Hi Dawn,

Weight loss is so finicky post pregnancy. Some women bounce right back. Others seem to never regain their initial starting point. I mean, we know hormones can become majorly "tweaked" in some women, which can alter things like metabolic rate. At the end of the day though, it's still a matter of energy in vs. energy out.

I'm sure you won't like to hear this, but I've dealt with women where we really just wait it out. They can't seem to set calories low enough to allow for a very reasonable (slow) weight loss without negatively impacting milk production. In these cases, we simply stick with maintenance until circumstances change.

I mean, the literature pretty consistently (though I haven't looked at it in a while) suggests that nursing mothers need an additional 300-500 calories to support milk production and nourishment. So, on paper, which can mean jack**** for the individual, the new maintenance should be your regular maintenance + 300-500 calories. So, again, on paper you should be able to still run a deficit, but at a higher intake than normal given the fact that you're now burning that many more calories per day. But it'll all boil down to how your milk production holds up.

In truth though, my advice is pretty general. Make nutritious food choices, exercise, and ignore weight for the time being.

I'm sure you won't like to hear this, but I've dealt with women where we really just wait it out. They can't seem to set calories low enough to allow for a very reasonable (slow) weight loss without negatively impacting milk production. In these cases, we simply stick with maintenance until circumstances change.

:Butting in:

This is what I've had to do all 3 times. Some weight does come off still, it's just slow and you have to be patient. They say most women take a year to get back to pre-pregnancy weight. Give it at least that long.