Breastfeeding - Losing weight - Need some healthy high calorie snacks!

[luminesce]

I stepped on the scale yesterday and realized I'm down 5 lbs and at the lowest weight yet since my baby was born (we're still nursing at almost 26 months.) I've felt run down and was bruising easily too but 1) I don't exercise but I'm constantly on the go here at home. Chasing a toddler around, cleaning, making foods all while nursing takes a lot more out of me than I realized! 2) I don't eat enough. 3) I don't sleep enough. So I'm taking a couple of weeks to try and focus on me a little before I overly concerned.

I counted calories yesterday - about 1650. I tried to eat more than usual and even this was likely not enough for me to maintain my weight. I'm 5'7 or so and 120 lbs. I was about 125 pre-pregnancy and 135 post-partum. A couple of months ago I was 125 but have gone back down (I think it is probably due to hubby starting a new job, stress, me being more busy, neglecting eating as much, etc.)

In any case, I'm looking for recipes for high calorie but healthy snacks for me to munch on in-between meals. We don't do peanut butter (use sunbutter instead) but it is pretty high in Vitamin E and I'm a little worried about not getting enough Vitamin K (easy bruising) so I don't want to overload on the sunbutter for calories. (I've read too much Vitamin E interferes with Vitamin K.)

[amcal]

Full fat yogurt smoothies, coconut oil bark (mix coconut oil with nut butter, some cocoa powder, nuts, coconut and sweetener of your choice - this is super adjustable to your liking - add nuts, leave them out, add coconut, leave it out - then freeze), make a plate of walnuts, cheese and a sliced apple or pear, sliced avocado with a bit of salt.

[organicmidwestmama]

meat that is quick to prepare- cheese burgers with a whole grain or even homemade bun or just cheeseburger ontop of salad greens. also beef sticks/jerky

delicious cheese such as triple cream brie (Red Hawk from Cowgirl Creamery is divine) with grapes or other seasonal fruit.

make a batch of "good" fat smoothies and drink all day- frozen fruit, can of coconut milk, coconut oil, honey, full fat yogurt/keffir.

fish- salmon poached in cream or coconut milk with lemon rind and curry served with greens fried in butter and brown rice.

tuna salad sanwhiches w/homemade mayo.

custards with lots of egg yolk, cream and natural sweeteners like maple syrup/honey/sucanat.

[mumkimum]

nuts

hard boiled eggs

cheese sticks (or your own cut up cheese cubes/slices)

full-fat greek yogurt (yum!)


I also like that all-day smoothie idea

(FYI, you might find the weight loss to slow down soon - mine did right after dd hit 2 years without reduction in nursing or anything)

[cristeen]

How's your iron level? That can also contribute to the bruising. Do you eat red meat or any other high iron foods? Cook in cast iron?

I'd start making sure you get plenty of good fats in - anything you can add CO or good butter to from your scrambled eggs, smoothies, nut butter balls, bake with it, cook with it, etc. just for calories sake.

If you gave us some idea of a day's worth of food we might be able to make some better suggestions of minor tweaks to make.

[425lisamarie]

Originally Posted by cristeen

How's your iron level? That can also contribute to the bruising. Do you eat red meat or any other high iron foods? Cook in cast iron?

I'd start making sure you get plenty of good fats in - anything you can add CO or good butter to from your scrambled eggs, smoothies, nut butter balls, bake with it, cook with it, etc. just for calories sake.

If you gave us some idea of a day's worth of food we might be able to make some better suggestions of minor tweaks to make.

This was true for me during my vegan days. No matter what I ate or suplimented it wasn't enough my iron was SO low. I eat meat constantly now and it changed pretty much overnight

[luminesce]

Originally Posted by cristeen

How's your iron level? That can also contribute to the bruising. Do you eat red meat or any other high iron foods? Cook in cast iron?

I'd start making sure you get plenty of good fats in - anything you can add CO or good butter to from your scrambled eggs, smoothies, nut butter balls, bake with it, cook with it, etc. just for calories sake.

If you gave us some idea of a day's worth of food we might be able to make some better suggestions of minor tweaks to make.

I had my iron levels tested at my last well-woman visit - was fine. My iron has actually always been a little high, even during the latter part of pregnancy when levels normally decline, mine was pretty up there (above 13) This is why I was thinking I'm either I'm low in Vitamin K, B12, both, something else -- or maybe that it is even partly hormonal. The bruising seemed to get really bad (along with my nerves and mood!) right before my period and then lessen.

