Losing baby weight during lockdown

[Nowisthemonthofmaying]

Just looking for some help really! I just feel really lost with motivation and knowing what I should be doing.

So my situation - about 3.5 stone overweight, 5 month old baby, ebf. Currently taking the baby for a walk every day and going for a (very short!) run three times a week.

I know the key is diet really but I'm just SO hungry all the time and seem to have developed a sugar addiction to boot. My dp has lost loads of weight during lockdown as he's very strict at low-carbing but I'm vegetarian and don't like to eat a lot of dairy so if I restrict carbs what the hell do I eat? And I really need to cut out the evening biscuits/chocolate but I'm just so fed up at the moment with January and lockdown and being stuck at home with the baby that it's the only thing I have to look forward to or that feels like a treat. How do I kick the habit? I never used to eat so much junk and I don't buy chocolate for myself but we have a massive stash in the house left over from Christmas/birthday presents etc.

Any advice welcome! I know what I should do theoretically but everything is just so shit at the moment it's difficult just getting out of bed in the morning. But I really want to be back in my nice clothes this summer instead of wearing ratty old maternity leggings the whole time.

@pipperleen that's amazing! Well done you!

That's awesome @Pipperleen! Well done.

Really struggling with sleep over here so I'm just trying to maintain for the moment as I just can't be too strict when I'm exhausted, it ends up going right the other way! Don't know if it is a regression or growth spurt but DD hasn't slept longer than a 2 hour stretch all week

Wow well done @Pipperleen!

@WutheringShites86 everything is so much harder when sleep deprived just maintaining is good!

I implemented a few rules this week -
-no squash, only fizzy water with lime juice
-no snacks
-no junky puddings, only dried/tinned fruit
-eat protein with every meal

It's actually been a lot easier than I thought and I've lost a pound, which is not loads but encouraging! Will have a couple of treats or some chocolate over the weekend and then next week try and cut down the carbs a bit more.

I've stopped running as it was hurting my joints so much but I do need to try and find some other exercise to do apart from walks with the baby. I miss swimming!

@TwirpingBird @gmailconfusion2 how are you guys getting on?

@Nowisthemonthofmaying I've felt really isolated today, so grazed and no exercise, but tomorrow is a new day.

I miss swimming too. And seeing people other than my husband. My natural waist is definitely smaller though

Sorry to hear that @gmailconfusion2 - it's hard not to feel isolated at the moment!

It's weird because I've been on lockdown for pretty much the whole of being pregnant and now maternity leave so I don't know any different, but I was just thinking about it the other day and how different everything would have been otherwise - going to baby groups and the gym, seeing my family, introducing my friends to my baby - and its made me really sad. On the other hand I think dd has probably benefitted from having a quiet home life with lots of time with me and dp so that's something, I suppose.

@Nowisthemonthofmaying normally not an issue, but dh was meant to be online gaming all evening and the idea of not actually talking to another adult was unbareable, I'm quite antisocial normally.

When we're not locked down I go two a forest school once a month and a sling swing class on a Wednesday, but i think it's been good for baby just having my attention, but his family has missed out (partially their own fault) as when they were able to visit something more important shows up

72.2kg (-2.2kg)
Hips 40.25 (-0.75)
Thigh 24.25(-0.75)
Waist 30.25 (-0.75)
Belly button 36.5 (-4inches!)

@gmailconfusion2

Wow - brilliant!! You have inspired me to do some measurements too.

Ooh measurements, that's a good idea. Nice to have something else to see how you're doing instead of just the scales!

I know, I don't feel the 2kg in a month really represents the 4inches, butseeing the inches really helps. In cm it looks even better!

Can I join?
Sodding impossible to lose weight- even with walks it’s not what I would do it things were open. Dairy free due to breastfeeding and my baby’s possible intolerance, 3 yr old and a 3 month old and I fit into 3 items of clothes. Had enough but my evening biscuit devouring is impossible to beat- I get so hungry feeding for hours in the evening!

Hi @OnlyFoolsnMothers, of course! I was dairy-free due to suspected intolerance but fortunately it turned out to be something else - or perhaps unfortunately as I'm back on the cheese now! Trying not to overindulge though.

Not having a bad week for food although I'm not sure it's making any difference to my weight, I think portion size is the next thing I need to work on! Have promised myself a cocktail tomorrow though, can't wait

@onlyfoolsnmothers walking never made any difference it is all portion control and snacking that is my problem. Not even big portions.

