Breastfeeding, nutrition, losing weight

[simplykate]

Posting here because I only want TF friendly advice.
What do you all think?
Does calorie restriction help with weight loss while bf'ing?
Has anybody had experience with taking the calories UP in order to lose weight?
I'm asking because I was very sick the first 20 weeks of my pregnancy and lost weight, but then gained almost 60 in the remaining 22 weeks. I think my body probably did that to have extra nutritional stores for labor and bfing.
So now I would like to lose some weight and I'm wondering if the way to do it is to increase my food intake so that my body gets enough nutrition to not freak out. I've only been eating about 1800 because I'm not very hungry, but I'm thinking this is not enough?
Ideas?

[Holiztic]

Generally I would say do not give ANY thought to weight loss until your baby is eating solids regularly, but having gained a good bit during your pregnancy, I can understand your desire to lose some.

I actually gained weight AFTER DS was born as I was eating so much trying to up my milk production AND was sitting all day nursing round the clock. I did nothing whatsoever to try to lose weight (other than living normally/naturally/TF) and right around 10 months postpartum the weight started to come of and by 18 months I ended up weighing less than I did pre-pregnacy.

I'd say you should eat to your hunger and just make sure its all super nutrient dense and try to get some reasonable exercise (walking with baby, etc).

I wouldn't have any unrealistic expectations of weight loss if you are in the first 8 or so months postpartum. You just had a baby--that's a super power, so is breastfeeding, if we have to be a little bigger to be superheroes, I say its well worth it!

[cristeen]

Calorie restriction during BFing can lead to supply issues. I would worry more about getting good solid nutrition and avoiding junk food while BFing, than even THINK about restricting calories.

[simplykate]

I guess I should clarify that I'm not thinking about restricting calories, But I've only been hungry enough to eat around 1800 and I guess I'm wondering if I should maybe INCREASE them.

So far I have great supply.
I'm getting a very nutrient dense diet, even more so now that I'm cooking again. Lots of butter, raw milk, grass fed meats, etc. I've even started taking CO cause I hear it's great for breastfeeding.

I'm not fixated on getting back to PP weight or anything, but I gained A LOT, and it would be nice to slim down a bit, if that can happen without any supply issues.

Thanks for your input and please keep it comin'!

[spughy]

Depending on how old your baby is, it's probably not a great idea to TRY to lose weight while nursing. But, if your baby is over 6 months or so, your milk supply is fine and continues to be fine, I would try losing weight via sugar/carbohydrate restriction, moderation on other things and as much exercise as you can do. If your weight doesn't budge then, take it as a signal that your body is retaining fat stores to assist in lactation and don't fret it.

Carrying around an extra 30-50 lbs for a year or so while you're nursing lots isn't going to hurt you, and it may well help you and your baby. It's annoying, but it won't damage your health.

[principii]

To add to the others' comments, I wouldn't UP your calorie intake, if I were you I'd just eat for hunger/satiation (so long as my milk supply was good). Yup, nutrition is KEY. Keep up the good work!

[skyerae]

I'm not sure how old your baby is, but I'm guessing pretty young. When my son was first born my appetite was pretty nil. I was surprised, but went along with it and ate as well as I could. Plenty of broth because it was easy to get into my while nursing all day. LOL

After a couple weeks or so my appettite increased and by the time he was a few months old I was literally eating twice what I ate in even during pregnancy. I didn't gain even while I was eating that much. When my appetite finally leveled off around 8 months I immediately dropped about 5 lbs or so. And since then have dropped another 5.

