Been dieting and working out for 3 months now & only lost 9lbs !? Breastfeeding too !

[eepie]

My DD was born 8.5 months ago. Up until 6 months old she was breastfeeding every 2 hours in the day time & every 4 hours at night - cue me being very hungry ! Now she is on solids she feeds every 4 hours in the day and every 4-6 hours at night.

Since January when I realised that I was not losing weight from breastfeeding...I decided to start dieting even though everyone around my was telling me not to diet whilst breastfeeding. Also started going to the gym, working out, yoga - pretty much doing something every day. I have drastically but gradually cut my calories down to around 1600 a day. And cut out all pastries, cake, chocolate etc and been moving A LOT more - exercising more than I ever have in my life !
Pre baby I would make a small tweak to my eating habit and half a stone would drop off within 2 weeks or less...but now it seems really hard to lose weight, it's really disheartening and frustrating. My doc has done a thyroid test and all fine there. I just feel so crap as everyone tells you that breastfeeding makes the weight fall off you but I really think that is only for some women...?

I really am baffled because since Jan I have lost 4.3kg / 9.3lbs ....That seems like such a slow weight loss to me ! ? I have been eating super healthily for a months now..I don't drink caffeine or alcohol or binge on sweet stuff...or have sweet stuff very often at all. And carbs - maybe I have one slice of sourdough bread some days.... I have protein for breakfast and have been eating a lot of vegetarian meals too.
Occasionally I have a cheat meal (maybe once a week) as advised in The Clean and Lean book to kickstart my metabolism so my body doesn't think I'm starving it..and I eat healthy fats like avocado and flaxseeds.... I suppose I don't sleep well because my baby is not STTN so that may contribute to slower weightloss but still this seems excessively slow.

Do I really have to give up breastfeeding for my body to finally let go of the weight and if so how??? My baby won't take a bottle. I have been feeling so crap about myself because of my weight, none of my old clothes fit and I think people just look at me and think now that I'm a Mum I'm just sitting around stuffing my face with cake which is the opposite to what I'm doing ! I love breastfeeding my baby but I feel I've done well carrying on for almost 9 months and I desperately want to feel good about my body again. My baby deserves a happy Mum and I'm not right now...

My goal is to be back at 10.5 stone my the end of May when I'm going to a wedding abroad. I'm 12 st 4lbs now. Help ?!

Wow I think you have done very well to lose Over 9lbs. I think that is a lot of weight. Just pick up a two pound bag of sugar and see how heavy it is.

You don't want to lose weight too dramatically as apparently, to lose it slowly is much better for you. Anyway it could now be muscle which weighs heavier than Fat? You have probably changed shape, with all the Gym workouts.
Measure your bust, thighs, and bum and the top of your arms and keep a little chart. I bet you lose inches.
Don't be disheartend as I think you are doing very well.

You've lost just under a pound a week?

Well done!

Breastfeeding absolutely does not make the weight "fall off" quite a lot of women, believe me .

I agree that you have probably lost fat but gained muscle, which is heavier. I had been dispairing that I couldn't lose the last half stone of pregnancy weight until I tried on a pair of pre pregnancy jeans and realised that they fit! Best thing to do is measure yourself and see progress that way.

I think you are doing fine. For me feeding makes the last half stone cling. I think you sound super healthy. I admire your Will power

I think the ability to lose any body weight while breastfeeding is a complete and utter myth. I don't know why it is perpetuated. Let's stop it now.
I ate with restraint whilst breastfeeding and my body shape did not change. Once I stopped breastfeeding at 12 months the weight started shifting in a natural fashion.
You've done well so far but don't make yourself unhappy.

So I mean I wouldn't stop feeding if I had more than 7lb to lose.

I also wouldn't stop feeding. It's a once in a lifetime thing. Not if you don't want to.

Thanks SO much for your messages.....actually makes me feel so much better and really encouraged :-) I actually just looked at a pic of me in my underwear from January and compared it with one I took yesterday and there is a big difference ! My waist is much more defined and there is noticeably less fat on front of stomach and love handles area - yay ! I just have to keep going I suppose and it's hard to keep motivated if I feel like I'm not losing any weight but your comments have made me see it a different way....I just picked up my 2.5kg kettle bell too and it is HEAVY! So I feel loads better and less like giving up breastfeeding...I really don't want to. I am starting to night wean though as I think better quality sleep will help me feel happier and help me with losing weight. Thank you thank you again everyone for your kind and encouraging words

Glad you are feeling happier today!

I did actually lose some weight while breastfeeding but I was quite chubby to start with. And I put most of the weight loss down to having a baby who would only sleep in the pram, not her cot, so I trudged round the local parks for at least an hour or two every day just to make sure she was properly rested!

Whenever I feel sentimental about little babies, I remember those circuits of the park in the freezing cold (she was a January baby) .