Newbie but frustrated with net calories

seesaey

Hello all! I've been using MFP for a few days and its helped a ton! It motivates me to log my exercise and to see how many calories I actually eat. I want to lose my extra baby fat (I have 3 kids under 4 so I hadn't lost the weight from the second baby before I got pregnant with my third)... which is about 15 pounds.

I'm frustrated with net calories though. I have trouble making my 1400 calorie intake before exercise. I usually burn around 500 calories a night (Zumba, Gold's Gym on the Wii). So my net calories are usually under 1000. I'm just not hungry. I snack on veggies/fruits throughout the day in between meals. I've read about eating your exercise calories back to have at least 1200 net calories. So I tried my hardest yesterday and got to 1199 net (yay!!). Then I remembered that breastfeeding (exclusively) burns calories, found it and added it to the food diary so my net calories went down to 700 for yesterday. So frustrating!! I couldn't eat anymore!! Am I doing the net calories right? That means I would have to eat at least 1700 calories a day!!! Wow!!!

afteil

There seems to be a lot of debate about if you should or should not eat back your exercise calories- from what i know your body basically needs 1200 calories minimum per day to not go into starvation mode (if you are breastfeeding then I think its more). So as long as you eat more than 1200 then I think you will be ok- try to keep up on your protein though because that will allow your muscles to repair easier after you work out.

At least thats my little knowledge of it lol

AshliKrasz

You need to be eating alot more if you are breastfeeding exclusively. You actually shouldn't even be dieting to begin with but you need at least make sure you are eating 1200 calories PLUS enough to be breastfeeding or you will most likely lose your milk and not feeding your baby enough. It's tough I know. I tried Weight Watchers while nursing my second and ate all the points ofr a breastfeeding mother and it wasnt nearly enough I lost my milk for a few days and really had to work to get it back.

shanhawk

It seems to me like you have the right idea. I know that sometimes its challenging to eat back all the exercise cals. I personally don't always eat all of mine back, but I have at least a net of 1200 cals. Foods like nuts are high in cals and good for you too. Also I found that eating larger meals on the days I know Im going to workout a lot really helps too. Good luck on your journey and welcome to MFP.:flowerforyou:

chelseamckell

It doesn't seem like it would be that hard to take in enough calories.... just make a nice healthy protein smoothie once a day - throw in some peanut butter and/or bananas, protein powder. frozen fruit, whole milk..... easy and yummy! Giving your baby breastmilk is more important than loosing weight, so be sure not to lose that focus! I can totally relate - I'm breastfeeding my twin babies right now, and I reallyreally want to lose this last 10-15 pounds!!!! But I'm going slow and moderate, so I keep up my supply and just lose a little each week. Good luck!

mandy_marie

It doesn't seem like it would be that hard to take in enough calories.... just make a nice healthy protein smoothie once a day - throw in some peanut butter and/or bananas, protein powder. frozen fruit, whole milk..... easy and yummy! Giving your baby breastmilk is more important than loosing weight, so be sure not to lose that focus! I can totally relate - I'm breastfeeding my twin babies right now, and I reallyreally want to lose this last 10-15 pounds!!!! But I'm going slow and moderate, so I keep up my supply and just lose a little each week. Good luck!

totally agree....protien smooth will help along with eating nuts....as long as you try to stay abouve 1200cals you should be fine because your breastfeeding baby too....me personally would try and shoot for the 1200 +300cals...hope it helps

seesaey

Thanks for all the replies! I not really trying to "diet" too much, just watch what I put into my body and not overeat on the bad things (like the calzones we made for dinner last night! I only ate half and had a salad instead of eating the whole thing like I normally would). Its nice to have the accountability of MFP! I had a feeling that I wasn't getting enough calories esp with breastfeeding, so its nice to finally figure out why my body is holding onto those last pounds (from not eating enough calories). With my first baby I lost the baby fat so fast and was actually under my prepregnancy weight, but I think I was eating more too.

Thanks for the suggestions on how to add healthy calories too - I need to look into protein powders to make my own shakes. I workout at night after the kids go to bed so I'm trying to decide on what is best to eat after a late night workout - protein shakes are probably going to be it (and sound yummy with the add-ins!). Off to search for other ways besides what you all suggested.

Thanks for making me feel so welcome in this community!

seesaey

Giving your baby breastmilk is more important than loosing weight, so be sure not to lose that focus! I can totally relate - I'm breastfeeding my twin babies right now, and I reallyreally want to lose this last 10-15 pounds!!!! But I'm going slow and moderate, so I keep up my supply and just lose a little each week. Good luck!

Thanks for this!!!!

QueenofCups

I agree, there is a lot of debate on this. I think you should eat when you are hungry, eat healthy, and make sure you are eating fats for the breastmilk. Make sure you feel like you have enough energy, and the net calories are inconsequential.

I recently stopped focusing on calories BURNED and just on calories CONSUMED. Sometimes I am less than 1200 net and sometimes not, but I just don't stress about it. Your body will tell you if you aren't giving it enough energy; through feeling sleepy, sluggish, weak, short of breath, trouble sleeping, etc.

seesaey

I recently stopped focusing on calories BURNED and just on calories CONSUMED. Sometimes I am less than 1200 net and sometimes not, but I just don't stress about it. Your body will tell you if you aren't giving it enough energy; through feeling sleepy, sluggish, weak, short of breath, trouble sleeping, etc.

Thanks! Sounds better to focus on my body's queues rather than calories burned (which might or might not be correct). Although I'm not sure if I'm tired because of lack of calories or just sleep deprivation! hahaha (I see you have two littles too from your avatar)

W0zzie

Right or not I can't say - I've only been at this 6 weeks myself but so far so good & I try to stay above 1200 net & no more than 300 or so under goal.

Buttt if you haven't already seen it - here is possibly some answers to the questions:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10665-newbies-please-read-me-2nd-edition

Particularly the last link in the first post - mind I find all the links to be interesting. Probably no need to read the actual thread itself though - just go to the links from the first post.

Cheers

lisaking869

I have a hard time not going over my calories every day (1390)- and that inlcudes eating back my excercise calories (sometimes 400-600 more) - so I can not relate. However- I am a mom- and have breastfed before- so that i CAN relate to. I would say try protien shakes a few times a day to up your calories. I even keep slimfast in my fridge just so I do not have to think about it sometimes. Also, nuts are a great source of good fat and calories. Try making a trail mix with various nuts, dried fruits and even pretzels. and munch on that for a snack a few times a day.
You can actually inhibit your weight loss if you eat too little! I am guessing you need at least 1500 calories a day with the breastfeeding and TONS of liquid! PS- I hear a beer a day helps with breast mik production.
I eat 3 meals and 2 snacks per day- eating every 3 hours or so. Maybe you have trained your body not to eat, thinking that would help you loose weight- and that is a tough mind set to change- but your body really does need fuel to burn fuel!
Well- good luck! Welcome to MFP!