Just make sure your food is nutrient dense and you should be fine. Eat to hunger like PP have mentioned, and be aware in case taking care of baby ends up front burner. This happened for me a few times, usually during growth spurts or teething times which was when he nursed the most and I needed the food. LOL

[Purple Sage]

I'm also breastfeeding (baby is 5.5 months old and EBF) and hoping to lose some weight. My issue is a little different, though, because I didn't gain too much during pregnancy - I gained 20 pounds in a short time after the baby was born due to being hypothyroid. I changed my diet to include a LOT more animal fat and WAY less carbs (grain/legume/sugar free), and I'm very slowly losing the weight I had gained. I'm eating more calories now and not exercising, and I'm actually losing instead of gaining. Yay for fat!

[bigknitwit]

I have a similar situation. My baby (#4) is almost 8 months old. I gained almost 60 pounds during the pregnancy (which is consistent with all my other pregnancies). Except this time the weight is not magically disappearing - not at all. The other 3 times it was a slow and steady decline throughout the first year, back to prepregnancy weight. This time I am stuck with an extra 25 pounds. I am intensely exercising 30 min/day, as well as lifting weights - still no weight loss. I think I am going to have to just stay focussed on fitness improvements, and forget about dropping the weight for a while. Still, I wonder why I dropped the weight 3 times previously postpartum, and now not... sigh...

[Purple Sage]

The Scientist and the Stairmaster


This is an article by Gary Taubes that explains why the science doesn't support the idea that exercise makes us thinner.

This is not to say that there aren’t excellent reasons to be physically active, as these reports invariably point out. We might just enjoy exercise. We may increase our overall fitness; we may live longer, perhaps by reducing our risk of heart disease or diabetes; we’ll probably feel better about ourselves. (Of course, this may be purely a cultural phenomenon. It’s hard to imagine that the French, for instance, would improve their self-esteem by spending more time at the gym.) But there’s no reason to think that we will lose any significant amount of weight, and little reason to think we will prevent ourselves from gaining it.

[jamie79]

Originally Posted by Purple Sage

The Scientist and the Stairmaster


This is an article by Gary Taubes that explains why the science doesn't support the idea that exercise makes us thinner.

Well this fits my body to a "T". Exercise made me stronger, and much more defined. I do feel worlds better when I exercise, too. However, the defining factor for me losing weight is eating too many carbs (or any carbs in the form of grains/sweets). If I stick to a Paleo type of diet, then I lose weight without trying. However, I am an exercise fiend, so I don't think I will be stopping that anytime soon

[simplykate]

We just went gluten free (mostly to see if it will help DH) so maybe that will help some.

It's encouraging to hear so many of you say that the fat is healthy and needed for breastfeeding. That's what I believe, but it doesn't get much support in society. I feel like EXPECTED to lose weight really quick.

I haven't had time to read that entire article, but it looks really interesting.
I love to exercise, but it has never helped me to lose weight. Like the pp said, just stronger and more defined.

Also glad to hear that a lot of you are having success with lots of animal fat and low carb/sugar, as that is basically what I've started and I seem to feel best following that type of eating.

[Bensmommy]

Eat to hunger but use the best food you can create! Nutrient dense is the way to go. Your body will hold on to stores while you EBF; you'll loose some weight, but not nearly all of it. Once the babe starts to wean (adds solids into the diet), then your body will gradually adjust.

With my youngest, I was starving all the time while I EBF and I ate and lost some of my preggie weight. Once she started solids (a little after 6 months), she was still nursing a ton, but I started to actually loose weight.

My only problem is I love to eat like I'm nursing--- even though she's almost totally self weaned and will be 4 in November!

[jamie79]

Originally Posted by Bensmommy

Eat to hunger but use the best food you can create! Nutrient dense is the way to go. Your body will hold on to stores while you EBF; you'll loose some weight, but not nearly all of it. Once the babe starts to wean (adds solids into the diet), then your body will gradually adjust.

With my youngest, I was starving all the time while I EBF and I ate and lost some of my preggie weight. Once she started solids (a little after 6 months), she was still nursing a ton, but I started to actually loose weight.

My only problem is I love to eat like I'm nursing--- even though she's almost totally self weaned and will be 4 in November!

