3yr old + 10wk old + diet + gym = knackered!!

[xenabelly]

hi all

I'm about 3.5 stone overweight and am determined to lose weight this year and feel good about myself.

I've joined SW and started going to gym 3 times a week and circuit training once a week. Am going 50mins of CV work in the gym and feeling a bit fitter already and have lost 6lbs (which is rubbish but better than nothing!)

My problem is though that I am utterly exhausted all the time, all I want to do is sleep, I can hardly keep my eyes open.

Baby has started sleeping through now more or less so does from 11pm - 7am which is a massive relief but doesn't seem to be helping.

I'm also totally craving bread, feel like if I could just have a big white sandwich or some toast I'd get an energy boost but am trying to hard not to give in cos I am desperate to lose some weight.

My diet is:
2 piece of brown toast + extra light laughing cow (breakfast)
2 weetabix and semi milk (lunch)
banana (snack)
HUGE salad or big pasta tea with tomato sauce (tea)

Do you think i am just soooo tired cos my body is getting used to reduced calories and exercise or am i doing something wrong? (as i say it is 5wks now and the tiredness is just getting worse)

I wouldn't mind if the weight was falling off but it's not and I'm still huge!

HELP!

Doing too much too soon, with not enough fuel.
Your body will have a panic attack and you may start to put weight ON as it converts everything it can into sugars/fats.

See your GP or HV for a more achievable plan or you'll burn out!

your diet is too limited, and boring, which means you will give up

have you tried ww?

does the gym have personal trainers, dieticians?

You are tired because you have a tiny baby and are not eating enough at all.

Have the weetabix and banana for breakfast, apple for snack, toast with something like baked beans for lunch, another small snack, then your tea

far too much wheat. It makes a lot of people tired.

Good point - try jacket potato.

agree about the wheat, i am always banging on about porridge on here but it is a fantastic breakfast. i have mine with a little maple syrup. 6 lbs is a huge achievement with such a young baby. don't be so hard on yourself.

You are eating waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too little. I do s.w. too, followed it while pregnant and now with a baby, and I eat loads more than that and lose weight most weeks, without all the added stuff like the gym. TBH, I could eat the toast and the weetabix and the banana just for breakfast!

It's very early days post your second child.

The GI diet will help you maintain your energy...in fact I find it gives me more energy. You'll also loose weight.

My advice re. your diet is try porridge for breakfast...got to be proper oats and then skimmed milk or water...in microwave for 2-3mins. You can add dried apricots or nuts/seeds for a bit of interest. Lunch you need protein rather than carbohydrate so fish/meat and salads or soups.

Evening you need carbohydrate so new potatos with the salad or some bulghar wheat instead of rice (just as nice). Any lentils/beans etc.

You can also have snacks. There are lots of good simple books in the shops.

I tried to loose weight after the birth of my second son and found it too soon and too much to think about but I started again when he was (6 months) on this diet and have lost 1.5 stone. Lost 2 stone approx after birth of DS1 as well...it really works and it's really healthy and it's really easy to follow.

Hope this helps and good luck.

Try adding brown rice, mixed bean salad, real porridge, protein in the form of lean chicken and fish, plenty of water and loads of fruit and veg.

another vote for porridge here

Not sure what SW is?

IMHO, this is not a healthy diet plan - especially given what your body has gone through in the last 9 months, and the hard work you are going through with new baby and older child too.

Understand that you are upset about the extra weight, but I agree with Iklboo - you should get a more achievable diet and exercise plan that gives you the energy you need and helps you build back your strength and stamina. With the right balanced weight loss diet, you will be able to have energy and lose weight - especially with the exercise.

Is your body used to this exercise regime? ie did you exercise through pregnancy, and did you do it before you were pregnant? The right exercise is also important if you are aiming to lose weight ... hadn't realised this until recently myself but having the right amount of each type of exercise is important. So worth taking some advice there too if you haven't already.

BTW, I think your motivation is very inspiring! Well done for all the effort - I just think that you need to be kind to yourself and eat a better diet to give yourself some more energy. I'm sure if you do, you'll get the result you want and you'll be more energetic!

sw = slimming world

thanks so much for all your messages, my husband keeps saying that it's cos i don't eat enough BUT i'm too scared to eat anymore cos I can't bear to put any more weight on.

If i've only been eating this for 5wks and now I start eating more then i'm going to put weight on aren't i?

eg: I had a sunday dinner at my MIL's at weekend and a teeny piece of cheesecake (just to be polite)went to SW the next day and had put a 1lb on!!

I am so miserable being this size, how come one of my friends had a crisis last year and just stopped eating and she lost 3 stone in 6months and now she looks amazing. She was exactly same build as me. I don't understand this eating too little, if it worked for her, why doesn't it work for me?

geez, can you tell I'm desperate...

Starvation won't work and you can't afford to feel so weak at the moment.

Stop weighing yourself is my advice and try the Rosemary Conely GI diet or any GI plan for a month. I promise you that you will loose weight and feel you're eating lots.

Um, well, yes you could have a crisis and become anorexic and lose three stone - won't leave you very fit to deal with the kids.

looks to me like your diet is lacking in protein, calcium, fruit and veg. and iron-rich foods, all of which you need in good amounts having just had a baby. A day's diet on say 20-22 Weightwatchers points would make you less tired. You could have a bowl of 30-40g oats made into porridge with skimmed milk, with a spoon of maple syrup. Then banana mid-morning. Then home-made fat free soup using some veg. and lentils or a WW can of soup. Then say big salad with egg/tuna/lean ham/cottage cheese or pusles or something very quick like scrambled eggs or baked beans on nimble bread, plus very low fat yogurt. Afternoon snack spoon of pumpkin seeds plus apple and maybe a WW fromage frais. Evening meal lean protein (chicken/lean ham/fish/tofu/quorn) plus very small amount of carbs (preferably low GI and high in iron - e.g. brown rice) and tons of veg. Then fruit and plain yogurt or a meringue nest for pudding. That should keep your energy levels steadier and provide you with more nutrients.