How Can I Break the Habit .... Night Eating

I think right now if you are nursing, this is your body's way of telling you to replenish itself. As long as you are making healthy choices from the cereal section - I see nothing wrong with it. I lost a ton of weight when I did this and nursed!

You want to be sure you are getting enough water as well - that keeps your supply up, as does the sleep. (I slept when my son did).

As you just had the baby, you have to take baby steps to begin your weight-loss process. I've seen too many posts come over for this and the desire for chemically packed diet pills - these cross into the breast milk! Please, know that you will reach your goal weight very soon as long as you keep patient for one. Second is to follow a healthy food plan. Especially as you are nursing. Just know so much crosses into the milk - so what you take it, so does your baby. (If you have gas, then so will the baby.)

I lost the weight by doing some yoga with the baby, drinking gallons of water before meals, making sure to get the sleep (house came last), I had more raw veggies and fruit and less meat. I also cut out fried foods...

Hi S.---You know, I wouldn't worry about it too much. As you say, you do have baby weight to lose, eventually, but do be patient. It took awhile to gain it so it will take time to lose it.

Just be very aware of what you are eating. Be intentional and plan for healthy snacks when you get up to feed your baby. It is probably true to a point that your body is telling you that you need to eat to get proper nutrients for you and the baby's health. So when you eat, look to eat nutrient dense foods, like fruits and veggies, nuts and seeds, legumes and whole grains. Try to increase your fiber intake and you will automatically eat those foods.

If you feel that you are not getting the nutrients you need from what you eat, I have a solution. Keep in mind that your prenatals are isolated supplements, and not all gets absorbed, or are not in a form that your body can use. In fact, I have an article that was in O magazine (Oprah), and in it they tested several different prenatals. Some had too much of a nutrient and some didn't even contain the amount listed on the label. There were also childrens gummies that contained lead.

If you would like info on these or any other topics I've touched on, feel free to contact me. I am taking a series of wellness classes for certification, and I have access to all kinds of health and nutrition info.

Good luck and congrats on the new baby. In health, D.
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are you nursing??

When I was nursing I was starving all the time..

I never ate in themiddle of the night but I ate all daylong.

Yes you can get the calories during the day.. why dont oyou try a bedtime snack with protien before bed.

Hi S.
I did exacly the same thing when I was nursing both my kids. Whenever I got up to nurse I would be "starving" so would have a couple of cookies (at least you're choosing healthy foods). With my youngest it still only took me about 4 months and I weighed less than before I had my first one. I think if you're feeling hungry then you probably are hungry, nursing means you need a lot of extra calories. I found if I didn't eat it would take me longer to get back to sleep.
It also did not start a terrible habit that I was unable to break. Once I stopped nighttime feeds I did not wake up hungry in the night.
It sounds like you're snacks are healthy ones so I say go for it while you need it.

Could be a combination of things, S.. 1. your body is telling you that by nursing, your body requires replenishment, not only for yourself but the baby too. 2. you've psychologically conditioned yourself (Pavlov's Dog theory). You've trained your body to react to getting up and therefore time to ingest something. I have some similar issues. Often I'll feel hungry when I go to bed, but I will ignore it just so that I won't become a habitual muncher. Find some other source. Taking calcium before bed is like having a glass of milk or dairy, and it helps to replenish the bones while you sleep as well as a natural drowsiness to help you fall asleep. Give that a try.

I think your body is telling you it needs protein at that time. I'd eat something that's low-fat but rich in protein, like yogurt or a high-fiber cereal with skim milk. The more we listen to the body God gave us, the healthier we will be. As you get back to your pre-pregnancy state, you can add it more movement to your day to help burn calories too. Carrying your baby in a sling is one good way! Good for you for breastfeeding! It's the very, very best!

If your body says you're hungry, you probably aren't getting enough calories during the day. That said, make sure when you are snacking at night, it's something healthy; an apple, a banana, a cup of yogurt, etc. Also, make sure that you have a glass of water or juice next to the chair when you're nursing to keep you hydrated. That might help with your hunger issues.

You could cut up some vegetables and have them handy. Or a big glass of water which will fill you up and is good for the baby. Also, did you know that the body burns 40 calories for every 8 ounces of cold water that a person drinks?

you have a little leech attached to you sucking out all your calories! :) so you really need to eat every time you nurse, which means not just during the day. i know i need something, even if just a snack, after EVERY single nursing session.

right now b/c the kids sleep thru the night, i make sure i have a big meal, like a second dinner, right before i go to bed/after baby's last feeding too so i don't wake up in the middle of the night hungry...

One of the keys to feeding (Breastfeeding) I thought was your to eat the same as when the bay was in you. Also your to eat when the baby is feeding that way you don't forget to eat. So when you sit to feed him or her have a glass a water and some crackers with cheese or some fruit ect. So I guess my ? to you is why is this a problem you said the baby is only 3 weeks old. I wouldn't push it now if the baby is 6 months and your still eating in the middle of the night than i would get worried. But to be honest I think it will go away as your milk changes and you baby start to grow and your baby starts to decline from so many feeding but right now everything new and your bodies changing with hormones and other things. Plus your probably stillbleeding from birth so you need the extra vitamins and stuff. I wouldn't rush your figure. from you starving your self is only going to decrease the milk and your body won't produce as much. To be honest when they say to every woman your figur comes back isn't true. Unless your someone who has a high metabolizm. than ya you will loos quick and with in a year you will be back to your normal weight before birth. But if your someone who has a slow metabilizm and you have an autoammune problems you need to add more excerise to your life along with food for the baby and more water to help regulate what your burning off. Me personal enjoy the wii fit with a walk on either the treadmil or around the neighborhood and when i say walk I mean a good four mile walk. It sounds like you watch what you eat so thats good to do to. Good luck and hope i helped have a great time sharing time with the little one and giving her great nutrient. GO MOMMY!!!!!

I think as long as you are eating something that's good for you like cereal and yogurt it's OK. Your system is used to getting a little snack at that hour. If you think it could become a problem you might try eating less of it gradually and then try eating something high in protein and NO CARBS before you go to bed. Carbs will make you hungry. Three weeks post partum is a bit early to be worrying about loosing the weight. You need to establish your milk supply so your new sweetie is getting everything needed to get a good start. I have found if you eliminate "white food" and eat all things good for you (no junk) the weight will come off, especially since now you are caring for 3. No worries! Congrats on your new little bundle!

Keep eating! Your body actually requires more (extra) calories to breastfeed then it does during pregnancy. During my first 3 months of BFing, I ate as much, if not more, as I did during my 3rd trimester. I built up a great supply and was able to nurse my son for 13 months without supplementing!
Keep eating and drinking and give yourself a break. You just had a baby!

S.; its funny but the earlier i do get up i hungrier i am, your body was designed to tell you when to feed it, when to put it to bed, when you are cold, etc, we listen to those signals our brain has told us , what is the difference if listen to them at night, or in the afternoon, if i was nursing my children, i always needed a drink with me, for the most part, a glass of milk or something, usually milk, i dont think while you are nursing its a big deal, if you can do your exercises get in that routine and it will help the calories in calories burned thingy, i used to have to eat late at night in some instances im famished and need to eat something, you can either ignore them and not fall asleep , or hope to fall asleep, or you can listen to them, just be balanced, you dont want a full coarse meal, what about a small glass of water, that can fill you up too, just enjoy life and continue taking care of those little ones as well as yourself, D. s

I think I'd heard that a nursing mother needs 500 calories MORE each day than a pregnant woman! Go ahead and eat if you're hungry. ;)