Weigth loss and breastfeeding?

[BekZ]

Hi Everyone,

I am finding it difficult to move my pregnancy weight. I am still breastfeeding and would love to hear how some of you succeeded in losing weight whilst breastfeeding.

[Willow]

Hey Bek!

After DD I did Weight Watchers (had success with it once before when I was much younger). They have a points plan especially for b'feeding mums.

Only downer is that it's a lot more expensive now than it was then. I was looking at it a few weeks ago and not sure I can justify the expense...I know what I need to do, it's just finding the time to excercise that's the killer for me.

[skybie]

i didnt know until very recently that u need to eat about 5-600 more calories a day while breast feeding!
i lost 11kgs in 4 months but since upping my calories ive managed to level out and stop loosing. DD2 and i both get weighed at the mchn to see if we're both gaining, my BMI rocketed down to 17, trying to get back into a healthy 20 range

[BekZ]

Hey Bek!

Only downer is that it's a lot more expensive now than it was then. I was looking at it a few weeks ago and not sure I can justify the expense...I know what I need to do, it's just finding the time to excercise that's the killer for me.

Yep that is my problem Willow!!!

[tellytubby]

hey bekz,
i've just joined ww. they have a $1 joining fee atm.
bfing mums get an extra 7 points, so so far i dont even really feel like im on a diet, hehe. we'll see if i actually lose weight tho im only on day two - so a looong way to go!

[Sequoia]

Bek, I lost 8kg on WW Online, no meetings which suited me since I live in the boondocks.

Highly recommended. Good luck hun.

[kelebek]

Unfortunately I was one of those breastfeeding mothers that didn't loose weight
At first I figured that it took 9 mnths to put the weight on and I would give it at least that long to see if it would budge on it's own.

Well as it didn't budge on it's own I did Weight Watchers and lost about 5 kgs in 3 mnths...

[Curly]

Sigh...I am also one of those that didn't just instantly shed the kilos because I was breastfeeding.

I was still in maternity jeans when DS was 4 months old, eating really well. And then it slowly started to slip off, but DS was nearly 12 months old before I was back to what I was before I got pregnant. It was when he was around 9 months that I really felt that I was getting back to normal, but it still took another couple of months to lose those last couple of kgs.

And yes, I was still breastfeeding him (till 18 months).

With DD the same thing happened except I had to wean her at 3 months and even though at 4 months some weight came off I never lost the rest of it. Here I am pregnant again and really trying not to put on too much weight because I am starting off 8kgs heavier this time.

[Ryatha]

I'm not able to budge this last 10 kg either

I have serious sugar cravings in the evenings and no matter what I do I still end up raiding the pantry... But I started back at work this week so hopefully it will stop me grazing during the day. Oh and going to try BFing and working full time...

WW would be great but it is $$ and the time to go. Should we start a support thread for BFing mums wanting to loose weight?

[Shanti]

Me too, I haven't been able to move this 10kg I want to lose either. Would love to lose it before falling pg again soon too.
I am still BF'ing but I find I get really bad sugar cravings too and I can't stop them!! argh! it's hard... if only i was blessed with a super fast metabolism..... *sigh*

[BekZ]

I'm not able to budge this last 10 kg either
Should we start a support thread for BFing mums wanting to loose weight?

Great idea Ryatha

[Tish]

I thought the weight would fall off BF, especially given how often DS was feeding.....!!

Someone told me that the weight wouldn't budge until at least 5-6 months, and no matter what i did (training, eating well etc) that was very true for me.

I don't know why - maybe something to do with hormones etc?

I second all of what Curly said too

Good luck and be gentle with yourself.

Tish

[diva det]

i agree too!
its damm hard
i have actually put on 7 kg since having DS2- grrr
so now it has to go!!!
I just started lite n easy!
so will let you know how it goes
there is stacks of food for each day- in fact i didnt get through it all today- oops not a good start
a thread for losing weight for b.feeding mums is a great idea!!!

[Ryatha]

well I'm starting here then for a weight loss thread...

I'm about 76kg and would love to get back to 65-66kg. I know when I am that weight I have more energy, I 'feel' lighter and I fit into all my clothes. So now that I am back at work I will be walking a lot more and not snacking inbetween meals. I guess I am also going to make sure b/fast & lunch are really healthy and dinners will be smaller in size - I tend to eat a lot in the evening, and I think that is my problem.

One of my friends is also about to start an evening walk with prams and puppies so I think I might try to do that as well. Oh and do something about my sugar cravings in the evenings, I saw the other thread about chromium, does anyone know if we can take it while BFing?

[BekZ]

ok lets do this ladies!!!

Ryatha - I am 73kgs and my goal is 65kg. I feel healthy at that weight too. I took chromium when I was trying to loss weight after DD2 and it worked but I wasn't bfing. I'll do some research and see what I can come up with.

As for me I am looking at those little habits that can easily be cut out. So far I've cut out late night biscuits with my tea and the afternoon chocolates whilst making dinner. Next to go is eating the kids leftovers and adding heaps of butter to my sandwiches.

As suggestion for the sugar cravings could be a fruit smoothie with possibly a protein powder added to it. Drink it slowly so it lasts longer.

Exercise is my down fall. I know I have to do it for long term health I just find it hard to get the time atm.

Anyone got any lunch ideas?

[Miss E]

Okay ladies I'm signing up for this one too!

Last time I weighed myself I was 68kg (was a few weeks ago so I'm hoping I might be one or two kg's lighter now, but with christmas and family visiting who knows) and I am hoping to get back to my pre-preg weight of around 62kgs (I'd love to get back to just under 60kg, but am trying to be realistic about it).

I put on close to 30kg's while I was preg (retained heaps of fluid) and after having DS dropped to around 75kg. Every couple of weeks I have been loosing around 1kg by just eating well and trying to do a little walking (nowhere near as much as I should though). TBH I am hoping that by the time DS gets to 12 months I will have lost all of the weight without having to have done anything drastic.

Before I got pregnant I was a real gym junky, but now I simply don't get the opportunity to work out like I used to. I guess I'm just going to focus on trying to get a good walk in at least every second day for the time being.

[Fleur]

I have never lost any weight BFing... when I was feeding DS2 I didn't lose any weight until after I weaned at 14 months. I'd rather not wait that long this time...

As for chromium, I was doing Tony Ferguson when I fell PG & taking chromium then, it seemed to work quite well I thought. Not sure if you can take it while BFing though?

[Ryatha]

I've just done a bit of quick research, it looks like chromium is a no go when BFing, but the pre/post natal suppliments should still be ok and they have some in them.

Well, I have done better by not snacking in the evenings, well not a lot of snacking... and eating two pieces of fruit everyday - with Fred sharing