Weight loss and BF

[peacemakeruk]

Just sheer curiosity really but am trying to find out when people lost baby weight. For me the old "BF helps you lose the baby weight" hasn't been correct because I haven't But I have now heard quite a few women who BF until they DC were over a year old that the weight dropped off them once they stopped BF. So, was it during or after BF YOU lost weight?

I put on loads of weight in the first year after birth (both times) and have had to work quite hard to lose it (extended bfing both times). BF seems to make me crave calorie-dense food, which makes sense if you're a cave-dweller but is dangerous if you shop in Waitrose.

I found a lot of the hunger cravings with BF were actually thirst though - once I started downing pints of water I didn't feel so hungry at all (well duh!)

I put on about 2 1/2 - 3 stone during pregnancy - I've been bf for 4 months and i'm now in jeans that i'd "outgrown" pre-pregnancy. I try & eat healthily and take dd out for an hours' walk in the sling every day, which I think has helped to contribute to the weight-loss. After reading some of these though, I'm now worrying that I'll put it all on again when i stop bf!

I don't feel like I'm eating more because of the BF and I'm moving around quite a bit - I've been back at work full-time for 3 months now but its made no difference to the weight loss. I also drink 2 litres of water a day so I'm not eating because I'm thirsty. Before I got pregnant I used to run 3 times a week which I've tried to get back into since having my DD but I got horrific pains in my knees so had to stop again. Its an age old refrain but I just don't have time to exercise

I have found that the only thing that shifts my weight is exercise. I can never seem to modify my diet enough to have any impact. Like you, I used to exercise 3 times per week pre baby. I am now at zero times per week and the my weight is going UP ... and by quite a bit too (1stone). I am starving all the time which is not helping and am eating all the wrong stuff (thats quick to grab and stuff down, like chocolate!). But I know that until I can ramp up my exercise again I won't be able to drop the lbs.

If your knees are hurting, could you go to see physio or podiatrist and get some orthotics made for your trainers. I use them as I used to get inner knee pain when running and it has completely disappeared once I got properly fitting ones.

Hi Trimum,
Thanks for the suggestion but I just don't have the time to run anymore. I'm up from 4.30 a.m. with DD and work full-time, get home at 5.30 p.m. and only get to spend 1.5 hours with DD as it is so I have no time during the day to run I wouldn't be able to afford to see anymore for the trainer inserts either, I've heard they can be pretty expensive, both for the inserts and the persons time.

Is there anyway you could try to powerwalk with the buggy at weekends, and do one exercise session in an evening at home with a DVD?

It is HARD, I know. I work fulltime 4 days a week, and don't belong to a gym, so I fit it in by walking 4/5 miles a day with dd at weekend and by doing my exercise DVDs. Nell Mcandrew and Davina are good, and so is Billy Blanks (although he is American and a bit shouty)

Thanks for the suggestions Notyummy. We do, every other weekend, go for a long walk in the countryside (7/8 miles). I can't do any DVD's, our living room is tiny with hardly any floorspace (we are temporarily -for the past 2 years living with my MIL while we supposedly save for our own place).