Weight watchers for breastfeedimg mums?

[firstbub]

Hi there,

Just wondering if there is any mums doing or have done the weight watchers plan for breastfeeding mums? I am considering doing this but I don't want to lose my milk supply (from dieting). How does it work and can you do it online or do you have to go to meetings?

Thanks for any advice!

[em..]

i am doing it currently, and there is a special handout for the breastfeeding mums, you get extra points so that you do not harm you milk supply, you might lose a little slower though..
i go to the meetings, but i think it can be done online..

liz

[Jodie259]

You have to be breast feeding at least 6 weeks.
You are given extra "points" to eat - and they give you an extra booklet to read about it.

I don't think you have to go to meetings... if you join up online. You would just mention you're breastfeeding, and they will send the extra booklet too.

Weight watchers isn't a 'diet'. It's a programme that teaches you to eat healthy food. No shakes, no pills. Just regular food - in the right quantities. And encourages you to do some exercise if you can - even if its just a walk. By writing your food intake down, or counting points - it makes you aware of how much food (and what type of food) you are actually putting in your mouth.

Weight watchers is about education, awareness and support.
It's quite safe to do it after the 6th week - so if you do - good on you and good luck with it.

[Willow]

I did it while breastfeeding DD, but she was about 9 months at the time.

As Em said, basically they just give you extra points to make sure you're getting enough calories etc to support your milk supply.

I lost weight just as fast as I have previously and it had no impact on my supply. I went to the meetings, found more motivation that way.

I've already decided that if after 12 weeks or so I'm still carrying too much weight, I'm going to do WWs again this time.

[soul]

I think I might join. I was 94 kilos before pregnant and now am 86 kilos so have lost weight myself but now I am stuck at the same weight. I am BF too. So if your ON 22 points how many more would they give you BF?

[Willow]

Soul, I can't remember to be honest but it was a lot!! I didn't use all of them, it was just too much food for me. I think I added an extra 4 points a day or something, so I was a bit naughty!

[soul]

Hey willow. If they give too many points it would take way longer to lose weight right?

[Willow]

Yeah, that's what I figured. I just couldn't eat the number of points they recommended so I cut it back, still lost weight and it didn't affect my supply at all.

[Jodie259]

I think it's 5 points extra for breastfeeding mums. If I can find my latest book - I will tell you exactly. It' not a huge amount extra. Like 5 points could be a decent size piece of cheese.

you would be best to stick to the allocated points - and see how you go for a while. In working at WW for so many years, I have found that people tend to stop losing weight when they cut down their points, because their body is not getting the energy it needs. When people plateau or even gain weight... we would check their food intake (or just ask them) and tell them to bump their points UP... and oila - they would lose weight again.

As you lose weight - you reduce your points. So you should recalculate your points every so often as you're losing weight.