Weight loss whilst breastfeeding

[bubbles11]

Any thoughts on losing weight whilst breast feeding. Have been breast feeding for just coming up for 3 months now. The first month I found I had an incredible appetite, especially for protein and sweet things (although have now had to cut out chocolate due to suspected cows milk intolerance / possible allergy issues in the baby). Since the first month I still feel more hungry than I did pre pregnancy but not as ravenous. I am still at the exact weight I was immediately after I gave birth.
Any experience of dieting whilst breast feeding, how quickly did you lose the weight, is it really true that it is easier to lose weight when breastfeeding rather than bottle feeding (it seems the other way round to me at the moment like I am eating more to make the milk but not putting on weight myself just staying the same weight all the time).
I would like to lose some of the weight now. Exercise has been difficult so far due to having to be in a lot of the time to breastfeed as babe did not gain weight to begin with (she is now gaining well) and most recently the snow

with my first baby I didn't lose any weight by breastfeeding.

with the second I lost tons, but that was because I had to cut out all dairy and egg. so was basically vegan for a year and lost about 2 stone.

bubbles11 everyone is different some people just seem to fade away whilst other moums i know balloon i'd say your in a pretty good position. loosing weight whilst bf can be done but whatever you do dont go mad a healthy balanced diet is needed eat when your body tells you to and excersise iv always made it a rule to walk everyday come rain or shine (does little one good to get the fresh air too) try half an hour a day you'l feel incredibly virtuous, if you need to go some where think is it easier to walk? i always found putting baby in the buggy was much less hassle thancar seat in buggy in car seat out buggy out ect. ect.
remember its oly three months i should imagine that by 5 6 months thing will start looking like they used to
hope that helps a little

I bf ds1 for 4 months but didn't lose any weight until I'd finished bf. Ds2 is now 9 months and still exclusively bf/blw, and I weigh less than I have done basically since I was a teenager. I haven't done any exercise but I do walk a lot, and just basic housework/running around after them keeps me moving. I didn't notice the weight shifting until he was about 6-7 months, and I honestly didn't make any effort at all, except thinking about what I eat and making myself eat sensibly and think about what I'm eating instead of mindlessly grazing, which has been my downfall in the past.

However I do need to do some exercise as even though I weigh less I'm very untoned around my middle section and have an embarrassingly wobbly tum! My legs aren't so bad as I got some Fitflops and I really think they helped tone my legs, without too much effort.

I've lost weight while feeding, after dd3 and ds. Both times I went to Slimming World classes and the loss took a period of months. I started first time when dd3 was about 8 weeks old and went on to lose 3 stone to get to target by the time she was 13 months. I went again when ds was about 4 months old and lost 2 stone and got to target just before Christmas when he was 11 months.

I know my SW consultant said loss is slower when you're breastfeeding, but she didn't really know about feeding, so not sure thats right!

Don't be too hard on yourself though. I takes ages for real women (no celebs with persoanl trainers!) to get back to anything like what they were before pregnancy. I'd say 3 months is a good time to start thinking about it!

I seem to be losing weight with this baby. Not on a diet. Have 3 under age 4 though so possibly just not geting much time to snack!

Ilost weight with my other two, up to a point. didn't lose the rest til after starting babies on solids- 6-7 months- but then got pg, so we'll see what happens

I have good news for you! You can defo lose weight when breastfeeding and use breastfeeding to assist the process!

Heres the science bit........

A woman usually requires about 2000 calories a day to maintain her weight. Breastfeeding uses about 500 calories a day. So a breastfeeding woman needs about 2500 calories a day to maintain her weight.

So if you are breastfeeding and want to lose weight, aim for the normal daily intake for a woman of 2000 calories (note tho that some women require slightly less calories so the exact amount may vary between 1800 and 2000 calories for you to see some weight loss, you may need to experiment with this).

If you stick to 1800-2000 calories a day you'll see a loss of about 1lb a week, as you will have a deficit of about 500 calories a day so your weight will start to come off. You don't want to lose any faster than this though so do not be tempted to cut your calories any lower than 1800-2000 (as it may leave you feeling tired and a fast weight loss means you are less likely to keep it off).

After both my dd's i waited till about 12 weeks before limiting calories to a normal daily intake of 2000 a day. Both times all my extra baby weight (about 2 stone each time) came off. it does take about 6 or so months tho!

Plus if you do weight loss this way there is no detrimental effect to your milk or to baby as you remain eating a diet as healthy, balanced and varied as you would normally (ie. if you were not on a diet as you would be eating 2000 cals a day anyway to maintain weight even if you weren't feeding iyswim!).Although counting calories is a bit of a nuisance it is worth doing as you can see the weight coming off and you do not feel deprived as you are eating about the same amount that you will have done before you got pregnant.

My doctor explained all this to me, and i will be following this advice again after my 3rd (due in 3 weeks). As expect i will have another 2 stone to shift again..........

xx