To think it’s impossible to lose weight whilst breastfeeding?

[Latinorapida]

Everyone said that when you breastfeed the weight just falls off you. I’ve even heard some women say that they struggled to keep the weight on whilst breastfeeding. My baby is 10 months old now. I’m watching what I eat and go on a run 4 times a week. Pre baby even if I didn’t watch what I ate but was doing intense cardio a few times a week the weight would just fall off. This time I’m watching what I eat and doing cardio and the weight just will not budge. Anyone else had this? I was 65kg pre baby and Im currently 70kg - tired of everything feeling tight!!

I read online that for some women who are breastfeeding their body holds onto a certain amount of fat for ‘back up’ until they stop nursing.

I don’t want to give up breastfeeding but this is getting me down grrr

I think it goes one of two ways. I suppose at least you can be fairly sure it will drop off when you stop.

Definitely true for me! I breastfed for a year with both of mine and didn’t lose weight despite eating healthy/ exercising. But as soon as I stopped, the weight just fell off really quickly and within a few months I was back to pre baby weight. Don’t lose hope! With your already healthy habits it will come off when you stop! Enjoy the precious feeding time with your baby while you can xx

My baby is 7mo now and I've lost 4lbs since he started eating solids. Its almost like my body 'knows' it's not fully responsible for feeding a baby anymore and is letting go of some of the weight.
I still have a bit to go right enough!

I dieted when breast feeding and lost loads. Then stopped and put it all back on.

I lost so much weight so rapidly when BF that I remember my trousers falling down whilst I was walking across a park

Sorry I don't have any answers for you though - just keep going.

I lost lots of weight bfing, with the first I was back to pre-pregnancy weight by the time she was 7 or 8 months, with the second, I was actually about 10lbs lighter than pre-pregnancy weight by the time he was 6mo, but that was because his eczema was so horrendous I went dairy-free to ease it, and wasn't really eating enough.
In their early days, I was ravenous all the time, but that dropped off as they grew and began solids etc.

Friends have kept the weight until they stopped bfing, then lost it. Everyone's different I'm afraid.

I was the thinnest and lightest I’ve ever been both times I breast fed, part was probably the feeding and the rest being far too busy to eat.

I’m in the exact same situation as you. Running 3 (including speed and hill training) times a week plus 2 gym classes (weights). I eat very well and the weight will not budge. Baby is 7 months and I’m currently 68kg (pre pregnancy I was 59kg). It’s really getting me down but I’ve heard from a lot of people that weight didn’t drop until weaning started. Holding out hope it will be the same for me.

Yup, I had that. Literally as soon as I stopped I started losing weight. Would not budge while breastfeeding.

I found the last 4-5kg only came off with stopping bfing and did 5:2. But I think I could have done 5:2 earlier, and just not fed on those days - she was old enough that it was just the bedtime feed and she was happy with daddy and an extra story if I wasn’t there.

It can go both ways from what I’ve heard. I lost the two stone I gained in pregnancy within a couple of months. Still feeding a two year old and recently lost half a stone.

Lots of women say they dropped loads when they stopped feeding, lots lose weight feeding then stay the same when they stop, others gain when they stop.

Pregnancy in itself can change your metabolism.

Are you otherwise feeling well?

I think it can go either way, I dropped way below my pre-pregnancy weight (2 dress sizes) by 12 weeks postpartum with my first. This time I've went back to that weight but not lost any more.
But I'm sure that in my case, it'll pile back on as soon as I stop if I don't watch what I eat and exercise.

Didn't shift for me and came off very slowly when I stopped, and it was a struggle to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight after each child.

My sister lost loads of weight and had trouble keeping it on when she BF her two.

Different people adapt differently I suppose.

For me if was really hard to eat enough calories to produce all the milk. I was advised to eat calorie dense things like peanut butter sandwiches between meals. I think so long as you’re managing to get enough calories for you and the baby that’s the important thing.

I am.now on baby number two (3 months old) and have breastfed both children. With DC1 I was ravenous all the time and it looks like this time will be similar. Still about 5 kg heavier than before pregnancy and given my copious consumption of snacks i am unlikely to lose those any time soon. I'm hoping once i wean DC2 I'll naturally go back to my normal weight - worked the first time around. I stopped craving calorific food and found it easier to exercise once i wasn't the only food source any more (our babies seem to despise bottles).

I’ve always put on weight BF. Currently on DC4, and I could see the pounds going up, however I’m already very heavy. Started dieting when he was 7 weeks, it’s coming off very slowly. I’ll lose 1-2lb, then stay the same for 3 weeks, another 1-2lb etc. He’s 16 weeks now.
Whereas dieting when not BF I’ll consistently lose up to 3lb a week.
This is the last DC and I’m planning on this being the last time I have to lose weight. Did it in 2018 and lost nearly 5st.

I lost loads and dropped lower than pre pregnancy weight while breastfeeding the first time. The second time I thought yey and ate a load of junk and whilst it still fell off me for the first 6 months, after this as the baby started solids I put it on again. In hindsight, stress and tiredness were probably not helping

Gosh it’s only five kilos! Try three stone!

Definitely true that lots of women hold onto weight while BFing. Keep doing it for as long is best for you and baby, and worry about the weight later. There is a time for everything, just enjoy being able to feed your baby while they’re still little. Don’t put undue pressure on yourself.

Same situation here. Baby is 10 months old and haven't yet lost the weight as I'm still breastfeeding. The only part that really bothers me is the still rounded belly. This is my third and after my first two I dropped the weight and my belly went back flat and I stopped breastfeeding sooner. I'm just hoping when I stop this time I lose it again as it is getting me down that so far after birth I still look a bit pregnant.

Yup, this has always been the case for me. 5 DC, EBF them all and fed the 3 youngest past 12 months. Didn’t start losing weight until I stopped BFing. Most dramatic with DC3 because I’d had my first 3 DC within 2.5 years and my weight absolutely ballooned. Once I stopped BFing her at 15 months I lost 7 stone in a year.

Same for me with all my pregnancies and breastfeeding. Coming to the end of my third breastfeeding and am looking forward to losing the weight!

I lost weight when breastfeeding my first - i was slimmer than i had been for years and it was great - first time i had ever been able to eat cake and lose weight.
I was very disappointed when this was not AT ALL the case with my next 2 children. So it can happen but is not always the same.

I lost all baby weight and a stone more when breastfeeding. It was awesome! It went straight back on so so quickly when I stopped though. Different strokes!

Another one in the lost weight very quickly without trying when BF club- I think being dairy and soya free due to DS' allergies contributed too though

I gained weight from 3-6 months, then lost weight but had to work at it. Back to pre-baby weight by 9 months. Resisted snacking and cut out excessive carbs, drank lots of water to keep supply up.