I'm so hungry!

Raegold

This is just a vent thread... I'm starving!! I'm still doing Strong Curves (plus nursing), and I'm so so hungry. I literally think I could eat 3000 calories a day. Yesterday I had 2000 and this morning I feel like I haven't eaten in a week.

Bret says in Strong Curves that you will feel more hungry, but to fight the urge to eat more until your metabolism levels out... idk if that makes sense to me. I'll just sit over here and fantasize about eating more...

CapnVillainBLK

Not an expert here, but, you should probably listen to your body. If it doesn't make sense to you, you should find something that does make sense. If you feel hungry, you should eat, but choose heathy foods and smaller portions. But hey, this is just advice...

sardelsa

Lifting + breastfeeding can be a tricky combo. I'm currently doing it in a deficit and believe me it sucks so bad! (My baby is same age as yours I think 18 months but still nurses 3-4x per day).

You may need to experiment with your macros and food choices. Also make sure you are drinking enough water. Sometimes high volume food works, higher protein, more fibre, adding healthy fats to foods, coffee (decaf if baby is sensitive to caffeine in your milk).. I find not depriving myself by having treats like those tiny single serve ice creams some nights helps too.

At the end of the day nursing is tricky.. if nothing else works, maybe scale back the exercise to decrease the hunger if it is getting too much for you then adjust your intake.

CoachJen71

Making milk takes calories. You are fighting biology if you cut back too much. Bret may not have factored nursing moms into his equation.

I loved nursing. Dropped weight and got to eat more.

WatchJoshLift

Nursing burns a crazy amount of calories. My wife lost all of her baby weight and then some by nursing, and she doesn't exercise or diet.

TartsAndTattoos

If you're hungry, eat. Not eating will not do you any favours. You're active and nursing. Listen to your body, it knows.

Old_Cat_Lady

You are starving. Breastfeeding alone takes 500 calories. = 1500 a day, and on top of that you are exercising?

sardelsa

TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »

You are starving. Breastfeeding alone takes 500 calories. = 1500 a day, and on top of that you are exercising?

The calories for breastfeeding are not always 500, especially once the baby starts solids and is nursing less frequently.

Raegold

Yeah, I'm nursing my 18 month old like 4x a day, so it's definitely not 500 calories a day. Honestly, I don't like hearing about women who lost weight by nursing and didn't diet or exercise, bc that's totally the opposite for me. It makes me so hungry that I gain weight.

I don't want to stop my lifting program, so I guess I'll just try and deal with it

kms234

Raegold wrote: »

Yeah, I'm nursing my 18 month old like 4x a day, so it's definitely not 500 calories a day. Honestly, I don't like hearing about women who lost weight by nursing and didn't diet or exercise, bc that's totally the opposite for me. It makes me so hungry that I gain weight.

I don't want to stop my lifting program, so I guess I'll just try and deal with it

Listen to your body. If you feel hungry, have a small but high protein snack to get you through the hump. I think you can successfully BF, lose weight AND maintain your lifting program

Graelwyn75

Try some full fat or 2% Greek yoghurt with a little honey and some seeds or somesuch. It is filling enough that it might stave off the hunger pangs and give you a nice protein boost. I echo what others have said - listen to your body.

LisaTcan

Raegold wrote: »

Yeah, I'm nursing my 18 month old like 4x a day, so it's definitely not 500 calories a day. Honestly, I don't like hearing about women who lost weight by nursing and didn't diet or exercise, bc that's totally the opposite for me. It makes me so hungry that I gain weight.

I don't want to stop my lifting program, so I guess I'll just try and deal with it

I've done some research on it and the whole "breastfeeding makes you lose weight" thing is only true for about 60% of women. The other 40% (myself included) have trouble losing weight until they wean. It has to do with the amount of breastmilk you produce and how your body responds to prolactin hormones. I wouldn't stress too much about it. I wasn't able to lose the last of my baby weight until my daughter weaned.

kgirlhart

I was always hungry when I was breastfeeding. I second the idea of high protien snacks and eating if your body tells you you need to.

Christine_72

.

goldthistime

I'm with the others here who say you should eat more. I'd try adding 200 calories more tomorrow (or tonight even), and see what that does. Increase by 100 calories a day until your hunger becomes more reasonable. Obviously you can eat whatever you want for those extra calories, but if it were me, I'd make it something I considered healthful enough that I avoided feeling like I was caving.

Need2Exerc1se

I'm not sure I understand why so many are telling you to eat more given that this is the maintenance board. If you are maintaining your weight eating more will put you in a surplus. Maybe looking at where you are getting your calories is better advice. Protein, fiber and fat are satiating to me so I look to foods with these to help keep hunger under control.

goldthistime

Need2Exerc1se wrote: »

I'm not sure I understand why so many are telling you to eat more given that this is the maintenance board. If you are maintaining your weight eating more will put you in a surplus. Maybe looking at where you are getting your calories is better advice. Protein, fiber and fat are satiating to me so I look to foods with these to help keep hunger under control.

Good point, I hadn't noticed where this thread had been posted to. I made the suggestion to eat more because my own hunger/appetite levels seem to be pretty accurate. If I'm starving, it's because I'm undereating. Reliably. I assumed that the OP is like me, which may or may not be the case.

ccruz985

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't nursing a game changer? You're supposed to be eating more anyway!