Breastfeeding and calories

frankiethomp
frankiethomp Posts: 2
in Health and Weight Loss
I am breastfeeding and tracking my calorie intake on this site I would like to slowly lose 3kg. I have allowed myself 400 extra calories a day with the hope to still be able to lose weight on this intake. Reading online suggests 500 calories extra but I am quite a short woman and usually eat 1300 calories a day.

I am trying to increase protein in my diet but really crave (and eat) sugar when tired.

Does anyone have experience of counting calories while breastfeeding? And any diet tips for me to beat the sugar cravings?

Replies

  • MyJourney1960
    MyJourney1960 Posts: 1,133 Member
    well, this brings me back many many years but i remember being hungry all the time, eating a lot, and losing a lot of weight. I focused on healthy foods and broke it up into small meals (i distinctly recall having rice cakes and cheese in the middle of the night!). Drink a lot of water, focus on healthy eating, up your protein intake, try going for a walk once or twice a day if you can (with or without baby), sleep when the baby sleeps, and log log log.
  • lemur_lady
    lemur_lady Posts: 350 Member
    That would depend on how old your baby is. Mine is 11months and so I give myself 200cals leeway. The younger the baby the more calories they will take from you generally. Once solids are started then they will gradually take less milk. I have only just started counting calories as I was worried about my milk supply but so far so good.

    Are you taking post natal vitamins?
  • frankiethomp
    frankiethomp Posts: 2
    Thanks,

    I think more small meals is probably a good idea ... and healthy snacks ...especially as breakfast is usually at 5.30am when baby wakes up. Will try and make some sort of bran muffins or seed bars to snack on instead of biscuits!

    My baby is 12 weeks counting calories has not affected my milk supply.

    Walking and light exercise does help the fatigue and to stick to healthy eating, I will get out for a London canal walk today

    Thanks for posts
  • jodiegarnett
    jodiegarnett Posts: 30
    I worked out my TDEE, took off the 20% then added 200 extra calories for my breastfeeding. As your bub is only 3 months, I would do TDEE, - 20% then add about 300-400 calories :)

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