weight loss and bf

[time4tea]

hello

i am bf DS2 (now nearly 4 months) and am 3 stone overweight according to BMI charts (although they do say they don't exactly work for BF women - not sure what this means but as I am size 18, usually size 14, am definitely overweight)... but I thought bf was supposed to make you lose weight! I have been very hungry but am eating healthily. after DS1 was born, I was about 4st overweight but had an undiagnosed low thyroid condition, after ending expressing (DS1 never latched on properly) at 3 months and using the GI diet, I got back to normal fairly quickly.

however, bf is going so well with DS2, I don't want to give up, but hate feeling so heavy (tiring - therefore vicious circle of feeling tired and having lots of fruit snacks to keep energy up - very rare to hit biscuits/chocolate ) Just eating according to GI diet principles (which are basically sound and healthy) and doing lots of walking/pushing buggies isn't having any effect.

do I just have to continue with the big moo-cow look until i give up bf?

Have you had your thyroid level checked recently?

Hiya. I was overweight when I got pregnant. in fact I have always had weight problems. But at about 3 months post pregnancy I was 5 stone heavier than I wanted to be, and I don't aim to be a size 10, so fair to say pretty heavy!

Anyway I echo feeling huge and hungry! Baby is now 6 months and the weight is starting to shift but it is taking a concerted effort, not just dropping off. I have had to really cut the snacking down, though I was grazing all day. I have used the my fitness pal app which is basically a calorie counter. you can add bf as an exercise which isn't far wrong tbh I reckon the 500 cals the midwives quote might be a bit of an over estimate I am ebf and give myself an additional 350 cals a day, a total of around 1800 and have lost about 2lb a week. Its been steady, gradual and sustainable. Im not starving myself and baby is thriving. Basically I am definitely going to miss those extra calories as she weans so in the sense that you can eat a bit more then bf definitely helps loose weight. You just have to choose wisely about what when and how you spend those extra calories.

You can do it,

urgh crazy juice lady resurrecting zombie threads. Wish I spotted this before replying with epic post

Readyfordinner didn't want you to feel ignored!
Just to say I'm ebf a 7 month old and I literally have to eat barely anything all week to even shift a single pound now..so I've parked weight loss now until I've finished bf'ing, in presuming that your body needs to cling on to some fat stores!

Aw thanks cake
Yep I think thete is something to be said for your body hold on to stores. Sadly my body feels the need to hoard my requirements for a whole winter! Chipping away, little by little!