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breastfeeding burns 600 calories a day

bashasmom
bashasmom Posts: 9
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
so would that count as exercise? that's an extra 600 calories i burn daily by just making milk for my son. should i add this to the "exercise" tab? or just leave it as bonus?

sorry if it's a weird question... i just really want to lose weight, and keep track of my calories!

Replies

  • Oompa_Loompa
    Oompa_Loompa Posts: 1,099 Member
    I'm just interested to know the answer.
  • marisol7649
    marisol7649 Posts: 484 Member
    Lucky you! SOmetimes I wish I still breast feed, my sister had a baby a few months ago and lost somemuch plus more.:smooched:
  • meganwojo
    meganwojo Posts: 221 Member
    You most certainly do!! I breastfed my son for 3 months. I always ate back at least 300 of the calories I burned by breastfeeding, seeing as hes taking your nutrients. You require extra calories to make enough milk, if you dont, your milk production/supply may be affected. Also, drinks tons of fluids, dehydration will also cause lack of milk.
  • cktb4him
    cktb4him Posts: 56
    I use it as exercise. When my daughter was exclusively breastfeeding I put down the max amount of calories my body uses to make milk (500 according to La Leche League). Now that she is 8 months I'm putting my calories as 300 for exercise so that my calories are up enough to give me energy throughout the day. As she eats more and more solids and nurses less I'll put the minimum amt of cals in to produce milk (200). Hope that helps! I know it after I log in my food it makes me want to nurse her more so I can have those free calories! :tongue: Is that bad? :blushing: It's just too easy!
  • meganwojo
    meganwojo Posts: 221 Member
    I counted mine as exercise, but your just most likely going to need to eat some of the calories back haha. I count the calories I burn just from carrying my baby around the house haha.
  • bashasmom
    bashasmom Posts: 9
    You most certainly do!! I breastfed my son for 3 months. I always ate back at least 300 of the calories I burned by breastfeeding, seeing as hes taking your nutrients. You require extra calories to make enough milk, if you dont, your milk production/supply may be affected. Also, drinks tons of fluids, dehydration will also cause lack of milk.

    awesome! my son is five months old, and is exclusively breastfed (no water/juice/formula/solids). i eat about 1800 calories a day, and drink two huge (4 cups each) glasses of water, if not more!
  • bashasmom
    bashasmom Posts: 9
    I counted mine as exercise, but your just most likely going to need to eat some of the calories back haha. I count the calories I burn just from carrying my baby around the house haha.

    haha! i should do that too! i wear my son in a wrap about 1/3 of the day while i do chores, go for a walk, etc. how would i count that? he's 17lbs... so a moderate walk with a 17lb weight? lol
  • bashasmom
    bashasmom Posts: 9
    haha, adding the 500 cals for bfing, that doubles the cals that i should burn a day! i should hypothetically be able to lose the weight without doing anything! lol!
  • meganwojo
    meganwojo Posts: 221 Member
    go to exercise and type in the search "walking" and if you scroll down you will see "walking, carrying infant or 15 lb load".

    :)
  • bashasmom
    bashasmom Posts: 9
    go to exercise and type in the search "walking" and if you scroll down you will see "walking, carrying infant or 15 lb load".

    :)

    thanks!!
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