Weight Loss after childbirth when breastfeeding!

gigawatt5
gigawatt5 Posts: 2 Member
edited November 18 in Health and Weight Loss
can anybody advise what the recommended calorie intake should be after childbirth when your breastfeeding? My little one is 5 weeks now and feeding /supply is established but I've heard milk supply can be affected if not diet followed carefully?

Replies

  • susanmc31
    susanmc31 Posts: 287 Member
    The general rule is 500 calories extra over your maintenance. For example, my maintenance is 2000 calories, so I added 500 = 2500 calories when I was breastfeeding my daughter. I would try to eat a little under that daily to help lose weight. This is the calculator I use to find my calorie maintenance http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    Congratulations on your baby! Mine is celebrating her 1 year birthday this weekend and I can't believe time has flown by so quickly!
  • Meorainthemaking
    Meorainthemaking Posts: 22 Member
    I second the 500 calorie surplus. I lost 70 lbs while breastfeeding (and continue to do so).
  • WreckaRed
    WreckaRed Posts: 116 Member
    Small, frequent, healthy protein snacks and lots of water. Give yourself that extra 500 calories if you're exclusively breastfeeding. I actually ate whatever I wanted at that point and maintained. Beware when they don't nurse as frequently to decrease accordingly. I didn't and packed on some weight thinking I was golden due to still breastfeeding. :)
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    I set my calorie goal to maintain and logged my exercise, letting the breastfeeding create a deficit. They say 500 calories for exclusive, so around a lb a week. When we introduced food, I changed to 1/2 lb a week. So around 300 for breastfeeding and 250 for the deficit which keeps me at 1 lb a week goal.
  • gigawatt5
    gigawatt5 Posts: 2 Member
    Thanks ladies big help! First day back at the gym today so hoping to crunch them calories a bit quicker! But easier now little one in a bit of a routine! 40lb to loose!
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