If you breastfeed...

Get120
Get120 Posts: 56
in Health and Weight Loss
How many calories a day do YOU take in? Are you loosing weight well? Whats your exercise like? I know its different for everyone but after researching, researching some more and reading 'Eat Well, Lose Weight, While Breastfeeding' Im more confused than ever :-/ just curious how many calories everyone takes in. Any insight on the subject would be great :-)

Replies

  • FitandFab33
    FitandFab33 Posts: 718 Member
    It depends on how old your LO is, if you're exclusively breastfeeding etc (to determine amount of calories used to produce milk).

    My baby is 5 months and he's exclusively breastfed. I have been spotting myself 500kcal/day for breastmilk, but I rarely eat those. I generally shoot for 2000-2200 kcal/day (but I'm almost 5'11" and I'm heavy with a high TDEE) but I'm almost always short of that. I have lost weight fairly well, but I work out hard- strength training 5-6 days per week most weeks.

    If you don't mind answering some questions, I'll be happy to crunch some numbers to give you a baseline...
  • Get120
    Get120 Posts: 56
    I would greatly appreciate it! What do you need to know?
  • FitandFab33
    FitandFab33 Posts: 718 Member
    Height, weight, goal weight (or goal for your program- weight loss, fat loss, muscle gain, etc)

    Age of baby- exclusively BF or formula supplement, eating solids/how much if so

    How often are you working out/how long each time/what type of workouts.. (or planning to do if you're gearing up).

    I find it easier to set my activity level within MFP to mod active and not add in exercise calories unless I have an extreme day.

    And feel free to message me the details- I know it can be daunting to just put it all out there... :-)
  • elleru
    elleru Posts: 12 Member
    My baby boy is 7 months old, and starting to eat some solids (but mostly still painting his face with whatever I manage to get between his gums). I'm 5'6 and currently 195 lbs, down from 210 in early October. I aim for 1700 kcal per day, with a combination of cardio and strength training 4 days a week. I also am a firm believer that calories don't count on Friday after 5 pm until bedtime. I'm at my pre-baby weight, but now am focusing on pre-college poundage!
  • 86rollyb
    86rollyb Posts: 72 Member
    You've already got some great advice but I just thought I'd share what is working for me :) I'm 5'5 142 lbs and I eat between 1500-1800 a day depending on what i've done for exercise :) I've managed to lose 40 of the 45 lbs I gained while pregnant and my daughter is 3 months :)
  • arains89
    arains89 Posts: 442 Member
    I am 5'7" 167 pounds. I exclusively breastfeed. My daughter is 7 weeks old. I eat about 1500 calories per day and am only 5 pounds from my pre baby weight. Of course my goal weight is lower but I have lost weight pretty well so far and was just cloeared to start exercising a week ago. Good luck!

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