Eating and tiredness

[whichusername2]

Since I had my dcs I've put on quite a bit of weight (lost it initially and then put it back on from lack of sleep, lack of time, bad food choices and medication).

I used to have a reasonable metabolism but now whenever I eat, especially after lunch, I find it really hard to stay awake. Eating small amounts during the day keeps my energy levels up but then I normally eat more at night or I can't sleep (rumbling stomach).

Breakfast is normally an egg roll/nothing, lunch a sandwich or vegetables and rice and popcorn. Dinner is normally stir fry/rice and veg/pizza sometimes/some other car with protein and veg.

I drink coffee to keep energy levels up and have odd glass of wine but I'm the largest I've ever been and it's mainly because I'm so tired from food.

Has anyone else had this problem or found a solution?

But is that you're tired from food, or is it just that you are tired?

You mention you have kids, and I know they are a massive succubii of sleep? Are they sleeping through the night yet? How many hours of sleep are yo clocking per night?

Sleep deprivation has been proved to make people eat more.

Have you tried eating breakfast? Something more substantial than just an egg roll? It sounds like your body is going into sleep mode because it's finally been given food to process. Even if you just bring some toast to work with you and eat it at your desk when you first get in should help.

Change the balance of macronutrients. Make sure you have good quality protein and fat at breakfast and lunch. From the food you've put down here there's a lot of processed carbs which will be contributing to the energy dips, as will the coffee. You may also be EFA deficient which can also cause tiredness. Try swapping out the bread/rice/pizza for eggs, meat, fish, full fat dairy, avocadoes, raw nuts, nut butter, porridge oats, sweet potatoes, beans, lentils, chickpeas, cauliflower and plenty of veg. You don't have to ban all processed carbs but cutting down would probably help and experimenting with a strict week or so would let you see if it makes any difference.

You need to ditch the carbs, up the fats and dink plenty of water

Thanks for your help.

kaykayblue - I normally get about 5-5 1/2 hours of hours of sleep when I'm at work. Attempt to get up at 5.30 to get ready and get some exercise and go to bed at around midnight (depending on when dc go to sleep). I guess I should try to get some more sleep to see if it helps.

Sleepwhenidie and BIWI - thanks, maybe it is the carbs that are causing the problem. I'll try ditching those and see if it helps.

It's difficult to find time for breakfast and to get the right balance of food, maybe that's part of problem. Would be be good find a solution where I'm not hungry and feel horrible.