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

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

hi there
i got a little lost in all the calculations, but just wanted to direct you to a site that may be of help... calorie king.... its free to join and will calculate how many calories to consume etc in order to lose weight, i think it also asks if you are pregnant or breastfeeding and will take that into consideration...

i'm 59kg and wanting to get down to around 55kg, anything under would be fantastic... i'm 5 foot 2.... i'm on 1100 calories a day, but can eat a whole lot more if i do any proper exercise....

you can record your food each day and it totals the calories, and you record your exercise and it then minuses the calories.... its pretty useful.... but you don't have to go that far, you could just sign up and use the calculator section...

anyways good luck!

crap i obviously didn't read your last paragraph!!!! i see you are already on calorie king...!!! sorry my mistake.... you should find some useful tools on their though that will tell you how many calories to consume...

6 weeks is too soon to be putting pressure on yourself to lose weight! There are more important things to worry about and you need to eat to both keep making milk and keep your energy up.
I did find though that when I ate less junk then the weight came off but that wasn't till bub was about 6 months old

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6 weeks is too soon to be putting pressure on yourself to lose weight! There are more important things to worry about and you need to eat to both keep making milk and keep your energy up.
I did find though that when I ate less junk then the weight came off but that wasn't till bub was about 6 months old

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I know it's probably to early, but I am a natural stresser and I am so worried that's it's just going to stick as I've had no luck when I had our 2nd child losing weight at all while breastfeeding or even afterwards, the weight just would not budge. I am going to see the doc on Thursday next week to see a dietitian which is why I've been monitoring my calories. I have found that I snack alot, so It's been a good little exercise to see where I am consuming the most calories and then make the adjustment to a more healthy option. I have been listening to my body though, If I am still hungry I do have an extra piece of fruit or a yoghurt. Calorie KIng tool says that I should eat 1950calories, but I did find this to low as I was still hungry. Thanks for your replys.

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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

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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.

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.

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.