Success stories for mommas who exclusively breastfeed

I have only empathy, not advice. With both my girls I only gained about 15-20 pounds, but I couldn't get off more than a couple pounds of weight until I stopped breastfeeding. With my first any time I reduced calories at all (even a safe approved amount) my supply would drop off. I had a little more luck with my second born because she was a bad sleeper and nursed much more- so my supply was steadier and could handle me cutting calories a little better. But I think my body just holds on to any extra fat while I'm nursing. The second I stopped nursing I had a lot more success with my weight loss efforts.

Good luck and I hope you find a balance that works for you. I HATE the popular belief that "nursing makes the weight just fall off."

I liked to know when thiis weightloss journey started for those who have been successful....i'm 2 months postpartum and all i see the scale doing is going up and down ...i had the initial big loss and ive pretty much GAINED OR LOSS THE SAME FEW POUNDS SINCE! I log what I eat and i eat very good.....I workout almost everyday for at least 45 min ....I'm at a loss?!...i only gained 25lbs with this pregnancy.....this was my 4th baby....all the others i gained 50 lbs...lost it all but only after i stop breastfeeding...Ive lost 15lbs after this last baby was born and can't seem to drop anymore !! I'm so frustrated as many of my friends seem to be losing while EBF so I'm looking for WHEN did you start to see the scale to go down consistantly?
Any help would be great! Thank you!

There are some stories of women who did just this, and their audio interviews. You can read and listen to them for free. The Venus Index, transformations and contests. I didn't achieve my goal until well after my kids were grown at age 50. I wish they had the internet back when I was having kids!

I am currently pregnant and concerned about this as well (I am due in December and so far have only gained 12 lbs). I do have friends on here that have been quite succesful while breastfeeding. Their advice was to eat between 1600-1800 calories (after deducting breastfeeding cals) and workout for 60 mins 5 days a week. This is the plan I am going to stick with and hope for the best.

Your body is designed to hold onto fat stores while BF. That way during times of famine you had reserves with which to survive and feed your baby. It's a biologic response. My advice, cut back on the exercise some, eat a bit more and be patient. You won't be bf forever. Treasure this time without stressing about losing weight.

My son is almost 6 months old now and I still nurse him.. I only gained about 20 lbs becoming pregnant but I didn't really take notice of or began to try to lose weight until the end of August. I had already naturally lost the weight I gained from being pregnant for the most part honestly, but I started Insanity on Aug.27th really wanting to look good and get into shape. Obviously a program like that will bring some results but in any sense. You burn calories nursing. Depending on how often and the duration you do nurse affects how much you burn but if you're exercising regularly and eating good foods maybe you're not eating enough? I haven't checked to see if your diary is open or anything.. Do you feel hungry throughout the day? If you don't already try eating five or six smaller meals that evenly break down to equal your daily caloric goal. Obviously drink plenty of water.. apart from all of that just keep at it. Nursing really shouldn't affect your ability to lose weight in that... you shouldn't be holding onto your weight "just because" of that.

I can't offer too much reassurance either. I BF my LO until 1 year (when she self-weaned). I couldn't drop a single pound. I was horribly depressed about my weight. I dropped the initial 8 kgs quickly and then the second 8 just stuck. In fact I gained 2 more! I can't say that the weight just dropped off either. I had to work my butt off and count every calorie, stick to 1200 cals a day and it took me 8 months to finally lose the weight. But I did, and it was slow, but it did come off, bit by bit. Nothing while I breastfed, but it finally all came off and then some once I stopped. I'm now 4 kgs lower than my pre-preggy weight :happy:

I watched all my friends lose all their weight within weeks of having their babies. I felt awful! But I knew that I was doing the absolute best for my little girl, and that meant more than the weight. You are doing a great thing, and it will come off eventually. If you put in the work.

I gained 50 lbs with my third pregnancy. My son will be 11 months tomorrow and I have lost a little over 60 pounds while EBF. Without counting calories and exercising, I would still be sitting with all that weight. While I am still working on the "baby weight" I gained with my first two sons, I am definitely in a better place. Another thing is that I do not stress about it. LIke the pp said, be patient. Know that you are not alone...many of us mommas struggle with dropping those pesky baby pounds.
Congrats btw on your 4th babe!