Breastfeeding & calories

DiamondDani

Those of you who are Breastfeeding, how many calories are you eating? I want to make sure I eat enough, but I still have 20lbs of pregnancy weight I need to lose. I am using my fitness pal to log calories and set my goal to "maintain" my current weight since Breastfeeding should burn 300-500 additional calories. Does this sound right? It has me at 1960 calories a day. 

MsCat19

DiamondDani:

Those of you who are Breastfeeding, how many calories are you eating? I want to make sure I eat enough, but I still have 20lbs of pregnancy weight I need to lose. I am using my fitness pal to log calories and set my goal to "maintain" my current weight since Breastfeeding should burn 300-500 additional calories. Does this sound right? It has me at 1960 calories a day. 

This does sound right... I refuse to calorie count though. 

WildcatPrincess

On MFP I have it set to lose 0.5 lb a week with a lightly active setting which gives me 1980 and I add breastfeeding to my food log for an extra 500.

Just so you know the difference between losing 0.5 and maintaining for me was only 80 calories (from 2060 to 1980) so it may not be enough extra. Or it may work for you! I've just always had to eat a ton to keep producing and still lose.

gekeler6

I haven't been counting, I just eat when I'm hungry and try and make the best eating choices.  I know that with this LO I'm not as hungry as I was when I was BFing my twins....and.....I lost my pregnancy weight a LOT faster.  This time I still have 30 or more pounds to lose.  Sounds like you are doing very well with your calorie intake.  I know they say to intake 500 more calories than when you are pregnant....thats like eating a big mac (almost).    I get my "extra" 500 from starbucks LOL!