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.

Well done kitkat! 3lb in 3 weeks is definitely doable and at the rate you're going you might even surpass that goal.

I did weigh myself, nothing lost but crucially nothing gained, so I've hit on what I need to eat to maintain my weight. So as long as I do better this week I should lose something. My goal was a stone by the time I went back to work on the 14th Feb, but that's 3 and a half weeks away and I still have 8lb to go, so not going to happen.

Plan for this week:

• more green tea
• less milky coffee
• no biscuits!!!
• no picking at the children's food in a 5pm hunger/tiredness hole
• no wine!!! Just lots of fizzy water.

I think I can do it! I'm going to go big and aim for a 2lb loss this week.

Well I had a couple of minor misdemeanours food-wise over the weekend, but back on it this week. How did everyone else's weekend go?

Hello! Mind if I join? I have a 14 week old baby who is breast fed and my weight loss has come to a near stand-still! I have about a stone and a half to get to pre-preg weight but it's coming off so slowly despite majorly cutting down on sugary food and eating loads of veg!

I decided today to use MFP for a week to track calories and stick to about 1800 a day. So far today I've had porridge with peanut butter, linseed and honey, some fruit as a snack, and two big bowls of home-made veg and bean soup. With that and the veg curry I plan on making for tea, I'm pretty much at the calorie limit already and yet feel starving!!

Welcome Boobles!

How are we all doing today?

I'm doing so-so. I had healthy wholemeal cereal but far too large a portion really. I have also just eaten some chocolate buttons. Am meeting a friend this afternoon at her house. She usually always provides / makes cake for our catch ups but I'm determined to decline (which I'm hoping she doesn't take offence at).

Hi bobbles. Stay strong kitkat. Average here... Snotty and tired which isnt helping

Well, I turned down carrot cake which is one of my all-time favourite cakes. Do I win a medal?

Definitely! Sorry just spotted name typo boobles

Welcome boobles!

I'm not doing amazingly, plenty of green tea but have been snacking. We had two birthday parties this weekend too, so I ate quite a lot of cake. Dammit.

Thanks everyone!

I've managed to stick to 1800 calories (or my best estimates anyway) for the past two days - it's hard work though! Sneaky weigh in would sugggest I might've lost a bit already but I know the scales can lie so I have to wait for my official weigh in on Monday!

Two coffee dates coming up this week - can I manage to stick to the americano and no snacks, or a lovely latte and cake ..... I know what's more likely...

Hi. How's everyone doing this week?

Overall I've been pretty well behaved this week, but did treat myself to lunch out today. In my defence me and DH don't get many opportunities to have lunch out together anymore (I think the last time was about 3 months ago)! We ended up in Las Iguanas. I didn't go too overboard - a veggie burrito with salad, a virgin pina colada (was driving) and two churros with caramel dip. Definitely not a diet lunch but it could have worse. I did decline nibbles / starter and the pudding actually involved more churros but I shared with DH so only ate two. Will try and have a lighter evening meal today so it balances out.

Two days until next weigh-in!

Doing awful - I'm a fraud on this board.Have the intention to loose weight but not actually managing to do anything about it yet! You guys are doing so well though!
What was the tipping point that made you properly start going for it? Need motivation!!

I'm doing so badly too, I've failed to regain my mojo. I've had some of the boys Christmas chocolate, most days I've had some snacks, I'm back on the school run waitrose lattes and my dinner portions are too big, i know they are. We're busy on Saturday so I'm going to skip the weigh in, too depressing. Weirdly, my stomach feels different, like a different shape and softer. I can't figure out if it's bigger or smaller, it's just different. Maybe water bloat since I'm drinking so much? Or less bloat since drinking so much green tea???

There are no frauds on our thread gazing, the intention is there right?

Intention def there just can't get started!!
I stress eat and everyday seems to be stressful at the mo!!
Think the rest of you doing so well!

Sorry to hear you guys are struggling. Try and bear in mind losing weight is more marathon than sprint, and the odd bad day won't affect your weight loss efforts. The motivation for me gazing is summer. I got some lovely summer dresses 2 years ago that I couldn't fit into last year (because of being pregnant) and so they've barely been worn and I really want to be able to wear them this year. Plus I've got a holiday in June (nothing exotic - just a week in Dorset) but I'd like to be able to wear my swimming costume without feeling as self conscious.

For me the best thing I learnt doing weight watchers is that you don't have to eat less to lose weight, you just have to make better choices / some swaps on your regular diet. So for example if you get a milky coffee can you ask for it with skimmed milk instead? Or instead of having two digestive biscuits in the afternoon (about 160 calories) swap for two party rings or two rich tea biscuits which are much lower in calories. that way you shouldn't feel too deprived but you can save a lot of calories this way.

Hello, may I join in...I started a diet well super healthy eating plan 3 weeks ago, I've been doing extra long dogs walks (5 miles at times ) lessened my calorie intake to around 1500 (more like I only have 1200)of only healthy stuff, yet nothing has happened in 3 weeks!...oh and I have added in sit-ups and core exercises..it is making me feel seriously upset that there is absolutely no improvement of any kind...bf still fine and dd is 4 months ..I want to wear my jeans !

That's a good idea kitjat to start small and see the long term picture. I had yogurt rather than sour cream on my chilli last night - a start! Let's see if I can manage fruit rather than porridge with lashings of syrup for brekkie this am!

Oh how frustrating Pearl. Is it maybe that because of the extra exercise you've lost fat but built up your muscles a bit (muscle weighs more than fat so you wouldn't necessarily see any change on the scales for a few weeks then)?

And well done gazing. Little changes can make a big difference.

As for me, I lost another pound and a half at weigh in this morning. It's slow progress each week, but it's progress!

That's brill kit Kat -1-2 pounds a week is ideal weight loss

I did so 15 years ago. I was 70kg before I got pregnant. Obviously I gained weight during the pregnancy. A year post baby I was down to 61Kg. All I did was breastfeed, walk everywhere, and eat no sweet stuff. No chocolate no biscuits no cookies, and no fried stuff. Just normal meals.

Finally lost 3 pounds after 3 weeks of no movement. didn't really do any better than normal this week, it just saved up my pound a week to all come off at once..maybe the same will happen for you pearl. So depressing when there is no progress to reward your efforts. On your advice kit Kat I'm setting smaller goals...aiming for 9lb off by end of March in the hope that that's enough to fit into my largest jeans before I go away for the weekend with family, then I ll set another one for holiday in August and another for return to work in Oct. Went to nandos today but had one side not two and water not coke which is restrained for me! Gazing my motivation is unfortunately high levels of disgust at my flab, embarrassment to go back to work like this, desperation to wear something other than leggings and a desire to finish dieting for good before my dd is old enough to realise I am....many motivations but still give in to temptation a lot.

Ahh well done Athousand that's brilliant progress!

Oh well done all on your achievements, and thanks for the kind words, yes I do hope it's something along those lines and improvements will start to be visible in next few weeks ..

I've also finally had some success after 3 weeks of nothing - down 4 pounds! I stuck to 1800 calories most days, with one write-off day which was full of cake!

I have about a stone to get to pre-pregnancy weight, but I have such a flabby belly now that I think I'll have to lose more than that to be happy with myself.

Well done everyone on making healthier choices - diets might be a good quick-fix but it is the little things that make a difference long term.

Well done OhBoobles!

Not a brilliant weekend here but back on the wagon this week. Not been doing much exercise though.

How is everyone getting on this week?

Hi all... A freddo and two chocolate hobnobs today.... Having one of those days where you are starving all the time. Oh well. Will try not to give up and stuff my face!