Im having a HUGE problem with eating!

[mom2happy]

Ok- I know you are supposed to have a major appetite when nursing, but this is ridiculous. This is my third one too, so why am I having this problem this time??
All I can think about is what Im going to eat next.
I have no time with 3 kids to be chopping and chewing for hours (which is my usual diet)
I usually do not eat any refined carbs and barely no grains (mostly lean meats and raw veg and fruit) but Im hooked on granola and flour. now Im grabbing crap that I can eat while wearing a fussy baby while pacing around the house.
Im at the point now that Im repulsed by my body. I feel totally ready to exercise and get right back to myself, but cant do it everyday with 3 kids. Everytime I take out my yoga mat and warm up- the baby cries.
With the other two I lost weight every day with out trying.
I know its only 7 weeks since having the baby, but Im still the same weight I was the week after I had her.
I cant stop eating and craving and eating. At first I felt ok about it, like I deserved the pleasure since my birth and recovery were so horrible.
Now I realize its not ok and becoming too much of a habit.

In the scheme of things I feel like a jerk for complaining about this, but I just feel gross. I think Ill go have some chocolate covered almonds and a tea with cream and sugar.

[nikirj]

I could have written your post .

[Knitting Mama]

I'm eating a ton now too, after barely eating anything the first 3 weeks postpartum. Seriously, I lost all my pregnancy weight (14 lbs) and 10 more lbs in the month after Cecilia was born. But that weight loss has completely tapered off because now I'm constantly ravenous. I eat so much, I have no idea where the hell I'm putting it all.

[crazyeight]

ugh. i have an inkling of how you feel! some days i could just eat and eat and eat. i also hate exercise so i try to control weight only by food...it's a real battle. i went down to my prepreg by 4 or 5 weeks but i still needed to loose another 10+ lbs anyways.

[DoulaAlicia]

Meeee tooooo! I gained 60 lbs this pregnancy so had much to take off. By 4 weeks postpartum I'd lost 35 of those pounds. But I gained 4 back! At 10 wks pp I feel fat and ugly and I've never had this problem with other kids either. I'm always hungry. Typing as I chomp on TWO tuna sandwiches for dinner.

[smeisnotapirate]

I'm the same way, but I have a metabolism issue, so at 7 days postpartum, I was back at my prepregnancy weight and now I'm lighter than I was in college. My MW is concerned about my thyroid or something like that, because I should be gaining weight based on my calories and exercise (building muscle mass) and I'm losing instead.

So yeah, I feel you - but on the opposite end in terms of weight. If you ladies could send your excess weight to me, I'd really like it. I canNOT go under 100lbs, and I'm teetering perilously close.

[LenaC]

All I have to say is green smoothies!They will satisfy your carb cravings and provide a bunch of minerals in green leafy veggies (without the taste). I always have major carb cravings, when breastfeeding. Eating more greens always helps to keep down my appetite. Other than that, yeah, I can definitely relate. Also, because of the ups and downs, it's easy to crave comfort foods, so be easy on yourself s

[GreenTeaGinger61]

I joined WW a couple of weeks ago as the eating was seriously out of control. Some of it was just being hungry a lot but much of it was eating to medicate as well. I thought it was interesting that I hit a depression low point the week I started WW.

WW is good for me because I get tons of extra points for nursing so no supply issues but the tracking helps me to just be more aware of what I'm putting into my body.

Now if I could motivate myself to exercise...sigh...

[Carley]

GTG - I was just thinking about joining WW this last week. I refuse to start the calorie obsession again... I was thinking points and a program geared towards lifestyle might do it for me. Is it easy? Does it take much time? If you don't mind, how much does it $?

Originally Posted by DoulaAlicia

Meeee tooooo! I gained 60 lbs this pregnancy so had much to take off. By 4 weeks postpartum I'd lost 35 of those pounds. But I gained 4 back! At 10 wks pp I feel fat and ugly and I've never had this problem with other kids either. I'm always hungry. Typing as I chomp on TWO tuna sandwiches for dinner.

!!! I gained 40 this pregnancy, lost 20 postpartum & put on 5 in the last month. Who GAINS weight while breastfeeding!??! Isn't it supposed to be magic?

K has been sleeping in until 8am so last week I started waking up at 5:45 and walking and walk/jogging (you know... jogging for a block or two and then walking for one... which is about all I can handle )

I can't say it's helped with the hunger much, but at least I'm getting some exercise. I lost 2lbs this week, which I know wasn't all body fat... but at least it's not a gain! The poor neglected Newfie is thrilled about it. I found some cool trails that go back to a creek. It was nice to have some quiet too, since K wont take a bottle and my 4yo is... well... 4

Now the tricky part - KEEPING IT UP!

