is this healthy?

azulvioleta6

racheyyyc95 wrote: »

hey guys, thanks for all your comments... i started eating like this when i started living on my own (OH lives 60 miles away atm ) and i just didnt feel like cooking but obvs am not gunna have takeaways sat on my own haha.
you are all right as in i would never let my little one eat like this but he is still on milk and purees atm anyway.
i added in a cheese and baked been toastie today but i tend to feel guilty and rubbish after changing something from what i normally eat

SALAD. You need a salad...or some vegetable soup. ANYTHING GREEN.

Adding beans and cheese to your cracker-and-biscuit diet does not make it complete.

I think that you have worked yourself into an eating disorder. You may need some professional help to get yourself out of it. In a year or so, when your son gets old enough to start noticing and emulating your eating habits, is this going to be a healthy thing for him?

You should mention this to your doctor and start thinking about getting help.

Allthaatgliitters

i dont think its an eating disorder as im fine eating normal with my bf but i only see him a few days a month. Eating is very social for me and i have no friends or family where i live, literally just me and baba, so i just stick to my usual quick easy things.
i do see what you are saying though

peleroja

You don't have to add in a ton more calories (you're short and fairly light and sound fairly sedentary, so the 1200 range is probably right for you) but the quality of what you are eating is obviously not doing your body any favours. You are almost certainly deficient in micronutrients (vitamins and minerals - like someone already posted, I'm guessing iron, vitamin C, and probably B vitamins as well) and that is more than likely what's causing the bruising etc. Replacing what you're eating now with lean proteins and plenty of vegetables would probably make a world of difference.

If you are literally just eating bread-based foods, you ARE malnourished. I'm guessing a blood test at the doctor would confirm several nutrient deficiencies. Yes, calories in/calories out is all that matters for weight loss (as long as you're eating less than you use in a day, you'll lose weight) but it is NOT all that matters for your health. You need protein and fat as well as carbohydrate and you definitely need the vitamins and minerals found in vegetables, fruits, meats and/or legumes, etc.

shrinkingletters

azulvioleta6 wrote: »

racheyyyc95 wrote: »

hey guys, thanks for all your comments... i started eating like this when i started living on my own (OH lives 60 miles away atm ) and i just didnt feel like cooking but obvs am not gunna have takeaways sat on my own haha.
you are all right as in i would never let my little one eat like this but he is still on milk and purees atm anyway.
i added in a cheese and baked been toastie today but i tend to feel guilty and rubbish after changing something from what i normally eat

SALAD. You need a salad...or some vegetable soup. ANYTHING GREEN.

Adding beans and cheese to your cracker-and-biscuit diet does not make it complete.

I think that you have worked yourself into an eating disorder. You may need some professional help to get yourself out of it. In a year or so, when your son gets old enough to start noticing and emulating your eating habits, is this going to be a healthy thing for him?

You should mention this to your doctor and start thinking about getting help.

I'm gonna have to agree with this.

PrettyPearl88

racheyyyc95 wrote: »

i used to eat much better but i found that i wasnt losing weight even with exercise, i was stuck at 8.5st for 6 months ;/

You were probably still eating too many calories. If you eat healthy, but you eat too much food, you won't lose weight. But if you don't eat enough food or you don't eat the right food, your body won't be healthy and you won't be able to sustain your weight loss. You need a happy medium between these two extremes. Eat healthy like how you were before, just count, measure, and weigh your food accurately so that you're not eating too much food. Aim to eat around 1200-1500 calories per day, throw in a little bit of exercise, and you'll lose weight.

Francl27

racheyyyc95 wrote: »

i dont think its an eating disorder as im fine eating normal with my bf but i only see him a few days a month. Eating is very social for me and i have no friends or family where i live, literally just me and baba, so i just stick to my usual quick easy things.
i do see what you are saying though

How is a salad not easy and quick? Or frozen veggies? Get some help, seriously. You need to be healthy for your kid.

