Breastfeeding, nutrition, losing weight - Page 2

[blueridgewoman]

Mine dropped instantly, US-- like I'd lost five pounds in about four days by keeping my carbs in the 50-100g range. It was a little shocking-- nice, but shocking.

Another vote for eating the way your body feels best. I've been losing weight over the last six months (very slowly, after that initial drop but I figure it'll stay off better that way...) and I'd hit a plateau, so I just reduced my total food intake a bit.

Oddly, now I'm losing again and I feel better than when I was eating more- full or comfortably satisfied a lot of the time and pleasantly hungry before meals. I'm nursing a 27 month old and working out four to five days a week.

Oddly, I'm only eating about 1300 calories. I NEVER thought it would satisfy me, esp while nursing but it does and my supply could still feed a small army of newborns. I don't do many empty calories and the bulk of them come from meat with lots of non-calorie dense veggies and fruits thrown in, plus the occasional cup of coffee and bit of chocolate.

I really think everyone is different. Eat however you feel your best, and don't worry so much about calories or even, if you're nursing a small child, carbs. But the caveat here is-- be honest about what makes you feel your best. I found that I was in denial that I still felt sort of heavy and slow eating more because it was so FUN. But I feel better when I eat less.

[elleystar]

I lost 7 lbs the first week. Mind you a good portion of that was water weight, especially since I was just coming off a very indulgent Thanksgiving. But probably 2 lbs a week since then.

I feel better eating less too! And it's not that I purposely eat less. I find that when I'm sticking to eating Primal, I never seem to really want a lunch. I snack on a slice of cheese as I'm feeding DS, maybe a handful of almonds after I put him down for his nap, or a wimpy portion of soup that's leftover, and tell myself I'll eat lunch after I finish XYZ...and next thing I know it's supper time. I have no idea how many calories I eat. I eat if I'm hungry and stop if I feel full. I've never been able to leave my plate unfinished before and put it away for later! Not even years ago when I did super low carb-Atkins-for a long time. But it feels good, really good.

Vegetables are key for keeping me satisfied. Breakfast pretty much NEEDS to be an omelette stuffed with veggies, or I will be hungry later on. I need the protein balanced with the good carbs.

[CookAMH]

I have about 35 pounds to lose, and not all of that is baby weight. I have an 8mo. My approach is indirect - switching to TF and with that really cutting back on carbs. I know I will lose weight but not lose nutrition. In fact, I'm improving my nutrition by swinging largly to fats and meats and away from sugar and carbs. We'll see how faithful I can be . It's only my second week with it.

[pjs]

Originally Posted by CookAMH

My approach is indirect - switching to TF and with that really cutting back on carbs. I know I will lose weight but not lose nutrition. In fact, I'm improving my nutrition by swinging largly to fats and meats and away from sugar and carbs. We'll see how faithful I can be . It's only my second week with it.

Me too, only I have about 40-50 lbs to lose and a 2 month old. If I can cut out white bread, cookies, etc and replace them with proteins I can't see the unhealthiness in that.

[BetsyPage]

Well, I usually see that initial water-weight drop (it has been about 10 lbs for me *this time* because I ate so poorly over the holidays, was puffy/retaining water... once I stopped eating carbs I let it go, the water.)

It seems to take a *bit* of time for me to find the sweet spot, so to speak? And I don't really seem to always lose steadily. Sometimes I will go up a bit, and then drop a larger number of pounds very suddenly (like go up 3 lbs, and drop 6-7 lbs below that.)

I am watching the scale, but keep telling myself "This is long term." There is no way that I can eat low carb/high protein/high fat and maintain my current weight, I know at some point the "systems" will stabilize and my body metabolism will shift. I try to remind myself I'm not really trying to create an energy deficit, but to shift from being insulin-resistant, to sensitive to insulin so that my body can start to burn the stored fat instead of storing more. I know stuff is happening, even if pounds don't fall off instantly. But they might for some people.

[newcastlemama]

I eat TF paleo/lower carb and gained probably 35 pounds with my last pregnancy. I lost the first 25+ fast--by 9 weeks PP. The last 7-10 pounds are stuck on me almost 2 years later. My dd nurses A LOT so I do wonder if that is part of it.