i had a baby 5 weeks ago and i cant stop eating junk food and i feel hungry all the time, any advice please?

Question

no im not breastfeeding and i do alot of walking everyday

Answer 1

If you're feeding your baby yourself, you'll need to eat all the time. Especially if, like me, you have a fast metabolism.

Try to keep bread, fruit (bananas are quite good) and pasta handy. Its ok to dip into the junk food sometimes, but not good for you or your baby all the time.

Go and buy some snack foods that are both filling and healthier and don't require too much preparation. Dried fruit (sultanas, apricots etc) is good and will balance out a diet heavy with carbohydrates.

Red meat takes a long time to digest, and is full of iron, so have this at least once a week. With my first baby, we got a bigger toaster, as toast was the only thing easy and quick enough to combat my almost instant hunger. Buy wholemeal or wheatmeal bread instead of white all the time. Use spreads like Marmite to give you some vitamins as well and keep iron and vitamin B intake at maximum.

Jacket potates are great if you remember to start cooking them early (make double, just in case!) topped with cheese, tuna, sweetcorn, greek yoghurt, butter, whatever you like, they are really filling.

Try to have a small glass of water with everything that you eat too or a glass of milk. Keep your vitamins going to ensure you are getting all you and the baby need as the junk food is lacking in the right variety.

Answer 2

If you are breastfeeding then you will be hungry all the time. Breastfeeding burns up the calories. If this is the case then eat sensibly because what you eat then that's what the baby will be getting.
If you are not breastfeeding then I'd put this down to the cold weather (if you're in Britain) but you know what you need to do. You don't need us to tell you to ditch the junk. Stock up on pasta dishes or rice. Baked potatoes that sort of thing to really fill you up and don't forget to exercise as well.

Answer 3

I think junk food is addictive due to all the additives/sugars/salt etc in it. This is what makes it taste good and makes us want more. I used to have a terrible diet and McDonalds was a big weakness. I just had to go 'cold turkey' and completely give it up. Give yourself a motivation such as a weight loss target, a pair of jeans you want to fit into or find an unflattering photo of yourself and pin it to the fridge to motivate you to change how you look. Eat at least 3 balanced, healthy meals a day. Don't skip meals or starve yourself. Drink plenty of water to help feel 'full' and snack on low fat yogurts, fruit and vegetables. Allow yourself a treat now and then as a reward = everything in moderation. Add to this a bit of exercise you enjoy and can stick to and do it 3 times a week for 30 mins+. It could be walking, jogging, swimming, dance class or workout DVD. You should notice the difference and once you do it will motivate you to stick at it :)

Answer 4

If you are breastfeeding, then it is normal to be hungry. You need extra calories when breastfeeding just like you do when you are pregnant. The extra calories should not be from junk food though. Drink plenty of water (10 glasses a day). You need to drink lots of water, plus it will help to fill you up. Make sure that you are eating lots of fruits and vegetables. Just don't have the junk food around the house and you'll be ok.

Answer 5

Sometimes it's just hard to break the bad habits you picked up during pregnancy! I was still eating a lot of junk after I had the baby. Are you breastfeeding? Sometimes that makes you hungrier too, at least it did me! I am still fighting the junk food cravings. I guess just try to keep junk food out of your house so you will not be tempted to eat it. You'll find once you start snacking on healthier foods you will feel better too. Don't beat yourself up too much though, everyone goes through this :)

Answer 6

Many times, feeling hungry all the time and craving things means your body needs something. It certainly doesn't mean you need junk, but you may be missing vitamins. For instance, craving chocolate may mean you need magnesium. Such cravings can be especially strong if you're breastfeeding and not eating a balanced diet.
Are you taking a balanced multivitamin? For instance, Nature's Best makes a great one for women. If your body is getting the nutrients it needs, the cravings for junk and constant hunger should subside.
Also, make sure you are eating a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water. Allow yourself some junk in small quantities; the key is moderation. If you allow yourself a little leeway, you will be less likely to overindulge. Good luck!

Answer 7

Eat only 3 GOOD meals a day and take the baby for a walk around the block when you get hungry. Its your hormones telling you that you need energy and instead of having a quick fix you need to eat foods that are a high GI

Answer 8

drink plenty of water and cut out the junk food eat a healthy meal you can have 5 small healthy meals a day if you must but snack on things that are healthy and take plenty of exercise when you feel hungry try and do something that will put you off thinking of food

best of luck

Answer 9

If you are breastfeeding it's your body's way of getting you to eat enough to produce milk. If you stop junk food for three days you'll stop craving it otherwise you'll gain more weight.

Answer 10

What you need to do is slow down because it is very easy to gain lots of weight after having a baby. Because all you are doing is eating when the baby eats and sleeping when the baby sleeps. You arent doing much more activities to burn off those calories. So ifyou dont want to look like oompa loompa then slow down.