Breastfeeding how many calories should I be eating to lose weight.

[Neenee Jellybeanie]

Hi Ladys,

I am just what your opinon is on how many calories I should be eating in order to lose weight while breastfeeding. I 've been reading a book written by a dietitian called "Eat Well lose weight while breastfeeding" Eileen Behan R.D. and she gives this formula for working out how much you should be eating to right your goal weight.

Med Frame: allow 100 pounds for first 5 feet of height plus 5 pounds for each addional inch.
So using me as the example: I am 5'4inchs so my ideal body weight is: 120pounds (54kgs)

Then multiply the IBW by level of activity: 13 for Sedentary Act, 15 Moderate and 20 Heavy Activity.

So (IBW x activity number) is 1800 ( as I am moderate, just started walking) then add on 330 - 450 and I should be eating between: 2130-2250 calories to get to my goal weight of 120 pounds( 54kgs)

Just want to know what your thoughts are, I've been monitoring my calorie intake through calorie king and this week I think that i've lost 1kg and that's eating 2150 calories. So I think this is right so far, but it's only been 6 weeks from the date of my baby girl and I am post c-section also and of course breastfeeding.

Any advice???? I really want to know if I am on the right track

Firstly, how do you know what sort of frame you have? Secondly, 54kgs is the LOWEST recommended weight (or close to it) for your height. For you height, anywhere from 55kg to 65kgs is recommended, and that's a guide. Your own body might weigh more or less naturally.

Most women need to eat between 1500 and 2500 calories a day, the average being 2000. During pregnancy, you need an extra 200 on top of that. When you breastfeed, you should be eating an extra 500 calories a day on top of your pre-preg weight (500 cals is, on average, how much you use up through breastfeeding, so if you're wanting to lose weight eating less than 500 extra would be an idea). So if you were to maintain your weight, you'd be looking at more like 2700 calories. For weight loss, I think 2250 would be fine, and if you weren't losing weight you could lower it little by little.

The thing with calories is that just because food A has X number of calories, that doesn't mean your body is going to extract that much energy from it. Calories are used up in digestion, and not all of the calories will be absorbed depending on how thorough the digestion actually is. So whenever you're counting calories, there's going to be inaccuracies. Personally, I think it's a much better idea to just eat healthy and to hell with calories. If you eat healthy, with lots of fruit and veg, and don't eat junk food too often, your body will naturally adjust and you'll reach your ideal weight.

[magisana]

Thanks Neenee for your advice, very helpful, I know I am probably just stressing. I weighed myself yesterday and I weighed 2 kgs less, yeh!! I am being sensible though and the main reason I was monitoring my calories is so that I don't overeat, as I eat when I am bored sometimes not when I am hungry. Also I wanted to see where and when I was eating the most, and as it turns out, my snacking is my problem, so I need to make sure that my snacks are the lowest in calories and also the healthy option. I don't really eat much junk except for the one chocolate once a week when I go shopping. My frame is medium, I neither big nor petite, just in the middle.

[HotKim]

Hi, I've found Mikibo - Health and Fitness fabulous as it keeps a running total of how many kj's you've consumed and how many you've burnt, leaving an energy balance. You need to keep your balance in the neg''s to lose weight. Caters for breastfeeding mums too.

I do think it is a bit early to start dieting though.