Clean eating, breastfeeding and not losing weight!

[marushka82]

Hi everyone, I hope there is someone here who can commiserate with me!
I've been clean eating since mid Jan - no processed foods, no sugar (unless it's the natural sugar like honey, maple syrup or fructose in fruits!), no takeaways, no dairy (DD is CMPI so I'm used to not having any dairy anyway), less carbs, lots of veggies, green tea, water, exercise 4-5 times a week (weights and a bit of cardio, about 30-45 mins - that's all I have energy for as I'm exercising after DD goes to bed).
I feel great eating healthy food but despite my efforts I just cannot see the results on the scale! It just fluctuates between 68.5-69.5 but I can't seem to go below the wretched 68.5kgs... I keep seeing amazing results from people who are following clean eating (joined a FB group my friend set up and some people's results are amazing) and I'm just feeling demotivated as I'm not seeing the results I thought I would see.

I started thinking that perhaps the reason why the weight won't shift is because I'm still breastfeeding? DD is almost 19mo and I'm bf her in the morning and evening (occasionally before her one nap on weekends/when I'm not working). I seem to have lost all of the weight I gained during pregnancy (took me about a year) but surely I should see some weight loss now that I'm clean eating? Any thoughts?

[Artistic]

When I bf DD1 for 14 months I found that the weight just clung to me. The day I stopped bf completely my body started transforming! This time am bf DD2 but not even trying to lose weight while bf. just trying to not let it increase. Also planning to stop bf at a reasonable point rather than go beyond the first year - for this reason alone ie I can't lose any weight! And I have knee problems so HAVE to lose weight to go back to work.

I think basically if you are bf the body stores fat reserves to help the milk production. So your metabolism is very different. Although I've been told that bf helps weight loss I've found it a myth, and have many friends who have said the same. It's only a lucky few for whom it seems to work that way!

[m0therofdragons]

I didn't lose weight until dd was 9.5 months and I stopped bfing. Then it just fell off with very little effort.

[marushka82]

thanks! One of the (slightly selfish, I'll admit) reasons why I was determined to stick to BF was the hope it would help me lose weight quite easily. I wouldn't say the weight 'melted off' and like I mentioned it took a year to go back to the weight I was when I got pregnant, but then it wasn't that hard, I tried to eat healthy stuff most of the time and only started exercising when DD was 9 months old or so. But now I feel like no matter how healthy I eat the weight just won't change! argh!
I'm not in a hurry to wean DD off, mainly because I don't know how to go about it, hehe, but I guess I want to do it before she's 2!

[marushka82]

Does anyone else have any experience? I guess what I'm hoping to hear is that people found it easier to lose weight once their DCs were weaned off the boob! :d

[misscph1973]

Yes, it was easier for me to lose weight after stopping breastfeeding, as I wasn't hungry all the time anymore ;)

Well done with all the excercise, but have your considered that you could be stressing your body? Physical stress can stall weight loss, it's a survival mecanism. Perhaps focus on weights and drop the cardio.

[marushka82]

Thanks!
I guess I need to start tracking with myfitnesspal (I assume it's an app for your phone?). I developed an addiction to almond butter and medjool dates recently, can't be that great for weight loss :)
I'm not doing that much cardio (I think?) I'm mainly exercising with Davina's dvds but skipping the cardio workouts in favour of the legs, abs and arms ones.
I plan to do a bit of jogging maybe twice a week on top of the dvds once it gets a bit warmer...

[DaisyRaine90]

This is my problem, breastfeeding makes me so hungry! I wonder if it's something to do with the hormones?

[Oly4]

I'm still be my 9 month old and also finding the last stone impossible to shift! Am hoping once I stop it will drop off

[Oly4]

Bf not be

[Izzabelly]

I still bf my 22 month old DD2. I found it harder to lose weight than with DD1 whom I only fed for 4 weeks. I think I did and do too much and my body is making sure I maintain a healthy weight. Are you being realistic? I am 5ft 8 and weigh just over 9 stone - but I can be critical of my body because it's changed and I'm getting used to it. Be easy on yourself x

[marushka82]

Izzabelly, I think I am :) 5ft 7 and 11 st so there's some work to be done for sure :D
Did you find that your DD has been feeding a bit more? Mine just doesn't seem to have enough boob, maybe it's got something to do with teething, maybe it's because she can now ask for it, but I feel she's feeding more frequently now than a few months ago (or maybe she senses that it's going to be over soon? ;)

[DaisyRaine90]

I wonder if maybe the 'weight' is often the weight of all that milk? Maybe I'm missing the science-y stuff, but if you weigh less sometimes after you've been to the loo surely you can lose a lb or 2 after a big feed or put it on if your due one? I've stopped watching the scale and am working on my hip: waist ratio. Muscle weighs more than fat, for starters, and that way I can focus on toning up not counting calories, which is more my scene tbf. None of us will be bf forever! I say this, having had an active day but also eaten three slices of bread and Nutella ?xx

[pinkr]

I could've written this! Clean living...no sugar etc. Exercise well etc but not a blooming pound list. Dd is 18 months. Wonder if it's the feeding.

[marushka82]

Pinkr - I guess we'll see when we wean our DDs! Have you got any plan on how you're going to do that? The prospect freaks me out but I need to do it before July as I would like my mum to look after DD for 3 weeks (or rather, my mum wants DD all to herself for that time, heheh :D

[pinkr]

I have the summer in mind although if this is the reason I'm clinging on to every pound I might try earlier. I don't know if I even make much any more as after our bedtime boob she now asks for a beaker of milk as well..

[DaisyRaine90]

So in the last few months I've actually managed to put weight on I do know I've been eating more high calorie foods though. I am stopping breastfeeding next month (set a date!) unrelated to my weight though would be nice to get a bit slimmer again. I'm an apple so when I put weight on I look like in pregnant all over again ! Going to look at my portion sizes too, but seems to me breastfeeding makes me hungry constantly!

[ppeatfruit]

I lost too much weight after dd1 was born while I was ebf. I wasn't trying at all . Maybe look at your caffeine intake and or the amount you eat after 7.30 p.m. Also wheat (any type) can 'hang on' to weight.

[DaisyRaine90]

Not everyone loses weight. Some people lose the weight when they stop breastfeeding it can effect us all differently x