intuitivemama Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 Hi guys. I'm new, just finished day 4, things are going pretty well as I adjust my meals for my lifestyle. I'm fairly active, working out 4 days a week generally, and currently breastfeeding my 18 month old several times a day still, and through the night. I've learned a lot reading through posts on the forum, but I'm running into a challenge now. I'm a singer, and I have rehearsal 3 nights a week. During these 2 hour sessions, I'm definitely burning more calories than a person just doing normal activities, but not at workout levels. I generally snack after I rehearse, usually just an apple or an orange, since it's so close to bedtime by the time I get home (10pm). My stomach is literally growling when I walk in the door after rehearsal! I think I'm eating enough beforehand, I'm certainly satiated when I finish dinner. So as an example, tonight I had a 1/2lb of ground beef with 2 full cups of cooked veggies on a bed of spinach for dinner, and finished off with a banana. Felt great, but sure enough, by the time I got home from practice, hungry! I had a handful of almonds, but that wasn't enough, and I'm hungry again (I'm sure it doesn't help that I'm also breastfeeding). I probably could've scarfed down 3-4 handfuls. So help! What can I eat that isn't too heavy just 1-2 hours before bed? I would eat fish and veg, so I know this isn't a craving, but it feels strange to be eating that much so late! Going to bed hungry like this seems to set me up for hypoglycemia when I wake up, too. I can't make breakfast fast enough in the morning to circumvent that. Can anyone give me some guidance? Should I try having part of a sweet potato, maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tclass Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 You are still breastfeeding so you do need to eat more. Having a snack when you come home is a good idea especially if you are ravenous. I would probably not reach for fruit though---not the best choice for a balanced hormonal response. I would stick with a small portion of protein and fat. Maybe a couple hard boiled eggs or leftover protein from dinner with a few nuts. But definitely eat something. Breastfeeding is taxing! Tricia www.expatpaleo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmyS Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 More fat at dinner. Throw in an avocado, some mayonnaise, olives, or heck, all of that. (Not that I've ever done that...). I'm also a singer, and I know singing makes us hungry. I'd go for a mini-meal after rehearsal, especially since you're nursing. Protein, fat, veggies. Fat. More fat. Did I mention eating more fat? Eat more fat. (I just got done with a performance of Mozart's Requiem, so I'm a little loopy. But I ate plenty of fat! ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Tom Denham Posted March 18, 2013 Moderators Share Posted March 18, 2013 A common late night snack for me is a cold baked sweet potato - I love them cold - split in half with a closed handful of dried cranberries and a closed handful of salted, roasted macadamia nuts. The nuts add fat, the cranberries are tart, and the sweet potato is filling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emsers Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 Okay, I don't have a good food suggestion necessarily, but I had to pipe in and say that a musician's rehearsal schedule is the WORST for meal planning. I mean much of the time I'm either on the road or in rehearsal between 5 and 11. That is dinner under any circumstances. Packing my dinner and eating it during rehearsal break (instead of before) means that I can actually make it to bed after without a snack. For me, if I start eating post rehearsal I just want more and more food - my off switch is definitely compromised at that hour. Lastly, I just have to ask - where was your Mozart requiem Amy S? I just played one Sunday afternoon in Cambridge, MA - was that the same concert you were singing or just a coincidence? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmyS Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 where was your Mozart requiem Amy S? I just played one Sunday afternoon in Cambridge, MA - was that the same concert you were singing or just a coincidence? Mine was in Hilo, Hawaii! Not exactly in the Cambridge neighborhood. (Website link in signature line tells all!) Also - I'm not sure that I'd eat dinner during a rehearsal break. I think it would mess with my voice for the rest of the rehearsal. Everyone is different though, so I wouldn't make that a general recommendation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intuitivemama Posted March 18, 2013 Author Share Posted March 18, 2013 Thanks for everyone's responses! tclass - a hardboiled egg seems totally doable, and definitely a better choice than fruit (though I miss the orange, I won't lie!). AmyS - I forgot to mention that I did have half an avocado on top of my meal (I'm with you on the more fat!). But perhaps not enough to get me through? And neat that you're a singer too! I haven't had any performances since starting this (well, no major ones, I sang a solo at my church gig yesterday, but one piece is hardly a "performance"), so it's nice to hear it's doable. I always had a hefty dose of carbs before performing, with protein and veg, so it will be different to do things this way. Do you have a snack during intermission, ever? I've always needed something to keep me going...usually an apple and some nuts, or a cookie (!). I can't quite imagine eating some greens and ground beef at intermission... Tom - that sounds divine!! Thanks for the idea, that is right up my alley. emsers - Right??! Thankfully my current schedule allows me to eat around 6pm at home before leaving for rehearsal...good for you, for being that dedicated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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