Kimegatron

I agree, when your son gets older, he is going to emulate your habits. Please get more veggies and fruit, as well as protein! The "do as I say, not as I do" thing will get way more tough in his toddler stage.

rosebette

The other alarming thing is that you already are quite thin. 7 stone 8 lbs. is around 106 lbs., but you are fearful of gaining weight. Even your start weight wasn't extreme for a woman who has just had a baby. It's great that you lost the "baby weight," but now you need to be healthy to take care of that baby.

Allthaatgliitters

my baby was only 1lb 3oz (23+0 weeker!!) so i didnt have much baby weight really

rosebette

My goodness. Did he have to stay in hospital a long time before you brought him home?

Kimegatron

My step sister has an eating disorder. She barely eats, maybe a few triscuits or a piece of toast. She looks skeletal since the last time I saw her, a few years ago. She's covered in bruises, and has dark sunken eyes. She used to be beautiful, and healthy, and thin, but she's like... horrifically thin. I don't have a relationship with her, and I have a hard time wanting to even be around her. My dad and step mom have a hard time being around her, even, because she won't try to be healthy for my nephew and niece(infant), although they do babysit all of the time. Your health can effect everyone around you, is what I'm trying to get at. Maybe a good therapist will help.

Allthaatgliitters

rosebette wrote: »

My goodness. Did he have to stay in hospital a long time before you brought him home?

exactly 5 months!! we were super lucky, he came home 3 days before christmas and turned one a fortnight ago! off oxygen at 9 months and no problems yet obvs delayed but hes a healthy little boy

laur357

In this instance, you may need to talk to a professional counselor and nutritionist (or start with your doctor - she can run some bloodwork to see if you're anemic or deficient in certain areas). As others have said, it sounds like you're experiencing symptoms of malnourishment, and you need to regain your health.
As a start while you're waiting for appointments, would you try eating socially with your little one? Prepare some baby-friendly veggies - like peas, avocado, sweet potatoes, carrots, greens, bananas. You eat some whole veggies and puree some fresh baby food for your little guy? You can start eating together and both get the health benefits of the fruits and veggies. And bond and build habits for sharing mealtimes in the future.

dubird

There's lots of quick things you can have that would help. And despite what some dieters would say, you can add quick processed meals into that. You need to pay attention to what's in them, but even just getting the cut fruit packs from the grocery store would be useful. It might be worth your time to talk to a nutritionist and work stuff out. Maybe schedule eating times during the day where you actually grab something planned ahead of time? I dunno, just making some suggestions. You need veggies and protein in your diet; carbs aren't evil, but a diet with just carbs means you're missing a LOT of nutrition your body needs to survive.

Unknown

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pooks1976

The nutritional value of what you are eating is pretty lacking. I agree with the idea of picking up some precut (easy) fruits and veggies at the grocery store. That way grabbing something out of the fridge is as simple as grabbing a cracker. Also getting some lean protein. Good Luck!

lastfarewell

Cheese and beans on toast? How about a salad with fresh veggies and some protein such as chicken, egg, or fish? Yes, you will get sick and feel weak eating like that.

lemurcat12

dubird wrote: »

There's lots of quick things you can have that would help. And despite what some dieters would say, you can add quick processed meals into that. You need to pay attention to what's in them, but even just getting the cut fruit packs from the grocery store would be useful. It might be worth your time to talk to a nutritionist and work stuff out. Maybe schedule eating times during the day where you actually grab something planned ahead of time? I dunno, just making some suggestions. You need veggies and protein in your diet; carbs aren't evil, but a diet with just carbs means you're missing a LOT of nutrition your body needs to survive.

This. I'm worried about you, OP, and wondering if part of this might be depression too, as you've been going through a lot and it sounds like you are maybe alone more than you'd like. Apologies if I'm assuming too much.

A dietitian is not a bad idea at all, and getting precut fruits and veggies would be a start. Or some of those spinach in a bag. Whatever makes it seem easy and doable. Maybe some rice and beans packages and (ideally) some other source of protein like chicken or tuna or lean ground beef (if you eat meat).

VintageFeline

Get to your GP OP, you have a lot going on and I think your diet is just symptomatic of it. My diet turns to absolute crud when depressed and I have to make sure to have aforementioned quick and easy fruit and veg available so I'm not eating too terribly. Even something as simple as adding some sliced banana to your toast with Nutella would be a start and a good way to add 100 calories to your day instantly.

