Healthy eating whilst breastfeeding - anyone want to join me?

[pomadas87]

DD is 15 weeks now and I'm feeling very wobbly and big still ... mainly because I'm eating shit all the time - so im staging my own intervention! Any other new mums want to join me? I hope by starting a thread I will actually stick to it!

I put breastfeeding in the thread title as I don't want to do calorie restriction as I need the energy to be honest but just eat better food and try to move more.

So, I have just weighed myself and I'm 11st 10lbs - I'm happy around 10st so I have a fair bit to lose!

Would love to hear any quick and easy recipes or meal ideas (but high energy). Also going to try and drink loads more water and do an exercise DVD at least twice a week.

Would love some company - please say hello and join me!

Hi all,
Can I join too?
My DD is 20weeks and I’ve lost 12lbs so far using MyFitnessPal but I’m struggling for motivation. I’m 12st 2 just now and would be keen to lose a stone. Got 2 weddings and a holiday to aim for.
I have the same problem with eating chocolate and biscuits and I’m really struggling to limit it. Any ideas for reducing this are welcome!!
The munching usually starts late afternoon until evening so I’m to and froimg with a couple of pounds going on and coming off.

Ive started to walk more and have a Fitbit. After Easter hopefully DD can stay with my mum for a couple of hours 1-2x a week and I’ll try Pilates and get back to swimming.
I weigh in on a Friday.

Hello! Ds2 is 17 weeks old, I gained 3 stone when pregnant, I lost nearly 2 stone between birth and the first few weeks but Christmas stopped all of that I definitely stupidly gained weight then. I was 11 stone or slightly over in January, and am 10 stone 11 now, not great! Ideally I want to be 10 stone but 10 stone 5ish will do for now.

I've been eating so much, through hunger and comfort eating to a huge extent. But I've been doing good in the gym 2-3 times a week for 3-4 weeks so that's my saving grace.

To help me not binge I've baked healthy/low sugar/savoury muffins, cookies and loaves in the freezer so that I can snack on them with just 30 seconds in the microwave, and cashew nuts, lots of cashew nuts! And delicious overnight oats with raspberries

Welcome everyone - quite a few of us now! Great to have company. We can do this!

Ooh @Foggymist I like the sound of your healthy muffins and treats, could you share a recipe or two please? Or point me in the right direction? I've never tried making 'better choices' with baking sweet things stupid as that may sound.

@pomadas87 what day are you going to weigh in?

I'd love to join

DS is 7 weeks on Saturday and I still feel massive.

Currently feeling very upset and fed up as I have a blocked milk duct and it doesn't seem to be shifting.

Currently 10st 5lbs and would like to be 9st as I'm only 5"2

@emilyba I make spinach and feta muffins, banana bread with very ripe bananas to give the sweetness (amazing toasted with some peanut butter on it, I freeze it in individual slices so I can just have one when I want one!), Google low sugar cookie recipes and just compare a few to see which is healthiest. I usually reduce the sugar by half what the recipe says, its never made enough difference for me to add more. And adding cinnamon is great for adding sweetness.

I’m really impressed by people managing the gym- that’s fantastic!
I’m not a great cook or baker but I’d like to give some things a try. In general though I seem to manage not to overeat at meals, it’s in between. Maybe I’m not eating enough sustainable energy foods (if that’s what you call it!) at meals.
I definitely like the premise that one bad day shouldn’t make a bad week and I’m definitely trying to follow that.
I’m new to posting so not worked out how to link names yet but some really good advice already

Can I join in?

DS is only 4 weeks so I'm not going to make any drastic changes for another couple weeks. But I need motivation to sort out my evenings. Baby cluster feeds and I seem to cluster snack, sweets, chocolate, biscuits etc!

I'm 13st2 at the moment, would like to get to 12st (I'm 6foot so that's within healthy range for me)

Need to look at my exercise options as well, I like swimming, but obviously not the easiest with a baby

Thanks pomadas and remembertosmile!

