To give up breastfeeding to finally lose weight?

[Snowtimex7]

Hi

I assume I’ll probably get a few bad comments but here it goes. In pregnancy I gained over 3 stone. I was so stressed from my job, had scans all the time due to complications and also extreme nausea so my weight came from anything I could actually eat and then not stopping eating.

I’m now 9 months into exclusively breastfeeding! I love it more than I ever thought I would! The bond with her, the time together everything but I’m not shifting weight. I’ve lost 1 stone in 9 months and that pretty much came off in the first two months. I’ve been eating cleaner than when I was pregnant. I take daily walks where I can. Yes I did have a bad month when our kitchen got replaced but my weight isn’t going down or even up. I drink so much water, trying new foods. I’m really at a loss

I’ve got to a point where I’m considering giving up breastfeeding in hopes the rest would shift or i could start a harsher diet. The idea of giving up breastfeeding makes me so upset but this is all just getting too much. This is the biggest I’ve been in my life. I struggle to find clothes to leave the house in. I refuse to take pictures with my daughter and the idea of her first birthday and having to take pictures terrifies me. I’m not happy I’n the body I’m in but I can’t think of what to do?

Should I give up breastfeeding? Is it the hormones stopping me?

Has anyone found anything that works? I have two stone I want to shift by May and I don’t see it happening. Even one stone I’ll be happy with at this rate.

Before anyone recommends a counsellor I’ve seen one for years it doesn’t work. Not much they can do. And I am overweight now so I do genuinely need to lose weight.

Thanks

There are a few post-partum bf mums over on the Intermittent Fasting board on Reddit if you wanted to take a look. IF is working for me and it suits my lifestyle, it may not suit yours.
I assume your baby is on solids now.
As a longterm (post)-bf Mum myself (he’s nearly 13 now!) I’d be very slow to advise you to stop bf if it’s working for you and your baby.
However I also get how awful it is when you don’t feel good in your own skin.
The no1 thing I’d suggest is to go as low carb as you can, count your kcals/stay under your limit, keep walking, keep up your water.

Are you really sure it's Bf related? I've breastfed for extended periods and noticed that I do retain some fat around the boobs and bra-line (backfat basically) that I don't normally have and which does disappear quickly after stopping. I'm talking a tiny amount thought and- That odd distribution of chest/back body fat aside- I haven't found that BFing made me gain weight or that I lost weight when I stopped- probably the opposite tbh! Pregnancy itself can cause havoc with your metabolism and it does take a while for your body to adjust (if indeed it ever does!) I would recommend IF and weight-bearing exercised to build muscle and burn more fat. Ultimately though, 90% of results will come from your diet and unless you're somebody who loses weight really easily then you need to be strict and consistent- no booze or sugar/refined carbs, lots of good fats and plants and a decent amount of protein. It's so hard- I hear you! I'm just worried that you think stopping BFing is some kind of panacea and so you stop, nothing happens, and you've lost something that you're enjoying and that has huge protective health benefits or both you and your child, and for nothing.

It's easy for me to say as I formula feed but honestly I would do it if you re missing out on being able to take photos with your baby, as otherwise you ll resent your decision in the future if you see no long term gain from continuing to breastfeed.

I lost weight faster when I was breastfeeding than when I stopped. You have to do what feels right for you but my fear would be that you stop and you still don't lose anymore weight and then massively regret stopping.

You can safely diet whilst breast feeding and your baby isn't tiny now and will be increasing how much they get from solids over the next few months.

I think breastfeeding is funny, some people drop weight easily by doing it, and others the weight refuses to shift, it seems very unfair!
I'd say do what's right for you, if you've fed for 9 months, there's definitely nothing wrong with replacing some feeds with formula and seeing how it goes. I think I started to do the same with my DD at around that point in time because I knew I was going to have to spend some time apart from her when she was 10/11 months old so I started to switch from bf to formula and it was fine, it was actually a slight relief, and I loved bf! It's just nice to not always be the one on duty because of bf.
Do what's right for you, it sounds like you've done amazingly up to now!

There's really no guarantee you will lose weight when you stop breastfeeding and you might even gain weight (I did!). You've done a great job breastfeeding this long but I wouldn't stop now if your only.reason is in the hope of losing weight. I would think about when you would ideally like to stop, and how you will feel if you stop now and don't lose weight.

I lost weight pretty easily while breastfeeding, I wouldn't give up bf in the hope it'll help you lose weight. I'd be totally honest with myself about what I was eating, portion sizes etc. If you are eating less cals than you need you will lose weight. Simple maths and science I'm afraid, no magic answer.

Breastfeeding uses calories, I’ve recently stopped and not noticed a reduction in weight dc is 8m

I gave up breastfeeding and thought I would lose weight. I ended up gaining weight because I was eating similarly but now not losing the calories through breastfeeding either. I found it very difficult to lose any weight after having a baby with my FF baby too. So I don't think breastfeeding helped either way. For me i stated losing weight at the point that I was back working and/or studying and getting some time on my own to exercise and have the head space I needed, and also when sleep got better. So there are lots of different contributory factors, breastfeeding might be one but are you willing to risk it if it doesn't help? It doesn't sound like you are ready to stop feeding or would be happy with that decision.

I lost weight bf’ing and doing slimming world with my first but with my second have had no joy whatsoever. I can make myself feel better and a little leaner with HITT 3-4x weekly but I am hungry all the time and crave the bad things.

I have 3st to shift. I hate pictures of me at the moment but I am going to continue to feed because it’s working for us, especially with cosleeping.

I definitely think it’s hormonal and for whatever reason worse second time around.

Maybe try changing up your exercise if you don’t want to give up just yet, but you’ve done really well to get this far so no shame whatsoever in quitting now.

Your baby is helpfully consuming a good size portion of your own calorific intake daily from your body - when you stop you will have a significant excess of calories that you are no longer donating. Whether you continue or stop should be your own informed choice, but if you want to continue as you say, please don't thwart your own plans without considering that you may gain weight rather than lose it by stopping.

Honestly, my advice is just to forget about weight for a while. Breastfeeding your baby is such a wonderful time, but it is also fleeting and precious. Weight just doesn't matter at this point in comparison to these early years of motherhood. Try to just throw off the pressure to be any particular weight right now. Postpone it to the future and enjoy the now with your baby, baby weight and all.

My baby has been through a phase of only napping in the pram and I've found that walking 1-2 hours every single day makes a huge difference with weight loss compared with only walking when the weather is good. It is utterly exhausting though!

I’m with you OP, I categorically cannot lose weight bf and I believed all the crap with my first that it would. Now feeding my second and defo my last I’ll be sad to stop but at some point I want to gain control of my body again.

I'm another who LOST too much weight weight breast feeding!!

I'd reccommend looking at Paul Mackenna's (I Can Make You Thin) the title is silly but I lost 3 stone with it and have maintained for many years with it.

It's simple no calorie counting or weighing of food or diet foods. It' s basically about your approach to eating and your self esteem . You learn to accept yourself ! No self hate.

You're lovely you are doing the best for your baby and your health , be proud!!!!