Breastfeeding and not losing weight at 1700 cals

marshageroli

I'm exclusively breastfeeding (my baby is 1 month old) and at 1700 calories a day. I'm 5'3" but I have been stuck at the same weight for a week now. I know this seems premature, but I was losing weight every few days before this at 1800 calories. What am I doing wrong?

janejellyroll

A week is too early to determine that you're doing anything wrong. Be patient.

malibu927

janejellyroll wrote: »

A week is too early to determine that you're doing anything wrong. Be patient.

What she said. Plus you only gave birth a month ago. Your body is still recovering and trying to get hormones back to normal.

FreyasRebirth

At one month postpartum, your extra weight isn't all fat. Increased blood supply persists for a while and increased breast and uterine mass contributes to a higher weight. Your body had to 'beef up' vital systems to support the needs of two people and things don't go back to normal immediately. Chillax, eat nutrient dense foods, and give your body time to recover.

Luna3386

marshageroli wrote: »

I know this seems premature, but I was losing weight every few days before this at 1800 calories. What am I doing wrong?

When was this?

In the last month? Post- partum weight loss is a different ball game from regular weight loss. Your body is recovering from pregnancy and birth. You are releasing all kinds of fluids.

Was it before baby? If so, you were losing on 1800. You need to add in adequate calories for nursing.

Set your mfp to maintenance. Be patient. Your baby is only 1 month old. Losing weight is not the most important thing. Work on establishing and keeping your supply (it's a total *kitten* to get it back). And enjoy this time.

marshageroli

Thanks for the replies. I realize how ridiculous I sound, but before I got pregnant I was finally at a healthy weight through major dieting and exercise and then gained 45 pounds during pregnancy. I'm over the top worried about not getting back to my original weight. I just want to be able to fit in my clothes again ): I guess it helps getting a reality check, especially since I keep hearing about all of these women that are back to their pre pregnancy weight by six weeks. I will definitely give it more time and stop obsessing so much.

SingRunTing

I'm 10 weeks post partum. My weight didn't start moving until about 2 weeks ago. Be patient.

SingRunTing

Also, I've been eating at maintenance plus my exercise calories. This means my breastfeeding is what is creating my deficit. By doing this, trendweight says I'm losing at a rate of .7lbs a week and my supply hasn't been impacted at all.

SingRunTing

marshageroli wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. I realize how ridiculous I sound, but before I got pregnant I was finally at a healthy weight through major dieting and exercise and then gained 45 pounds during pregnancy. I'm over the top worried about not getting back to my original weight. I just want to be able to fit in my clothes again ): I guess it helps getting a reality check, especially since I keep hearing about all of these women that are back to their pre pregnancy weight by six weeks. I will definitely give it more time and stop obsessing so much.

I totally get it. I lost 70 lbs before I got pregnant (and still had ~15 to goal). Was totally going to eat super healthy and exercise throughout my pregnancy and only gain 20lbs.

Then all day sickness that was only managed by eating crackers every 2 hours lasted through my whole pregnancy. I had complications that meant I couldn't exercise (was really close to complete bed rest). So I gained 50 lbs instead.

I'm bummed, but I needed to do what was best for myself and my lo. The best part is that I know how to lose weight and maintain that loss. So I know I'll get back there. You will too. You just need to be patient. Seriously, 1 month is nothing.

lckirby3468

I'm 6wks pp today. I gained a tremendous amount of weight!! I was on a very strict diet/workout schedule previous to pregnancy. I made the mistake of just completely stopping. I understand how you feel about just wanting to be where you were. I'm also EBF. I don't want to sabotage my supply so I'm not going crazy. I have to clean up my habits and hit 10000 steps daily though. For now that's my goal.
Add me! We can be each others motivators! Congrats on your LO by the way!

Luna3386

Well, if it makes you feel better... I'm 5 years postpartum and just getting into those prepregnancy jeans. What did I do wrong that I could control? I could have had more patience and had a small, maintainable deficit.

SafioraLinnea

SingRunTing wrote: »

Also, I've been eating at maintenance plus my exercise calories. This means my breastfeeding is what is creating my deficit. By doing this, trendweight says I'm losing at a rate of .7lbs a week and my supply hasn't been impacted at all.

