Weight Watchers

BabySeaTurtles · December 2015

Normally I think that weight loss programs are pretty redundant. I mean what's so hard to understand about eating better and exercising? But I came across Weight Watchers the other day and they have a special program for nursing mothers. It focuses on proper nutrition and calories for both mother and baby in addition to keeping up milk supply. Having scoffed at programs like this in the past I don't really know much about them. I am more receptive now because I think a woman in her thirties with two kids is going to have a harder time losing weight than a twenty-something with no kids or just one kid. Does anyone have any experience or knowledge they can share about Weight Watchers or some other program that's friendly to a nursing mom?

VitaLuna · December 2015

I've had good success with it in the past. I did it briefly while nursing, but didn't stick with it because I had major supply issues (not related to WW) and needed to focus on one thing at a time.

The thing I like about WW is that it teaches/encourages good choices that (in theory) will stick with you... Unlike a lot of the other "drink this, eat these" diet programs that teach you nothing except to live on their products,

DrillSergeantCat · December 2015

I lost 50 pounds in WW. It's not a diet really, it's learning how to eat and make good decisions. I liked that I could still have pizza but I had to plan it out.

Mamacat316 · December 2015

I've never done Weight Watchers or anything like it, and have always been very thin thanks to genetics and Bikram Yoga....BUT after my last pregnancy I wanted to lose the weight as quickly as possible. I cut out sugar and limited carbs and dairy, but still ate normally. Breastfeeding did the work for me! Seriously, it was like liposuction. I was back in my pre pregnancy skinny jeans in like 8 weeks, and kept losing weight after that. It is, for many women, nature's way of depleting the fat stores you accumulate during pregnancy.

Liz726 · December 2015

WW is an excellent program - like @DrillSergeantCat said, it really teaches you how to to take better care of yourself. I had a lot of success with it.

SarahS06 · December 2015

Agree with previous posters. I thought I did a good job losing weight after DS was born. Then I started grad school when he was 6 months old. My weight loss stalled. By the time he was 2 (when I finished my masters and started a doctoral program), I stared weight watchers. There was no way I would get through a more intense grad program without at least staying at the same weight (if not gaining). I'll attach the picture from the Christmas before I started WW (I started Jan 1) and from a party a few of years later. I didn't keep doing WW. I did it until I lost about 20 pounds then kept using the skills I learned. I will be looking into WW this time too.

Edit to add pictures since the app kept crashing

mcklough · December 2015

weight watchers is mostly about creating a structure for you and a support system-it really isn't a diet. Part of the critique is that it's expensive for something that is just basic nutritional information and then a support meeting, but it's a good program in my opinion because it forces you into healthy habits instead of restricting things.

I've tried what seems like every program under the sun in the past 16 or so years and personally WW was the most emotionally difficult for me, but I also have a very unhealthy relationship with food and weight and it makes you take responsibility for all your choices and gives you an almost unlimited amount of choices which for some people is good and some is bad.

MississippiCatfish · December 2015

I didn't realize that there was a program specific to nursing moms, either. I've always lost the majority of the baby weight fairly quickly, but I have some of the same concerns this time around. And I've never dieted to to worrying about ruining my supply, so the thought of a plan just for VF moms intrigues me too.

mcklough · December 2015

MississippiCatfish said:

I didn't realize that there was a program specific to nursing moms, either. I've always lost the majority of the baby weight fairly quickly, but I have some of the same concerns this time around. And I've never dieted to to worrying about ruining my supply, so the thought of a plan just for VF moms intrigues me too.

last I knew, which was a few years ago so it may have changed, you just got a few extra points and you had to have an additional dairy item I think.

BabySeaTurtles · December 2015

Thanks guys! I know WW is point based (I think everyone knows that) but I wasn't sure how emphasizing nursing would play into it. I am not one that loses weight easily but once I am motivated, I can stay on track pretty well. It just took me a long time after DS was born to get motivated. Like 2 years. And by then I was finished nursing so that wasn't a concern. So it's good to know all my options. It kind of sounds like it might be better to save my money. I did read somewhere that losing weight too quickly (through diet and exercise) can negatively affect milk supply so I'll have to really do my nutrition research.

CompProf · December 2015

I was "lifetime" (at goal but still tracking) for 3 years before I got pregnant. After I deliver, I will have 12 weeks with no support or help of any kind to get back to my pre-pregnancy goal weight (which I don't think is going to be practical for nursing as it was starting to prove problematic for just normal).
Add to that, to join, you have to have at least 10 lbs to lose, so resetting my goal weight may be difficult too.
Something to think about, especially if this isn't your last child.

Fullerj21 · December 2015

I did WW to lose my baby weight after DD was born. I did get extra points for nursing. It was super easy and a good way to keep track of my food intake. I think I started it 8 weeks or so after she was born and lost my remaining weight. Totally recommend it.

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