How not to eat supper at supper

[Tigerle]

I'm sure a lot of you have BDTD...

Except for the weight that comes off immediately postpartum I haven't lost an ounce since early Sept. Zilch. my problem is (I think) that I still feed DD round the clock, about every 2.5 hours, maybe she goes a bit longer at night, but I can't tell because I am too tired to check the clock. I am still about 40 lb away from my ideal weight (ok I admit it that was ten years ago) and 20 lb from what I'd consider normal weight. I think 30 lb would be the right goal, but even 10 would sound great.

My weight is bothering me for all the obvious reasons, but it is also putting too much stress on my joints and back (I have had spine surgery) and saps my energy, thus keeping me from getting about more. it's just too cold for strenuous outside exercise (nor would I be ready for it), and DD gets excema from the cold air. DH would be happy to watch her in the evenings, but I just have very little time to get away, as she feeding times are spaced even closer (probably nurses 3 times between 6.30 and 9.30). And because I have had spine surgery i can't just do anything. I found a local class for people with back problems that runs for an hour and feels good, but ther is no way i can get in serious calorie-bruning exercise at this point. So, I need to eat significantly less.

Problem is, with all that breastfeeding I get dairy and protein cravings, which are particularly bad in the morning when I am alone with DD and close to the fridge. Afternoons are better, as DS and sometimes DH are around and I think I could do with having very little for supper - only that's a family meal, and takes a long time as DS, who is somewhat underweight and needs to keep his blood sugar up, needs to be coaxed through eating healthy, nourishing options. And while we are doing that, I eat. And eat. And eat. Can't keep away from the cheese, the smoked salmon, the eggs, the salami laid out in front of me. I'd have to literally go away, and I kbnow DS would react very badly and take even longer to go to sleep than he does now.

Any ideas?

[emilysmama]

This is probably not helpful, because it sounds like you feed directly, instead of pump. 

My dd didn't figure out how to breastfeed for the first three months, so I pumped constantly around the clock, every 2-3 hours for the first three months.  I was bored, so during my daytime pumping sessions, I would march in place while pumping, so for roughly 10 minutes each pumping session.  I looked really silly, but it helped relieve the boredom.  As a result, I found that I quickly lost not just the postpartum weight, but I was actually ten pounds below my pre-pregnancy weight by the time I had my 8 week post partum check up. 

Of course, once my dd started feeding on demand, that cut down on the pumping sessions considerably, and then I started reading instead of marching during the remaining pumping sessions, and the weight all came back.

So even though you don't pump, is there something that you do that is pretty brainless and often, like cooking maybe, that you can combine movement in short bursts? Do you watch any TV?  There is no reason that TV watching needs to be done sitting still.

Just a thought, but I don't know if the above is at all helpful.   I sympathize because it can be very challenging to carve out the time to exercise.

I think I was able to carve out the time to exercise only when I changed my perspective.  Instead of thinking to myself that I need to lose X pounds of weight, I changed the reason that I want to exercise.  My father had heart problems, and died due to heart failure a year ago.  Even while he was still alive, in the midst of all that trouble, I decided that I needed to do cardiovascular exercises to make my heart strong enough so that I will be healthy enough to see my dd grow up to a ripe old age and have grandchildren.  For me, that was a much more effective way to motivate me to make the time to exercise.

[AGF]

So just to make sure I understand, you need to be at the dinner table to help your son get through the meal and it is important to you to have a family meal AND it is difficult for you to leave the house between the end of dinner and bed because you nurse your daughter frequently during that time?

If that is the case then I too have a tendency to overeat at dinner but would be fine if I weren't sitting at the table eating with everyone (meaning im not really that hungry).  Lately, I have been eating a yogurt at the table (with whatever veggies I have prepared) while the husband and small ones eat and then I get up to clean the pots and silverware and dishes from the day.  That way I am right next to everyone engaged in conversation, helping with the boys, and also everything is done and cleaned by the time we are all done! 

This is the step that I am working on, coming downstairs after putting the boys to bed and heading straight out of the door for a walk, leaving DH to deal with the 'getting out of bed or i need a drink' requests...I'll let you know if that actually happens.  ha.

Anyway, I feel for you.  Its so frustrating when you have all the information and theoretical opportunity to do it and it just doesn't happen.  We'll get it figured out! Good luck!

[Linda on the move]

Originally Posted by Tigerle 

Can't keep away from the cheese, the smoked salmon, the eggs, the salami laid out in front of me.

Any ideas?

What I see is that your body is telling you it needs protein and calcium, and that the option for those items you have in front of you are all REALLY high in fat.

(I don't buy the eat fat to lose fat thing)

My suggestion is to up your protein/calcium in lower fat (and therefor lower calorie) ways. Fat free greek yogurt is a great option. It's ready to go and you can eat it while you feed your little guy. Low fat cheese is really easy to find now, made with 2% milk, it taste like the other stuff, but it much "friendlier" to our knees and spines. Canadian bacon is a yummy, smoky, ready to eat meat, that is low in fat.  Make yourself your own plate with your healthy, lower fat foods, and put lots of fresh vegies on it (because they are great to mindlessly munch on and help fill us up) and then munch away, knowing that you are loving your body by giving it what it needs.

[imogenlily]

I have go-to foods with some nutritional value that I allow myself unlimited amounts of. For me it's spinach with a light dressing, and skim milk. As much as I want. I eat regular sized portions of regular foods, and then if I still want what I feel is an irregular amount of food, I eat spinach and drink milk. They fill me up, are pretty good for my body, and I don't have any emotional upheaval after eating a ton of spinach or drinking a big glass of milk. I don't know if those are foods you like, but I like Linda's idea of nonfat yogurt, too.

[sewaneecook]

For me, the last baby weight after I plateaued needed more exercise in order to start losing weight again.  No amount of food watching did much good.  I needed activity.  Once I started regular exercise the pounds fell off and my appetite leveled out.  This happened both times after having a baby. 

[nola79]

What I do is if I've already eaten a lot that day, I just have a salad for dinner. That way, I don't feel left out while everybody else is eating. I use lots of greens and veggies so I get in a lot of good nutrition that way too. Olive oil and vinegar for dressing only. I know this thread is kinda old, so I hope you've had success!

[Tigerle]

Thanks so much for your input - I hope you are all reading this. I am sorry I never replied, but when the thread was so slow to get going I got disheartened thinking "they are just as stumped at my conundrum as I am" and didn't check back again. I really appreciate all the advice and yes, it is still relevant even after almost a year. With sticking to the little exercise I do and especially with nightweaning DD this fall the cravings have gone and I've lost about ten lbs and while it feels a lot better and I have a lot more energy I am no way near an acceptable weight yet. I do have time for more exercise at the moment - DD has started at daycare, but I will start work next month so still need to eat better - now I have to control my cravings for Christmas chocolate and cookies! After reading this thread, i immediately started to fill my plate with fresh vegetables for supper and I am going to try to keep that up.

I really want to fit inot my ski pants this winter!