Anyone else trying to lose weight whilst breast-feeding?

[KitKat1985]

Hello all. DD2 now 7 weeks old. I'm 2 stone heavier than I was pre-baby and feeling really unhappy about it. I'd like to use the New Year to kick-start some weight loss but can't go too drastic as I'm breast-feeding and don't want to mess up my milk supply. I'm largely thinking about cutting back on sugary things which I think is my main downfall, and trying to do some more walking. Problem is I find breast-feeding makes me really hungry which makes the whole process more challenging. I'm determined to do this though, even if it is a gradual process.

Happy I also found that until about 4 months I was so hungry and couldn't stop stuffing myself and didn't lose any at all. In hindsight I probably should have just accepted it and not felt guilty about all After that it became easier. Although I've had to completely cut out snacks to lose- so not quite effortlessly!

Good luck with the weigh in kitkat !

It's best to eat foods high in protein. Omelettes are a great way to kerb those hunger pangs. Total 0% yogurt is so filling, if you blast a handful of blueberries on the microwave for 45 seconds and mix in with the yogurt- bingo. You know have a filling low fat, low carb, super filling meal that also tastes like your having something sweet and naughty.

Hi all. I managed to shift another 1 pound this week. It's slow progress, but at least it's progress. To be fair in a sleep-deprived haze with a 9 week old who I'm still breast-feeding, as well as a toddler to run around after, I don't think I could cope with anything too strict right now. I'm mainly just trying to cut out the snacking and the masses of sugary crap that I was eating.

small steps to the end result is so much better than going full head on and exhausting yourself. I'm a Personal trainer, single mum with 3 boys , so believe me when I say I know how hard it is. Just keep going- your doing great x

Well done kitkat, that's brilliant!

I think I'm going to wait another week and do myself fortnightly, though after last week's overnight 4lb discrepancy I've lost all faith in the accuracy of my scales!

And 4fit is right, slow and steady is the way to do it, especially as your baby is still so new!

Thank you 4fit and Swearwolf.

Well done kitkat. I hadn't lost any at my first weds weigh in but I cheated this morning and I'm 2lbs down, so about 1lb a week so far. Slow and steady we will do it.

Just remember for every pound you loose or put on, is equal to 3000 calories x

I thought it was 2500 - blow that's an extra 500 cal each time!!

After saying I was going to wait until next week I weighed in this morning and am another two or three pounds down (depending on how I was standing, it fluctuated as I shifted my weight). Wahey! Whether it's accurate or not I'm feeling positive and like what I'm doing is going to work. One more month at this rate and I'll be at my goal of ten stone by the time I go back to work, 9 stone three (my comfortable weight, I'm only 5'2" with a small build) by my friend's wedding in may. I just need to keep up momentum!

The most important thing is not to stress, stress levels can make you put on weight!! Have you thought about having a personal trainer?? They can set you goals, motivate you plus some trainers allow you to bring your babies with you. That way you can exercise without the stress of trying to find a sitter.!!

4fit -stress is def the thing that is keeping me at this weight - stress and lack of sleep. What you recommend to help?

if your weightloss is stressing you out, try keeping a food diary. Literally take a picture of everything you eat. This really does help as it allows you to see where your(if) going wrong. Set realistic goals. Don't turn a moment of weakness into a bad day. If you have a kit Kat and then feel terrible after dont then guilty eat for the rest of the day. Get straight back into your healthy eating. If lack of sleep is contributing to your stress. I always found that having a bubble bath, even if it was at 2am. It helped me relax. Cat naps throughout the day help too. Remember our bodies get into a routine really quickly, so if mentally you go to bed stressed thinking your not going to sleep, chances are you won't. I don't know how old your baby is but with my three I gave them less milk on the second to last feed then gave them the extra in the one before bedtime, which literally make them so full and sleepy. It's worth a try. Walking is the best thing. If you go out an hour before your babies feed, go for a nice walk. When you get back you can feed your baby and then both of you can sleep. I know it's hard, but it does get better. Definitely try the midnight bath thing, because if nothing else at least your getting to have your time while everyone else is sleeping. Lavender bubble bath for bedtime for babies was my go to as it helped me sleep too x

Well done on the losses Athousand and Swearwolf! And thank you for the advice 4fit.

Struggling today. DD2 has had a run of bad nights and I've got a cold, and just generally feeling a bit crap. Had bloods done today to check my iron levels so will be interesting to see what that shows. I reached a point today where I just desperately wanted chocolate. I did at least manage to just limit it to one chocolate biscuit though.

I gave in to temptation and ate a cherry bakewell... Oops. Well done kitkat I dont think I've ever eaten just one chocolate biscuit!

Thanks 4fit!

How are we all doing today?

I'm feeling like crap but haven't eaten too badly today considering!

Awful awful... Ate about 1000 extra calories yesterday because my 3 year old was driving me mad... I have no idea how to break the comfort eating cycle!

Terrible here too. A baby not sleeping because teeth/cold/developmental leap combined with a cold of my own means I'm snacking like crazy, drinking coffee instead of green tea, and too tired to cook so have had Chinese and fish and chips in the space of four days. And I feel too rubbish to go to boogie bounce tonight.

Remember, we haven't ruined it, no need to now think screw it, I'll eat what I want. Keep on keeping on!

Cancel my last message. DH got home really late yesterday (meaning I was late starting dinner as I rely on him being home and looking after the DDs whilst I cook), and frankly after managing all day with a fluey type bug and a grumpy baby and hyperactive toddler I couldn't face the veg prep I needed to do a healthy cottage pie, so ended up cooking and eating frozen shit from the freezer with baked beans. Was aiming to do some veg prep today whilst the toddler was at nursery, but she's clearly picked up my bug and has been sent home with a temp of 38.8 and is a virtual snot fountain, and I am still suffering with the same bug, so I don't think it's going to be the best day ever diet wise again. So far though I've had cereal for breakfast; and a vegetable and cheese wrap for lunch, with grapes and a low fat yogurt, so it's not been horrendous.

I lost about 20kg within 6 months, whilst breastfeeding. Followed the SW breastfeeding friendly plan. I did put it all back on again when I lost motivation for SW though :(

OK I am not weighing myself this week, we've had a cold and no sleep and I've eaten crap aaaaaaaaaall week! Hopefully I can claw it back next week so am going to wait until then, I don't need to feel worse about myself. How's everyone else doing?

Think I'm going to have to start my fitness pal again, just 'not eating bad things in the week' isn't really working for me.... The amount I have to lose just seems impossible right now! Toddlers and life just made it so hard!

Oh dear sorry you are both struggling Swearwolf and Athousand. I'd say just focus Swearwolf on getting better for now and get back on it when you can. And Athousand I have 2 stone to lose in total but that feels like too big a mountain to climb, so I'm breaking it into half a stone chunks. Could you do similar so it doesn't seem so impossible?

I had a good weigh in this morning - I lost 1 and a half pounds this week. My initial goal at the start of this year was to get to half a stone lost by DH's birthday (11th Feb) and so that leaves me with 3 pound to lose in the next 3 weeks, which should be perfectly do-able. I will do this!