Post baby/breastfeeding

Eat less, move more, like everyone else Really, there is nothing special about it. If you are not losing even with breastfeeding, then you are eating at maintenance and about 500 more on top. Breastfeeding can make you hungry, so be careful about your snack choices. And remember to stay well hydrated, I know it sounds stupid but especially when you are exhausted with a new baby, thirst can easily be confused with hunger.
Good luck and congratulations for your baby!

Breastfed for almost 3 years with my last didn't loses lick of weight lol probably because my cravings were just as bad breastfeeding as while I was pregnant so I still ate high calorie foods. Honestly the only way to lose is less calories more burning of calories. If you don't have a baby carrier is suggest getting one. You can walk and snuggle baby. Good luck I know post baby bodies can make us feel blah but I'm sure u can lose it and good luck remember to figure in extra 500 calories for the calories your burning bfing and continue with your prenatal vitamins as well. If your seeing a dip in supply extra water and fenugreek saved my supple when I had a dip.

I didn't lose an ounce when breastfeeding. Some bodies go into 'starvation mode' and hold onto the weight, but will shed it when you stop. I dropped 10 lbs within two weeks after stopping.
So have patience and eat as healthy as you can. And try your best.... Congratulations on your little one!

Yeah, I have three kiddos, all breastfed. I am SO HUNGRY while breastfeeding that I easily overeat. So with my first two, I did not really lose anything until I stopped. With my third, well, I was sick of looking "postpartum" (it had been 6 years between the three kids, after all). So I made a real effort. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but truly, it took a lot of super hard work. As everyone has said, eat less exercise more. Unfortunately, not everyone just has the weight fall off when breastfeeding. Sigh. That said, you do get a pretty huge calorie allotment while breastfeeding, so take advantage of it!

suzan06 wrote: »

For A LOT of breastfeeding mamas, your body will follow the biological imperative to keep fat on you while nursing, to make sure you have enough milk in an emergency. Many, many moms cannot lose all the weight until they are done nursing.

Yes, you burn a lot of calories making milk, and those few moms who lose a ton of weight while nursing make it into the books, but for most moms, all the weight doesn't come off until they wean.

And of course if you wean at 12-18 months, by then you are about ready for kid #2, lol.

No. Breastfeeding does not defy the basic laws of energy.
Breastfeeding, like pregnancy, usually makes you hungrier. And also makes you more likely to want to give in to cravings. Understandably, being tired and not having the energy to think much about calories, means more easily giving in to these cravings, which in turn means you do not lose weight and often gain more.
If you manage to monitor what you eat, which might not be always easy obviously, you lose weight.
Usually weaning means extra weight gain, not weight loss. Because you no longer burn the breastfeeding calories.
The mothers I know in real life who did not lose or even gained while nursing, they ended up with more weight after weaning.

Yup. I can relate. I have been busting my butt at the gym and I have not lost as much as expected. I breastfeed as well and I just assumed that's why I'm not losing as fast. But I'm committed to fitness so I'm trying not to get so obsessed with the scale. I can see my body changing so that's what matters.

Breast feeding did not help me lose a pound!!

You have to be very careful not to restrict too much as to not hinder your supply. That being said fat loss is 90% diet, so I would take your recommend caloric intake, add 300 and that's with exercise. Lean meats, plain Greek yogurt, fruit, lots of veggies. I can totally relate I felt the same way!! My body didn't start really losing until a year PP. Hang in there mama it's a journey, not a race!!!

I breastfed my 4 babies, and while it's not true for every mom, I could not lose the last 10-15 pounds while breastfeeding. I ate no more than 1400 calories, any less would decrease my milk supply. I worked out 5-6 hours a week. Once I quit breastfeeding, I lost 10 pounds in just a few weeks. Weaning was the only change in my routine.

After the first two kids, I stopped trying so hard to lose right away because it's very discouraging to do everything and not lose. I focused on getting my body strong and moving (outside if possible). It was as much for my mental health as anything else.

Some women can and do lose a ton while breastfeeding. I was not one of them. No biggie. It's a trade off, I don't beat myself up about it.

As far as laws of energy are concerned. It's not so simple when you add in the literal rush of hormones that come with lactation.