This is what I have done also. Eating at maintenance and letting breastfeeding create my deficit. I completely ignored the scale until after my 6w PP check up. After that I discovered I lost 30ish pounds and have lost 25ish pounds in the 6 months following that. That ends up being between 0.75 and 1.25lbs a week. It is super easy, very convenient and my supply has not been impacted at all either. I fully intend to continue at least for another five months. It has been the easiest weight loss process ever and my daughter is extremely healthy and growing while I lose the fat.

trjjoy

Just boob as much as possible. I'm still losing weight at nearly 4 months post-partum and am now lighter than pre-pregnancy. All of this is thanks to breastfeeding on demand 24/7

suzievv

Be patient! I would actually wait a whole lot longer before even thinking about losing weight. At 4 weeks post partum, you really do need a LOT of calories to nurse the baby! Your body needs to recover. It takes time. ENJOY this precious time with your baby. Soon enough the time will come for counting calories and weight loss- but now is the time to just snuggle with baby, focus on adjusting to life with Baby, and eat. I've lost pregnancy weight five times. Everyone's different, but for me, it's at least a few months before I can start thinking about losing weight. This last time, I tried losing weight at about 6 wks post partum (it was a no-go), then again around 8 months (ended up with breastfeeding issues), and now finally at 14 months, I am trying again (and this time it will work).

SafioraLinnea

I eat a minimum of 1800 calories daily and have lost all my 55+ pounds that way. I actually eat between 1800 and 2300 daily based on activity level. I'm fairly short (5'3.5") and only very lightly active.

Please do not follow the advice to drop down to 1100-1200 calories. Seriously, don't! Your baby, if exclusively breastfeeding, is using at least 500 (possibly 700+) calories a day and you need to eat those calories to ensure your milk supply stays strong and your body is healthy. Your intake needs to be all the calories you need plus all the calories your body uses to feed the baby. It is a lot more than 1200 calories daily for most nursing mothers.

Let me be very clear so nothing can be misunderstood. As a breastfeeding mom trying to lose the baby weight:

1. Wait until you have been cleared by your health professional at around 6w post partum to attempt any intentional fat loss. Please! You need this time to heal your body, manage your fluctuating hormones, and develop your breastfeeding relationship with your nurseling. Eat no lower than maintenance calories.
2. Once you have the okay from your health provider, feel free to get started!
3. Eat at maintenance. Seriously. Set MFP settings to maintain and eat there. Your baby is creating an awesome deficit in you that will result in an average of 1lb (+/-0.25) a week weight loss by doing nothing except feed your baby, provided you exclusively breastfeed and nurse on demand. That is a very healthy and super manageable weight loss goal and will usually protect your milk supply.
4. Log everything you consume as accurately as humanly possible. Be honest and accurate with your intake logging. If you are grazing (a grape here, a bite of a sandwich, a sip of milk) then log it.
5. Log all intentional physical activity beyond your normal daily activity. Eat back your exercise calories. No 50% this 70% that. Log it honestly and eat it.
6. Drink to thirst and keep water near your nursing spot. If your urine is pale yellow, you're drinking enough.
7. Get as much sleep as you can. I truly believe sleep helps with weight loss success. Even if it's broken up by baby waking you, try to get at least 7 hours of sleep. Eight is better.

All of these recommendations are coming from me: a registered nurse with a focus in postpartum mother and baby care. I'm also a mom of a seven month old who breastfeeds on demand and is starting solid foods but still nurses like a newborn. I'm averaging 0.75 - 1.25 pounds of loss weekly, achieved solely through the deficit my baby creates with breastfeeding. I exercise and eat it all back. I've never felt more healthy and energized while losing weight as I have while breastfeeding.

And just a tip for food: food prep in advance for a more streamlined experience. I did this for breakfast, lunch and snacks so I never had to worry about it except during prep and supper time. Just grab a container from the fridge, log, and eat.

Some snack options I used contained fruit and a bit of granola, or celery and peanut butter, or apple slices and some cheese, or cherry tomatoes and some garlic sausage, or fruit and sunflower/pumpkin seeds. It made it so much easier to remember to eat and to eat reasonable portions of those things.

Katiebear_81

SafioraLinnea wrote: »

I eat a minimum of 1800 calories daily and have lost all my 55+ pounds that way. I actually eat between 1800 and 2300 daily based on activity level. I'm fairly short (5'3.5") and only very lightly active.

Please do not follow the advice to drop down to 1100-1200 calories. Seriously, don't! Your baby, if exclusively breastfeeding, is using at least 500 (possibly 700+) calories a day and you need to eat those calories to ensure your milk supply stays strong and your body is healthy. Your intake needs to be all the calories you need plus all the calories your body uses to feed the baby. It is a lot more than 1200 calories daily for most nursing mothers.

