Losing weight/working out whilst breastfeeding ?

[eepie]

I've been feeling really down about my weight as I'm so muh heavier now after I had my baby... Im 5.7" and 81kg -- over 12.5 stone which makes my BMI overweight. I can visibly see I'm heavier all over & just feel so huge :-( I expected that I'd lose weight through breastfeeding... Have been EBF my DD for 6 months now - she feeds every 2 hours and twice at night - I have been eating more calories than usual for sure as have just been SO hungry (and thirsty!) all the time ! I haven't lost any weight since I had my DD, if anything I think I've put on weight ! :-( I go walking with her every day in the pram - sometimes when she was smaller & wouldn't nap in her cot, only in a moving pram, I'd go out for sometimes 3x30mins walks a day and wouldn't spend much time sitting down at all ... Yet didn't lose any weight ! So sad that I still don't fit into hardly any of my old clothes... I've never been this big before and I feel awful about myself. I'm ashamed to see people & I used to cry almost every morning getting dressed as it was such a struggle to find something that fit me/I felt good in/could breastfeed in. I've gotten more used to it now and just live in leggings. I started doing classes at the gym as of Jan 5th and really enjoyed them although felt very unfit and like I was stuck inside a fat persons body :-( I caught sight of myself in the mirror and was horrified at how big I looked. I don't know if I'm being really hard on myself but I am just so disappointed that my body is just hanging onto this weight even when I'm breastfeeding a very hungry baby... Everyone told me I'd get my figure back really easily but I am 2 stone heavier than my usual weight !! I feel so ashamed. I really am committed to getting back to my normal weight but I don't know if you're even supposed to diet or excersise loads when bf ing ? Any advice ?

It's a cruel myth only true for some people that bf makes the pounds melt away. It uses about 500 cals a day, less than a big slice of cake, so if you find you are very hungry and thirsty it's easy to eat more than that in addition to your normal calories. It's not recommended to lose more than 1-2lb a week or to fast, but you can do any sensible diet/healthy eating plan. I did SW to lose weight whilst bf ds2 and at the moment am combining MFP and a Fitbit. Dd is 7m, I have 8lb to go. Happy to be a diet buddy if you want one.

Please don't be too hard on yourself, you are doing something amazing for your baby
I remember being starving hungry almost all the time when breastfeeding a new baby, even eating biscuits in the middle of the night. I found eating snacks like an apple with some protein eg nuts or cheese filled me up a bit.
I also found I was spending a lot of time meeting friends for coffee where it's tempting to drink calorific cappuccino etc so I switched to filter coffee.
Keep going with the exercise, your body is probably hanging onto some fat to keep you and the little one going but she will eventually feed less and you will lose the weight..

Thanks for responses ... it does make me feel better to think that it's because I'm doing something great for my baby..
I think so many people think breastfeeding makes you lose weight and also so much pressure from media/celebs to lose weight quickly after baby and not be 'mumsy' plus I am the first of my friends to have a baby, I just worry they are seeing me and being like wooooah eepie has put on so much weight since being pregnant ! But I have to stop thinking like that I know.. Pointlessfan I know what you mean about the coffee I was having loads of decaf lattes as 'treats' whilst out and about with the pram ! and have cut those out as of about 2 months ago. Also I have read that some women's bodies hold on to it until you stop breastfeeding - damn that I'm one of them ! Oh well. I don't want to stop breastfeeding just to lose weight, I love breastfeeding my DD. Just have to keep up with the exercise and I'm also doing MFP - my username on there is loomella , bakingtins if you want to add me (I've just started it so not sure how to add people yet)

Glad you are feeling a little better. Another thing I should have mentioned is that when DD started crawling I began to lose weight quickly as she is into everything and I spend most of the day chasing after her!

hiya just to say I really related to what you say about feeling embarrassed to see people as I feel exactly the same. just embarrassed and that people must be like - woah, and worse that they feel sorry for dh. I know im being really mean to myself. I have always been on the big side and dieted on and off but usually feel good/ok about my body. dd was born 15mo ago and had just started shifting weight, eating less, , movingmore and tracking using mfp, was bfing so recoded it as exercise and gave myself 300cals for it. lost 2st - have about 5 st to loose and found I was pg again soooo ds born 3 days ago. he is amazing but find myself already thinking about trying to get back on it, I know its vvvv early days but just don't want to give myself licence to go crazy eating! so I will be around and will add you on mfp if you qant a buddy

I'm currently breastfeeding DS2 and not managing to lose any weight put have promised myself not to worry too much this time around. With DS1 everyone said I would lose any excess by breastfeeding but it just never happened. What I did find was that as soon as I stopped feeding the weight came off easily and quickly! My understanding is that although you burn a lot of calories breastfeeding, your body also tries to store some amount of fat as reserves. When you stop and hormone levels get back to normal the weight comes off much easier .