For breakfast I usually eat hash browns, waffles, buttered toast, oatmeal, apple pancakes, cereal and fruit.
Lunch is often dinner leftovers, tortilla wraps with different stuffings, rice, pasta & sauces, vegetables, sandwiches, veggie soups.
Dinner is most always chicken, turkey or beans for protein (We don't eat red meat aside from venison occasionally) - these are prepared in a myriad of ways; we love Italian flavors. Sides vary but are usually veggies - carrots, potatoes, peas, green beans, corn, sweet potatoes, butternut squash or pasta and rice.

Our diet really isn't all that varied; we're all a little picky and a bit in a rut.

I had to cut out eggs - DS seems to have an allergy or, at least, intolerance and seems to react through my milk as well.

[cristeen]

Well, looking at your menu, you're relying an awful lot on grains. I know they're cheap, but nutritionally they're lacking. I would really work on broadening your horizons because obviously the grains aren't providing you with what you need right now. Looking at that menu, I'd say you need more protein, definitely more fat, and more variety of fresh produce.

You can't do eggs... Can you do dairy? Cheese and yogurt are both good sources of protein and fat.

[organicmidwestmama]

Originally Posted by serenitii

I had my iron levels tested at my last well-woman visit - was fine. My iron has actually always been a little high, even during the latter part of pregnancy when levels normally decline, mine was pretty up there (above 13) This is why I was thinking I'm either I'm low in Vitamin K, B12, both, something else -- or maybe that it is even partly hormonal. The bruising seemed to get really bad (along with my nerves and mood!) right before my period and then lessen.

For breakfast I usually eat hash browns, waffles, buttered toast, oatmeal, apple pancakes, cereal and fruit.
Lunch is often dinner leftovers, tortilla wraps with different stuffings, rice, pasta & sauces, vegetables, sandwiches, veggie soups.
Dinner is most always chicken, turkey or beans for protein (We don't eat red meat aside from venison occasionally) - these are prepared in a myriad of ways; we love Italian flavors. Sides vary but are usually veggies - carrots, potatoes, peas, green beans, corn, sweet potatoes, butternut squash or pasta and rice.

Our diet really isn't all that varied; we're all a little picky and a bit in a rut.

I had to cut out eggs - DS seems to have an allergy or, at least, intolerance and seems to react through my milk as well.

your breakfast is pretty much carbs/grains/starches only, that might not be enough food for you ya know? you need something that packs more substance, more protein, more fat, more nutrition in each bite. how bout homemade chicken or turkey sausages? bacon is actually really high in protein, 7 grams per peice in the no-nitrate organic stuff i get (turkey bacon is good if you arent into pork).

are you eating whole grain pasta? if its made with white flour it has basically no nutrients besides calories and carbs. id suggest tinkyada brown rice pasta- they sell it at coops, whole foods ect and its high protein, high fiber.

vegetables are certainly important but in my opinion they should be served with fat to make their nutrients more available in your body and to make them taste better and help you maintain/gain weight. so add some coconut oil, butter, red palm oil, extra virgin olive oil and salt to all cooked veggies.

a great way to enjoy fresh veggies is raw dipped in hummous or homemade dips made with whole milk sour cream.

[luminesce]

Originally Posted by cristeen

You can't do eggs... Can you do dairy? Cheese and yogurt are both good sources of protein and fat.

Yes - I eat cheeses and yogurt (mostly frozen). I don't drink milk plain but use it in baking/cooking.

[luminesce]

Originally Posted by organicmidwestmama

your breakfast is pretty much carbs/grains/starches only, that might not be enough food for you ya know? you need something that packs more substance, more protein, more fat, more nutrition in each bite. how bout homemade chicken or turkey sausages? bacon is actually really high in protein, 7 grams per peice in the no-nitrate organic stuff i get (turkey bacon is good if you arent into pork).

are you eating whole grain pasta? if its made with white flour it has basically no nutrients besides calories and carbs. id suggest tinkyada brown rice pasta- they sell it at coops, whole foods ect and its high protein, high fiber.

vegetables are certainly important but in my opinion they should be served with fat to make their nutrients more available in your body and to make them taste better and help you maintain/gain weight. so add some coconut oil, butter, red palm oil, extra virgin olive oil and salt to all cooked veggies.

a great way to enjoy fresh veggies is raw dipped in hummous or homemade dips made with whole milk sour cream.

I usually mix whole grain and plain pastas. I'd like to do all whole grain but most I've tried are just too "gritty" for my taste.

I'm not into pork. I don't do bacon because of the nitrates (From what I've read, even if it says 'no-nitrate' it is usually just a trick of labeling.)

I usually use a vegan oil-based buttery spread on veggies.

