Anyone else really struggled losing weight whilst breastfeeding?

[helenlouisey]

Hi

Just wondered whether anyone else had struggled losing weight whilst breastfeeding? I'm following WW, and after a good initial first week losing 5lbs, my weight loss has now slowed to 1/2 lb, no weight loss and even 1/2lb gain. I am feeling really despondant and don't know what I'm doing wrong. I am sticking to the diet & also feel hungry a lot of the time, so not sure I could eat any less at the moment whilst maintaing the breastfeeding. Not sure what to do, had planned to continue feeding for another month or two but now wondering whether to stop sooner as am feeling really down over this lack of weight loss

[KerryMaid]

Yes, this happened to me. I put a fair bit of weight on whilst b/feeding.

I started losing weight once I stopped - have lost about a stone in 8 weeks but it didn't drop off me like some people say it does. I've had to put in a lot of hard work but I was doing that when b/fing and not losing anything.

[fannybanjo]

Oh yes, I am doing Slimming World and although I am getting slimmer, I still am showing the same weight as I did when I started. I wouldn't worry too much about weighing yourself, stick with the plan and it will start to come off you gradually. Do you feel like your clothes are slightly looser?

[helenlouisey]

Yes clothes definitely feeling a bit looser. I think the thing that is really upsetting is I am putting the hard work in and being really careful and just can't believe how the weight just really isn't coming off. I feel quite depressed at how overweight I am, but equally don't want to regret giving up breast feeding.

Is reassuring to know that others have struggled to lose weight whilst breastfeeding, and to know I'm not the only one.

Thans

[fannybanjo]

How old is your LO who you are breast feeding helen?

[littlelamb]

Yes.
I fed dd til 10 months and didn't lose a pound. I certainly gained some When I stopped it fell off pretty dramatically.
Ds is 11 mo and still bf, and it's the same story. I just can't lose the weight. I am hoping it will just fall off again. There are lots of people who say the same though. I think it's so misleading when everyone tells you bf is great for losing weight, as that's not been my experience at all.

[allacarbonara]

I am living proof that BF can be equally friend and foe - my experiences with my two DC were INCREDIBLY different!!
The only similarity is that I breastfed both for 9 months each

DC1 - really easy pregnancy, only put on a 1.5 stone, exercised throughout, felt all smug but it took me 6 months to lose the weight even though I was exclusively BF. Tried really hard to be restrained and not eat too much as well.

DC2 - very rough pregnancy, put on 2.5 stone, hardly exercised, ate like a PIG for first 9 months of DC's life....Back to pre-preg weight, ahem, 3 days after the birth and then wieght just kept falling off steadily at about 2lbs a month no matter what I ate. When I stopped BF I was 20 lbs lighter than when I'd got pregnant.

The whole thing was insane. People were complimenting me on my weight loss and I felt like such a fraud as I did nothing at all.

So - just like birth itself, I think every woman reacts differently to BF and every woman has a different experience. I daren't have any more DC in case I've used up all my luck though!

[JennyPenny22]

I put on a lot of weight when BF DD1 (although I ate a lot of crap!). I have just started BF DD2 and I am determined not to make the same mistake again!

I have chosen to start SW rather than WW, mainly because with SW you can eat as much as you like (although I am not too familiar with WW so might be the same).

I am also going to start going to buggyfit once a week and also a mum and baby keep fit group once a week. (After my 6 week check anyway - DD only 2 weeks old).

I am going on holiday to tennerife in september and determined to loose some weight! I didn't actually put on any weight in my second pregnancy - its all from when I was BF DD1! (But then again, I was pregnant again when DD was 6 months and I was still BF).

If it helps though, I BF for 8 months and wouldn't change a thing, I plan to BF DD2 till she goes onto cows milk, which is what I would have done last time if I wasn't so ill due to pregnancy. The weight gain was worth it considering I now know I did my best for her and BF longer than most people I know in RL. Obviously it's your decision and you don't want to do it if it is going to make you miserable. BUT on the other hand, once you stop BF you can never go back, where as weight loss can wait a few months especially if you can manage to loose a very small amount of weight each month or even just maintain your weight.

And I would suggest to measure instead of weigh as at least then you would be able to get a better idea of whats going on.

