Moms - how do you cut back on calories without losing your temper?

Hello,

I'm at home with a 6 month old and a 2 year old. I still have about
20 pounds of baby weight to lose. My eating habits have deteriorated
quite a bit since the second baby came. I think I'm a stress eater.
My problem is that if I try to cut back on sweets and fat, I get short
tempered with the kids. When I'm having trouble keeping cool, I know
that a handful of chocolate chips will calm me down enough so that I
don't snap at the kids. How do I cut out the sweets and fats without
getting cranky? Substituting healthy snacks for the junk doesn't help
my moods.

And before anyone asks, I am definately not starving myself. I eat
plenty at meals.

Thanks for any advice or personal stories,
Mandy

wrote:

I'm at home with a 6 month old and a 2 year old. I still have about
20 pounds of baby weight to lose. My eating habits have deteriorated
quite a bit since the second baby came. I think I'm a stress eater.
My problem is that if I try to cut back on sweets and fat, I get short
tempered with the kids. When I'm having trouble keeping cool, I know
that a handful of chocolate chips will calm me down enough so that I
don't snap at the kids. How do I cut out the sweets and fats without
getting cranky? Substituting healthy snacks for the junk doesn't help
my moods.

Low blood sugar triggers release of adrenaline. The release
is not a lot but for some it's enough to trigger temper.

If this is the cause, then doing low carb will resolve it. The
first week or so is hard then blood levels settle.

Alternately the low fat approach is to eat a small but steady
stream of low calorie foods with carbs to keep the blood sugar
from ever dropping in the first place. The classic "rabiit food"
approach of low fat.

The idea is cut either carb or fat not both. Decide on one
path, commit to doing it at least 3-4 months, try it that long,
see how it worked. If you're constantly hungry or haven't lost
any, switch to the other option those 3-4 months later.

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello,

I'm at home with a 6 month old and a 2 year old. I still have about
20 pounds of baby weight to lose. My eating habits have deteriorated
quite a bit since the second baby came. I think I'm a stress eater.
My problem is that if I try to cut back on sweets and fat, I get short
tempered with the kids. When I'm having trouble keeping cool, I know
that a handful of chocolate chips will calm me down enough so that I
don't snap at the kids. How do I cut out the sweets and fats without
getting cranky? Substituting healthy snacks for the junk doesn't help
my moods.

And before anyone asks, I am definately not starving myself. I eat
plenty at meals.

Thanks for any advice or personal stories,
Mandy

Eat small meals little and often. Don't let your body sugar levels drop.
Choccie doesn't help in the long run. It gives you a quick sugar hit but
then you plunge again. Protein and carbs together work well. Peanut butter
on toast, fruit and yoghurt, pasta salad. Portion control matters or course
but eating some those quick snack often during the day might help stop the
huge mood swings.

--
Rachael

176/116/119

www.justgiving.com/rachaelslondonmarathon

On 13 Mar 2007 10:46:24 -0700, wrote:

Hello,

I'm at home with a 6 month old and a 2 year old. I still have about
20 pounds of baby weight to lose. My eating habits have deteriorated
quite a bit since the second baby came. I think I'm a stress eater.
My problem is that if I try to cut back on sweets and fat, I get short
tempered with the kids. When I'm having trouble keeping cool, I know
that a handful of chocolate chips will calm me down enough so that I
don't snap at the kids. How do I cut out the sweets and fats without
getting cranky? Substituting healthy snacks for the junk doesn't help
my moods.

And before anyone asks, I am definately not starving myself. I eat
plenty at meals.

Thanks for any advice or personal stories,
Mandy

I don't have this problem, but I'm wondering if deep breathing
exercises (a la yoga breathing) would help handle the situation. I
know I find this helpful in managing stress and everyday annoyances.



Chris
262/130s/130s
started dieting July 2002, maintaining since June 2004

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello,

I'm at home with a 6 month old and a 2 year old. I still have about
20 pounds of baby weight to lose. My eating habits have deteriorated
quite a bit since the second baby came. I think I'm a stress eater.
My problem is that if I try to cut back on sweets and fat, I get short
tempered with the kids. When I'm having trouble keeping cool, I know
that a handful of chocolate chips will calm me down enough so that I
don't snap at the kids. How do I cut out the sweets and fats without
getting cranky? Substituting healthy snacks for the junk doesn't help
my moods.

And before anyone asks, I am definately not starving myself. I eat
plenty at meals.

Thanks for any advice or personal stories, Mandy

I was where you are at about a year ago... I had a very short fuse from
lack of sleep and dealing with a little one! Here are a few things to help
with temper issues... Try to get a little more sleep - whether by napping
with the kids, or going to bed earlier, or whatever it takes. My daughter
is 15 months and still doesn't sleep through the night. I now go to bed at
or before 9pm, and get up around 6:30, because it takes me all of those
hours to get 8 hrs of sleep. Being well rested definitely lengthens the
fuse, so to speak. The other thing - are you getting any exercise? I don't
mean chasing the kids around, but getting away from the house for a brisk
walk, or anything of the sort? Real exercise also helps calm the nerves.

And finally, you have a carb addiction! And weaning yourself off of that
can be tough. YOu should try to really limit your carb intake to below 150g
per day. It will be hell for awhile, but after about a week, you will find
you don't crave sweets as much. And get rid of the foods that you depend
on. Ditch the chocolate chips!

Add vigorous exercise, that's how I work out the stress (and keep from
strangeling my husband!

Will~

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello,

I'm at home with a 6 month old and a 2 year old. I still have about
20 pounds of baby weight to lose. My eating habits have deteriorated
quite a bit since the second baby came. I think I'm a stress eater.
My problem is that if I try to cut back on sweets and fat, I get short
tempered with the kids. When I'm having trouble keeping cool, I know
that a handful of chocolate chips will calm me down enough so that I
don't snap at the kids. How do I cut out the sweets and fats without
getting cranky? Substituting healthy snacks for the junk doesn't help
my moods.

And before anyone asks, I am definately not starving myself. I eat
plenty at meals.

Thanks for any advice or personal stories,
Mandy

Willow Herself wrote:
Add vigorous exercise, that's how I work out the stress (and keep from
strangeling my husband!

Will~

Or just get rid of the husband like I did

"Beverly" wrote in message
...


Willow Herself wrote:
Add vigorous exercise, that's how I work out the stress (and keep from
strangeling my husband!

Will~

Or just get rid of the husband like I did


I can't.. I'm spoiled rotten! ;op

Now the Ex was another story...
Will~