[ChasingPeace]

I am very frustrated. I gave birth to my ds 18 weeks ago. I have weighed 246

since 6 weeks postpartum (down from my pregnancy high of 279). I find myself eating a lot of junk food (A LOT! See below), and I don't gain weight, so I'm guessing my body needs the extra calories to protect my milk supply. If I try to diet (I've tried WW many times since giving birth), I find myself bingeing.

Here's what I ate yesterday (a pretty typical day):

Breakfast: 2 eggs, 2 slices whole grain toast with butter
Snack: 3 HoHo rolls (1 package)
Lunch: Roast beef grinder (like a sub), Big grab bag of Doritoes
Snack: Cream cheese streudel snack cake
Dinner: 2 soft tacos, 3/4 of a pint of Ben & Jerry's with Dove chocolate sauce.

I'd love to lose some weight, but more imporantly I'd like to eat healthier. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get enough to eat without eating junk food? Maybe I'm deluding myself, but I don't think it's a question of self-control, just unwise choices that leave me famished and prompt me to make more unwise choices. Thanks!!!

 

[kerc]

several ideas:
1. what about not thinking about dieting as a means toweight loss but having an overhaul of your eating habits. Trying to eat better foods for the sake of long-term health.

2. snacks seem to be the issue -- do you go too long without eating and then eat crap because it is satisfying? Try to snack every time you feed the baby -- crackers and cheese, nuts, fruits and cottage cheese. Something with protein.

3. and finally...check out the good eating forum and you'll likely find some ideas on snacking/support for getting out of the junk cycle.

 

[Sisyphus]

Well, at first glance it looks like you aren't eating much in the way of fiber. Fiber is GOOD for weight loss because it fills you up, not to mention that fiber rich foods are also nutrient rich. Things like fruits and veggies...

My suggestion would be to make small incremental changes. First, set a goal and decide how long you want to take to get there (be realistic LOL!). For instance, your goal might be something like "I want to eat three healthy meals and two healthy snacks a day and limit "junk" food to twice a week". You might decide that to get from where you are today, to that goal will take you two months.

Sit down and figure out HOW to get there using SMALL incremental changes that are sustainable. I.e. Week 1: Add fruit to breakfast. Week 2: Switch from a grinder at lunch to a Turkey sandwich (light mayo or none), or Salad with dressing on the side (dip your fork in the dressing before each bite. AMazing how much less dressing you need this way!), Week 3: Cook dinner most nights including at least one fresh veggie and lean protein (i.e. chicken, turkey, etc.)...

You get the idea... it is so much easier to maintain those small incremental changes than to try and overhaul the entire system at once. Your chances for success are much greater, though your results might be slower in coming, they will be longer lasting and sustainable.

Also, meal planning is a MUST. Make a list of the meals and snacks you plan to eat during the week and shop for them. Try to keep "trigger" foods (foods that you can't eat just one of, i.e. for me it's chips and ice cream and cookies) out of the house. It's frustrating when you want that "treat" but I figure if I want it badly enough to get in the car and go get it, then I can have it LOL! Fortunately, that rarely happens!

Be easy on yourself... or at least try not to be too hard on yourself. You are doing great just by trying to figure out the problem and work on it!

Lo

 

[ChasingPeace]

Oh, you ladies are great! Great, very do-able advice! Actually, I left out that I work outside of home, so that's where I'm doing most of my snacking and why I'm not eating healthier dinners (I'm not cooking them!). Of course, I'm the queen of excuses and rationalization! I'll try the ideas you've given me here (if anyone else has anymore, keep them coming!) and maybe start or join a junk food recovery thread.

 

[kerc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChasingPeace I'll try the ideas you've given me here (if anyone else has anymore, keep them coming!) and maybe start or join a junk food recovery thread.

try here

things that travel well to work (I WOHM too and fall victim to the vending monster quite frequently. I'm on week 3 of no vending machines).
yogurt
trail mix
crackers and peanut butter
fruit

Somehow it is easy for me to pack a lunch for someone else, but I dread doing it for myself. So I bought some canned soup and whatnot that I can leave at work. I supplement it with fresh fruit/yogurt/juice that I bring daily.

 

[Boobiemama]

I dont have free hands to type alot... but, thats how I ate. I got in the habit of eaing ALOT and alot of junk when i was preggo.

I continued when i gave birth. My son just turned 4 months. When he was 4 weeks old i got serious and gave up the junk. i realized I was stuffing my mouth with crap all day long. I was disgusted with myself when i realized how bad i was.

For snacks, how about strng cheese or yogurt? thats what i snack on. or baby carrots, or now i have peas out of the garden, and i usually have 2 salads a day.

i think the best way to get over the bad snackies is to just give up sugar. no goodies. it was hard the first few days, but now i dont even miss it.

I used to sit in front of the pc and eat 6 cupcakes at a time!! yikes!

 

[ChasingPeace]

Oh, Angie, I know what you mean (about the 6 cupcakes!). I've sat down and eaten a pint and a half of Ben and Jerry's at a time

: I should give up sugar all together--I'm sure I'm addicted to it. I need to give myself a little time to get there psychologically--I'm just not there yet (which is big proof that I really have a problem!). Thanks, Kerc, for the link. When I'm ready, I'll be there.