Yes it's something to make a start. Just done day 2 of the exercise dvd and I'm aching like mad but will keep at it. I don't have any treats in the house at the moment as my self control is zero. Luckily the sort of treats dh likes I'm not that bothered about.

Easter is going to be tough though as I really like chocolate and there's bound to be Easter eggs I'm the house.

cheshiremama we sound like we're in a similar boat, as I'm 5'1. It just feels like the weight gain is more noticeable when you're small! I hope the blocked milk duct shifts, the early weeks of breastfeeding are tough aren't they x

Ha yep I've told everyone to not buy me Easter eggs this year! Otherwise I know I will demolish all of them - zero self control

Cluster snacking, that's totally what I do

@Superduper13 you tag names by just putting the @ symbol before the name and it should do it.

I only went to the gym originally because my husband got a couples membership and a personal trainer session with personalised plan was free, but then I realised it's lovely alone time and even if I achieved nothing else that day completing a workout or getting to a new level with weights is very satisfying!

Hi everyone, mind if I join you? DD2 is 13wks old, ebf and I really want to try and shift some weight. When I had DD1 (now 2yrs 8m) I breastfed her for 3mth and ate crap without putting on too much weight, however when I stopped bf, I piled it back on.

This time, although I am ebf again (and prob will be for a while as she refuses a bottle!), I'm finding the weight is hanging around more so I need to do something about it.

My problem is portion control and snacking. Being on mat leave with the 2 kids it's so convenient to just pick at biscuits or make toast or buy treats at the shop, I need to stop! Although calorie counting has worked for me in the past, I don't want to be so strict because of time, needing the energy for bf and because I don't really want to be doing separate meals for myself, so this is my plan...

-Reduce the amount of cereal I have for breakfast to the recommended serving size and have with a banana
-Have a small healthy lunch followed by fruit and yoghurt
-Have the same dinner as DH and DD1 for convenience (with less mayonnaise- my absolute weakness!)
-Have a morning, afternoon and evening snack such as fruit, 1 piece of toast, low cal cereal bar. 1 of these snacks can be a small choc bar like a kit kat to satisfy the chocolate craving

I know this probably won't produce a dramatic immediate amount of weight loss but I'm 12st at the moment, my pre-pregnancy weight was just under 11st so if I can lose a stone gradually I would be so happy

Everyone on here sounds like they're doing really well and sound really motivated, it's given me lots of positive vibes so thank you

Welcome @mrspapa !
Sounds like a great plan there, good idea about the healthier snacks too. Snacking is my biggest downfall definitely so thinking of healthy snacks ahead of time is worth doing I reckon

@Foggymist thanks for the posting tip! I hope it works.
Hope everyone is doing well. I’ve had a decent couple of days and walked a lot. Will weigh in tomorrow and hope for the best.
My DD is 20eeeks and can go some longer stretches for feeding so it’s been easier to get out. The weather being (slightly) drier too has helped.

Thanks @Foggymist I'm going to make some banana bread. I like your idea of freezing individual portions. If there's a whole cake or lots of muffins in the kitchen I'll convince myself things 'need to be eaten' before they go off!!

Feeling a bit rubbish today after missing lunch because we were out on a dog walk then coming home and snacking all afternoon. I've had a packet of crisps, a packet of yoghurt covered raisins, an apple and 3 Cadbury's mini rolls. The lunch I eventually ate was really unhealthy too...
On the plus side I've just ordered some electric bathroom scales so I can weigh myself properly and track how I'm getting on.

I think what I find hard is that pre baby and pre breastfeeding I had a routine. I maintained my weight because I knew what level of activity I had to do and how much I could eat to stay the same. Now I'm moving so much less without the commute to work, and I've got no idea how many calories I'm burning by breastfeeding. I just know I'm hungry all the time

Hope everyone has had a good day

Can I join too? DD2 is 5 weeks and I have 1.5 stone to loose to get back to my normal weight (10.5st). She’s only tiny so I’m not going to do anything drastic (also I think my boobs must be about a stone between them!) but it would be nice to feel like I’m heading in the right direction. I’ve started C25K again which I did after my first daughter and love it. Hopefully a combination of running and staying away from chocolate will start to make a bit of a difference! It’s just bloody hard to stay motivated when it’s freezing and you have a colicky newborn 😴

