Breastfeeding and Dieting - Is this possible?

[bluebear]

Anyone managed to lose weight (say one to two pounds a week) whilst still breastfeeding? Did it have any effect on supply?
I've got 3 months before returning to work and it would be nice to go back slimmer (and an excuse for new clothes). Dd is 3 months old, and I lost the pregnancy weight without trying (sorry) within the first couple of weeks, but I was a stone overweight before I got pg.
So, do I give it a go, how many calories do you need to feed a 3 month old, or should I just be sensible and keep weight steady until she's onto bottles.

I know that Weight Watchers do a b/f plan. Instead of eating less, would it be possible to exercise more?

I don't know though.

I lost weight doing Weightwatchers whilst breast feeding, although my DD was older than yours, at about 1-2 pounds a week. I believe that Weightwatchers allow you to start on their diet after your baby is 12 weeks old and there is an allowance in the diet for breastfeeding mums, you get extra points everyday.

HTH

Hmmm... exercise... my mortal enemy! Joking aside, I don't have a car and walk for 4/5 miles a day, 3 or more times a week (carrying 6kg babe in sling), also dance around with ds, or chase him round the park, so am generally active.... but formal exercise is not very 'me' now that I've got kids.

Sounds like you do quite a bit of exercise already then. How about the Weight Watchers?

I'm following you around today BTW

Almost forgot - no adverse effect on supply, in fact because I was eating properly and healthily it probably helped me to b/f longer as my body was functioning at top rate!!

So it is possible to breastfeed without an emormous intake of chocolate biscuits - Don't tell my dh!!!
If I find out how many extra point WW allow I can calculate the calories - call me stingy but I'd rather not pay for a slimming club ( and can't leave house in evening to get to one ).
Pie you stalker... I'm off to see a real life friend (got the one y'know)... chat to you later.. hope you're feeling better.

I'm doing WW at the moment while b/feeding - no problem, apart from staying away from the chocolate. I've lost 12 pounds so far, started when my daughter was eight weeks old, she's now 23 weeks - so not the most amazing weight loss, but I'm getting there. The number of points depends on how heavy you are, plus you get six points extra for breastfeeding. To calculate the points value of foods you need to know not only the calories, but also the amount of saturated fat in the product. HTH

Some good research on this - if you want to know chapter and verse I could dig it out. No adverse effects on babies' growth when study mums put on weight reduction diet - mums lots weight, babies grew appropriately, everyone happy

I started WW when my baby was 8 weeks old ( 6 weeks is the minimum Weightwatchers allow)) - he was fully bf till 6m old . I used to take him to the meetings.
I lost 2 1/2 stone and made lots of new friends and thoroughly recommend it.

Yes, you can diet. You don't need to eat extra calories to breastfeed. There is evidence that some women don't even use extra calories as their metabolism slows to compensate. That extra stone will be useful to convert into calories anyway! As Tiktok says, there is good research to show that dieting and exercise to any normal degree doesn't affect breastmilk supply or composition or the baby's weight gain at all.