Advice needed!!! I'm huge!

[Ivegottagoforaliedown]

Hi all,

I had my first baby 8 months ago. I was overweight before (14st at 5ft 7in and a size 14-16), now I'm over 16st and a size 16-18! I used to be 11st which I'm happy at, a size 12.

I just cannot for the life of me stick to anything at the moment. My little boy sleeps poorly so I'm knackered and looking to food for energy or a pick me up. Plus it's incredibly difficult to put him down during the day so I end up grabbing something unhealthy when I can (toast, waffles done in the toaster!!) or worse still, sometimes getting takeout.

I do eat a lot of fruit and veg and have a healthy meal on an evening but this is on top of all the crap. I just don't know how to manage when I'm so tired and have no time. It seems like I'm hungry all the time which I suppose is no surprise considering my size.

Any advice? I was wondering about fasting during the day or meal replacement bars but I'm not sure.

I'm doing a VLCD food replacement and after 2 weeks in I'm 12lbs down. The biggest reason I've been able to stick to it is because it's so convenient and you have so many meals.

You have 4 meals a day plus an optional snack which means you can usually grab something to eat every time you're hungry and still be within the plan. And everything is either instant (i.e a meal bar) or takes just a couple minutes in the microwave so it's quick and convenient.

It's genuinely freed up so much mental space for me because of how easy it is and made it so easy to stick to instead of before when I was trying to plan/buy for/cook/store healthy meals and when something slipped Id inevitably grab something quick and probably unhealthy and then eat whatever.

I don't want to sound like I'm selling it but it has been great for me so far. I'm doing the New You Plan but I know there's a few others.

Thank you, I will definitely take a look at that! It's the headspace for me too so it sounds ideal. The only issue is I hate milkshakes with a passion!!

One tip I learnt from Fern Britton on This Morning many moons ago, is to always have some protein when you have a snack. Ie. Have fruit, but have some cubes of cheese with it.

@Ivegottagoforaliedown I didn't order any and have just been having the meals/soups/bars and snacks.

Nutracheck app is really good for counting calories and I would recommend a slow cooker to help with making meals. Could you try quick meals like stir fry, baked potatoes. Do you exercise? YouTube have lots of free stuff you could do at home or what about out walking with baby in buggy?

Also stop buying unhealthy snacks/foods/drinks with your shop then it won't be in the house. Maybe don't think about changing everything all in one go but little small steps over time.

Good luck op

One thing you could do OP, which is really easy and involves no change in routine, is swap to wholemeal versions of bread/pasta/couscous etc. It's less refined, has more fibre, so it helps you feel full for longer.

But buy decent wholemeal bread - I get Waitrose Heyford.

I'm in a very similar position (as you can tell fron the timing of my post!) 7 month old baby,not a good sleeper/napper.
Piled on the weight during pregnancy. Started in January and lost almost 2.5 stone already.
Its been bloody hard as I also have a baby I can't put down and a 4 year old.
What I do is:
Eat between midday and 8pm - I'm not hugely strict with this, I will eat at 11:30 or 8:30pm if have to
Calorie count - I don't have time to log on mfp or anything but loosely try to do 500 cal lunch, 600 cal dinner, then snacks if needed. My calories on a low day are probably 1200 on a higher day no more than 1500.
Cut out snacking as much as possible
Drink lots water - I've always done this
Walk with buggy wherever possible- I enjoy exercise and want to return to running but just don't have the time atm.
More relaxed day once a week (on a Sat mostly for me). Eat between midday and 10pm on that day but probably asleep before then anyway!

Quick things to eat (one handed) hummus and oat cakes. Chopped carrots/peppers etc
Boil eggs when get the chance- they last for a while infridge with shell on (haven't perfected one handed peeling yet tho)
Nuts/seeds /chopped apple with yogurt - be strict with nuts/seeds though

Also, I've been told by a few people that once baby can move independently they should be happier to go down more. Mine has got slightly better as can roll in every direction now but seems to have a permanent cold now so very clingy to me atm

I also have the Bol lunch pots in my fridge and hsbe for dinner couple nights a week if things are really hectic. Not great salt wise but needs must.
Goof luck op. It's a long road but we can get back to a healthier weight. We have the perfect little incentives!

if you're able the fast 800 online program is easy to follow. yes very low cal initially and considered a "fast" even though the meals are not 16 hour spaced and all days are at the 800-900 zone (without snacks).
you shop and you cook though most meals are simple (boiled egg on mixed greens), yogurt and fruit, overnight oats etc.
in the long run once you reach a goal weight or near it, the habits your learn from the Mediterranean type diet are healthy ones.

Thank you for all your advice! My little boy is very mobile so I either hold him or he's off! We do have a playpen but as soon as he goes in there it's tears and arms up to be picked up. The Bol pots are a good idea. I'm actually vegan too (who said vegans are skinny?) and we get the Allplants meals which are low cal but they tend to be for evenings as they are for 2 people- and not cheap!! Definitely need to up the exercise. Baby is not keen on being in his pram which is such a shame, I had visions of going on long walks with him!

Thank you everyone! 🙂

Basically clean eating but worked for Leticia Dean!

www.express.co.uk/life-style/diets/1622719/letitia-dean-weight-loss-sharon-mitchell-eastenders-diet-plan-exercise-2-stone