 

[Geofizz]

Snacking at work ~ Ahhh, a topic near and dear to my heart. Here's some things I've done:

I have a huge sweet tooth. I find that I can largely satisfy my sweets cravings with fruit. A particular favorite is home made gorp with dried apricots and raisins. If I bring the whole mixture of gorp with me to work, the whole thing is gone by lunch on the first day. Instead, I bring a small baggie with me to work each day, and the rest stays home.

I refill my water bottle anytime I want a snack. If I still want the snack after finishing the water, then I eat it. Often, I think I confuse hunger and thirst.

I don't bring bills or change that the vending machines can take. All coins and $1 bills stay at home. When the urge is great enough to go out to buy a coffee so I can break my $5 bill, then I try to take a walk around the block and see if I still need that candy bar.

Lunches are either leftovers from the previous evening's dinner or are made in huge batches and frozen. Lately, I've been making 10-15 servings of soup on Sundays and freezing them in 1 c portions. If I make something different each Sunday (or every other Sunday) then I can alternate and the lunches don't get boring.

Finally, ease up on yourself. You are breastfeeding, caring for an infant, adjusting to a whole new lifestyle, working, and likely not sleeping much. It can be stressful. Find time for yourself in all of that.

 

[kerc]

Quote:

Finally, ease up on yourself. You are breastfeeding, caring for an infant, adjusting to a whole new lifestyle, working, and likely not sleeping much. It can be stressful. Find time for yourself in all of that.

Agreed. I think I have (in the last 6 weeks) gotten into a reasonably healthy diet. But I do still buy ice cream and have about 1/2 to 1 cup of it a day.

And finally I just re-read your initial post --- everyone's experience is different, everyone's body is different. That said I gained a ton of weight with my pg (80+lbs). Baby was 9lbs 1 oz. Also lost the placenta of course. Went back at 4 weeks pp and was down like 10 lbs. The weight is finally coming off after 20 months. I only now down to prebaby + 10. My point in mentioning this is to remember that sometimes your body just holds onto weight, especially if you need some nutrients you're not getting in your diet. Focusing on the eating healthfully without looking at weightloss can provide for a healthy future weight.

 

[ChasingPeace]

Thanks, Wendy and Kristin, for your kind words and suggestions.

I like your idea about not bringing bills or change to work, Wendy. We have a convenience store and cafeteria in my building, so I think I'll have to bring no money, just nutritious snacks. And Kristin, you make a good point about the body hanging on to weight when it's not getting the right nutrients. Good motivation for eating more healthfully! If I'm missing nutrients, ds might be, too, and I'd do anything for that little guy (even eat heathfully!).

 

[manitou]

1. The Weight Watchers Garden Veggie soup in the "Getting Started" book. I make a quadruple batch. I never dreamed I'd like it, being a junk food junkie myself, but I really enjoy it. I take a whole wheat pita and spray it with a quick spritz of cooking spray, sprinkle a little garlic salt, and toast it, and eat it like a cracker with my zero-point soup.

2. Low-fat Triscuits and low-fat cheese. Low-fat cheese actually tastes pretty good. 7 Triscuits and 7 Triscuit-sized slices of low-fat cheese is about 4 points and is surprisingly satisfying. Stick it in a ziplock for work.

3. This one is amazing: buy a microwave popcorn popper. Take a couple stabs at popping popcorn in it and you will figure out how long it takes to make popcorn in your microwave. Give it a few shots of "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" and put salt on it. Very, very few calories, tons of fiber, and surprisingly delicious. Make a bunch of it and bring it in a ziplock bag to work.

4. For that matter, the low-fat microwave popcorn bags aren't too bad. But still more calories than above. When I first had DS I would pop a bag of that and count all the points right away, then just sort of leave the bag open in the kitchen and have a few bites every time I went through. You could bring it to work and do something similar.

5. Does your grocery store have "Skinny Cow" or something similar? These are ice cream sandwiches that are only 2 points and really satisfy my sweet tooth. When I was nursing I felt like I needed a snack before bed (thankfully that craving has gone away now that I'm done nursing). A "Skinny Cow", or a little bit of non-fat yogurt with Hershey's sauce on it, was really helpful.

6. One thing that makes me feel like I'm indulging myself is fru-fru bubble water. The more expensive the better. Get something European in a pretty bottle. People at work will think you're so hip. Let it fizz all the way down!

7. Here's one for your true junk food junkies like myself. Low-fat tortilla chips (baked) and that gross orange nacho cheese sauce from a jar. It has surprisingly few calories (probably because it is made of some substance not found in nature!). Measure out the cheese sauce according to the jar - it is something like 2 tbps. has 40 calories. Mix it with a little salsa. Dip 20 baked tortilla chips in it. Another thing is you can grate the low-fat cheddar over some tortilla chips on a plate, microwave it, and dip it in salsa. Yum!

 

[mamabeth]

I just noticed this thread, and last year I totally could have written it too. Everybody has given you great advice...let me throw a few more things at you.

I know exercise might sound like a crazy thing to do, but I have found that if I am moving around I don't want as much of the crap. Also, if I'm bored (and that means snacktime!), taking a walk or run helps so much. Okay, I realize I sound like a friggin health magazine but it really is true.

Also, if I want snacks, I buy the frozen weight watcher treats so I have to defrost them before I eat them. They're not terrible for you (although they also have things not found in nature, I'm sure!) and you have to really want one to eat it.

I also think that although you realize that something needs to be done, you are nursing a babe exclusively and during the first year it's hard to do something "extra." I didn't really change my habits until my babe was like 9-10 months old, so it's awesome that you are doing something now.

Hang in there and let us know how you're doing.
Peace.