New mummy. Help me please

gray261013

hi all. So as above I am a new mummy. I am bottle feeding. My son is 9 weeks old tomorrow. I'm trying to get back to my pre pregnancy weight of 12st 6lbs
The day before I gave birth I hit 17st and today I am 15st 5lbs

I can't do a lot of exercise but I love to take my boy for walks. I also have a kettle bell.

I'm finding it hard to eat sensibly during the day as when my son naps I generally try to get housework done and food always comes last so I end up picking rubbish.

I also don't really know a sensible amount of calories to stick to. I'm 5ft 5inches mfp has said 1620 to loose 1lb a week. Does this seem ok.

Anyone have any tips, advice. A plan I could stick too. It would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks

3dogsrunning

Are you nursing?

I am the same height and eat not less than 2000 calories for a pound a week weight loss. I also eat more when I exercise.

If you are nor My suggestion would be to use MFP's calculstor and do not aim for more than a lb a week. I believe you'll be between 1400 - 1600. Log exercise and eat at least a portion of them back. Log all your food and be as accurate as possible.

gray261013

Thanks for replying. No I bottle feed. I logged it all but it seemed to little as I rememberd from when I did mfp before that people were saying mfp gives you to few calories. I adjusted it myself to 1650 does that sound ok??
Just wish I could sort the day time eating. Need healthy low calorie way quick foods to eat.

berlynnwall

Experiment with foods that you can hold with one hand, so that when you are holding your baby, you can also eat. This could be sandwich wraps, carrot sticks, pre cut fruits, bean and cheese on whole wheat tortillas, things like that. Also, your child is still very small. Give yourself a little slack on the housework and take care of yourself .

gray261013

Anyone else have any tips/advice please

Sued0nim

Sleep lots

Give your body time to recover, you've just made an entire human being...there's an old wives tale that it takes the same amount of time to regain your own body

If your baby is napping, so should you be

Batch cook when you have energy, portion it out and keep it in the fridge or freezer, that way you always have an easy meal to grab. Also chop up vegetables as crudités and have with hummus or low cal pate for a snack. Get cartons of egg white, they last for ever and with a little cheese make a great snack on toast

Walking with your baby is great

Oh and did I mention you should sleep

futuremanda

I think you should set your loss to 1 lb / week and follow what MFP says. Re-evaluate in a couple months, when you'll have enough data to see how it's working for you.

You should read the sticky about logging accurately if you haven't!

And honestly, I think you need to prioritize your food. You say you prioritize housework. Meal prep is part of that. You are taking care of the baby and the home so you have to take care of yourself. You just do.

Also, don't buy "rubbish" if at all possible, then it won't be there to grab. And maybe re-evaluate your definition of rubbish? You don't have to eat perfectly. You have to fuel your body and eat within your calories. You can make other changes as your life situation changes. (Weight will come off at the calories MFP suggests, even if you're eating pizza, basically.)

You may have to come up for strategies for the baby. Can you baby-wear? A swing? A bassinet?

Do you ever get support? Could you, for example, take an hour or two on a Sunday for meal prep for the week, while someone else watches the baby?

Some ideas: Fruits, yoghurts, cottage cheese, cheese, crackers, cooking up a TON of veggies ahead and keeping them in the fridge, soup you could drink, smoothies or shakes (once you find a recipe you like, prep gets really fast), nut or seed butters, toast, sandwiches, thin crust frozen pizza (not the whole thing), making breakfast cakes/breads/muffins/whatevers ahead to grab and eat during the week, oatmeal, cereal...

Honestly. Eat regularly and within your goals. Try to feel good. Take care of yourself. If you think cereal works but wish you had time for an omelette, eat the cereal until you can make time for an omelette.

Jennloella

I agree with what's already been said. Rest, walk as much as you can, don't bring junk in the house, and re prioritize - clean house or eating right/exercising... we all have the same hours in the day and we have to decide where to spend it. four kids here.