6 months pregnant, lol :) I'm so tired all the time, hopefully if I lose a little weight, I'll feel less sluggish and more energized.

you're welcome bessy - hopefully more protein and less processed/sugary stuff will help you feel a bit more energized...cereal bars etc, with not enough lunch will be playing havoc with your insulin levels and contributing to you feeling exhausted and if you feel exhausted you will crave more sugar and carbs and have no willpower, a vicious circle!

You don't have to cut the carbs every night either, just most of them . Think of it as a general way of eating, rather than a short term diet.

I do moderate carbs, low fat.

You need to eat a lot more protein! Aim to eat at least 100g a day, ideally at each meal. And keep carbs to around 100g - will be enough so you aren't faint etc yet not so much it won't hinder weight loss.

Bessy, you might find Slimming World fits in much better with family meals, as it has lots of low fat carbs. If you are running around after small DC you need carbs, I think. I couldn't last two days on low carb when DC were small, but now have a sedentary job and it feels fine.

Slimming World have a genius replacement for creamy, cheesy sauces: pot of quark, a beaten egg and 25g of mature cheddar or parmesan cheese, with a bit of grated nutmeg, thyme and seasoning. That serves a family of four. You just stir it onto pasta and cook for a minute or two to make sure the egg is safe. I make carbonaras or cauli/macaroni cheese with it. I think you can use it in bakes too but not sure.

Good advice to keep carbs to around 100g - I'll start to keep a count, thanks.

You're right racingheart - running around after the little ones is the story of my life :) I'll give that recipe a go, thanks for sharing it. Will also look into Slimming World tonight when I have more time on my hands to go to their website, and browse.

Just ordered the 30 day shred DVD on Amazon!