Breastfeeding and 5:2

[tmae]

Is this okay?

Also, I have a lot of weight I want to lose, would 4:3 be a better idea?

[MindfulBear]

Thank you Dino!

[DinoSnores]

Breastfeeding is in the food section and takes away the calories that way.

[MindfulBear]

AlfieBear - no idea how to account for bf on the MFP app. if you find out could you please share?! thx

[MindfulBear]

j200 - hope all is going well since you had your baby. I would not bother worrying about your weight for the 1st few weeks as there could be a decrease in supply. & in any case you might be too worried about monitoring baby's weight than your own for the first few weeks!!!

I would see how you go. Some people dont need to try to lose weight whilst bf as it falls off them. I was not one of them :)

Once baby hits 6mo you could try reducing calories and see how it goes. If you have a lot to lose you could ask for your dr's opinion on when to start trying to lose. it will really depend on you, your body, your child and your milk supply whether trying to lose weight through diet can start sooner.

You could try exercise in the meantime? I started Buggy Fit around the time T was 5mo. Was a fab way to get some exercise in and fresh air and send him to sleep!!!!! I could have started earlier but was too lazy :) I also used to do a long walk nearly every day. Certainly helped anyway.

best of luck

[MindfulBear]

Hi SES, I am bf a 31mo (bedtime & wake time) but I originally did the 5;2 diet before he turned 2yo and it had no impact on my supply nor on him. Actually it is the easiest diet I have ever done!!!!

Hence, after a 9 months hiatus I am back to try again. I am still bf so maybe we can keep each other company? I am planning to make Mon and Wed (alternative: Tues & Thurs) my fast days as I dont fancy doing consecutive days whilst bf.

What are your plans?

When I was working in London on Fast days I used to pop into Pret on the way into the office to grab a packet of mango and one of those 2xboiled eggs with spinach pots. During the day I drank peppermint tea or black tea & coffee and nibbled on crudites and an apple around lunchtime and mid afternoon. I would eat some protein and salad or steamed veg in the evening with my husband.

Over 3 months I lost about 5kgs (circa 11 pounds) which i think was slow and steady and heading in the right direction. Unfortunately I then changed jobs, moved countries and generally had a huge upheaval so fell off the wagon. At least I have "only" put on those 5 kgs and no more in the last year!!!!!!

I am aiming for 15kgs lost by September, that will bring me into the "healthy" range per the BMI calculator. How about you?

[AnnoyedByAlfieBear]

I'm interested in starting. Dd is 15 weeks. I've downloaded MFP and wasn't sure how to incorporate BF calories so I added it as a cardiovascular exercise. Not sure if that's right!

[SESthebrave]

Hi! I'm starting 5:2 tomorrow and BF my 2.6yo DD twice a day.

I don't think this will have any affect on my supply or her feeding but does anyone have any experience or advice?

[j200]

Hi please can I join the jan thread? Awaiting the arrival of DS1 any day and looking forward to getting back into normal clothes! Never really dieted before but have never put on much weight till pregnancy, will have at least 1.5 stones to lose. Keen to start straight away if no impact on milk supply X

[Emms79]

Hi everyone, hope you've all had a great Christmas! I've been doing the 5:2 since the beginning of November, I've ebf my now 5 month old and have lost 1 stone 8lbs to date, no supply problems at all and it's great fitting back into all my pre baby clothes! And baby is doing great too, she's gaining weight just perfectly!

[DinoSnores]

Glad this has been bumped too as my DC4 is 10 weeks and I was just wondering about when I could start again. With the others, I found losing weight really hard while BFing until I tried 5:2 fasting when DC3 was about 9 months old and it was great. I stopped after only a few months as I was pregnant again, but I'm looking forward to getting back to it.

I'd definitely be up for a thread, serotonin!

[Serotonin]

Glad I found this as my DD is now 13 weeks old and I lost quickly with 5:2 before I got pregnant.

I'm going to start in January, with my fast days at 1000 cals to begin with. Need to recalculate my NFD calories though as I'm heavier now than I think I have ever been!

Might make my cardiovascular days the fast days too. Maybe us bf-ing 5:2ers could have a thread? Keep each other motivated and help with the WOL?

[coniferssilhouette]

Thank you for all your feedback, and congratulations to you all!

Would AFDs be too much? I'm very tempted to start doing 750cals every other day, but I have had an eating disorder in the past so don't want to do it if it sounds like a slip into that again.

I started this week and have done one fast day and was fine on the day but a bit shaky the next, but that doesn't bother me. I don't know if it is because I have quite a night feedy type baby maybe.

[BigChocFrenzy]

Well done sleepy That's excellent

Why not start at 10 weeks, Culler Good luck

[Cullercoats88]

It's good to hear all your achievements!!

Congratulations on huge weight loss sleepysheep I'm just eager to feel really healthy and fit again. That being said I do feel great at the moment just trying to avoid glutonous desire for cake and all things sweet!!

[BigChocFrenzy]

Thanks sleepy That sounds a sensible routine and 1lb loss per week is a good target
How long after birth did you start ?

[BigChocFrenzy]

Congratulations on your baby

I think we usually say wait 3 months, to give your body time to recover, but it depends how you feel.
Hopefully some fasting mums will post and say when they started.

[Cullercoats88]

How soon after giving birth did you do the 5:2?

I did it for a year prior to being pregnant (I'm now approaching 7mnths) and I lost 2stone within 6mnths, but kept it all off pretty much until I was 12weeks pregnant. I have got to be honest I can't wait to be fasting again!! Would it be ok to go back to 5:2 diet 6-8weeks after birth or is that too soon?

[MilchMama]

Thanks technically four kilos was baby

A lot of thanks are due to you and the other contributors on this board. I attempted to follow the exercise thread but gave up and ate cake when I realised the weight was dropping off by itself.

[BigChocFrenzy]

21 kg in 6 months and right down to a low weight - That's brilliant !
Well done, MilchMama

[MilchMama]

I'm tandem-feeding my 8 mo and 2.5 yo and have been 5:2ing since DC2 was about 2mo. Milk supply is still great, no issues with being particularly hungry on fast days, and I'm back to my pre-DC weight of 53 kg (a loss of over 21 kg in six months).

I was very sick on my first fast day. I have no idea why, but it never happened again. I started at about 800 cals, but can now easily do 500. I just drink loads of water and tea! I probably only do one fast day every other week now just to maintain, although I have given up breakfast for good.

[BetsyBell]

Lots of useful anecdotal 5:2 BF info here

[BetsyBell]

Hello - we've had lots of 5:2ers who have breastfed with no supply issues, quite the opposite in many cases apparently! Certainly no need to switch to subscription-based dieting...

There's a BF 5:2 thread somewhere, I'll find and link in a mo :)