Breastfeeding and calories

mleonards

Hello!

I am new to the message boards but had a question.

I am exclusively breastfeeding my 6 month old daughter, she nurses probably 6-8 times a day still (no solids).

MFP has my baseline set at 1200 calories/day for 1lb loss/week before exercise. I have been adding in 300 calories/day for breastfeeding so I'm not eating less than 1500/day any time. (I am only 5'0 and 122.5 pounds, but have 5-8 pounds more to lose). When I exercise I generally am burning 300-400 a day...and sometimes but not always eat all of those calories back.

Does that sounds about right?

Thank you!

I

summer8it

When I was nursing, the drain on my body was sufficient that I got very, very skinny while eating ravenously all the time! I'd recommend that you eat your exercise calories, and if you feel hungry, eat more, even if that puts you over your goal.

vltaylor35

exclusive breastfeeding uses around 500 calories per day, so i would add that onto your 1200.

mleonards

Thanks guys. I definitely don't want to under eat because I know the long term effects it can have and I don't want to lower my milk supply either..... but, I am ready to get this weight off I was eating for *crap* the first few months after she was born because of sleep deprivation etc