WWYD? Weight Loss & Breastfeeding

[ColwynsMommy]

I'm trying to decide what's best and could use some insight from other moms rather than just my husband, who doesn't get it. Background: 1) I'm 100+ lbs overweight, 2) I make very little breastmilk due to IGT - Niall should be getting 29 oz, and he drinks 24 oz of formula via the Lact-Aid.

I started doing Weight Watchers a few weeks ago and had trouble with massive sugar cravings. Last Saturday, I stopped counting calories and focused on dropping all refined sugar. I have been eating fruit and a few whole grains (some brown rice two days, and Triscuits most days). Since Saturday, I've dropped 2.5 lbs.

I know you're only supposed to lose 1 lb a week while nursing. I'm not that worried about my supply dropping even more because I'm not restricting calories at all, but I am worried about toxins getting into the breastmilk. I don't know if he'd be getting less toxins since I make little milk, or if it's the same amount of toxins, just concentrated. It's not like I'm just losing the baby weight.. I have a lot of fat gained over a lifetime.

Would you stop nursing in this situation and focus on the weight loss, or would you try to go back to Weight Watchers (which I wasn't very successful with) and go back to doing sugar-free once he weans (whenever that will be)? Or would you not worry about the toxins?

[lifeguard]

I personally don't worry about the toxins. I have a good chunk of weight to lose (min. 60lbs) but weightloss is always so hard for me that I can't justify stopping nursing for it as I'm sure I would just be disappointed with the slow weight loss & feel I had stopped nursing for no real reason.

It's very normal with a change to diet or lifestyle to see a sudden, even dramatic weightloss at first but generally it will not take long for that to level off to a lower level.

I've never heard the 1lb per week weightloss rule for bfing moms but even if it is a recommendation, like most things, it is likely aimed at women who have a "normal" amount of baby weight to lose. These things don't generally apply to those of us who are fluffier.

Good for you for cutting the sugar - that can be a hard one!

[akind1]

Like OP, I probably need to lose between 80-100 lbs . . . I have never been concerned with toxins from weight loss.

That said, I don't count calories, as it has seemed to me - for me - as everyone is different - that I only lose weight if I consume ENOUGH calories. If I skimp at all, the weight sticks. I have lost all 25 lbs of baby weight, + 5 extra pounds, so 30 lbs altogether. I still need to lose a bunch though. Baby steps!

Also, I found adding excersise - any kind, even if it just walking - helps more than watching what I eat. I am so focused on the baby, and work, and trying to do NFP or FAM, I can't really obsess about anything else right now!

good for you on still nursing though, and cutting out refined sugar as much as you can! Ice Cream is my Achilles Heel. I Hagen Daaz.

[smpayne]

Actually 1-2lbs a week is a good healthy weight loss goal for anyone. It's easier to keep it off when it comes off slowly.

[cocoanib]

Originally Posted by smpayne

Actually 1-2lbs a week is a good healthy weight loss goal for anyone. It's easier to keep it off when it comes off slowly.

I wouldn't worry about the toxins unless you were dropping a bunch of weight each week.
1-2lbs is fine.

[spughy]

Definitely do not worry about the toxins. 2.5 lbs per week is totally fine. Even if you had a super-high toxin load because you were raised on vegetables grown on a landfill next to a nuclear power plant and your mother worked in an asbestos factory, your baby will still benefit from as much breastmilk as you can give him, and huge to you for nursing with a Lact-Aid!!!

[blessedwithboys]

dont worry about mobilizing toxins. i'd worry about doing a hardcore cleanse while bf, but not regular old weight loss.

[Bellabaz]

I don't think I ever heard fo toxins from weightloss. Just from doind fasting and cleanses. And I wouldn't worry about loosing 2.5 lbs a week. The amount you say you need to loose, its normal to loose that kind of weight for the first several weeks. I think its great you are trying to cut out the sugars. Its hard. Good luck to you!! =)

PS-Kudos for keeping up bfing too with supply issues. I had some supply issues with both girls and its discouraging. Great job!