Anyone else struggling to lose weight whilst bf?

[blueberry69]

DS is now 12 weeks and I have managed to gain almost 1/2 stone since his birth despite bf .

Was looking forward to it all dropping off me but no such luck!

BF is supposed to use up an extra 500 ish calories, and the average woman normally needs around 2000 a day, so if you are consuming more than 2500 a day in total you will still gain weight.

I know in the first 3 months I really needed cake etc etc but as soon as I knocked that on the head, the weight really did start to drop off. BF is not a license to eat whatever you like and still lose weight!

really that should say "needed"!!!

I found the weight really shifted at the 5-6 months mark and then again at around a year.
Do you walk much? I also think it was because I was welking everywhere with a baby in a sling.

my lo is almost 11mo and im still holding all the weight ive dramatically cut my food intake with no side affects to the feedinhg cos im getting married in a month and have managed to put a whole stone on since buying the dress its now a little on the snug side and im trying really hard to loose at least some of the weight so far ive managed 5lbs in 3 weeks but im sure breastfeeding makes it harder!

I found it impossible to loose weight with both dc until I gave up bf. Problem is while you might burn off an extra 500 calories I also got so devastatingly hungry while bf not a pound was shed :(

I bf all 3 of my children and put on weight because of it with all of them. I wasnt eating or doing any more or less than when not bfing, its just the way my body works. And every time, once I stopped (at 6 months, 8 months and 2+ years) I started losing the weight. Its a complete PITA but I loved bfing so just put up with it in the end.
I think my body just thinks 'ooh bfing, better lay down some extra fat reserves just in case we need it', it does the same every winter too, presumably in case the huntings not so good with all the snow!

i have reading threads on this topic on mumenst for years

AFAIK there seem to be two distinct groups - those who cant lose an ounce when they are bf but wheo lose it quickly when they stop and those who cant keep the weight on and are back at their pre preg weight in no time

there don't seem to be many women in between

OP - is your health otherwise ok?

Hi!
My DD is 12 weeks too- and I am also not losing ANYTHING. I would love to be back to what I was before ( 1 stone lighter) prior to going back to work ( DECEMBER) especially as We are planning to start trying for number 2. I love breastfeeding, but it seems that for fertility and vanity all corners are saying stop stop stop sooner rather than carrying on until the year ( which I would like to do)

I have been thinkin about hiring a hospital grade pump to pump more for the freezer- so that there is more coming out ( must eventually come off the cellulity?) and then there is some in the freezer for when I do stop? Is this a bit wrong?

gauntlet loads of people get pg while bf...see the current "no period post bf" thread, and millions more re this. I'm clinging to that as hope to start ttc dc2 in the new year when ds will be around one...and i completely get the wanting to loose weight prior to this...i want to be back where i started at least iyswim. I'm sure once your little one starts solids and starts dropping bfs you'll have a better chance of getting pg.

Blueberry i have been starving throughout bf! But just in the last month i've noticed the waistbands getting slacker, and my appetite is a bit more controlable. Also ds's best naps come when i walk him in the buggy at the mo, so maybe that helps. I definatly have more energy now to get out more so that helps, i'm not one for the gym. give it a little time and be easy on yourself

I didn't lose weight while bf either, and I was controlling my calorie intake and walking/exercising quite a bit too. Very frustrating.

My HV told me that I was doing too much - I should be sitting in a chair and eating more. For all I know, she may have been right.

deraprudence - maybe if you are doing lots and limiting calories you body goes inTO 'starvation-mode'[ and lays down all the fat stores it can?

I certainly ate a lot and still lost weight while BF.

In Politics of BFing the author talks about how your body can become more efficient with its calorie use.

I have steadied since watching the cake/ice cream intake but haven't lost any after the initial big loss post birth.

Nevermind, it can wait, DS2 is more important than the size of my arse.

Oh it's not just me?? Thank god.

DS is nearly 8 weeks old and EBF. Been going to Weight Watchers. First week I lost 4.5lbs! Yay!! Did exactly the same diet for week 2 and PUT ON 0.5lb. Devastated! How is that possible? Into week 3 and starving and just want to stuff my face with cake since a whole week dieting didn't do me much good.

I think I'm going to have to EXERCISE! Nooooooo!

it's a total myth that you lose weight bfing

my own personal pseudoscientific belief is that my body knows it is having to produce milk, and so deliberately stores the fat/ energy so that supply is not compromised.

all three times, once i have stopped bf, i have found weight loss easier.

but yeah, exercise'll do it.

I weighed about 9 3/4 stone pre-pg. No idea what I weigh now (DS 2w old) but I know for a FACT i will not be losing anything anytime soon...

I think I have developed some sort of binge-eating disorder. Seriously, I cannot stay away from the sweet stuff, but am genuinely ravenous constantly...

Trying to go for healthy options but tis HARD

In fact, might set up a Gingernuts Anonymous meeting

I ate about 12 in a row the other day

12? thats hardly even a snack. xx

dd is 9 months old and still wakes to feed 2-3 times at night and will feed a few times in the day, plus she has some ff (was trying to switch to it totally during day as expressing a faff and i am shattered trying to juggle that and work..) anyway, the old sweet tooth is well and truely here and i am sure its due to bf! I need to lose weight, i walk with dd at least an hour a day and eat decent healthy food but its the snacks! Arghhhh.

I'm really hoping once i stop bf (who knows when!) that i'll sleep through the night, lose the snacks and lose weight!

the craving sweet things is more to do with tiredness, or so I am told.
I also think the night feeds help. DD is 18 months and still feeds lots at night.

I haven't lost any weight. Always feel hungry esp now that he (DS2) is 4.5 months, EBF and feeding all the time (7-8 feeds per 24 hours).

Was the same with DD and DS1. Makes me a bit sad though as I would go for longer if I could loose some weight. Lost weight after I stopped feeding but did have to properly diet.

Oh I'm not alone! I lost 2 stone 3lbs within 3 weeks of giving birth. Felt great, bought lots of new clothes. However, 20 weeks later I've gained almost a stone and feel like crap. Clothes feeling tight, feel a mess. Considering joining weight watchers after my holiday as so afraid of gaining any more. I know all I need to do is stop eating and excersize but...i'm always hungry and can't excersize as I still have a huge hole from my c section. Sorry for my moan, its all coming out!

Count me in to the ginger nut anon! I am seriously addicted to them

I only put on 1 stone during the pregnancy but have put on another stone since! I'm sure it's due to the breastfeeding. I feel quite pressurized to stop as am thinking if we want to try for another, I want to lose the weight before I fall pg again. But what if I stop and it wasn't the breastfeeding - just that I'm a greedy sod?!

Marking my place on this thread as another Breastfeeding Fatty . My body seems to hang on to weight, even though I have shed some inches. Sod it. I'll get fit again one day.