We were given a pram and I said to dh if I don't like it/doesn't work for us I will replace it. Told him three mo this ago I hated the damn thing. Over the weekend (in the snow) a wheel bearing went and I had to walk in the snow with this stupid thing on two wheels for four kilometres. Today I treated myself to a Phil and ted sports pram. Not told him yet

I can also empathise with the clothing I have two pairs of maternity trousers I'm wearing and three breast feeding tops. I have a giant purple knitted jumper that I only stop wearing to wash atm!

Yes to the clothing- the combination of weight gain and needing breastfeeding access means that 90% of my wardrobe is useless but I really resent spending money on new things just for this phase! In the end I bought some postnatal leggings from latched and a load of low necked thermal tops from uniqlo and that's all I wear day in, day out, topped off with a men's cashmere cardigan. So depressing! At least I'm warm though I suppose 😂 I'm just hoping I can shift some of this weight before summer.

I was pleasantly surprised at how many of my clothes were incidentally breastfeeding friendly - lots of wrap style front dresses are flattering on me so have quite a few - but sometimes it means I do look rather overdressed for staying at home with the baby and our cats

Fingers crossed, we've had a couple of slightly better nights sleep so I'm hoping I will be less afflicted with the sugar and stodge cravings soon. Still maintaining the loss I made though so not doing too bad really.

I normally wear a lot of shirts which would be fine for breastfeeding but unfortunately they all require ironing to look good and that is simply not going to happen 😂

@Nowisthemonthofmaying see I find if you don't own an iron then the expectation of any ironing happening is greatly reduced I specifically buy clothes that don't need it and DP's job isn't a shirt and tie sort of thing. Maybe we can get away with it until DD starts school?

My neighbour once asked to borrow our ironing board when hers broke and was completely aghast when I said we didn't have an iron let alone the board 😂

@wutheringshites86 my aunt has six boys, between no iron shirts, careful hanging on the line and the tumble drier she never ironed anything, the eldest was 16 when he found an ironing board and had to ask what it was.

My wrap style dressed are too small in the bust atm which is a shame bar one that I got for a funeral back in October 2019.

We had four hours sleep last night. I'm not a happy bunny. Breakfast was Nutella on crumpets and half a slice of egg bread

I like your aunt's style @gmailconfusion2

Sleep deprivation is the absolute worst for healthy eating so cut I'd yourself some slack today.

All I wear is leggings and a vest top to pull down at a moments notice!
Today I’ve had avocado on a bagel for breakfast and will probably have fish fingers and salad for lunch
Not a bad food day but I’m doing nothing today- so tired, my eldest is at nursery so me and the baby are having a housewives and couch kind of a day!

@WutheringShites86 I actually used to quite enjoy ironing, stick on a film and it's quite soothing... Not sure I'm going to be going back to that anytime soon!

@gmailconfusion2 sorry about the lack of sleep, that's guaranteed to get me reaching for the chocolate!

@OnlyFoolsnMothers that sounds like a pretty healthy day to me!

I did a bit of yoga this morning and took the baby for a longish walk, making the most of the sun! Peanut butter on my dad's homemade sourdough for breakfast, spaghetti with green veg for lunch and will probably have leftover haggis for dinner 😂

@nowisthemonthofmaying I have actually managed to avoid chocolate hunting, but have had 6 custard creams and a bag of crisps that I wasn't planning on. Tea tonight was roast chicken so I pilled up the vegetables (was going to do butternut squash mash but forgot to cook it)

Well, I fell down last night after an unsatisfactory afternoon nap for the baby, ended up eating a packet of marmite cashews and some chocolate coated liquorice - although only a few of the latter!

Have an order coming from the baker today so that means more sugar

Hi, can I join please? I have an almost 8 month old and I gained an enormous amount during pregnancy . I think I took eating as a challenge in pregnancy and a challenge that I definitely won! I am sat here in a pair of maternity leggings feeling very fat.

I have been on / off dieting for a few months and have lost about1.5st, but I keep failing off the wagon and just eating and drinking everything! I am 12st 8.5lb this morning and I would like to lose about 3st.

Any tips or advice would be very welcome!

@nowisthemonthofmaying ooo marmite cashews sound amazing

@LH1987 by all means. My main issue is snacking. I used to avoid it by having anything snack bar my husbands custard cremes in the house but I'm now eating them if it comes to it, so really working on the snacking

Today we did a two hour walk with my new pram. I hated the old one with a passion anyway. I love it. Its so light and easy and does off road. I then got to push a mondeo estate out of a flooded section of road by myself after husband went through too fast and flooded the engine. I am awesome. (he was steering as ditches either side and not certain has the technique to push, probably would just do it with his arms and winder why its not moving)