BFing Moms: Give me the skinny...

kah01009 · October 2010

on getting skinny from BFing.

Losing pregnancy weight is certainly not a priority right now and BF is important to me for DD (not me!), but I have heard that it'll help me to lose the extra pounds. BUT...I find that I'm snacking way more than usual, including during the nighttime feedings, lol. From your experiences, did you eat more and still lose weight while BFing? Just curious!

nikipau144 · October 2010

I am no longer BF, but I have heard that you burn about an extra few hundred calories a day just by nursing. That would explain the increased hunger as well as the weight loss.

Good luck!?

wils0482 · October 2010

I eat a ton and I'm lighter than my prepreg weight (only by a few pounds) and wear a size smaller jeans. I find I'm really hungry, probably due to BFing.

Aloe0l · October 2010

I feel like any snacking I do is a residual habit from being preggo, not necessarily because BFing makes me hungry. BFing does make me extremely thirsty though!

MrsKellyT143 · October 2010

I dont lose fast during BFing. The weight is coming off really slowly and only bc I am watching what I eat and exercising. I didnt lose the last bit w DD until after I weaned. I think its worth it though!

wifeandmama · October 2010

I lost all the weight (plus more) very quickly last time. It's coming off now... just not as quickly. I have hypothyroidism and I think my meds need to be increased so that's probably why it's taking longer this time.

yodasmistress · October 2010

BF burns an extra 500 calories / day - hence the snacking!

ShellShockedMama · October 2010

I'm probably the only one but bfing hasn't helped me lose weight at all. Sigh.

Graciesue · October 2010

I'm hungrier BF than I ever was pregnant. I do feel like I drop weight faster, but with DS #1 I also put on more weight after I was done BF. Maybe I developed bad habits from being able to eat whatever I wanted.

ilovetolaugh · October 2010

Every time I get done pumping I am starving. Not sure if that is now a habit or what, but I def need food when I'm done.

snansley · October 2010

Breastfeeding helped me drop about 20 lbs in the first few weeks. Those last 10 have been stuck like glue. I think once I wean those will fall off as well.

Dobie_Mama · October 2010

Graciesue:
I'm hungrier BF than I ever was pregnant. I do feel like I drop weight faster, but with DS #1 I also put on more weight after I was done BF. Maybe I developed bad habits from being able to eat whatever I wanted.

Same here. I dropped to 5lbs below pre-PG weight pretty quickly with DD #1, but I gained 10lbs when she weaned. I just didn't stop eating when she stopped nursing.

VABride2008 · October 2010

I still have about 13 pounds (on a good day) to lose, but I've been losing about a pound a week. I've heard that the last 10 pounds is often hard to lose while you are BFing.

mamam · October 2010

I gained 42 lbs with the twins and lost all of the weight in the first month. I eat a lot and snack in the middle of the night while feeding. Basically I can eat whatever I want and not gain. With my first I was well under pre-preg weight until I stopped bfing at 11mos.

Lolo555 · October 2010

I gained about 30 lbs while pregnant, lost the first 20 easily BFing & walking in about 3 wks pp. The last 10 lbs are slowly melting, but I'm finding it takes eating healthier & not snacking so much at bedtime.

Kimmy1836 · October 2010

I hardly have an appetite at all. I really have to force myself to eat some days. I've been back to my pre-pregnancy weight for a while (though I would like to lose another 8-10 lbs to be at my very skinniest again) but I have heard that breast feeding has no bearing on weight loss for some women.

So to answer your question - I am eating less and have lost all my weight.

historychick79 · October 2010

I put on 50lbs in pregnancy, and have lost 41; but it's definitely slowed down after the first 5 wks. I agree with PP that I have/am fighting snacking habits from pregnancy, but definitely drinking more. I think it will be mostly watching foods and hard work from this point on.

karencz · October 2010

I lost 30 or 35 lbs by my 6 wk pp appt but I'm still one jeans size bigger. I drink water at night while nursing because I'm hungry then. I really have to be mindful not to snack like I did while pg. I have to remember what I ate BEFORE getting pg and add 500 calories to that and forget about all my pg snacking. I think it does help lose weight a little faster since you're burning calories too. I don't know when my old jeans size will fit, I feel like I'll lose all the weight but I think it's redistributed or something!

katrana · October 2010

I gained 50lbs, lost 35 by 2 wks pp (I was extremely swollen).

