Ok. So how much CAN I diet while breastfeeding?

[PocketTasha]

Hi all

DS2 is 11weeks old, exclusively breastfed. I am desperate to loose weight (i was a bit on the heavy side before pregnancy, but worse now), and just want to know peoples experiences and professional opinion if possible. I just don't want to do anything that will affect him too much. I am not a person that looses weight easily, and breastfeeding doesn't make the pounds drop off for me. I wish it did! Please help.

(Can i just respectfully ask that no one turns this thread into a debate on the pro's and con's. Thank you)

[chipmonkey]

I think if you eat healthily, you're supposed to lose a pound a fortnight, but not sure if this is exactly right. How were you planning to lose weight, follow a plan or just cut down?

[Yorkiegirl]

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[PocketTasha]

not sure to be honest. Cutting down has never really woked for me before. I have only ever been able to use weight using a combination of tablets like adios(herbal) and week on week off of slim fast.
I'm guessing this might not be good for bf.

[PocketTasha]

Yorkiegirl, That's great well done! So what kind of guidelines do they give you there?

[crunchie]

Well I went on Slimming World when BF and this worked great for me and the baby. With SW you have a huge quantity of 'Free Foods' so if you are hungry you can eat from this list. It includes all fruit and veg (inc bananas) and also on 'green' days potatoes and baked beans etc. What I found was that I therefore ate loads, but really health low fat stuff and the weight came off easily. Becasue there is no limit to the quantity of free food, I feel this was the best (for me) possible diet. You don't need loads of extra calories when BF. I also exercised too (from 6 weeks) and not just gentle whilst still BF I started to run up to 6 miles at a time (DD was about 6 months at this point)

For me BF didn't mean I sat on my bum and ate chocolate I used it to lose weight

[Yorkiegirl]

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[PocketTasha]

lol about the chocolate crunchie. I kind of used pregnancy as an excuse to eat chocolate and developed some really bad habits. Hence my problem now! Are there books or somewhere i can get the info for it online? I know it sounds lame but i HONESTLY don't have another evening to spare to go to meetings.

[PocketTasha]

lol yorkie. So what did they say when you told them you were bf?

[hotmama]

You can do Weightwatchers when you are breastfeeding - I checked when I was pregnant as I also could have done with losing weight before I got pregnant! I think that you are supposed to have an extra 6 points a day.

I joined ww after Christmas when dd was 13 weeks old (but I had just given up bf) and have now lost 21.5lbs to date - I find it a very good plan. I am determined to get rid of the flab for next time around! Good luck

[PocketTasha]

thanks hotmama. I feel the same. i am determined to get to a weight i like... Before i ruin it all again with another pregnancy! I really want to know if the whole "breastfeeding uses 500 calories a day is true. If i have less calories will it mean i give baby less?

[Yorkiegirl]

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[PocketTasha]

I'm hoping she sees it! I actually tried to search the arcive to see if i could find anything but it didn't work. I know that it's pretty hard to effect the quality of your milk. I guess i'm just worried about causing problems for us both iyswim.

[PocketTasha]

Going offline till later tonight
but i don't want the thread to fizzle out
If anyone sees this and has any advice please post. I can't be the only one who has been worried about this.

[PocketTasha]

bump

[chipmonkey]

PocketTasha, the "weight watchers at home" is excellent, nothing forbidden and very flexible. If as hotmam says, you can add on 6 points, thats even better. (4 ww eclairs, nice!) And no meetings!