Things to mention to your GP, your diet, your pretty rapid weight loss, your feeling isolated. They may be able to recommend some mother and baby groups, perhaps even a preemie specific one. Just please seek help, I think you're too deep to tackle this alone.

kshama2001

VintageFeline wrote: »

Get to your GP OP, you have a lot going on and I think your diet is just symptomatic of it. My diet turns to absolute crud when depressed and I have to make sure to have aforementioned quick and easy fruit and veg available so I'm not eating too terribly. Even something as simple as adding some sliced banana to your toast with Nutella would be a start and a good way to add 100 calories to your day instantly.

Things to mention to your GP, your diet, your pretty rapid weight loss, your feeling isolated. They may be able to recommend some mother and baby groups, perhaps even a preemie specific one. Just please seek help, I think you're too deep to tackle this alone.

I was wondering about depression as well.

I like the idea of mother and baby groups to reduce the isolation.

ndj1979

racheyyyc95 wrote: »

Hiya, i am 5ft 1in and weigh 7st 8lbs. I managed to drop from 9st 8lbs after having my son however im not sure whether i did it healthily. I try and eat less than 1200 calories a day, ideally 1000 calories or less. I literally only eat breakfast biscuits, sandwich thins, crumpet thins or bagel thins with nutella/biscoff spread. That is it, no other variety except maybe a few times a month when my boyfriend is here.
It obviously worked in helping me lose weight but i always have a horrid taste in my mouth, tons of unexplained bruising on my legs, always tired etc.
I do no exercise at all.

you need to net 1200 calories, period. The reason that you are tired and have unexplained bruising is lack of calories and possible malnutrition, as I don't see how you are hitting micronutrients on the foods you listed.

shadowfax_c11

Your child deserves to have a mom who has the energy to play with him and who will be around for him for years. Especially so since he has developmental issues. He is going to need you to be strong and healthy for a long time. You have a serious problem with your diet which is going to significantly reduce your ability to give your child what he needs from a mom. One that you really should seek help for. A dietician would be a very good idea if you have access to that sort of thing.

Kimegatron

shadowfax_c11 wrote: »

Your child deserves to have a mom who has the energy to play with him and who will be around for him for years. Especially so since he has developmental issues. He is going to need you to be strong and healthy for a long time. You have a serious problem with your diet which is going to significantly reduce your ability to give your child what he needs from a mom. One that you really should seek help for. A dietician would be a very good idea if you have access to that sort of thing.

^^Totally agree. Mine is going to be 3 in December. I have lower energy, and am way slower and in more pain than my fiance (he's fit as a fiddle), and I hate that I rely on him to chase after our daughter. I still can, but not as quick response as him. Trust me, OP, you need that energy for your baby! If you can't have the energy now, you sure won't when he's a bit older.

BlackPup

Your body weight is currently healthy you do not need to lose weight. If you want to tone your muscles eat at maintainance with adequate protein and exercise.

azulvioleta6

racheyyyc95 wrote: »

i dont think its an eating disorder as im fine eating normal with my bf but i only see him a few days a month. Eating is very social for me and i have no friends or family where i live, literally just me and baba, so i just stick to my usual quick easy things.
i do see what you are saying though

You don't feel worthy of eating a real meal on your own, but you will do it if other people are around?

That concerns me a lot.

You've been through a traumatic and stressful experience with your baby and it sounds like you don't have much emotional support. You will physically feel better pretty quickly if you start including protein and vegetables in your diet, but it seems like you might have some deeper emotional challenges that aren't going to be so easy to fix. Understandably so--you have been through a lot.

Seeing your GP for a physical checkup and a referral for some counseling or support really is a good idea.

As a short-term goal, what about aiming to make yourself one full meal a day? Bagged salad or veg, a chicken breast, some brown rice or pilaf--something like that is a pretty simple but complete meal. Quick or pre-chopped/prepped things are fine to get you started. You don't really have to cook in order to have a healthy diet--assembling pre-made elements will work.