I seem to be piling on the weight and have kept a food diary for the last week can you come and give me some pointers please?

[AmIWhatAndWhy]

Tuesday
yoghurt and grapes
half a baked potato with cream cheese and tomato
tuna and coriander fishcakes, raita (homemade with garlic yoghurt and cucumber), spinach and watercress salad and a few homemade chips
plus two milky coffees, one cup of green tea, half a bag of plantain crisps

Wednesday

greek yoghurt and banana
boiled egg salad and breadsticks with hummous
beef steak casserole with lots of veg and a small bit of mash
plus one bag of cashews, three milky coffees

Thursday

buttered seedy toast and an apple
half a spinach and ricotta pizza with tomato salad
pasta with a tomato and olive sauce with a little parmesan a leafy salad and a slice of ciabatta
plus 2 ginger biscuits, orange juice and two milky coffees

Friday

poached egg and beans
butternut squash soup
ginger chilli and lime thai stir fry with boiled rice
plus two cups of tea, one milky coffee, a small bottle of beer

Saturday

Croissants and smoothies
a bean rocket and tomato salad
seafood rissotto with rocket and a couple of slices of bread
plus three milky coffees and almost a bottle of wine

Sunday

Bacon rolls on brown with tomato
Roast chicken and all the works
massive fruit salad
plus a banana mik shake, apple juice, two coffees, glass of red wine

Monday

orange and grapefruit with yoghurt
greek salad in a wholemeal wrap
chicke breast in pancetta with roast vegetable cous cous and green beans
plus one milky coffee and a can of dr pepper

I drink loads of water. I tend to eat small portions and don't think I overeat. I am 25 with two preschoolers and have always been a size 10 -12 but it's creeping up. I am a sahm so am really busy and active but don't do much formal exercise just pilates and swimming once a week, but I walk for miles, often pushing a double pram.

I've never really learnt what is healthy to eat so go on instinct and what I've picked up. It's really depressing me that most of my clothes don't fit.

You aren't eating much really. Could it be fluid retention?

try cutting out the wine and the soft drinks. Lots of calories in wine.
The food sounds ok to me although butter and yogurt might add calories. Milky coffee too.
Criossants a no no.

Is it really not a lot?

Definitly not pregnant, it's also not fluid retention. I have had thyroid issues in the past but that was years ago.

I agree - that doesn't seem a lot to me.

Try eating more veg and a couple of oatcakes with peanut butter or something.

I drank more wine than I would normally as we had guests this weekend.

Cut out alcohol and carbs with evening meal. Risotto and bread should not happen, you only need one carb element to a meal.

I could eat barely anything but if it was carbs I would still put on weight.

I really don't want to cut out the butter milk and cheese, it's important as part of a good diet surely?

Thanks

Thanks Ewe I know that rule but you really need bread to mop up the lovely risotto gloop.

Do you think at least having carbs only at lunchtime might make a difference? If so I will try it for a week or two. I can't bear the thought of sausage and mash without mash on cold wintry nights though.

No don't cut out butter milk and cheese - they seem to be the only fat you're having and you need calcium to lose weight.

You also need to make sure you have enough fibre, protein and carbs per day.

Pushing a double buggy you need the energy in your food to do this - perhaps you aren't getting enough?

Do you have sugar in your coffee?

Also, your breackfast should be your biggest meal and eaten as soon as possible after you get up as it starts your metabolism.

I use a lot of olive and sesame oil, which I assume is a good fat? Cheese is my one weakness, I do'n't have a sweet tooth at all, in fact can't remember the last time i ate chocolate.

What are good things to up my energy? protein like chicken at lunch maybe, or seeds and dried fruit?

Not too many seeds though. How much olive and sesame oil?

Is there a diet nurse at your gp surgery? Might be worth taking your diary to them just for some advice.

Thanks again, not much oil, just for cooking and in salad dressings. I had considered seeing the practice nurse but didn't want to waste their time. It has been the same since my DD was born so I wondered if it could be hormonal, I had the DC within a year of each other (not to be advised lol)

Haven't got any advice but your food sounds very nice!

I generally eat more for breakfast and less for lunch than you (have no idea if that's relevant tbh)

What is a portion for you though? (for example of mashed potato)

Mash I would say one soup ladle, for DP it's four, lol

I find it hard enough to eat what I do for breakfast, DS is a nightmare getting ready for preschool and so most of the morning is taken with feeding washing dressing and chasing the two of them around (they are 2 and 3 this month)