Has anyone successfully dieted and lost weight whilst breastfeeding?

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Breastfeeding makes me ravenous, reach for the junk etc. I’m 5 months pp and came out of pregnancy at my pre pregnancy weight (thank you gestational diabetes for the forced diet lol). Breastfeeding has made me so hungry and cling on to every bit of fat! I think I’m ready to start losing the 10lbs I’ve put on since breastfeeding. To note, I do 10,000+ steps a day and try to get to the gym for a workout 2 or 3 times a week. Just can’t seem to stick to the foods and find myself starting again every Monday….. anyone got any advice or experiences with dieting without losing supply?!

I’m 7 months in to breastfeeding and still the exact same weight I was when I left the hospital with my newborn! I’ve lost nothing at all with it!

Hi
I put on 4 stone during pregnancy, I BF for 1 year and my body clung to fat in places I never had it before like my back and arms. I did lose most of the weight but it saw a dramatic difference when I stopped.

I lost two stone breastfeeding my first baby, I couldn’t put on weight. I was really young though. I couldn’t lose a single pound with my subsequent babies.

I lost loads with my first, but none with my second.

No, I couldn't shift my extra stone for 4 years until I stopped bf- then it fell off!

Lost about 2 stone doing Slimming World while breastfeeding.

lost all my baby weight within weeks with my first, nothing with the second

Lost over two stone breastfeeding but tbh did nothing much different- I ate masses although was healthy fats and carbs, did loads of walking and not much alcohol

Yes I lost quite a lot of weight breastfeeding I didn’t really diet but just ate healthy during the week and let myself binge at the weekends. I walked a lot as well as had a Velcro baby so I think that helped!

I put on about 5-8kg (fluctuates!). I cycle daily, do moderate exercise and don’t eat excessively but can’t shift what is now on my thighs and belly. Personally I’ve accepted that as long as my kids are under 4 it will be this way and maybe once they are in school and more confident eaters, I can shift it again! Hard too as I’m now a comfortable 12 and sold all my size 10. Will be annoying and expensive to go backwards too quickly!

I thought breastfeeding made you lose weight. At least I was hoping so with this baby.

You say you initially lost your pregnancy weight, you're active, and listening to your body's hunger cues. It really sounds like you DO NOT need to cut calories but simply do what you have yourself already identified needs done... lessen the "junk" (as you've called it) and then add in some quality nutrients in their place for you and baby! I know that's not easy, changing what you eat, but it seems like the answer. Cutting calories rather than adding in more nutrient dense calories (unless you're really in excess which is unlikely with your activity levels) might put your milk supply at risk and/or encourage your body to hold more fat in reserve.
Also, your body has been through so much and done wonders by you and your little one❤ If after removing the "junk" it's still holding onto extra fat storage, it may be for a very good reason relating to hormones, tissue recovery or baby's needs. You could speak to a specialist in postpartum nutrition if it's really concerning you, but it doesn't sound like anything out of the ordinary is happening or you need to do anything rash.