Have slowly lost another 8 or so since then (now am 6wks pp). It is going pretty slowly now though. My goal is another 25 or so (started off overweight), losing ~1-2lbs a week,

1ht

mocklerja · October 2010

I put on about 20 pounds and was lucky enough to lose it within a couple weeks. I have lost a few pounds more since, but not as fast as the first 20! I am definitely alot more thirsty and hungry. I think some of it has to do with not having all the yummy fruit that I ate a bunch of while I was pregnant...that is the downfall of the fall/winter.

cbee817 · October 2010

I weigh about 2 lbs less than I did pre-preg.. but I think I was probably 8 lbs more than I should have been when I got pregnant, so I'm hoping to lose another 5 or so. I'm not hungrier than usual though, but I do eat smaller meals 5 times a day, so maybe that helps with snacking.

LuckyLizzie · October 2010

During the first couple of weeks BFing I snacked all the time during the night. After 8 weeks I pretty much eat just during the day. So far I have lost all my baby weight plus some.

mamabear2010 · October 2010

I gained about 28 lbs. The first 2-3 weeks of BFing I ate more than I did when I was pregnant... DH would bring me snacks all night long. I also drank a lot of water.

I haven't worked out since giving birth and I've lost all the weight.

kelleylk · October 2010

I EBF and have lost all the baby weight. I still snack all day (always hungry). Although, my body "shape" has yet to go back to prebaby. I'm not sure it will.

Margo164 · October 2010

I eat like a wrestler and I only have 1lb left to lose. My baby is 12 weeks old. When I was on maternity leave we went on long walks most days of the week, now my goal is weekends and one day during the week. She has grown really fast--3lbs the first month, 2 the second, 1 the third, so I think that helps. Also, I stock the house with really healthy foods--Kashi bars, fruit, veggies, fruit bars, etc. That way although I am snacking a lot, it's on good things.

sgroff26 · October 2010

I weighed 190 before getting pregnant, went up to 217, and now i'm down to175. I'm sure it's the bfing.

anyalee · October 2010

ShellShockedMama:
I'm probably the only one but bfing hasn't helped me lose weight at all. Sigh.

You're not alone! Last time I lost the weight super quick! Not this time!!

kittyparker · October 2010

I lost 25 of the 31 lbs I put on while pregnant in the first 4 weeks pp, I was def. eating/snacking more and but also drinking Gallons (!) of water it seems. Now my weight has stabilized and I think I'll actually have to work a bit at the last few lbs

max1563 · October 2010

I lost all my pregnancy weight 2 wks pp! Since then I have lost an extra 5lbs. I weigh less than I did before I got pg.

gnomely · October 2010

I do not feel that BF-ing has helped me lost weight quickly. I am losing weight by exercising and watching what I eat, but it's definitely not "melting" off.

marieburtness · October 2010

Yes, I'm with you - my daughter is 4 weeks and I've lost maybe 20lb of the 50lb I gained, but those last 30lb are not coming off quickly.

kah01009 · October 2010

Thanks, Ladies! Seems like my extra hunger is pretty typical then. I'm thirstier now too, which I know is normal. It surprised me since like one of you said, I'm hungrier now than during pregnancy! I'm just going to go with it and snack away, since I know I need the extra calories. I'll reevaluate again if I find that I'm not losing the preggo weight or gaining, lol.

Want a personalized experience?

BFing Moms: Give me the skinny...

Re: BFing Moms: Give me the skinny...

Choose Another Board

Search Boards