How many calories to lose weight while breastfeeding?

luvHim
luvHim Posts: 35 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I'd like to hear from those of you who have successfully lost weight while bf'ing. I am bf'ing a 4mo and he's my sixth child. I almost always lose all my weight within the first year, but this time I'm left with more pregnancy weight than normal. I'd like it to come off faster!! Don't we all.... :)

I've recorded a few days of counting calories but haven't been successful at doing it fulltime yet. Do I need 2000 calories? Anything lower and I get really hungry. I am 5'3", so not real tall and currently weigh 138. I'd like to see 115 - but maybe in my dreams.

How many calories do you have mfp set at for you and are successfully losing weight while bf'ing?

Replies

  • shoeloveramber
    shoeloveramber Posts: 291 Member
    I was told to take what you would normally eat to lose weight and add 300 calories a day for breastfeeding. So if normally you eat 1600 calories to lose weight try 1900 and see how it goes. If you find your supply dropping add in 50 calories at a time and eat oatmeal to help boost your supply back up again.
  • BarbieAS
    BarbieAS Posts: 1,414 Member
    I was told to take what you would normally eat to lose weight and add 300 calories a day for breastfeeding. So if normally you eat 1600 calories to lose weight try 1900 and see how it goes. If you find your supply dropping add in 50 calories at a time and eat oatmeal to help boost your supply back up again.

    Pretty much this. If you're exclusively nursing, figure 300-500 calories more per day, then less when/if you begin to nurse less and supplement more with solids and/or formula.

    That said, if you're hungry, eat. If your supply starts to drop, eat. There probably is a minimum you need to keep your supply up, but that's different for every woman and only trial and error can tell you what it is. Shoot for no more than a 500 calorie per day deficit to start. And, remember - your baby only needs your breastmilk for a very short time. You have the whole rest of your life to lose weight. It's great to try to lose right now (slowly), but if nursing is important to you, don't sacrifice it to drop a few pounds. In a few months it will be a moot point and you can throw everything you have at your weight loss efforts.

    ETA - I do speak from experience! Nursed 2 babies, one to 18 months and one to 22 months. :happy:

Categories