Weight loss while breast feeding

Laviegurl25

I hope someone will see this that can help me! Ugh. I had my second child 4 months ago. Three weeks ago I started my nutrition and work out plan. I have been doing pretty amazing with keeping on schedule with working out and eating right.
I work out 6x a week and follow MFP calorie intake plus some to provide for milk production. I also ensure I drink my water and no eating past 8. Which can be hard to do somedays as breastfeeding somedays makes you feel Like your starving.
Anyways with my daughter I couldn't lose any weight. I would bounce between gaining and losing the same 5lbs.
I fear I'm going through this again! I lost all my weight from my previous pregnancy: and gained it all back with my second.
Is there anyway to break through this "breastfeeding plateau"???

Laviegurl25

No one?

AbsoluteTara79

My 2nd baby is almost 14 months and I'm still nursing him. My perspective is that during those first 6 months of exclusive breast feeding, I honestly think that it's too much to try and go full on into a program. I personally found with both of my kids that the outright hunger rage was too immense. I'm sure there are several other moms that could prove me wrong here, but speaking for myself...

If you simply eat whole foods most of the time, get enough fluid, and get enough rest, you will likely lose weight very slowly anyway. Exercise for pleasure and me-time right now.

I lost weight this way very slowly. It wasn't until my baby started moving to solids that the weight loss stopped, and then 5 pounds creeped back on. That's when I knew it was time to start watching more closely and here I am - tracking and more diligently exercising. Now that my baby is eating mostly solid food, restricting calories is very manageable. I don't feel the overwhelming hunger that I did 6-7 months ago and I'm losing steadily.

Be kind to yourself. The weight will come off.

kgeyser

How many pounds do you have MFP set to lose each week? Are you weighing foods and measuring liquids? What calorie count are you using for breastfeeding calories? Are you eating back a portion of your exercise calories? Any hormonal or other medical issues?

I lost the majority of my weight while breastfeeding, it can be tricky finding that sweet spot where you lose weight and still maintain supply.

Laviegurl25

I have it set to one pound a week right now. I get in anywhere from 6-12 glasses of water. I try to get in all my calories but by days end I'm still anywhere from 200-500 calories short. Not because I'm not eating properly, but because I am portioning and not eating junk food. I also don't eat past 8 unless i feel like I'm starving.
But in other words I'm doomed until I stop breastfeeding? Darnit

pink_mint

I agree with a previous poster. Be kind to yourself. It's possible you are one of us (un)lucky ones whose body insists on an ample "maternal fat store" in order to produce breast milk. Speaking as someone who is nursing her 3rd child (9 months old), I know from both previous breastfeeding experiences that my body doesn't care if I eat 500 calories or 5,000. I simply cannot be successful at weight loss until breastfeeding is over. I believe it's how our bodies react to the hormones involved in lactation.

Whats puzzling is that some women cannot keep weight *on* while breastfeeding. But in the end I'd rather be like me because when I wean, I will most likely lose the weight with basically zero effort like I did the last 2 times (I don't care what anyone says about calories in/ calories out, this is just what happens to me). It doesn't make it any easier when you're trying so hard to be good and still chubby. I don't know how it will go for you, but I would encourage you... taking care of a baby and breastfeeding is challenging enough. Don't kill yourself trying to lose weight if your in a hormonal trap anyway like me. You are giving your child a gift by breastfeeding and yes, 4 months is early.

Amanda4change

I breastfeed all 3 of my kids, the first 10-15 pounds came off easy (in the first 6 weeks) even eating at a deficit (though it was small a deficient higher than 250 calories would impact my supply) did nothing toward the last 10 pounds. Once my babies were no longer exclusively breastfeeding I dropped another 5 lbs. the last 5 pounds didn't come off until I weaned. Having said that I personally would eat healthy and exercise but not worry about the scale until you wean.

ArkMom35

Honestly, I have four children and have never lost a pound while breastfeeding any of them. I think like someone else said, there are some of us whose body just doesn't allow for it for some reason. It sure can be frustrating. I say just keep doing what you're doing, nurse that sweet baby, and eventually the weight will come off. Good luck!