Let me be very clear so nothing can be misunderstood. As a breastfeeding mom trying to lose the baby weight:

1. Wait until you have been cleared by your health professional at around 6w post partum to attempt any intentional fat loss. Please! You need this time to heal your body, manage your fluctuating hormones, and develop your breastfeeding relationship with your nurseling. Eat no lower than maintenance calories.
2. Once you have the okay from your health provider, feel free to get started!
3. Eat at maintenance. Seriously. Set MFP settings to maintain and eat there. Your baby is creating an awesome deficit in you that will result in an average of 1lb (+/-0.25) a week weight loss by doing nothing except feed your baby, provided you exclusively breastfeed and nurse on demand. That is a very healthy and super manageable weight loss goal and will usually protect your milk supply.
4. Log everything you consume as accurately as humanly possible. Be honest and accurate with your intake logging. If you are grazing (a grape here, a bite of a sandwich, a sip of milk) then log it.
5. Log all intentional physical activity beyond your normal daily activity. Eat back your exercise calories. No 50% this 70% that. Log it honestly and eat it.
6. Drink to thirst and keep water near your nursing spot. If your urine is pale yellow, you're drinking enough.
7. Get as much sleep as you can. I truly believe sleep helps with weight loss success. Even if it's broken up by baby waking you, try to get at least 7 hours of sleep. Eight is better.

All of these recommendations are coming from me: a registered nurse with a focus in postpartum mother and baby care. I'm also a mom of a seven month old who breastfeeds on demand and is starting solid foods but still nurses like a newborn. I'm averaging 0.75 - 1.25 pounds of loss weekly, achieved solely through the deficit my baby creates with breastfeeding. I exercise and eat it all back. I've never felt more healthy and energized while losing weight as I have while breastfeeding.

And just a tip for food: food prep in advance for a more streamlined experience. I did this for breakfast, lunch and snacks so I never had to worry about it except during prep and supper time. Just grab a container from the fridge, log, and eat.

Some snack options I used contained fruit and a bit of granola, or celery and peanut butter, or apple slices and some cheese, or cherry tomatoes and some garlic sausage, or fruit and sunflower/pumpkin seeds. It made it so much easier to remember to eat and to eat reasonable portions of those things.

This is the best advice you'll get. /thread.

Don't forget that your weight will fluctuate a lot while you're still healing, even beyond the 6 weeks clearance. That's ok!! You will get there, because you are motivated, and because you're creating the habits that will help you get there when there is work to be done.

Enjoy your baby. Time will go by quickly and soon they will be in school. I know you won't be able to fully follow that part of the advice, but try to be mindful of the small moments of bliss you will encounter. A milk-drunk baby. A small hand on your cheek or breast. The glorious smell of babies. The sleep and gas smiles. All of it. Those are the moments you need to tuck into your brain, away from the screeching little *kitten* they will become, so you won't murder them for openly defying you again and again and again

Chef_Barbell

Enjoy your baby. Rest. They'll be big before you know it. The weight loss will come.

gerla_k

I agree what everyone said, plus wanted to add be careful not to go super low on calories consumed so you produce enough milk for your baby.

annahath150

Mummy magic weight loss tea can help you to lose weight. It increases metabolism which causes you to burn more calories and also curbs your appetite. It also helps to digest your food better which will help you get more fuel and nutrition from what you eat.

However, if you rely only on weight loss tea alone you may get disappointed. Yes, it will work but it'll work much better if you make other changes too. Like increase your activity level, decrease what you eat overall and change some of the stuff to eat to be more healthy.

Chef_Barbell

annahath150 wrote: »

Mummy magic weight loss tea can help you to lose weight. It increases metabolism which causes you to burn more calories and also curbs your appetite. It also helps to digest your food better which will help you get more fuel and nutrition from what you eat.

However, if you rely only on weight loss tea alone you may get disappointed. Yes, it will work but it'll work much better if you make other changes too. Like increase your activity level, decrease what you eat overall and change some of the stuff to eat to be more healthy.

No such thing as magic weight loss tea.

LonniJay

annahath150 wrote: »

Mummy magic weight loss tea can help you to lose weight. It increases metabolism which causes you to burn more calories and also curbs your appetite. It also helps to digest your food better which will help you get more fuel and nutrition from what you eat.

However, if you rely only on weight loss tea alone you may get disappointed. Yes, it will work but it'll work much better if you make other changes too. Like increase your activity level, decrease what you eat overall and change some of the stuff to eat to be more healthy.

Lol... If it doesn't help you lose weight while not changing diet and exercise routines than it's not helping you lose weight and it's definitely not magic.

I'm a just recently weened breastfeeding mom and lost no weight while breast feeding because of ppd and lack of motivation. Take it slow and don't worry about anyone else but you. Everyone is different and you will only depress yourself more if you compare yourself to others. Good luck with your weightloss journey.

sarah8326

So glad to find this. 4 month old EBF baby, and trying to find this exact info. Great idea to eat at maintenance! Thanks y'all!