Breastfeeding

Hi!

I'm exclusively breastfeeding my 3 month old. I have 50 pounds to loose and I've entered all my data (weight, height, goal etc.) and MFP tells me that I need 1200 cals/day to reach my goal. I just need to figure out the best way to incorporate the calories I need for breastfeeding - should I make it an "activity" or should I manually change my daily calorie needs (this changes my goal info though...) or is there another way to do it?

Thanks!
Deanna

Replies

  • ahmommy
    ahmommy Posts: 316 Member
    Search in the database for breastfeeding, I added it to my diary that way. You could also add -500 calories to your diary I believe.
  • There are a few ways. You can just up your calorie goal by the amount you think is appropriate. I've heard 500 day for an exclusively BFed baby. My son is 1 and still BFs up to 6x a day so I do 250-300 cals for that. I enter it as a food with a negative value- I enter it at breakfast everyday. OR you can add it as exercise. I don't love the adding it as food with a -'ve number because it messes up your ratios for fats/carbs etc. But it's what I do anyway. It's easy.
  • Medtech2004
    Medtech2004 Posts: 55 Member
    Make sure you watch your supply though and if it drops increase your calories. I didn't start my weight loss until my daughter was almost weaned. Good luck!
  • JanSmelly
    JanSmelly Posts: 143 Member
    Hi!

    I'm exclusively breastfeeding my 3 month old. I have 50 pounds to loose and I've entered all my data (weight, height, goal etc.) and MFP tells me that I need 1200 cals/day to reach my goal. I just need to figure out the best way to incorporate the calories I need for breastfeeding - should I make it an "activity" or should I manually change my daily calorie needs (this changes my goal info though...) or is there another way to do it?

    Thanks!
    Deanna

    You're calories should be no less than 1800 to maintain a good supply and make sure you get all you need. I always added it in as an activity. Good luck and happy nursing.
  • wildcata77
    wildcata77 Posts: 660
    I have a friend who adds it as breastfeeding, 1 min and sets it as 500 cals.

    For an EBF baby, I would also recommend 500 cals a day, and be sure to drink plenty of water.
  • Pandorian
    Pandorian Posts: 2,055 Member
    If you increase your calories of course it's going to increase your goal info...
    as the calories COME from protein, fat and carbs... you can't stay at the same goal of C/F/P while increasing your calories by 500...


    food - add it to your diary
    it increases your calorie count but fails to apply it across your goals
    exercise - add as an acitivty
    increases calories, changes your goals to match the activity level burn

    Both those ways need done daily
    Or
    my home > goals > change goals > custom
    and set it and forget it until you're not exclusively doing that or you've lost 10lbs and get prompted to update your profile
  • shaylan_
    shaylan_ Posts: 30 Member
    I'm exclusively breastfeeding my 3 month old. I have 50 pounds to loose and I've entered all my data (weight, height, goal etc.) and MFP tells me that I need 1200 cals/day to reach my goal. I just need to figure out the best way to incorporate the calories I need for breastfeeding - should I make it an "activity" or should I manually change my daily calorie needs (this changes my goal info though...) or is there another way to do it?

    I'm still trying to figure out how I want to do this. I've estimated 300 calories for an EBF 3 month old, but only because everyone is different, and I don't want to estimate that I'm burning more than I actually am. I started off entering it as an activity, but then discovered entering it as a "food" and logging negative calories, though like Pandorian said, it fails to apply across your goals. So your protein/carbs/fat all stay the same instead of increasing. I generally stay within the fat and carb goals anyhow, so that wasn't bothering me.

    I've just started fiddling around with the custom option, and I know it's silly, but I cannot get over the changed weight loss goal. I know it doesn't accurately reflect how much I'm actually going to lose, because it's not taking into account that I'm burning another 300-500/day, but just seeing that it says I want to lose .8/week instead of 1.5lbs LOOKS bad to me. I think it's probably the best way to do it, though, and I like that it's a one time thing - I don't have to log it every single day. I just have to get over that number and focus on what's actually happening to my body.