Nursing (Breastfeeding)

charlinelaw84
charlinelaw84 Posts: 4
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi! I have been on MFP for about a month now and can not seem to loose any weight. I am almost always under my calorie intake that has been calculated for me. And I walk 4 miles about every other day. But I also nurse and I know that breastfeeding alone can burn 300 to 500 calories. Should I recalculate my calories for this and if so is there a way that i can input it into my calorie.

Replies

  • shalinimunjal
    shalinimunjal Posts: 192 Member
    Search for 'breastfeeding' unde food and add it.You need to eat those calories or you wont lose much or your supply will suffer.
    NAK so not very detailed..
  • trinoc
    trinoc Posts: 73
    Weight loss during breastfeeding is not a given. It's actually split, almost 50/50, among women. About 50% drop weight like crazy while nursing. The other 50% hold onto weight and then, once child has weaned, start dropping the extra pounds. It's possible that you're in the latter group. Don't sacrifice good nutrition to keep calories too low...continue to eat a healthy diet and I have a feeling you'll lose the weight after you're no longer nursing.
  • charlinelaw84
    charlinelaw84 Posts: 4
    thank you i was trying to put it in for my exercise. figured that would make more sense . but i did put it in for my food and found it.
  • Willbenchforcupcakes
    Willbenchforcupcakes Posts: 4,955 Member
    My personal experience is that you need to really eat while nursing in order to lose weight. I started mfp at 212, and had been eating around 1800 calories a day (I'm 5'7" btw). Since joining 46 days ago, I've lost 12.4 pounds eating at least 2300 calories a day. In addition, my daughter has gone from gaining the bare minimum acceptable weight gain, to gaining 6-8 oz a week.
  • Determined518
    Determined518 Posts: 138 Member
    I didn't lose a thing while I was breastfeeding. I was told not to diet while nursing bc it can burn up to 1000 calories a day! I would just watch what I eat and know you are doing what's best for your baby. Then when you are done, you can count calories. Maybe you are just not eating enough calories for you and baby which is causing you to retain weight.
  • elleamenope
    elleamenope Posts: 1
    I nursed until my second child was four, which was 6 years of nonstop nursing. The whole time, no matter what I did, I stayed the same, or even gained, which seems to be what you are describing. I, too, had heard the "Breastfeeding! So fat-reducing!" rhetoric & I spent a long time feeling like I was doing something wrong. She weaned on her 4th birthday, in March, and by August -- without doing anything differently -- 50 pounds had melted away. Poof. (That isn't a good melting sound, but ok.) I have met a lot of people who tell the same story, and all in all, looking back on my time spent wearing a 22, feeding my kids at the same time, I have no regrets. Not even, "Good God, I should have weaned that girl before she was old enough to have a conversation about it!"

    Some women just have more efficient bodies for survival. It is a good thing. It means you are strong & made to face challenges like a famine; you will pass this strength to yr children. Good luck!
  • Jennisin1
    Jennisin1 Posts: 574 Member
    I am nursing a 5 month old and am losing weight using MFP. I am eating around 1800-2300 calories a day. I didn't lose a pound before being on here and I am definitely not starting myself.
  • charlinelaw84
    charlinelaw84 Posts: 4
    this is my 3rd child but only the 2nd one that i have nursed and with my older daughter i didnt loose anything as well but with my BMI over weight i thought that it would be good to try to loose some weight. she is already 6 months old and loves to nurse but she is also on baby food for 2 to 3 meals
  • saihtnyc
    saihtnyc Posts: 51 Member
    I'm nursing my third child, who is 3 months old. I have never been one of the lucky people who had weight drop off while breastfeeding, nor when I weaned. In fact, both times I weaned my other kids, I gained exactly 6 pounds and didn't change a thing. Obviously I was eating the same and not breastfeeding anymore, so I guess I gained the weight because I wasn't burning those calories anymore!

    This time I'm really trying to track my food. Not that I should be losing weight rapidly while nursing and I don't want my supply to suffer, but I want to be eating the RIGHT things. I was eating too much crap and lots of carbs - fig newtons, granola bars, etc. when I was hungry and not enough protein or fresh fruit and veggies for snacks. I was hungry all the time - now I'm eating fewer calories but I am less hungry now even though I'm eating fewer calories. I'm still eating some crap here and there but I'm trying to have small portion sizes for the treats when I do. I had been unable to control myself before!

    I get really hungry at night after the kids are in bed, and so I try to have an apple and some almonds, that fills me up and I seem to feel better in the morning after that late-night snack.
  • saihtnyc
    saihtnyc Posts: 51 Member
    Oh, and I'm adding the 500 calories as a "food", even though I'm not sure I love that way of doing it. I may go in and just adjust my calorie goal by doing it "custom" or adding it as an exercise each day. It would probably make the breakdown of protein/fat/fiber/carb/etc tracking easier.

    I'm also trying to ramp up my exercise, but both times I did that with the other babies, my supply took a huge dive. I pump at work so I need a good supply so he can stay on BM exclusively.

    Good luck!
  • charlinelaw84
    charlinelaw84 Posts: 4
    ok still cant loose anything. i have been under my calorie intake and have been putting in my nursing which gives my 300 more calories burned so i dont think its because of "starvation". im getten really frustrated and stressed. thinking bout waiting and trying again after mary is done nursing. any more ideas that might help or should i jus wait?
    :frown:
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