Postpartum healthy diet while still breastfeeding

[WolfMother326]

I suppose I'm looking for support or advice.
I've got a lovely 8 month old baby who still breastfeeds pretty regularly though we are also doing well with weaning/getting him on some solid food, and he also has a small bottle of formula once or twice a day.
Prior to getting pregnant at 36, I was in the best shape of my life. I love swimming hiking and running and was very trim. I had been much heavier in 20s and early 30s then got into fitness for about 4 years.
I gained a lot of weight while pregnant despite swimming 3x a week until I was 38 weeks and haven't been able to shift postpartum weight. I'm about 8 kilos heavier than I'd like to be. I do a ton of walking but it's often low intensity as I always have my baby strapped on me or in the buggy.
My biggest issue is food. I'm really hungry all the time and also am not eating the right food to nourish me or the baby. a lot of cake, pizza, carbs etc.
I think of him all the time and need to start looking after myself. I'm going to have some child care starting shortly and want to do better. I'm really unhappy with my body and it doesn't feel great.
I'm ready to make a change and in the past a combo of calorie counting and exercise has worked well for me just to stay on track and be mindful. I don't want to diet persay just get healthier.
If I add 500 calories a day is that a good way to start?
Thanks in advance for any help.

[tomatoandherbs]

No bad thing to change your diet if you’re eating a lot of pizza and cake

[tomatoandherbs]

“Add 500 calories”?

[WolfMother326]

I mean add 500 a day to my recommended allowance due to breast feeding!

[tomatoandherbs]

I think of him all the time and need to start looking after myself

perhaps a motivating force may be that he’s consuming via the milk the nutrients you’re consuming and there’s not much in cake! I found thinking of my baby eating a packet of crisps as I was about to tuck in - often stopped me and made me reach for the banana

[tomatoandherbs]

Sounds reasonable.

[tomatoandherbs]

Of course depends on your movement and exercise

[WolfMother326]

That's good advice thanks.
I should clarify, I eat pretty healthy main meals but then I snack when hungry or stressed. So that's what I need to control and work on.

[runnerbeany]

Yes, just eat the maintenance level of cals for your weight if you weren't breastfeeding. Then the bf becomes your deficit. You'll lose weight slowly and sustainably that way. Any extra exercise is a bonus!
Don't in underestimate walking though. Can you do more? Or if you're time poor can you pick up the pace?

I have to admit I've found weight loss while bf quite easy. I have been eating roughly my maintenance cals and letting the bf cals be the weight loss. I haven't needed to calorie count exactly what I'm eating, but it's roughly that. I have cut out all junk though, so all the food is nutritious. I'm losing about half a pound a week which is amazing for me! I have pcos so losing weight is usually much harder than this.

You can do it!

[WolfMother326]

Thanks @runnerbeany that's helpful, I will try working to my maintenance calories in the app I'm using. I agree once I start getting on track I don't always need to carefully count calories but it helps at the start.
I've been doing longer walks and adding in hills/footpaths lately, and also just got a running buggy so hopefully can do some more higher intensity exercise too. At the moment I walk about 5 miles a day but I think not losing weight due to my eating.