Help please with diet advice

[Dani-lou]

Hi Ladies,

I have recently given birth to my son Theo on 29 Sept last year. I lost my first son who was premature (2008) and in 2009 had two late first trimester mc. I feel like my body has been pregnant forever as most of my pregnancies have been pretty much back to back. My most recent preg was obviously full of anxiety and I was on moderate bedrest from 16wks onwards.
I went up from 8.5stone to just over 12!! I have never ever been this big and although I have lost 2 stone since delivery I still have a way to go. I am small in height so any excess weight I am carrying is really noticable.

I have tried to get back into exercising first by going to the gym - bit of cardio (cross trainer, rowing, treadmill, bit of floor work followed by some weights) but after my first session I started bleeding not heavily but enough to make me a little concerned. I have had my 6wk check and was told all stiches I had were disolvable. I have tried core stability classes - started last wk to help tone those flabby areas but I just felt ashamed because looking around there were women in their late 60's who were 1. fitter than me and 2. stronger and more agile.

I just wanted some help really, tips from others, what threads to look at on b&b, what classes have worked for others, diet tips - I have never dieted in my life, never needed to but now I feel so overwealmed by diets and exercise programmes so much so I dont know where to start.

I also have a demanding baby who is very unsettled so difficult to find time to exercise well. Also I have an intolerance to vegetables - ok not intolerance just cant stand the things! I eat fruit though.

Please ladies, I am desperate to get back into some sexy underwear and feel the spark in my marriage again - getting into shape will help. I hate having to tuck my tummy into my knickers and I dont want to exist in nothing other than tracksuit bottoms.

Help please, where do I start ?

Danielle

 

[aliss]

Hi Dani-Lou

I also have a very demanding baby (now he's just demanding - before he was colic and screamed 20 hours a day).

The most important thing is REST of course. After that is diet and then exercise. Eat reasonable size portions (not starvation diets).

Here's a good guide to show you how to eyeball a portion size:
https://www.prevention.com/images/cma/portion_control_chartFULL.gif

Fresh, healthy foods. I know you hate veggies but are there ANY that you enjoy? You really need some minerals and vitamins. Your body and mind has been through a lot with the loss of your son and the birth of a premature baby recently.

At 3 months postpartum, I mostly joggled with my baby swaddled in his stroller (although this was summer, I don't know if you have snow there). It helped him settle. You can also wear him in a sling adding 10lbs resistance to you and walk for 1-2 hours a day. Again, helps settle colicky babies.

Start slow, perhaps adding in 20-30 minutes of walking or running 3x per week or an exercise video during naps.

Most of all... THIS IS NOT A RACE!! You can see in my journal below that it took 6 months for my progress, which is still a work in progress. Good luck.

 

[Dani-lou]

Thank you for your advice. I checked out your journal, very impressed by the pics. Like you I also have a colicky baby looking after my son is exhausting in itself. I am going to try and attend a slimming world class which is 2mins down the road, it may help give me a healthier approach to food. Prior to having my son I was busy working and would always just make something quick. I need to get a grip of what I should be eating. Im never one for huge portions so that isnt really my downfall. In regards to exercise I am going to try and stick to using the gym ball at the gym - low impact workout working on core muscles and maybe a yoga/pilates class per wk which will help chill me out and tone me up at the same time.

I guess our body has to recover gradually, although the uterus slots back into place reasonably quickly all the other hormones may take slightly longer ? I feel my hormones have been put into a glass and shaken about - they need to settle.

I know my body has undertaken such a huge task of nuturing a baby and I have waited so long for this so I want to enjoy it rather than get caught up in all the business of weight loss but I also want to feel myself again.

Just wondering how do you start a weight loss journal - attaching it to your signature?

 

[MummyToAmberx]

Hiya

Its about lifestyle change in your eating habits, portion size, more water & less fizzy drinks etc.

I lost 30lb last year but just cutting back/cutting out fast, fatty, crap food. Moving abit more, just around house with my LO, drinking water which i never ever did.

I started adding vegetables to my food, i was never huge fan of them but i have learnt to just enjoy them now its just normal thing, i still dont eat any fruit which is this years target again just going be same as how i started with the fruit.

I just started doing 10mins sessions on exercise bike 3 x a day, that was enough back then. As baby grew wanted me less just added more stuff in, walking with pram is great exercise.