Losing the baby weight, help!

notsolittledebi
notsolittledebi Posts: 5 Member
edited November 24 in Motivation and Support
I'm currently breastfeeding my 10 month old baby and it seems like any time I start any kind of diet or exercise, my milk production drops! I cry when I look in the mirror but I can't let my baby starve! Any advice? I'm already taking fenugreek and flaxseed, and eating oatmeal to help keep my supply up.

Replies

  • 4legsRbetterthan2
    4legsRbetterthan2 Posts: 19,590 MFP Moderator
    Unfortunately, this is just how it works for some women. Since it sounds like breastfeeding is your top priority (totally understandable!) you may just have to be patient and wait until the time is right to start trying to lose weight. I know its hard to not like what you look like in the mirror, but try to remember you are doing it for a good cause, eventually you will wean and be able to focus on you again.

    This post has some great info in the second half on calorie counting while breastfeeding:
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10176233/gaining-weight-during-pregnancy-and-losing-it-post-partum

    I am not sure how you went about trying to get back into diet and exercise, but if you made big, sudden changes it might be worth doing small changes over time and allowing your body more time to adjust as you work towards your goal.

    If you want some extra support this group is currently active and has some lovely ladies in it:
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/639-post-partum-pack

    Congrats on the little one, try not to stress too much and enjoy your time with them!
  • courtney_love2001
    courtney_love2001 Posts: 1,468 Member
    I am also breastfeeding a 6 month old, plan to go to a year (like with my last one). I thought that dieting would cut my supply as well, but nope, same supply. Do you have a freezer stash? You may just have to experiment with what kind of calories you can get away with but you'll need some back up milk just in case the supply tanks. Just know if it does tank it will come back! BF-ing is supply and demand.
  • katlyngronwoldt85
    katlyngronwoldt85 Posts: 49 Member
    Hey feel free to add me. I am breastfeeding my 8 1/2 month old and have the exact same problem. I gained 70 lbs. while preggo, lost 42 right away and can't get rid of the rest. I feel like I could have written the exact same thing you did. I have tried several times to cut back, but I think the problem is I cut TO much out and my supply definitely takes a toll. I think exercise and keeping your food diary are super important. You can add breastfeeding to your diary and it actually adds 500 calories to what you need to eat. Problem is we aren't eating enough, especially of the good foods!
  • notsolittledebi
    notsolittledebi Posts: 5 Member
    katlyngronwoldt85 wrote: »
    Hey feel free to add me. I am breastfeeding my 8 1/2 month old and have the exact same problem. I gained 70 lbs. while preggo, lost 42 right away and can't get rid of the rest. I feel like I could have written the exact same thing you did. I have tried several times to cut back, but I think the problem is I cut TO much out and my supply definitely takes a toll. I think exercise and keeping your food diary are super important. You can add breastfeeding to your diary and it actually adds 500 calories to what you need to eat. Problem is we aren't eating enough, especially of the good foods!

    I gained 80lbs and dropped about 35 after the first few months postpartum. I've tried many different diets, including only cutting 50 calories a day, and it STILL affects my production :/ taking even a 20 minute walk every day does too. Sadly, my baby refuses to take a bottle so I sold my pump since there was no point pumping just to toss the milk, and I can't just put her on formula because she won't take it. It's been a hard road. I didn't know you could add it to your diary! I just put "very active" to add the extra calories
  • hist_doc
    hist_doc Posts: 206 Member
    katlyngronwoldt85 wrote: »
    Hey feel free to add me. I am breastfeeding my 8 1/2 month old and have the exact same problem. I gained 70 lbs. while preggo, lost 42 right away and can't get rid of the rest. I feel like I could have written the exact same thing you did. I have tried several times to cut back, but I think the problem is I cut TO much out and my supply definitely takes a toll.

    This sounds like me with my first child. I gained 55 lb. (lost 30 straight away), but I couldn't cut calories to lose the rest without risking my supply. I stressed about it and remember being frustrated (disgusted) with myself. I wish I hadn't wasted so much mental and emotional energy on it because it really didn't matter in the end. It eventually fell off once I weaned him at a year.
    This time around has been different. I'm almost 6 months pp and within 2 lb. of my pre-pregnancy weight. Go figure.
  • katlyngronwoldt85
    katlyngronwoldt85 Posts: 49 Member
    Yeah you can definitely add breastfeeding in!!!!
  • Karie2017
    Karie2017 Posts: 215 Member
    I’m 2 weeks postpartum and breastfeeding. I’m just now starting to workout again and gonna try to eat 1800 calories a day. Hopefully things will workout. Add me pls.
  • eastbekah
    eastbekah Posts: 1 Member
    Hey ladies! I'm in the same boat. Nursing my 7.5 month old son and trying to lose weight. My son just started sleeping through the night (or just waking once) so I feel like I'm ready to focus on diet and exercise. I haven't given it any serious effort before now but I have a lot to lose. My mom died 6 weeks after my son was born so I have baby weight plus a LOT of emotional eating on top of it. Looking to lose 50 lbs in 2018. Would love to connect with other mommies and support each other! Add me if interested!
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