Question for nursing Moms

dotTif
dotTif Posts: 20
in Getting Started
I have not been able to successfully stay on track while nursing (my now 7 month old)

I'm just wondering what other moms in the same boat are doing.

Are you eating back your calories burned nursing?

Is anyone else starving all the time like I am?

Are your settings for maintenance or loss?

Ideas? Suggestions?

Thx!

Replies

  • tonyajohn
    tonyajohn Posts: 46
    Always eat back your nursing calories. You can add them to your food diary or your exercise diary. You're gonna want to add 500 cal if you're still exclusively nursing or 250-400 cal if they're eating solids too. That being said, I'm nursing a 19 month old and even though she eats a ton of solids, she's still nursing frequently so I add the whole 500 or my milk suffers.

    1200 cal (what MFP recommends for my weight loss) + 500 cal (what I burn breastfeeding) = 1700 calories a day to keep my supply up and still lose weight.

    Feel free to check out my food diary and/or shoot me a friend request.
  • nicola1141
    nicola1141 Posts: 613 Member
    Yes, I am eating back my nursing calories and my exercise calories. I'd probably add about 350 calories for nursing a 7 month old.

    I'm not starving all the time. I find I'm less starving when I (a) have a breakfast that includes protein; and (b) make sure I drink a lot of water.

    I set my own calorie goal at 1750 (that number works for me, I've got about 40 lbs. to lose).

    Good luck! It is possible, but everybody's different. Some people find weight just falls off them when nursing and I know a few others whose bodies hang on to every little pound until they're completely weaned.
  • GeminiDelight
    GeminiDelight Posts: 45 Member
    i would agree with both the answers you have already gotten. i eat back the 500 calories. i dont always eat back all the exercise calories. i can tell when my supply seems to drop and make sure i eat more after that.
  • ummyasminah
    ummyasminah Posts: 95 Member
    I always eat back my nursing calories, which I've set to 300 for my 11 month old who still nurses throughout the day and night. If she was 7 months I'd set it at 500, as she was barely eating solids then. MFP sets my calories at 1380 and so I eat 1680 a day. I'm not starving and I am losing.
  • mama2redhead
    mama2redhead Posts: 132 Member
    Definitely add the five hundred calories and eat them back. I starved until my daughter was closer to a year old. At 18 months, I was able to cut out the additional nursing calories and begin losing weight without to much struggle. She still nurses some now, but mostly just 2 or 3 x daily.

    When I tried to cut my calories too much in that first year, I was starving, cranky, and my supply dropped. Adding exercise allowed me additional calories, and didn't seem to hurt my supply.

    Good luck and congrats on breast feeding for seven months Mama!
  • dotTif
    dotTif Posts: 20
    When I tried to cut my calories too much in that first year, I was starving, cranky, and my supply dropped. Adding exercise allowed me additional calories, and didn't seem to hurt my supply.

    starving & cranky... Yep that's me!! :)

    thanks for the feedback ladies! I'm so eager to lose these inches I guess I just need to take my time and add a few more calories to my day. If I aim to eat too little though I end up eating WAY too much!
  • 10manda86
    10manda86 Posts: 229 Member
    I nursed until my son was 8 months... over 4 years ago now! I never heard of this site back then. I was only 22 and had a few kilos to lose, but I remember constantly feeling hungry and I had supply troubles, I wasn't trying to lose weight either... after reading this post and thinking... I think. I was most not drinking enough water, sometime you body mistakes thirst for hunger! Things I know now that will help me next time round!!

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