I also busted out my food processor and am keeping it on the counter instead of burried in the cupbord. I put salad veggies in it & make a chopped salad in seconds and puree carrots and peppers etc for salad dressing and dip.

...I just wish I had cravings for salads and the motivation to chop salads in my food processor instead of grabbing chips and peanut butter sandwiches Ha!

Anyway, totally feeling the stress and overeating crap tribe

[Amandamanda]

GUYS! come join us over at the postpartum weight loss thread-
http://mothering.com/discussions/sho....php?t=1230023. We've got a pretty great group going!

I am doing WW on my own (following the program, entering points on a tracker off of e-bay and weighing myself weekly at home), and have been very successful. I have lost ALL of my pregnancy weight (40+lbs) and am now about 10lbs under. I still have 15-20lbs to go before I'm at a weight I am happy with, but it is still wayyy better than I thought I would be right now. In my previous situations, nursing for me KEPT the weight on, to the point where I went to the doc and he explained that in certain cases the metabolism slows way down while you are nursing in order to be able to provide for the baby in case there is a famine. ugh. Luckily this time, that is not the case for me. I wonder if it is a boy/girl thing, since this is my first boy.

Anwyay, just wanted to tell you all to join us over at our thread. It has been so helpful for me to stay accountable.

[loveneverfails]

Add me on here. I normally lose weight very quickly and easily post partum, but NOT THIS TIME. I am about 3 lbs over my lowest weight.

I was just absolutely starving and ate junk. I'm at 6 1/2 weeks post partum and I am *not* happy with how I look right now.

[GreenTeaGinger61]

Originally Posted by Carley

GTG - I was just thinking about joining WW this last week. I refuse to start the calorie obsession again... I was thinking points and a program geared towards lifestyle might do it for me. Is it easy? Does it take much time? If you don't mind, how much does it $?

I love it Carley. I have to do meetings though I have known many people who do well on line or on their own. I have a great leader, and like meeting with other people who are struggling. Plus getting weighed in works as a great motivation for me;P

I also hate counting calories (which is why sparkpeople does not work for me at all). For some reason point counting just doesn't have the same feeling. I think the lifestyle stuff is great, and they really do emphasize making healthy food choices.

Amanda: I'll check out the thread

I'm doing much better in terms of my eating. I lost five pounds in the last two weeks and am hoping for another 2lb lost this week. My milk supply is really good (in fact, I leaked all over this morning) so I'm thrilled to be losing this much. I'm going to try to exercise at least three times a week this coming week.

[LenaC]

Seriously, green smoothies. Ha ha I know I sound like an advertisement, but they really do work. I always have one for breakfast. It tastes yummy because all you mostly taste is fruits, but then you add in some green-leafy veggies in with that for lots of great minerals. Great way to get your green-leafy veggies, especially if you don't like salads! I like my salads too though so I'll usually have one for lunch. I'm down 30lbs from what I was, when I was prego, from 157 to 125. Obviously, some of it was baby, but still!

[Knitting Mama]

Welp, I discovered at least part of the reason why I can't stop eating everything in sight-- Cecilia put on 1/2 a lb in one week, which is a LOT for her!

[andlee]

Originally Posted by Carley

!!! I gained 40 this pregnancy, lost 20 postpartum & put on 5 in the last month. Who GAINS weight while breastfeeding!??! Isn't it supposed to be magic?

I've been steadily gaining weight since I gave birth too, and it's really bringing me down. I bought a bathing suit with a skirt attached to it yesterday Part of it is that I'm heavier than I've ever been, but I've never had to try to be skinny. I feel really self conscious going to WW, like I'm being super vain or something. My fear is that I would go and be the thinnest person there (doubtful). Booo, I have to do something, though.

[GreenTeaGinger61]

Originally Posted by andlee

I've been steadily gaining weight since I gave birth too, and it's really bringing me down. I bought a bathing suit with a skirt attached to it yesterday Part of it is that I'm heavier than I've ever been, but I've never had to try to be skinny. I feel really self conscious going to WW, like I'm being super vain or something. My fear is that I would go and be the thinnest person there (doubtful). Booo, I have to do something, though.

You wouldn't be I bet. You have to be I think 10lbs from the lowest recommended weight for height (they give a very decent range by the way). There are some women in my meeting who look thin to me but are still losing. One of the friends I made there was quite small and easily reached her goal but I never resented her. She struggled just like I did. I'd give it a shot if I were you. You can usually go to a meeting for free. Might be worth a try to see if you feel comfortable

As for, it's been helping. I've lost some but had a really hard week in terms of body image. I just really huge all week. It's bringing me down and weirdly making it hard for me to stay on track in terms of eating. But I did get to the gym three days (which was my goal).