[thetallestmaxham]

has any one lese encountered an unwillingness, shall we say, of the body to shed pouds while bfing? all of the reading i'd done pre-birth said that breastfeeding was a great way to lose calories (as well as all of the other wonderful benefits, of course.) well, i'm almost 8 months in to it and haven't really lost *any* significant weight. it's wildly frustrating, lemme tell you. dd takes nothing but the boob, and is a big baby (27 lbs at 8 months, and 30+" long too,) so its not like she's not doing her part. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> i'm not the world's best exerciser, i'll admit. dd has yet to come close to sleeping through the night, and i'm going to school as well, so part of it is fatigue. i do make an effort to go on a 2 mile walk several days a week with her, though. i've made huge leaps in watching what i eat - mostly meat and veggies, fresh fruit, no refined sugars - basically a no crap diet. my portion sizes are pretty good too. yet the scale never seems to waver more than 2 lbs from where it has locked itsself down. (sigh)<br><br>
what was your experience? will i eventually start to lose weight? or is this my future? i try real hard to be ok with what i am and not what i'd like to be, but it's really tough some days...ok, i'll be honest - i'm failing miserably and would just like to be somewhere in the realm of what i used to weigh! arg!<br><br>
oh, and if you could wave your magic wand and encourage dd to sleep through the night that'd be great too.<br><br>
and i want a pony for christmas.

 

[mirlee]

I was in the same position you are in. I had read all those stories about how fast women lost weight while breastfeeding. I even saw Jada Pinkett Smith touting breasfteeding and its bonus benefit of weight loss.<br><br>
Well, I didn't experience that at all. I gained 65 pounds to give birth to my 6 pound 12 oz 21 1/2 inch guy. It has taken me nearly four years to shed it. Though I did have periods of time where the weight seemed to melt right off sporadically. Like, I would be out of the office for a couple of weeks only to have people come up to me and tell that I look like I lost a lot of weight. Iam still not where I was before I became pg, but that's okay.<br><br>
I really focused on my diet and trying to get in exercise wherever I could.<br><br>
For some, it really does come off quickly like My friend Lisa who was back in her regular clothes at 6 weeks after birthing a 12 pound 11 oz child. Then there are those, me included, that the weight may come on very quickly, but leaves on its own sweet time.<br><br>
It will happen in time. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug">

 

[thetallestmaxham]

thanks. i think more than anything i just needed to hear i wasn't the only one. and i think that hug just about made my day. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[Shenjall]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/hug2.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Hug2"> Heres another one!<br>
Maybe my experience will give you some hope.<br>
I had gained weight after the birth of dd 2 years ago. Then somewhere around 1 year of age, it all fell off. Just BOOM! - gone. I hadnt changed my diet at all. And I've stayed at this new weight for a year now.<br>
So maybe in a few months it will happen to you too.<br><br><br>
I tried but the pony wouldnt get into the envelope. sorry.

 

[MamaDub]

Just wanted to let you know you are not alone. I have never been able to feel like my normal self until after my kids have weaned. I'm currently bfing dd2 who is 8 months and I still eat a lot. I do get frustrated too. I had been doing a lot of pilates when she was 2-4 months old and I really felt strong then, but still I had a layer of squishiness on top of the muscle. Now that I have gone back to work, I really don't have time to exercise. I think I have lost most of that strength. I have grand visions of getting back into shape after she weans. Some days I am okay with that, other days I simply feel fat.<br><br>
As far as the sleeping through the night magic wand, I really wish I had one! We were doing great until two months ago. We've been nursing 3-5x each night since then.<br><br>
Hope you get your pony!

 

[Village Mama]

I gained 60 pounds when pregnant with my first son. The last 20 pounds just wouldnt come off, despite of my healthy diet and the fact that I was walking over 10 k a day. I figured at that time that it would just come off after I finished breastfeeding. I didnt have any time in between babies when I wasnt breastfeeding. I gained 40 pounds with #2 ( up to the EXACT same wieght in my pregnancy) and 14 months later I am still holding on to that same 20 pounds! You are not the only one.

 

[MamaPear]

I am so glad to hear that I am not alone! DD will be 8 months on the 16th and I have only lost 20 of the 40lbs I gained, and those were lost in the 6 weeks after I had her! I'm a little paranoid about getting pregnant again because I don't want to gain any more weight. Anyway, just wanted to let you know that there's someone else sharing your pain.<br><br>
Oh, and as for the sleep wand, I'll take one too please. DD gets up at least 2-3 times a night to nurse. And, co-sleeping isn't helping much. But, that's another topic. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[Jaspersmommy]

Me too! Me too! :LOL<br><br>
I still have 30 pounds of pregnancy weight to lose and I can't seem to do it. I'm still hungry all the time and can't get in enough activity to burn the fat. I'm toying with idea of going to the gym but I'm feeling really guilty about having any "me" time <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/innocent.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="shy">

 

[MamaOui]

No it's not only you. I am holding onto the last 10-15 pounds of weight I gained with dd#3 (she's 10 months old). I did lose the baby weight with ds#2 by his 9 month, but that was with exercise almost every day. I can't find the time these days. With ds#2, I also held onto some weight until he was a year old.

