Calories, Morbidly Obese & Breastfeeding.

Why do you "feel" you should eat 1200?

I think if you only eat 1200 you will start feeling deprived and then you may go way beyond your daily allowance. At least I would. And I personally believe that eating under 1200 calories a day, especially as low as 700 or 900, is very unhealthy and will cause health problems.

MizzMaamI1 wrote: »

Should my net cals always be around 1600, or is it fine if some days it's around 700-900?

If your MFP goal is 1650 and you are adding calories for breastfeeding, your net should never be that low. If you add just 200 calories for breastfeeding, your goal becomes 1850. To net 700-900 you'd have to do 950-1150 calories worth of exercise. Not gonna happen.

Your diary is locked. But i just wanted to say, that if you have that much weight to lose you should try and lose slowly and steadily.

I know you wont have control over how much excess skin you have once you get to your goal weight, but i think it's best to lose low and slow and CONSISTENTLY. I think you'll be happier with your results when you reach your goal and it'll be easier for you to maintain.

What's the point of losing all of the weight if you're going to have a huge amount of excess skin, and then you re-bound and gain it all back because you tried to deprive yourself?

Stick to what MFP recommends (it's already a high enough deficit for you) and then re-adjust as you get closer to your goals.

Breastfeeding moms actually should add on an extra 500 calories a day unlike when your pregnant it's about an extra 300 calories.

Coming from a health coach stand point counting calories is very defeating task and can set yourself up for feeling like a failure.

1200 calories is a very low amount. Anyone really shouldn't go under 1200 calories unless medically advised.

I good way to look at the things you eat are from a standpoint of processed (amount of ingredients and commercials) verse fresh or homemade... Are foods protein and fat rich or high carb. Good goals are less than 60 grams of carb and not looking at the amount of calories you intake. 60 grams or less carbs can actually be a pretty difficult task as well, so I have also been advised by another coach that a good goal is between 60-75 carbs a day. Allow yourself a cheat day once a week. Take baby steps, changing one thing at a time.

If you're hungry, eat but eat something high in fat and protein, not sugar or carbs. Our bodies do need some carbs but not as many as what is suggested on the food pyrimads. Our bodies also need more fat than what is suggested but healthy fats omega-3, mono-unsaturated, and yes even saturated... (We are animals) and lots and lots of water.

Comes down to 80% nutrition 20% fitness... Don't give up! You are doing great. There are ups and downs but look at the progress you have made so far. Hope this is helpful.

You can look into my diary if you like. No I'm not perfect but look at the days were my carb intake is 75 grams of carbs or less.

Listen to everyone that says to eat more. I started off at 310, and am now at 244. With my exercise factored in, I usually eat between 1700-2000 a day and lose around 2 lbs a week. If you are exercising and breastfeeding then you can probably eat more than 1600 and lose weight. Don't be in such a rush that you lose your milk, or harm yourself because you aren't eating enough. Stop and put things into perspective. You are losing, and getting healthy. It isn't a race, but a lifestyle. Enjoy time with your new baby (congrats!) and know that you are doing things in a way that is healthy and allows you to provide them milk to thrive on. You don't need to feel guilty about eating and if you can't get over that, see a doctor to get someone to talk to please.

LLL recommends eating 1800 calories MINIMUM for breastfeeding moms.
http://www.llli.org/llleaderweb/lv/lvoctnov97p115.html

You can forget breastfeeding with only 1200 calories. You won't have any supply to give to your baby.

LovingLife_Erin wrote: »

Listen to everyone that says to eat more. I started off at 310, and am now at 244. With my exercise factored in, I usually eat between 1700-2000 a day and lose around 2 lbs a week. If you are exercising and breastfeeding then you can probably eat more than 1600 and lose weight. Don't be in such a rush that you lose your milk, or harm yourself because you aren't eating enough. Stop and put things into perspective. You are losing, and getting healthy. It isn't a race, but a lifestyle. Enjoy time with your new baby (congrats!) and know that you are doing things in a way that is healthy and allows you to provide them milk to thrive on. You don't need to feel guilty about eating and if you can't get over that, see a doctor to get someone to talk to please.

This is good advice.

OP, you are doing awesome. 60+ lbs over 6 months is great. I know it feels like it's going slow but you are already winning. It sounds lame but slow and steady wins the race.

You don't need to drastically cut cals or carbs. Keep doing what you're doing. Also, just for some perspective, I am exclusively Breastfeeding an 8 week old(also pumping extra to build freezer stash) and net between 1800-2000 cals a day. I weigh 170 and am still losing. You can eat a whole heck of a lot more than 1200 cals.