Losing weight while breastfeeding

[preggo39]

Hello all, I need advice!

My baby is 10 months old and I'm still breastfeeding, but I'm at the point now where I really want my previous body back. I'm not breastfeeding as much as I was because my baby eats three solid meals a day. He breastfeeds first thing, before naps and before bed, and maybe one extra small feed on top.

My question is, what worked re weight loss for other breastfeeding women? I have about a stone to lose, so not loads, but I'm determined to lose it because I have lots of nice clothes sitting in my wardrobe and I'm going back to work in two months.

I read somewhere that breastfeeding women should eat at least 1800 calories a day to preserve their milk, but I don't know if this is true.

Can anyone advise? And also if there are any other breastfeeding mamas out there who'd like to join the thread for moral support, please do!

I’m feeling exactly the same as you! But I have a little more that I would like to lose, trouble is I’m so hungry! The hunger has gone down since I’ve dropped feeds but still there. I was thinking about weight loss jabs but you can’t whilst breastfeeding and I’m not sure I’m ready to give it up totally xx

The weight just fell off me when I breasted. It’s probably because I didn’t eat any extra calories at all, as I wasn’t more hungry and I didn’t feel I needed them. I had copious amounts of milk too.

Calorie counting, it's the only way imo. I consistently lost weight after my dc when I was ebf by eating around 1200 + the extra 500 (I think??) calories you need when ebf. Was also expressing and freezing for my return to work so added 100 calories or so on for that. Lots of walking too. It is possible!

My baby is 7 months and I am doing this at the moment myself - eating 1800 calories and walking an 1h - 1.5h a day and breastfeeding. I have lost a stone and a half since October.

I drink 3L+ a day, and this keeps (most) of my cravings at bay.

I still have half a stone to lose. I gained so so much weight whilst pregnant! They thought the baby was big, but it turned out it was just my big stomach.

I wouldn’t go lower than 1800 calories, I am always worried about my baby being hungry - she has so much milk still. Feeds all night.

Good luck OP.

Good for you @Silverfoxlady 🤩. I was the same, was already carrying about 10 extra kilos of Covid weight plus another 20 kilos I put on during pregnancy with my last dc, I really overate. Healthy of course just way way too much. Lost the pregnancy weight in about 3 months and the Covid weight in about another 3 after that as far as I can remember.

ime experience bf works two ways.

some people are like @LouisvilleSlugger where the weight just falls off breastfeeding. They can eat what they want, some can even eat a lot, some don’t have the increased appetite.

then you get people like me where bf means they hang on to every calorie. Doesn’t matter what you do, the weight doesn’t shift. You can maintain weight by calorie controlling, but not lose unless you’re on a fairly low calorie count.

good news is when I stopped breastfeeding the weight came off by itself. I did nothing. Possibly my appetite dropped and I naturally started eating less, or lost water? Who knows.

so I wouldn’t worry about that last weight until you stop bf. Then address it.

Thanks for the advice and solidarity all.

@Silverfoxlady That's fantastic, well done! I think I will do as you do and start counting calories and try and stick to 1800. I'm worried about damaging my milk supply - definitely not ready to stop breastfeeding yet.

Like others on this thread I've been absolutely ravenous! But my hunger has dropped off since my baby has been eating solids. I put on 2.5 stone during my pregnancy and I lost 1.5 stone in the first couple of months without doing anything at all. I suppose I was hoping the last stone would go the same way, but it appears not... bummer.

@Whycanineverthinkofone I think this is me with the last stone - it seems to be clinging to my hips and thighs, which it never did before! I always used to put weight on around my belly.