Any BFers having trouble losing weight?

Kingston54 · May 2013

I am eating between 12001600 calories a day and exercising as much as I can. The scale won't budge! Any ideas? Thank you!

minervacullen · May 2013

Yep. Did last time too. with DS I finally started to loose when his feedings decreased close to a year. Then when he weaned I lost 20 lbs. I never made it to my preDS weight. My body just wasn't having it. This time I am about 25 - 30 more than prepreg, I gained 60 and lost what I did loose within a couple of weeks.

MomIn2013 · May 2013

I'm almost back to pre pregnancy weight but was hoping to lose another 5 to 10 pounds. Whenever I'm too active or I don't eat enough, though, my milk supply dips so I guess I'm stuck with it until I stop BFing.

Wild_flower25 · May 2013

yep. I don't eat the best but I'm always hungry so its hard. I'm afraid eating less will lower my supply so I'm just not going to worry about it yet.

ericalee27 · May 2013

Wild_flower25:
yep. I don't eat the best but I'm always hungry so its hard. I'm afraid eating less will lower my supply so I'm just not going to worry about it yet.

Yep same here. I also just transitioned back to work where I'm relying on the pump to keep my supply up, which is harder for me. So I'm trying to not stress and embrace my jiggly bits for awhile yet longer. This is my last babe, so I have the rest of my life to lose the weight and be a skinny mama. Haha.

rjeller32 · May 2013

It takes 9 months to put on the weight, it can take 9 months to take it off as well. As long as you are eating right and living a healthy lifestyle, all you need is time. Make sure to drink water, and avoid the sweets and salty snacks. My weight has finally started dropping, but I'm still 30 pounds away from end goal

sschwege · May 2013

Yup, same thing with DD. I'm constantly hungry. It took me 9 months with DD.

sleger · May 2013

You really should not diet if you are breastfeeding. Your body needs an extra 500 calories to produce milk. If you are dieting, there is a good chance your milk is lower in nutrients then if you were following a standard healthy diet.

My advise as a dietitian is to eat a balanced diet, don't count calories, do exercise and eat 3 meals per day along with a snack or two.

This way you and your baby are healthy and you may find this may even boost your metabolism.

orangegoggles · May 2013

sleger:
You really should not diet if you are breastfeeding. Your body needs an extra 500 calories to produce milk. If you are dieting, there is a good chance your milk is lower in nutrients then if you were following a standard healthy diet.

My advise as a dietitian is to eat a balanced diet, don't count calories, do exercise and eat 3 meals per day along with a snack or two.

This way you and your baby are healthy and you may find this may even boost your metabolism.

I agree with this. You said 1200-1500 calories so does mean AFTER you take out for breastfeeding (around 500 per day) and working out? Or is that your total amount? If its the total, you are starving yourself. When we eat too little our body goes into starvation mode and holds on to fat because it fears it will not get enough of what it needs to complete daily functions. You could be really screwing up your metabolism which might be why your not losing weight.

peacelove&mama · May 2013

I was stuck at 10lbs to go for a couple months, so I started walking every chance i got and doing body weight exercises more, and I switched to drinking mostly water. It's starting to come off and I only have 5lbs to go now.

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ObLaDi · May 2013

sleger:
You really should not diet if you are breastfeeding. Your body needs an extra 500 calories to produce milk.

I agree with this!

sleger:If you are dieting, there is a good chance your milk is lower in nutrients then if you were following a standard healthy diet.

But not with this. Your body is really good at providing your baby with nourishment, so your milk will remain normal across a wide variety of maternal nutrition. Your body, however, will suffer. I agree with the posters who said you're not eating enough; 1400-1600 is the absolute lowest I would go when NOT breastfeeding.

I'm in the same boat with slow weight loss, though. I gained 45, lost 21 the first week and have averaged 0.5 lb/week since then, leaving me with 15 left to go. I would love to be a little thinner a little sooner, but am trying hard to be patient. This feels like a healthy rate to me. I eat when I am hungry and don't watch calories at all.

Kingston54 · May 2013

pangnl79:
sleger:
You really should not diet if you are breastfeeding. Your body needs an extra 500 calories to produce milk. If you are dieting, there is a good chance your milk is lower in nutrients then if you were following a standard healthy diet.

My advise as a dietitian is to eat a balanced diet, don't count calories, do exercise and eat 3 meals per day along with a snack or two. 

This way you and your baby are healthy and you may find this may even boost your metabolism. 
I agree with this. You said 1200-1500 calories so does mean AFTER you take out for breastfeeding (around 500 per day) and working out? Or is that your total amount? If its the total, you are starving yourself.  When we eat too little our body goes into starvation mode and holds on to fat because it fears it will not get enough of what it needs to complete daily functions. You could be really screwing up your metabolism which might be why your not losing weight. 

I've been eating between 1200 and 1700. 1200 for weight loss and another 500 sometimes for breastfeeding.... I didn't even consider that I need to eat more to lose. I'm not trying to drop weight too fast, but I literally can't lose a pound.

Danni7535 · May 2013

According to La Leche League, bf moms need to eat 1800 calories at minimum or you could ruin your supply. Be careful! I lost 30 pounds the first week, but I haven't lost anymore and I'm 5 months pp. I still have 20 to go. It sucks, but I don't want to compromise my supply.

kleigh926 · May 2013

Don't worry about losing weight now. It may hurt your supply. I lost all the pregnancy weight plus 4 pounds [which I didn't need to lose] and my supply tanked. You need to keep up with your calories while BF'ing.

st.augbride · May 2013

You might need more cals. I've been on WW online for Bfing moms and eat more than I was before when the scale stopped moving.

this decaf life · May 2013

pangnl79:
When we eat too little our body goes into starvation mode and holds on to fat because it fears it will not get enough of what it needs to complete daily functions. You could be really screwing up your metabolism which might be why your not losing weight.

Definitely this, I'd be worried if you're only eating 1200 calories a day + exercising. I saw after you said between 1200-1700, definitely up it but make smart choices by adding extra calories with fresh foods.

Jacqui105 · May 2013

My experience with DD1 was that my body held on to an extra ten pounds while I was nursing. As soon as we weaned at 13 months, my body drooped the last ten without me having to do anything. I think just like when you eat too little and your body holds onto fat, it at least seems to do the same when Im nursing. Im not stressed about it at all and know it will not be gone until nursing is over so Im just accepting my body until then. I mean, i do exercise and eat right but no need to stress, it will come off someday.

meaglamillion · May 2013

I stalled in my weight loss for a month and then started a cleaner eating diet, I also have smoothies as my snack. Each one has a handful of baby spinach, handful of berries or strong tasting fruit, a tablespoon of greek yogurt, and a dash of white grape juice. Been doing this for two weeks and have lost 3 more pounds.

spinsoffresonance · May 2013

I put on 50lbs, lost 40lbs without any dieting or exercise (I do eat healthy though, but have been eating desserts once a day). I've beend stuck with the last 10lbs for 2 months now (DD is almost 6 months old). It looks to me that you're not eating enough, your body might be going in starvation mode and holding on to those extra pounds. Prior to baby I would eat 1200 a day to lose weight or 1500-1700 on days I exercised. And that is without breastfeeding. You need to add 500 calories a day for breastfeeding, so you probably shouldn't ever eat less than 1700 calories a day, especially if you're exercising

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