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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

How can I lose weight while bf????

15 replies

Mampig · 28/10/2011 11:52

Ok so ds now 17 weeks and any weight that was gonna come off me naturally has done! Prob is I've another stone to go- but I'd be happy enough with half that!! I know it's not much but I just don't feel good in myself anymore. The happy hormones from bf just aren't kicking it anymore!!! I don't overeat so I'd have to go hungry to lose weight, and exercise with 4 young kids and bf can't be regular enough to make much difference. I know the answer is diet and exercise of course, but wanted to hear any suggestions on how others did it- also is it normal to keep some weight while bf?? Should I just go with flow for another while?? Thanks fir any suggestions x

OP posts:
LittleWaveyLines · 28/10/2011 11:55

Hmmm marking my place as DD is 17 weeks and it's about time I lost some weight! Have lost none since the initial fortnight as I've had constant raging hunger... have about 1 1/2 - 2 stone to lose.....

motherinferior · 28/10/2011 11:56

Do give yourself a bit of time - they say 'nine months up, nine months down' and for lots of us that is a bit of a generous estimate!

motherinferior · 28/10/2011 11:57

Sorry, that sounded unsympathetic and actually I felt dreadful for that year of being overweight - but yes, it did come off in the end. Am now, at 48, slightly under what I weighed when conceiving DD1 11 years ago.

DollyDaisy · 28/10/2011 12:22

I would just keep going. I have been BF DS for 7 months now and really started to see a diffence from 5 months onwards - and now I am thinner than before I got pregnant! And I am still eating a LOT of chocolate although do walk a few miles eAch day with the pram

effingwotnots · 28/10/2011 12:26

I was in the same boat. I physically couldn't cut down on food I was constantly starving and about 1.5 stone over my ideal weight.

At about 9 months my weight started to go down a bit but at 12 months people have commented how the weight is just dropping off. I think baby's feeding habits affect my weight. He bf's less now (he's 16m) and I feel more myself weight wise. I haven't dieted but walk lots.

ShowOfHands · 28/10/2011 12:30

With dd I couldn't lose the last half stone while still bfing and I ate healthily and exercised regularly but I did manage to lose a stone and a half by taking up running. Bugger all else worked with her.

You don't have to actively 'diet' to lose weight. Just adopt a healthy diet which you're happy to continue with and factor in some exercise a few times a week. If you've got a brood then exercise dvds at home once they're in bed or getting up early before they're up. Something like the 30 day shred or some of the davina dvds will only take half an hour a few times a week. Walk lots, drink plenty of fluids if you're neglecting your hydration and try and find ways that you can just change your day to day life instead of feeling like it's a chore.

DS is 7 weeks old and I can't work out yet as I had an emcs but I've been really sensible about what I eat and am trying to walk lots, dance with him when he's awake and happy, run up and down the stairs when taking laundry away or clearing dd's toys, walk quite fast when doing the school run, actively chase dd on the park a couple of times a week, clean the floor on hands and knees instead of with a mop. Everything I do really I try and make it something to get me out of breath. And sure enough the weight is steadily dropping off. And I've stopped snacking on biscuits. That's really helping. Grin

Tortoiseinadarkspell · 28/10/2011 12:33

Anecdotally, it seems like people are divided between those who lose all the weight when breastfeeding, and those who hang onto it and then lose it fairly quickly when they wean. I was the first; ended up a stone under my pre-partum weight, and then put it all back on again and more in the year after I weaned. This time around my plan is to breastfeed until DC2 is five, or i get pregnant again, whichever comes first.

lilham · 28/10/2011 14:28

Give yourself some more time. My DD is 31 weeks now and since she is blw, I'm feeding her as much as before. As a result I'm still losing weight! Now I'm smaller than I was pre-pregnancy Angry. Luckily I actually found a bunch of trousers and jeans one size smaller, from about 5 years ago when I went to the gym 3-4 times a week. Its a shock when i find my trusty jeans became too baggy.

You know the answer already - diet and exercise. And time. And maybe blw so you can bf as long as possible Grin

MigGril · 28/10/2011 15:02

With both mine I lost that imidiat weight and then didn't losses anymore untill they started on solids. With DD by 10months I was 1stone lighter then pre baby and with DS I'm not back to that weight at 11months. Some people hold on to it longer.

i think what did help was the excersies I got with both more walking then I ever did when working. I've never lost much weight through diet it's always been more of an excersis issue with me.

NellyTheElephant · 28/10/2011 15:24

With DD1 I lost loads of weight initially but then stabilised about a stone over my usual weight and couldn't shift it. I stopped bf by 6 months as I went back to work but the weight still didn't go and I hated the way I looked. When DD1 was nearly 1 I joined Weight Watchers and then shifted the weight really easily. With DD2 and DS I started following the weight watchers plan (not going to meetings though) from about 6 weeks. There is an extra points allowance if you are bf. The weight just melted away, it was brilliant and I was so much happier being back to my normal size (shallow though it might seem).

mawbroon · 28/10/2011 16:47

I lost all mine with ds1 (2.5stones) whilst eating like a horse because I was so hungry all the time.

I didn't do any exercise and I didn't diet.

But, it took the best part of a year for the weight to come off.

Original poster
Mampig · 28/10/2011 17:34

Thanks everyone!! Suppose I'm just conscious of it cos I'm going back to work soon. I'll be ft but intend to continue to bf and do blw if possible! The girls I work with are lovely, but they've all been hinting at how much weight I'll have lost by bf!!! grrrrr. I've started looking for a exercise DVD on ebay, anyone recommend a good one??? And i must cut out my lil bit of chocolate that i was allowing myself for bf!!! [hsmile]

OP posts:
entropygirl · 29/10/2011 00:32

I find I feel physically sick if I dont keep the calories up for the BFing. I lost my pregnancy weight quickly - prob due to HG but was about 2 stone over weight prepregnancy :(

I am hoping that once BFing is done I will be able to get back in control of my calorie intake...but that might be in like 2 years time :)

ShowOfHands · 30/10/2011 08:21

Mampig I LOVE Davina's workouts. Any of them are good. Power of 3 was the first one and you can do a section or all of it which works well if you're short of time. They do probably get a bit harder as she's got fitter but I don't think any of them are worth avoiding.

Original poster
Mampig · 30/10/2011 19:48

Thank u!! Think I have that!! Just need to find itBlush

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