 

[thetallestmaxham]

thanks everyone! i appreciate people chimng in with their stories - it feels sometimes like i'm surrounded by nothing but svelte, well-rested supermoms. encouraging to hear i'm not the only 'mere mortal' out there. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> and now i don't have to go around the house covering the mirrors to hide everything below my neck! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wink1.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wink1">

 

[giarose]

another mere mortal here! I lost about 12 lbs. at birth, but then I gained it all back by the time ds was a week old. I gained 40 lbs. and even though my son is a bf champ it didn't seem to help at all with burning off the fat accumulation. Then when ds was about 7-8 mos I started to lose some weight, but this past month, I suddenly started losing weight rapidly. I have been walking more with ds, sometimes twice a day and started going to the gym twice a week (if I'm lucky). But there all the mommies are trim and muscular and have several babies each and I feel like such a big monster. So it has been motivating and unmotivating at the same time. I don't mind the weight though because I'm now more than Almost an A for the first time in my life!!! I want it to last as long as possible! And if that means 10-20 more lbs on my hips and hiney, well, maybe I can learn to live with it...

 

[Sisyphus]

Count me in too.... I just can't seem to lose the last ten-fifteen pounds after my second son. He's 19 months now and I exercise five days a week (weights and cardio along with yoga) and watch what I eat. I think in my case part of it is that my body likes to hold on to fat while I'm bf'ing and another part is that I'm 39 and perimenopausal, so my body is just CLINGING onto the fat that is already there, hoping to add to it's "booty" (pun intended). I am fatter now in places that never bothered me before, like my tummy and hips, but my thighs aren't bad at all and THAT is the place that usually drove me insane. Go figure.<br><br>
I'm hoping the last bit of weight will fall off after ds weans, but at this point, it looks like he's going to nurse until he's got a PhD.

 

[Kim]

Yes, me too!<br><br>
With my dd (now 2.5yrs), I gained about 38lbs while pregnant and held onto the last 10lbs until she was about a year old. Then, all of a sudden it just disappeared. Until she started weaning herself my body just held on to that weight -- ugh!<br><br>
Hang in there!<br><br>
p.s. With my second child (now 4 months/old) the weight is falling off!!! I don't know if it is just being more busy with two, or better eating habits, but ...There is hope yet! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[shantimama]

I wasn't able to lose while bf'ing either. Not even when I tandem nursed for two years! My youngest weaned one year ago, at the age of four, and this fall I am back into my pre-pregnancy size for the first time in nine years. It feels great - but I have been annoyed more than once at people who tout bf'ing as a way to weight loss. For me it worked about as well as the concept of bf'ing as effective contraception.

 

[StillForest]

Me too..... DD turned 3 a couple months ago and is still very happily nursing. I'm still about 30+ pounds over my former usual weight. I've been having trouble fitting in exercise and my diet hasn't been the greatest the past few months. But I finish a huge project next Wednesday and have every intention of getting back on track. But it does seem as though my metabolism has really changed. Like other posters, I have had a couple times since DD was born when the weight just fell off---usually when DD dramatically reduced her nursing. I really think that this is at least in part hormonal. I was exercising very consistently and eating very carefully for a long time....and nothing budged then either.<br><br>
I've never had trouble with weight before having DD (in fact, if anything, I had the opposite problem of not being able to keep weight on....sigh). I'm hoping that my metabolism will shift when she weans. I'll let you know!

 

[fourangels]

Add me to the weighty list! I gained 45 # when pregnant with my dd. That all stayed with me until she was 4 (she weaned just before she turned 4) then I lost maybe 15 # before becoming pregnant with ds. Gained only 20# for that pregnancy. I did start to shake some weight after he turned 1. Then got pregnant with my 2nd dd when ds was 20 mos old. I gained another 45 # this time, 25 have magically disappeared in the past 6 weeks, but I am not holding out hope that the rest will melt away as mysteriously. I am really wanting to get some exercise, but winter has set in and I can't stand exercising inside, it is soo boring!!! My body definately holds onto weight while breastfeeding. I think it has something to do with the yo-yo dieting I did through high school and beyond. My body is worried there will be a famine so it stores <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/eyesroll.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="roll"><br>
Oh well, I like to think this too shall pass.<br>
Angel

 

[Still_Snarky]

My daughter is almost a year old and I have shed the pregnancy weight very s-l-o-w-l-y over the past months while breastfeeding. My body is hanging on to the last ten pounds for DEAR LIFE! ACK! She still nurses a ton, especially at night...maybe when she weans? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/eyesroll.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="roll">

 

[kavamamakava]

It could be your metabolism. Have you had your thyroid checked? Also, Weight Watchers has a wonderful eating plan for nursing mothers. I lost 10 lbs in 2 weeks and I was having to add a bowl of ice cream before bed because I dind't have enough points in my day <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br>
(Sorry if this has been mentioned. I did'nt read the thread before responding)

 

[kavamamakava]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>BooBerryParker</strong></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">My daughter is almost a year old and I have shed the pregnancy weight very s-l-o-w-l-y over the past months while breastfeeding. My body is hanging on to the last ten pounds for DEAR LIFE! ACK! She still nurses a ton, especially at night...maybe when she weans? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/eyesroll.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="roll"></div>
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People who talk about BF being good for weight loss don't mention that last 10 lbs. that often sticks to many breastfeeding moms. Your body needs a higher body fat percentage to produce milk. Just like your body needs a certain body fat percentage to menstruate. Often, there is about 10-15 lbs that will not budge until weaning and there's nothing you can do about it unless you want to compromise your milk supply :/

 

[bwylde]

I am totally there. I won't go into numbers as between the two kids, it's in the 3 digits what I need to lose <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/blush.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="blush">: . I don't even eat that much and I'm nursing two but I am actually gaining.