To think the “breastfeed and the weight will fall off” thing is a load of shite?

[Pantalaimon88]

I have an 11 month old. I was sold the whole “BF makes you lose the baby weight!” I lost an initial stone in the weeks post baby, which I’m guessing was fluid. Since then, I have maintained and I’m 1.5 stone heavier than pre pregnancy.

I log my food intake and try to keep it as low as I can, but from experience if I drop below 1700 cals a day, I feel very lightheaded and unwell. Pre pregnancy I’d eat 2000cals a day and easily maintain my weight. I go on walks with the buggy, I spent 3 months religiously pounding on an exercise bike during DC’s naps, lost not a single lb. It actually feels as though my body is holding onto the extra weight deliberately.

I’m so depressed by it all, I hate my body. I was going to BF to natural term but I’m considering stopping when DC is 1, mainly for this reason. Nothing I do seems to change my body in any way. I thought once DC was eating proper food and BF dropped significantly, perhaps it would pick up. It hasn’t.

Has anyone else found this?

I couldn't lose weight until after I stopped breastfeeding, it's like your body insists on retaining reserves for the baby.
It did start coming off more easily once I'd stopped.

I was an riritatingly lucky one who lost weight from breast feeding. It wasn't just the weight though. In the early days I could feel my uterus contracting when I fed DD. The midwife told me that my uterus was back to its nrmal size after 10 days, and this will have been due to breast feeding.

I lost the baby weight gradually over about 9 months while breastfeeding. I definitely recommend a light abs workout 2-3 times per week as soon as you're up to it though. Very helpful for tightening up waistline. I did a mix of sit-ups, crunches, double leg raises and planks - starting out 20 of each and getting up to 50.

@WhatTiggersDoBest agree!