[es1967]

Its funny because I am your height, eat less (I think)but weigh more. My best weight is 120-125 (what your at) but I weigh around 130 now and I am still nursing my 2.5 yr old. Maybe we should trade diets. I eat a healthy breakfast-muesli or oatmeal and add a little coconut oil,flax,yogurt,shredded coconut and a little fruit.
Lunch-salad,veggie burger, homemade veggie pizza, black bean burrito w avocado or bean soups
dinner- one protein (either Tofu,chickpea patty,lentils etc) w say a potato/sw potato and lots of greens and veggies.
sometimes veggie pasta dishes, veggie stirfry w tofu and jasmine rice, homeade soups etc
Afternoon snack is often a green smoothie w greens and fruit.

I guess you must have a fast metabolism. I was feeling really run down a few wks ago and started taking coconut oil again. That made a hug difference in my energy and cravings. I also take a B12 supplement everyday. My toddler is so busy and often keeps me up at night. He had a cold this past week and I do not even feel tired since I've been doing the CO.
Good luck.

[luminesce]

Originally Posted by es1967

Its funny because I am your height, eat less (I think)but weigh more. My best weight is 120-125 (what your at) but I weigh around 130 now and I am still nursing my 2.5 yr old. Maybe we should trade diets. I eat a healthy breakfast-muesli or oatmeal and add a little coconut oil,flax,yogurt,shredded coconut and a little fruit.
Lunch-salad,veggie burger, homemade veggie pizza, black bean burrito w avocado or bean soups
dinner- one protein (either Tofu,chickpea patty,lentils etc) w say a potato/sw potato and lots of greens and veggies.
sometimes veggie pasta dishes, veggie stirfry w tofu and jasmine rice, homeade soups etc
Afternoon snack is often a green smoothie w greens and fruit.

I guess you must have a fast metabolism. I was feeling really run down a few wks ago and started taking coconut oil again. That made a hug difference in my energy and cravings. I also take a B12 supplement everyday. My toddler is so busy and often keeps me up at night. He had a cold this past week and I do not even feel tired since I've been doing the CO.
Good luck.

Thanks for the ideas.

Yeah, I've always had a fast metabolism; which was fine until nursing. I'm ok with dealing with it as long as I know it is just nursing and not some underlying health problem. I am a little concerned because I'd like to try for #2 but am afraid I can't healthily support three with my current weight!

How much B12 do you take? I've wanted to take a supplement but can't find any guidance on how much is safe while nursing. I do eat chicken and turkey but still feel like I may be a little low w/B12.

[aikigypsy]

It was kind of mentioned above, but I wanted to recommend trail mix (any combination of nuts and dried fruit). I like to always have some on hand, and kept a container of it by the bed. When I was nursing more at night (still am some, but not as much), I would usually eat a big handful in the middle of the night. It's also handy for out and about, if you remember to bring it. The main downside is that it's not cheap, but it is pretty calorie-dense stuff. It's an easy way to add a few hundred calories a day with no cooking.

[Sol_y_Paz]

Has anyone mentioned peanut butter balls yet? :

[es1967]

Originally Posted by Sol_y_Paz

Has anyone mentioned peanut butter balls yet? :

Those peanut butter balls are awesome. I made some last week. I'll find the thread and link it.

Regarding the B-12 you can take alot and it not be a problem. I just got some called "no shot" by Superior Source. They dissolve instantly and are 1000 mcg. I've had a B-12 issue since I was 13 yrs old so I have gotten the B-12 shots at the Doctors numerous times. BTW I was not a vegetarian (12 yrs before being a vegetarian)when I first had the low b-12 so it has nothing to do w being a veg for some people. I would go and get your B-12 and iron tested again just to see what it at. Good luck! I wish I had your metabolism.
The nuts and the peanut butter balls are a great snack.

[LeahC]

This happens to me as well while nursing. I have been blessed with a pretty good metabolism my whole life, but it takes on a mind on its own while I am breastfeeding. I am 5' 7" and I got down to 112 by 9 months post partum with my son and down to 113 within the last 2 months with my daughter. At least with my daughter I knew what to expect, but with my son I was so worried that I was deathly sick or something (first time momma worries, of course!).

What I do is focus on the good full fats. Full fat dairy for everything = yum! Added a little extra virgin olive oil to my steam veggies, I did eat more peanut butter which you have said no to...have you considered almond butter? That could be a good alternative to Sunbutter. Ate trail mix and just more nuts in general. I love raw, unpasturized almonds! You can find some organic farms online who will ship them to you.

I also upped my salmon consumption. I love it but kinda forget about it at times. I also take a fish oil supplement, which helps a lot. Coconut oil is great to cook with.