Healthy diet + exercise + breastfeeding = no weight loss?

[emelianta]

Im feeling distraught over lack of progress with weight loss after baby 2... (4 months old), despite my best efforts. I gained 40 lbs during this pregnancy, and when combined with not having lost a single pound from the pregnancy weight after having my older son (born 2.5 years prior, breastfed for 1.5 years), I have a lot of weight to get through. I still have 3 stone left to lose to get back to pre-baby weight and where Im comfortable with myself (current BMI of 27.7, goal BMI of 22).

I waited until my baby was two months to start dieting, eating relatively healthily during those first two months and taking nearly daily long walks for exercise. I lost 15 lbs from the birth itself (baby/placenta/water weight), and didnt gain any back postpartum. However, Ive now been counting calories strictly for two months (1690 per day, a couple of days per week I will permit myself up to 2000 if Im doing very intense cardio, but other than that, no deviations other than the day of my bday when I gave myself a pass), and eating very healthily - mostly plants fish or legumes, nearly all homemade from scratch and good ingredients, low sugar etc. On top of that, Ive been training for a triathlon by doing running, swimming, or cycling 5 days per week (30-60 mins, depending on the day) and yoga once per week. Im still breastfeeding and will continue until at least one year. Ive only lost 5 POUNDS in 9 WEEKS.

It is not possible that this is "all muscle weight". My GP brushed me off when I asked what the problem was, giving me generic nonsense advice like "eat more veg" (I do) and "cut down on salmon because it´s fatty and have chicken instead" (??). I am losing hope. Im giving up too much for this - the minimal time I have for myself are now dedicated to exercise and cooking, and this is not worth the sacrifice for no pay-off. I would rather just return to living as I please and just be a whale forever if it´s going to take several years to get to lose the weight.

I´m just wondering if anyone has had this issue while breastfeeding - it´s such a lie that it causes the weight to melt off. Any advice for other approaches regarding the diet-exercise?

I hear you. I am 11 weeks post partum with my second, and have about 15kg to go to my pre baby weight. I am doing intermittent fasting 15:9 (supposed to be 16:8, but I just couldn't skip breakfast, wasn't feeling well doing that), healthy eating just like you, no snacks/junk. I do less exercise than you do though. I am out with a toddler most days, carrying baby in sling plus bike/scooter/ball etc. Breastfeeding. Weight is pretty much stuck.

To be fair, it was similar after my first. I gave up, and the weight eventually came off itself (and then some) in about 1 year.

I never lost any weight breastfeeding- it always came off when I finally stopped. I think your body must hold onto the weight extra hard due to hormones. It’s easy for me to say now, but be kind to yourself and enjoy this special time - you’ll lose the weight after you stop feeding and have years ahead of being slim.

Wow well done you for doing all that with a toddler and a 4 month old- I was definitely just mainly eating biscuits when baby was that age! Sounds like you’re making some healthy changes that your body will thank you for long term. It is hard when you want to see the scales change though. It might be that the weight will fall off soon and it’s just having a plateau period either that or it’s a slow and steady change?

I could not lose weight while I was breastfeeding with both of my little ones. I tried everything to no avail and it made me feel rubbish that nothing worked. People who lose weight easily while breastfeeding must have different hormones or something!! Try not to be too hard on yourself, one thing I realised is that feeling down about it doesn’t help anything.

Ohh I came online to make this exact post. I read something yesterday about prolactin that's released when you feed having the propensity to cause weight gain in some breastfeeding mothers particularly if they've struggled in the past.

You're doing really well, I can't advise anything as in in the same boat, I've even been contemplating stopping the feeding because it's getting to me about the weight but I've said I'll give it another month and see what happens as I do really love feeding her.

Good luck and I hope you start to see some results!!

Hey all,

Just the post I needed to see. I’m 5 weeks postpartum, and my weight has not changed on the scale since weighing myself 1 week PP. I’m exclusively breast feeding baby boy who is 10lb 9 and has a huge appetite.

Hes feeding every 1-2 hours and some of those feeds end up lasting an hour!

I had banked my hopes on losing weight via breastfeeding but I’m seriously concerned that I’ve seen no movement on the scale.

I put on 4 stones with this pregnancy and really need it to budge :(

Food wise, I’m having 3 healthy meals, with 1-2 snacks- and going for 3-4 walks.. It gets super tiring so not trying to over do it.

I know the scale doesn’t always matter.. but some sort of movement would make me feel tons better about myself.

I don’t understand this post you have lost 5lbs in 9 weeks (plus 15lbs after birth) but according to you lost no weight at all? You went to the GP about this? You mean to post you haven’t lost as much as you would like to. You have not lost no weight. You are eating well and working out however I think you have lost all sight of what’s actually happening. Try to get the narrative straight as you are at risk of absolutely flogging yourself with exhaustion 4 months pp and at risk of developing an unhealthy view of yourself. You are breastfeeding so your body is going to be trying to do a lot of things at the same time. it is an old wives tale that BF helps with weight loss. Maybe a BMI of 22 after you had two children and breastfed isn’t realistic anymore and that’s something you might have to come to terms with. Maybe a BMI of 24-25 would be less stressful for you - you have already lost nearly half a stone and are probably quite fit. You also have a lovely new baby but doesn’t sound like you are enjoying it if you are obsessing about weight. It can take a whole year to lose 3-4stone - I am doing this and it’s going to take… a year. It’s an investment of time not a quick fix no one can lose weight that fast without drastically putting themself at risk. How long did you think it was going to take you? If you lost 1lb ish a week it would take you about 40 weeks to lose 3 stone