Health & Exercise

Questions for BFers and weight loss

I'm exclusively BF and intend to as long as LO wants to. LO is 7 - 8 weeks old

I have 40 pounds to lose just to put me at the top of the healthy weight range for my height.

So I want to lose weight for my own health in the fullest sense of that word, but obviously my milk supply is very important to me. I have a very good supply at this stage and have no reason to be concerned about it, but know that diet is important to maintain quality and quantity of milk. 

Up until now I've just followed my hunger cues, and done a very little bit of exercise, like walks around the block. I've lost 40 lbs since LO was born (although obviously a chunk of that was the baby)  

So questions:

1) Has anyone tried WW whilst BF. I know they have an option for BFers, I just wondered if those who have tried it felt that it worked whilst also maintaining milk?

2) Does anyone have any good weight loss resources for BFers? I feel like I have good knowledge about nutrition, but very little about quantity one should eat.

3) Should I just continue on as I've been doing and worry about changing things if/when I hit a plateau?

4) any other thoughts, comments, knowledge you have to share is gratefully accepted.

Thanks 

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Elizabeth 5yrs old Jane 3yrs old
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Re: Questions for BFers and weight loss

  • 1) Has anyone tried WW whilst BF. I know they have an option for BFers, I just wondered if those who have tried it felt that it worked whilst also maintaining milk?
    I did not do WW, but lost all my baby weight plus some while BF DD1.  I did WW after DD2 weaned and had good success.

    2) Does anyone have any good weight loss resources for BFers? I feel like I have good knowledge about nutrition, but very little about quantity one should eat.
    It typically takes about 500 extra calories to maintain your supply.  I would actually eat closer to 3000 calories while BF (and I usually did not exercise!).  After #3, I did watch what I ate and exercised.

    3) Should I just continue on as I've been doing and worry about changing things if/when I hit a plateau?
    That is totally up to you and how fast you want to lose it.  1-2 lbs a week is a healthy loss.

    4) any other thoughts, comments, knowledge you have to share is gratefully accepted.  www.kellymom.com has good information about nursing (haven't been on there since I had DD1 - but it was good).

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  • kjc03kjc03 member
    Can't help with weight watchers but I do track my calories. I like that weight watchers works but don't really think its great since people generally buy pre packaged processed ready meals. I know the pp said she ate 3000 cals but I do not and would not be able to ever eat that much. I stay around 1800 to 2000 and my 5 month old is still going stong with EBF. I also am in my second month of insanity workout and have not suffered with supply, which your body is not mine but I wouldn't just breastfeeding thinking weight is just gonna fall off while you eat junk all day.  When you hit plateau maybe try changing up protein carb ratios. For me I just try eating sensible and I think that's why I haven't dropped in supply. You don't have to over eat since you are breastfeeding if you make sure what you are eating is quality nutriton and of course leave yourself slack for a snack so you don't go crazy lol, sorry so long of a post and like I said everyone is different and I am not a dr but just track your calories and make sure what you eat isn't just processed junk and throw in some exercise and pace yourself and you will be great! O yea I use fat secret.com for a calorie tracker and there is tons of recipes and message boards. 
  • I started ww while ebf at 3weeks pp. I did it for 11weeks until my jeans fit. Lost 25 lbs. I have since lost 10 more lbs and under pre pregnancy weight. I was ebf up until less than a week ago and had to start supplementing. Never had a drop in supply due to ww.
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  • With DD I lost 50 lbs in 9 months.  I BFed and took DD for walks.  I was nannying at the time, so while DD was small enough, I'd have her in the Baby Bjorn and the other baby in the stroller.  When DD got bigger I pushed them both in the double stroller.  On nice days we walked 1 - 3 miles a day. 

    I never did WW, but my mom said there was a BFing mom in her group.  She said that that woman wasn't losing the weight because she wasn't taking in enough points.  With BFing I guess you get a higher amount of points because your body needs a lot to make enough milk.

    Good luck!

  • Personally, I tried WW a few weeks ago. I lost about 3 lbs, and I love doing it - but my supply dipped. The second I started eating more, my supply bounced back. I haven't gained the 3 lbs back yet, but I know for me there is a fine line between how much I can cut back on foods. My body needs the extra fat and calories to keep up my supply. It was that way for me during pregnancy too - I started craving things with fat, i.e. mayonnaise, cheese, butter, etc. and I only gained about 28 lbs. I don't crave that anymore, but cutting down to minimal amounts of extra fats really affected my supply. For now, it's not worth it to me. I need to make it a bit longer BFing, as LO is only 20 weeks old. I'd like to make it at least until she's 6 months and then I may try again.
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  • you typically need to eat around 1500 cal a day to loose a pound a week.  sorry i never breast fed but that's what i had to do and it was on top of working out hardcore
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  • I'm currently doing WW and my DS is 6 months old. He has never had a drop of formula, my freezer stash is stocked and I'm still producing around 40+ oz per day. I think the main thing is to eat all of your points plus make sure it includes plenty of fruits, veggies, healthy oils and then to eat your weekly points and your activity points. I never go hungry and in 2.5 months I've lost 30lbs now. 

    Good luck to you! 

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  • I'm glad you started this thread! :)

    I just started the online version of WW yesterday.  I'm exclusively breastfeeding my nearly 6 month old LO.  So far I've only logged 1 day of food but it seems to me that you get plenty of points while breastfeeding.  They also really encourage you to have enough water, fruits, veggies, dairy, and healthy fats.  In trying to lose weight I tend to restrict and then overeat, so I'm really hoping that this will be a more balanced and successful approach.

    I signed up for 3 months.  If I'm half as successful as you guys I will be more than happy.  I have about 30 lbs I'd like to lose.  At the moment I'm about 12 lbs over my pre-pregnancy weight.

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  • Hello - I'm from Australia but live in the US.  I gained 40 lbsand as an amateur athlete was desperate to exercise again, not for vanity, but because I love it.  Just be careful.... the weight does come off if you're an active person so don't worry.  Your body will tell you what it needs, when it's hungry etc.  I stopped breast feeding earlier than I would have liked because I loved working out.  You need to take it easy on yourself if you want to keep your supply and it's only a month or two, it burns a lot of calories naturally.
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