8 months postpartum and need help!

[Berangere]

I’m now 8 and a bit months PP and I still feel awful and huge. I won’t give numbers but I’m at least 2 dress sizes up from where I should be, 1 up from where I feel most comfortable. I still look about 16-20 weeks pregnant and have a horrible double chin.
I mainline carbs (toast from breakfast, sandwich or similar for lunch, pasta and garlic bread or similar for dinner). I love carbs, i sneak sugary snacks when my partner isn’t looking because I’m ashamed, I buy snacks when he’s at work (I’m still on mat leave) and bin the evidence before he gets home. I don’t drink enough water and I snack awfully. I cook from scratch most nights and try to bulk everything out with veg, we don’t really eat meat anyway.
I just don’t feel like I have the time/willpower to eat better when dealing with a high needs 8 months old all day, I’m exhausted all the time and am on countdown to when my partner gets home every day just to had baby over for a bit of a break.
I used to love weightlifting but now I’m on no pay, and my local gym has closed, I’m starting Fiit app classes next week and have signed up, hope that will help and I can do these when DS is napping or in the evenings.

I just need some basic tips as to where the hell to start with my crap diet? I see unhealthy delicious snacks as a “reward” I suppose and need some help and pointers as to how to break the cycle of eating rubbish and then feeling rubbish…

OP, I could have written your post myself (except I don't cook).

I'm 12 months PP (and also have a 2 year old). 2 pregnancies in under 2 years have not been kind to my body. I'm also 2 dresses bigger (and 2.5st heavier) than I was pre-pregnancy and am struggling to lose it. I'm constantly tired, have no time to exercise and view food as a reward.

My diet is very much like yours, all carbs! I did a meal replacement plan for 6 weeks last summer and lost almost 1.5st but it wasn't sustainable. I know it's a lifestyle change I need and not a faddy diet but I don't have the energy or motivation for that right now.

My double chin, WIDE arse and mum tum are REALLY bothering me though. I HATE seeing myself in photos or catching a glimpse of myself in a shop window or full length mirror. I just don't feel like me anymore.

I’m 9 months PP and I have about 2 stone still to lose but I have lost 2 stone through calorie counting so far. It’s not very exciting, I often eat the same thing for breakfast and lunch every day but it has worked for me and I’m just gearing up to crack on with the next 2 stone.

If you’re breastfeeding you get extra calories, which is a bonus.

I make sure I save enough calories (200-300) for a seriously decent treat in the evening and that can keep me going all day. Psychologically not v healthy but it gets me through!

It’s boring and a slog, there’s no quick fix. I find having a goal date in mind (eg I have a holiday in 3 months and baby will be 1) focuses the mind. I don’t do much exercise as the diet bit is about my limit!

Hi OP, my baby's nearing 1 now and I've also struggled a lot with diet/ lack of exercise. I'm just a few kg away from my goal and one thing that helped me massively is daily walks. 45 min to an hour - with baby strapped on in a carrier. Myfitnesspal tells me that an hour of this burns 224 kcal - I don't know how accurate that is but I come back sweating mildly each time and with increased heart rate so it's definitely benefitted me.

Strength training is meant to be incredibly helpful for stubborn fat loss as well. If you say you used to love weights (I'm planning to include that in my routine asap), would you not consider buying a few weights so that you could lift at home? There's so much free guidance on Youtube etc, you can easily slot a few sessions into your weekly routine while the baby's sleeping.

And regarding diet, I'm far from perfection but definitely making progress. If I were you, I would focus on 2 things - water and upping your protein intake. I genuinely find that if I have protein heavy breakfast or lunch, I find myself a LOT less hungry in between meals and much less prone to snacking. If you're mostly vegetarian you can easily fill up on various beans/ lentils, cottage cheese, quark, tofu, eggs (if you eat them?).

Hope this helps xx

OP I feel this so hard. I’m on the opposite end of the spectrum. 2 kids in 2 years (14 month gap) had HG with both and it’s ruined my digestive system. I’m chronically under weight now and feel awful and so unhealthy all of the time. I don’t feel in any way attractive and look a bit like a zombie, big bags under eyes; no boobs, skin and bone.

I feel like I can’t be healthy or get myself on track with two small kids in tow. I just can’t. Hubby is sick of it as I’m always dizzy and fainty and exhausted but I just can’t eat.
I find myself trying to hide how bad it is too, I’ll literally put food in my mouth chew it and end up having to spit it out.

I feel like having kids ruined me 😭

I feel this, 5 months pp and still gaining weight. DC never seems to sleep or have any chill so I wolf down any hint of food (mainly out of packets on the go). I've stopped buying biscuits as a pack would only last 2-3 days.
I'd love a support network. DH tries but he has always been the snacker/fast food pusher in the relationship whereas I always encouraged healthier dinners and exercise. Pre-baby we balanced each other out and was pretty healthy, but severe pregnancy sickness (cruelly eased by constant eating of carbs) and we've both gained way too much weight.
I though breastfeeding would help but that just enabled more snacking!
I'm considering signing up for Gusto/hello fresh/etc. just to try kick start the healthy meals again, but it's difficult after a day wrestling a baby with fomo 😅