LOL, I was the same with both of mine and anticipate doing it again when this babe is born I love to eat. Thankfully, I now know what to eat and not fill myself up on junk. Another thing is that (besides the loving to eat thing ), I didn't lose a ton of weight until the breastfeeding tapered off. For me, it was even closer to when they weaned. My dd nursed a ton more than my son (of course we were more AP at that time) and my weight stayed there. I did lose the pregnancy weight to within about 10 pounds, but would not go below that no matter what. I really think it is a protective thing the body does for some women.

[simplykate]

10 lbs extra is totally fine with me, just not 40!

[ihugtrees]

I'm totally there with you! I am 7 months PP, and can't lose the weight. I was a size 8 before pregnancy, and now I'm about a 14. Obviously, my hips are bigger, and I expected that, but I have a big poochy belly (look the same as I did at 5 or 6 months preggo!), chubby arms, and worst of all, a chubby face. I eat a very healthy whole foods diet, although I DID just switch from vegan & am moving towards low carb TF. I actually lost 28 lbs (out of the 35 I gained) within the first month PP, but then I gained 10 of those lbs back. It's so frustrating, so I just wanted to give you a

[simplykate]

Aw, thanks! I hear you. I was a size 4 and am probably around a 12 now. The belly is the main thing, pooching out like I'm 6 months pregnant! It is so frustrating, but I'm trying to keep it in perspective and be happy that I feel good and have a healthy daughter. I hope that as she eats more solids I'll slowly slim down!

[elleystar]

I've been in the same boat over here! I gained about 50 lbs while pregnant, and lost 30ish in the month after DS was born. (I was retaining a whoollle lotta water! lol) Then I stuck at that weight, never budging. I did lose about 8 lbs in the spring for some reason, but then gained it all back and then some. (Discovered soaked artisan bread at that time and ate and ate!) Gosh I was a size 8-10 pre-preg and hated being stuck at 14/16. The worst is the chubby face and the pooch! I hate looking like I am still pg.

Now my DS is 21 months and still nursing several times a day. I took a good hard look at my diet around Thanksgiving and knew I had to cut the carbs. It doesn't matter how carefully I eat and exercise unless my carbs are low and I should have known that already. I started eating primal, just cutting out all grains, sugar, and beans. I don't count carbs very closely at all, I just eat foods I know are ok and I eat as much as I want. I reward myself with a little dark chocolate and red wine a couple of times a week. I finally feel great, and have lost 8 lbs since Thanksgiving. (It would have been more but I allowed myself to eat whatever I wanted for a couple days around Christmas and New Year's.) My supply is great too, and I also am sleeping a bit better. I'm a bit less bloated, and add that to the fat I've lost and my stomach already looks tons better.

I wasn't too concerned with losing weight early on, but I do wish I'd started this earlier, maybe in the summer when DS started going for the table food more. I would be a lot healthier and happier right now. Oh well, at least I know better how to take care of myself the next time around!

[BetsyPage]

Originally Posted by jamie79

Well this fits my body to a "T". Exercise made me stronger, and much more defined. I do feel worlds better when I exercise, too. However, the defining factor for me losing weight is eating too many carbs (or any carbs in the form of grains/sweets). If I stick to a Paleo type of diet, then I lose weight without trying. However, I am an exercise fiend, so I don't think I will be stopping that anytime soon

Hey, I think I know you. (MbG?)

I definitely am fitter and happier when I exercise, but I recently lost 35 lbs without exercising more than moderate activity, also by cutting out carbs/sugars. I've cut out carbs/sugars again, and do plan to add in exercise once I feel like it (warmer weather, being more active, taking walks, starting a garden.) But I don't plan to kill myself doing 2 hours of pointless cardio a day... I will do it for a reason or for fun.

[UrbanSimplicity]

For those of you that saw weight loss after cutting out carbs/sugar, how long did it take before that weight started moving?

THX!