I don't understand my weight!!

[dontcomeatme]

I have put a lot of weight on in the last few years, around 4stone, had 2 DC back to back with gestational diabetes, forceps delivery 1st and then a c section for the 2nd.
I have breastfed both, I am still breastfeeding. I have 99centile kids, my 2YO is 35lb and my 13 week old is 20lb, so that's 55lb in the double buggy already, not including the frame, their bags, snacks, bottles etc. I don't drive so we bus and walk EVERYWHERE and I am ebf on demand. I haven't lost a single lb. Not between pregnancies and not since my baby was born. I'm also dairy free for suspected diary allergy and still nothing. Surely I should have lost something? I tracked my calories for a few days and they were all well below 2000s. I know I'm strong, my cousin couldn't actually get my pram up a bank the other day and I'm always the one doing the heavy lifting in the house. But why is my body holding onto fat like its feeding 10 infants 😭

Average day

Breakfast - toast and Peanut butter or cereal and fruit and yogurt

I only ever drink black coffee or water.

Dinner - homemade pasta or chicken and salad wrap or rice dish etc

Tea - 5 bean chilli, pizza, curry and rice, kievs, Sunday roasts, soup, baby potatoes and salad, spaghetti bol etc.

Snacks - oranges, apples, strawberrys, breakfast bars, popcorn.

Keep in mind I'm dairy free so all of this is vegan stuff. I used to enjoy the odd biscuit but don't like the vegan version.
Why am I not losing?? I don't understand.

The reakfast bars are the only decent ones I could find without diary, it's basically just a porridge bar or oaty grain bar. Ionly use these as emergency when I'm out and about.

It's horrible isn't it. I'm going to see about a medication change x

And 1200 is ridiculously low. Especially when bf a baby who is not yet on solids.

@dontcomeatme just focus on health for now, you and baby. By all means consider portion size a little but as you say, restriction is not the right answer just now. Eat well, keep the walking going and revisit when baby needs less

Try gluten free pasta it's one of the few foods that tastes the same.

The whole family can eat it. And it's the same price.

I would say, looking at your typical day you are probably not in a calorie deficit. Your diet is also carb heavy, if you're not weighing your food you may be surprised how many calories you are actually consuming.

@dontcomeatme - very kindly, I would suggest you step away from this thread. You're going to get a lot of replies telling you to weigh your protein and count your calories - that isn't what an ED survivor needs. It isn't what a breastfeeding super mama needs. It probably isn't what any of us need but that is a whole other thread!

You've done so well to come to a healthier mindset around food, and to create 2 beautiful children. You absolutely do not need to focus on weight loss at this moment in your life, this is not the time for it. If you were my friend in real life I'd suggest you speak to your health visitor or GP just to make sure you're supported during what can be a really tricky time...

Pregnancy and breastfeeding (and sleep deprivation!) absolutely fucks our bodies up, and it's tough on the emotions as well. Instead of focusing on weight loss, could you focus on health and self care? Do you have anyone who holds the baby for you? Can you take a bath, or a nap, or a walk by yourself? Maybe some of that is more beneficial than losing weight right now

I think your first step should be a trip to the GP for hormone and diabetes blood tests. You’ve had GD twice which at the very least suggests the possibility of insulin resistance/PCOS, if not pre or T2 diabetes.

Youre also on steroids which will impact weight/hormones.

Work out if there is a medical cause behind your weight gain and difficulty losing weight.

Then seek professional nutrition advice, you have a complex history and present, you need diary free due to breastfeeding, monitoring to prevent slipping back to an ED and possibly specific macros to account for insulin insensitivity/deficiency.

Thank you, I think you're right I'll try and focus on taking care of myself in the current phase of my life and then focusing on healthier goals after baby is a little older. Thank you 🫶

That just sounds like so much 😅 thank you you're right I need professional guidance with all of this x

There's some good advice about calorie deficit... I'd be surprised if you need much over 1500 a day. Best to get the advice of a nutritionist though. Easiest first step is to swap out carbs like pasta, rice, bread for extra veg... The more colourful the better. Have the Bolognese but load plate with veg. Good breakfasts with lots of protein and watch the fat in cooking and choose 0 calorie drinks... Can unintentionally add hundreds a day in lattes, juices etc. Fruit for snacks. Don't go hungry.

This is what I wanted to say but I wouldn't say it as well. I just want you to look after yourself and know that there's plenty of time to think about losing weight but i honestly don't think now is the time to do it. I worry you're putting too much pressure on yourself especially when you're not getting much sleep and you're meeting the demands of a baby and toddler.

I know you're unhappy with how you look at the moment but how about focusing on knowing that this time is temporary, you're nurturing your children and in a year or so you know you'll be able to focus more on getting in shape.

I wrecked my mental health trying to do too much when I had a baby and toddler, lack of sleep etc. Please go east on yourself you're amazing.

Blimey some of the comments on this thread are incredible. It's as though people are blinkered to everything you have going on and have just focused on the weightloss aspect.
I don't really have anything to add other than my anecdata that once I stopped breastfeeding after my DC were weaned, the weight just seemed to fall off without any effort. Keep well OP.

If you had one piece of toast with one tsp of sugar free PB, then maybe 100 cals worth of yoghurt or fruit, that would be a good breakfast.

Maybe lunch or dinner should be something a bit lighter, like an omelette and salad.

Then the other meal could be something bigger, but aiming for maybe 1600 or less on total.

With room for a couple small snacks, maybe fruit or carrots with one tbsp of hummus.

It does depend on your height but you must simply be eating too many calories, and possibly too many carbs.

I wasn't able to lose weight until I stopped breastfeeding.

@paisley256tthank you 🫶 it really means a lot x

@Jijithecatyes I thought that but then questioned whether I was just being too soft on myself and need to suck up the "starving myself" again. I'm going to concentrate on my babies for now and hopefully in the next chapter of my life I can have more success with healthy weight loss, thank you 🫶

What are you on... it's not a lot of food. It's pretty standard and not likely to make anyone 'huge'. Ridiculous comment

I didn't mean to quote Hdoodley on my last post 🤦🏻‍♀️

100 calories for breakfast ? Good grief !

400 plus would be more reasonable - and it’s better to eat more early than late

No. About 300. How is a piece of toast with Pb plus fruit and yoghurt 100 cals?

Then 400 for one main meal, 700 for the other and 100-200 for snacks.

Perfectly reasonable weight loss diet.

Have you actually looked at what it’s made of? Theres basically no fibre in it and the calories are the same.

Stress and lack of sleep can raise cortisol levels which can increase fat storage. Unfortunately not much you can do about that with young babies. Try to do some nice things for yourself to relax when you can.