Weighed in this morning and lost half a pound. Happy but certainly not overjoyed as feel it could be more . I agree with others that the lack of structure to my day makes it harder not to snack. When working , I have all my lunch and snacks planned out and don’t deviate. This is going to be a tough weekend as got a birthday thing for my mum today and another family member birthday tomorrow !! This thread is giving me good motivation so will try to make good choices

Happy Friday everyone - hoping I can stay on track this weekend although we have friends visiting so could be tricky!
Glad the weather is perking up, makes me actually want to go walking with DD in the buggy!

There is a great recipe for banana bread on Donna Hay website (google Donna Hay basic banana loaf). It uses buckwheat flour which is gluten free and gives a lovely depth of flavour. I make it and also freeze in slices.

If any recipe requires butter, I substitute this with melted coconut oil. I also drop the sugar and add chopped medjool dates for some sweetness. Or use a small amount of coconut sugar or there's a sugar sub called 'total sweet xylitol' which is better than using artificial sweeteners. On their website you can find more information and recipes.

I've managed to ditch the milk chocolate and limit myself to a few dark chocolate squares when my 4 year old goes to bed.

On the weekend I do a roast chicken, leave a decent amount of the meat aside then boil up the carcass and I make a chicken soup to which I add the chicken put aside, chopped carrots, onions, leeks or celery and I eat a big bowl for lunch. Lasts me 3 or 4 days and easily warmed up and eaten with 1 hand if I can't put the baby down!

Because I'm not getting out that much I have been cooking and prepping on weekends. It's a bit dull but pays off during the week. I also prep vegetables like sweet potatoes and carrots in advance and leave in water in the fridge until we're ready to cook them.

I love my food. My husband would be happy to live off ready meals and cereal. I can't bear that, so end up doing all the shopping, cooking and meal prep. I get vegetables delivered each week, a small box, which forces me to eat well because I can't bear waste! It's good as they come mainly loose in the box so there's no packaging and the box is collected each week and used again.

Hi everyone, hope you're all having great weekends.
A day late with my weigh in but I've lost 6 pounds this week apparently, which makes me think I'm still losing fluid and extra pregnancy bumpf as I don't feel I'm losing 6lbs of fat or muscle!!
Failed at doing an exercise other than walking so that's what I'm aiming for this week ... and staying away from Easter chocolate

Meant to add my actual weigh in weight - 11st 4lbs today

Great idea - can I join too?
My baby is 5 and a half months. I feel like I've actually gained weight since he was born because I keep meeting other mums for coffee and cake because "I'm breast feeding" but I'm obviously taking on more calories than I'm burning. Being lazy and doing zero exercise - apart from a 20 mins stroll to the cafe where I eat cake - doesn't help!

I'm not so worried about weight but I'd love to get back into my pre- pregnancy jeans. Wishful thinking?

I have probably 5kg to lose which isn't much on paper but it's all on my bum thighs hips and tummy.

I like the idea of an exercise video/you tube at home. I had just started Gillian Michael's 30 day shred (is that her name?) when I found out I was pregnant. So I might go back to that

Hi ladies
Weigh day for me is tomorrow! I will report back after weighing in. I’m hoping for a loss.
I have had the following today :
B - branflakes
L - fish pie with salad
D - yet to decide

Hi ladies, just unlurking to say you can do this!

I was 18st 2 when I came home from hospital after DS2. I rejoined SlimmingWorld when he was four weeks old. He is now 10 and a half months and I was 12st 13.5 on the scales this morning.

A bit of steely eyed determination is all you need!

Well done @pomadas87 that’s a great loss and even if it is some fluid, it’s good for motivation.
My weekend (food wise) has been awful - I’ve been eating chocolate and cake like it’s the last time il ever eat! It was like a compulsion 😔 So I have imposed a cake, sweet and chocolate ban for the week to try and break the cycle. I’ve done low carb before and liked it a lot so it might be me worth trying again , although to a more moderate degree.