[hellymelly]

I am sort of half trying to lose the stone I still have extra -baby was two this week!!-but I have found that my body just seems very reluctant to shed the weight,I am still bf around 4/5 feeds every 24 hours and I think this is part of the reason.Each time I'v been pregnant I have lost the first stone with a bit of effort,but after that,no,it won't shift.I am really hoping it comes off when I stop.

[helenlouisey]

My DS is 7 months old at the moment, and I wanted to carry on feeding for another couple of months. I am about a stone heavier than before I got pregnant, but I think the other thing that is making me feel huge is that my breasts have gone from a 34G to a 36K !!!!! So all in all I do feel huge at the moment. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, I think I will see how I get on for another few weeks and then decide what to do.

Thanks

[VickyPon]

I had a mixture of experiences:
DD - put on 1/2 stone and lost that within 6 weeks.
DS - put on 2 stone: lost 1.5 stone within 5 months and then struggled to lose the last 1/2 stone until I stopped BF.

The only thing that worked for me was a high protein diet. Generally I had:

All-Bran with LF yoghurt
Soup & sandwich
Chicken / fish with loads of salad / veg

Along with loads of water and fruit to snack on during the day. I also allowed myself a few nuts mid-morning to stave off the hunger pangs.

Good luck.

[Fufulina]

Hi Helen - my dd (first baby) is 23 weeks old and in the first 12/13 weeks I couldn't bear to weigh myself (I think I put on about 4.5 stone when pregnant. I piss you not). Also - I ate like a pig in her early days - I was having a fruit and nut chaser after breakfast - the first of 4 chocolate bars a day.... I think I put on weight (you don't say...?).

But - at about 14 weeks, I found that my appetite started to wane. I lost that "need to eat - now" thing - so after a week or so of that, I bit the bullet and weighed self. I then started www.weightlossresources.co.uk. Basically calorie counting, which I'd done before for my wedding. It is the only time in my life that I can honestly say the weight is falling off me - normally I need to chisel the lard off arms/cheeks, etc.. 9 weeks, and I've lost 22 pounds. Only another 8 pounds or so to pre-preg weight. So for me - just BF didn't cut it - I need to watch what I eat as well, and all the walking helps loads to 'earn' more calories.

What's weird is that I have fat where I've never had it before IYSWIM - although never the slinkiest of girls - my back boobs are outrageous. And I'm losing the weight differently to how I would have before DD. My norks are still just ridiculous.

Sorry - that was a ramble. Anyway - hope it helps.

x

[Rosa]

Another one here fed up with not loosing a thing , exercising like mad trying to eat sensibly but as have had a bf success with dd2 I don't want to give up with dd1 I did mixed and had initial weight gain but then it crept off very very slowly. I had said as long as she wants it then I want to give it to her..... I might try th calorie counting though as ww for me is a no go as is slimming world .... Good luck to you and everybody else ....

[Fufulina]

Sorry - just noticed incredibly inappropriate 'x'. Am two gins down...

[poshsinglemum]

I find that my appetite for cakes and biscuets has gone through the roof since starting bf. I also crave larger portion sizes. This would be why my tummy is not getting any smaller.
I see it as the perfect excuse NOT to diet but would love to loose wieght when she's on cow's milk.

[xusanafe]

I did nothing but eat healthy while breastfeeding and I dropped all the pregnancy weight + 20 pounds by 8 months PP.

Honestly, it took 10 months to put the weight on, it takes time for
it to come off. I wouldn't do any crazy diets or weaning just to lose
weight...

[MillyRules]

Just enjoy breastfeeding your child and forget weight loss until you and your child are ready ti stop. It's not forever. It will stop in its own time but it is a very special bond and once you stop you will miss the feeling of it. You have the rest of your life to lose weight and worry about your appearance.

[skincarez4u]

This is the good question "how to lose weight while breastfeeding" because breastfeeding may help you lose the weight you gained during pregnancy, although you shouldn't try to lose it too quickly. While you are breastfeeding, it is important that you get the right amounts of fluids, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Working with your dietitian, you should be able to develop a meal plan that will allow you to achieve gradual weight loss and still be successful at breastfeeding.