Two big things happened this week: I went back to Weight Watchers and, per the suggestion of Miles’ pediatrician, I’m giving up dairy.
Just call it the one-two punch of “dieting.”
Weight Watchers
If you are a new reader (or have mommy brain or more important things to remember), I successfully followed the Weight Watchers program from August 2009 until October 2010, losing 70 pounds in less than a year. (The other months were spent maintaining my weight.) The program was the perfect combination of rules and flexibility for me, and I learned a lot about eating good foods, portion sizes and planned indulgences. However, knowing and doing are two different things and, as much as I hate to admit it, I don’t need just the “knowing” but the accountability that the program provides.
So far, you know a whole three days in, it hasn’t been that bad. It’s taking some adjusting to get back to counting points and learning a whole new program but I feel good knowing that I’m taking control of my eating and putting myself on a healthy post-baby path. My meetings are on Wednesdays so we’ll see how it goes then.
Note: I do receive extra points for nursing, and I am in now way restricting myself in a manner that would negatively affect Miles.
Dairy-free
We had about one good week with Miles. A week where he was alert and content and slept semi-regularly. Then, as if a light switch went off last Sunday, he turned to the fussy side. He wanted to eat non-stop, cried if he wasn’t nursing and was no longer comforted by Mark. A lactation specialist told us that it was most likely a growth spurt, and it would last a couple days. By Friday, we were still nursing non-stop, and Miles (and Mom and Dad) grew more agitated.
As a nervous first-time mom, I made an appointment with the pediatrician – sure something had to be wrong with my child. Nope. He had no fever, no ear infection, he’s gaining weight fairly well. The likely culprit? Acid reflux. Like mother, like son, I guess.
Among several suggestions, the doctor advised that I give up dairy for a week and see if it has any effect. Dairy, you see, is one of the food groups most likely to agitate a baby’s sensitive digestive track.
What does that mean? No ice cream, no milk, no cheese, no pizza. As my neighbor, who has gone dairy free while nursing her eight (yes, eight!) kids, it will get you skinny real quick. And that’s the only upside of it, she said.
Amen, sister.
Has anyone gone dairy free? Got any good tips or products for me?
