Nursing Mommy needs help!!!

ST218

I am so frustrasted!!! I can not seem to get enough to eat! I don't know if it is the extra calories I am burning while nursing or what but I can not seem to get satisfied or a feeling of being "full". I keep trying to pick healthy snacks like fruit, yogurt, granola bars and trail mixes but nothing seems to get me there. I eat all day long. And by the end of the day I have eaten 1900 - 2000 calories!!Then of course I am so tired because my beautiful baby girl isn't sleeping thru the night yet, I coach cheerleading and I work full time. So any down time I get all I want to do it nap. Does anyone have any suggestions or words of encouragement that can get me out of this rutt? I want to lose enough weight to get back into my jeans by fall but I just know I am going to have to go buy some new fat jeans and it is really bringing me down.

Discouraged Mommy.....

Sheryl

goalie35

The bad news you probably won't loose all the weight with nursing. I lost about 30lbs then stopped. My daughter is 5 months and I just stopped nursing. Make sure you drink lots of water. I was drinking 5-32oz bottles a day. When ever I would start to eat I would drink at least 16oz and then re-evaluated if I was still hungry a few minutes later.

faedrac

Dear Nursing Mommy:

I nursed both my kids(one for 10 months, one for more than a year) and while I'm no expert, one thing I do know is that you really do need to take in the extra calories to stay healthy and keep your milk production up. I wasn't exercising or dieting at all during the time I was nursing, and all my baby-related weight came off (for the first one in took about 6 months, the second one it took about a year). I'm not sure how old your baby is, but nursing is nature's magic way of helping you lose weight without even trying, so I would be cautious about putting yourself on *too* strict a diet--your body needs the fuel. Have you had a chance to talk to your doctor about this?

buffalogal1979

Hi Sheryl!

Congrats on the new baby!

I am nursing a 9mo. old myself. Don't get discouraged! If anything it sounds like you might not be taking in enough calories. My doctor told me - explicitly - to eat no fewer than 2000 cal/day when nursing, and if you are working and coaching on top of that you could very well need even more.

You will lose the weight. I have been eating @ 2000 cal/day some days more, over the past couple of months, I have SLOWLY added in workouts, which don't happen every day given the nature of caring for children, and I have still shed nearly 20 lbs. in 4 months. You will get there! Take it easy and don't be so hard on yourself. Take the nap during the afternoon!

First and foremost you have a baby that needs you to be healthy, for her own nutrition. You didn't say how old the baby is, but this all sounds totally normal. Relax about the calories. If you feel hungry - you probably are! You will get there. Maybe not in a month or two, but you will. Most importantly - enjoy your little one.

HTH. Good luck to you!
J

mcpherson4

I lost weight while nursing without trying. I do not recommend "dieting" while nursing. Your baby is fed on your nutrients. Just try and make healthier choices and do not be concerned with calorie intake. You won't always nurse. You will miss it. Enjoy it and make good choices and then carry over those good habits when you are no longer nursing and needing to limit calories as well.

ashley_h10

as a nursing mother your body NEEDS at least 2000 to 2500 cals a day! You are depriving yourself of the nutrients you need to be healthy as well as ruining your metabolism! Add in breastfeeding (extra 500 cals) to your food diary everyday. I have been doing this and i have lost 6 pounds in just over a month. I breastfeed my son exclusively.

Mama_Rachel

Dear Nursing Momma,

I have to thank you for posting this I too was feeling very hungry while nursing my wee one. I did know that I was allowed an extra 500 cal for exclusive breast feeding but what happens when your child is 1/2 breast fed and 1/2 solids??? So I have been giving myself a little slack on the caloric intake and if I am hungry I eat. I recommend you do the same. I lost all my baby weight within 2wks of my daughter being born and an additional 10lbs on top of that. It's definately a slow process though.

As for exercise, I try and do activities where my daughter can come along. Like swimming, walking, strollercise, Baby Salsa Dancing (wrap required), Baby Yoga, and they even have baby boot camp! These aren't only great for you, it's great for your little one to see you active and you get to lead by example.

Good luck with your adventures in Mommyhood and weight loss.

Mama_Rachel

mocosa74

I am right there with you dear!! Having some trouble losing weight, but I am determined not to get discouraged. I have gained/lost the same 5 lbs for the last few month, and after reading some of the posts...decided it is just natural. My clothes are fitting better, despite too much excersise....so I am chugging on, and hope that once I wean baby girl...it will be easier. Right now I am just trying to NOT GAIN!!!

As far as filling full, i have a list of filling foods that are good tp eat that help in keeping you full. I try and follow this plan as much as I can, and actually was successful (before becoming pregnant) in losing 50 lbs just eating things off this list!!!

Good luck!

http://www.weightwatchers.com/images/1033/dynamic/GCMSImages/FillingFoodList_US.pdf