Breastfeeding, working out and loosing weight...

[franklymydear]

DD is about 6 months old and she has been exclusively breastfed. I had some supply issues in the beginning due to me not eating enough (I had some major heartburn, reflux issues) and really had to work to get my supply up. Well now that the holidays are over I really want to start loosing weight but I don't want to compromise my supply at all. Any suggestions on how to safely lose weight? I really hate calorie counting but will do it if I need to. Trying to get 10,000 steps a day and start a Couch to 5K program... other then that I am at a loss.

[noodles84]

Following. I am trying to lose weight but I am always hungry. I am losing this battle. FI and I are getting married in October so I need to do something!

[ashanne88]

Following as well. Whenever I try to eat less and/or exercise a lot more, my supply dips. I've been trying to get more long walks in with DS but I'm not sure it's enough to actually drop any weight.

DS is 7 months and I'd like to continue to BF until at least a year.

[franklymydear]

Maybe we should start a weekly check in? I am terrible at starting habits but if I knew I had to report to people I might be better! I probably won't cut calories but maybe just cut out 2nd breakfast, a snack and dessert that I eat most days haha. Stick with breakfast , lunch, dinner with a snack in there somewhere... And then try and exercise everyday, even something small...

[kendy20]

I've been able to get to prepregnancy weight and then lost a little more by portioning my food. But also I run about 10 miles a week and do ab workouts plus squats at home. I found that as long as I'm staying well hydrated, my supply has never lowered. So for me that's the key to maintaining supply while losing the weight. Water, water, water. :-)

[jfresh]

When DS was around 6 months old I lost about 15 pounds using Weight Watchers. They have a breast feeding plan which was basically the max # of points they allow in one day. I also counted calories, mostly because I was curious, and tried to eat around 1700 cals a day (or about 500 more than I would normally eat while trying to lose weight). I did have 1-2 lactation cookies a day while on WW to help with supply.

[rrrrrachel]

I don't have supply issues but when I'm breastfeeding it's much more difficult for me to lose weight, no matter what.

[masonjar]

Also following. I know that I don't drink enough water. I wouldn't mind seeing a weekly check in.

[octavia65]

I think the key to losing weight and exercising while BFing is to make sure you are drinking enough fluids. Once my supply was established I started working out again but I noticed that if I didn't stay hydrated I didn't feel as full. The other part of it is that you are still hungry all. the. time. I felt hungrier BFing than when I was pregnant. Working out didn't help that! I don't think there is any miracle solution other than to try to keep healthy snacks and foods around and try to fill up on those. The other thing I noticed is that if I wore a sports bra that was too tight I would sometimes get a plugged duct. That could have just been me though!

[octavia65]

Oh I also have heard anecdotally that some women hang on to an average of 10 pounds until after they fully wean. I am totally expecting to magically lose 10 pounds when I wean next week

[rikkitikki]

I could never lose those last 10 pounds when I was breastfeeding my son no matter what I did! So just be prepared that your body could be the same. As soon as I weaned it came off easily. Good luck!

[mooncharm]

Jan 17, 2015 13:15:48 GMT -5 octavia65 said:

Oh I also have heard anecdotally that some women hang on to an average of 10 pounds until after they fully wean. I am totally expecting to magically lose 10 pounds when I wean next week

I love this idea, but I'm terrified of the opposite, that I'll still be eating like I'm BF, and then end up gaining tons of wt!

[bantyrooster]

With ds I didn't loose it all until I weaned. I always add 5 lbs to my preweight because my boobs are so much bigger when nursing. The way I lost most was watching what foods I ate and eating enough calories. My body is one that holds fat if it feels "starved". So eating 1700-1900 calories (good calories) helped. Also lots of water

[wallyworld]

fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2013/03/01/daily-intermittent-fasting.aspx

Works! This is what I do...I eat like a snake twice a a day. Lots of calories, no exercise, and I have all the milk.

[happyin14]

I would love a weekly check in. Mostly to keep me talking about eating healthy things. I am willing to post? What day? Monday to get a good start or Friday because weekends are all about wine and ice cream? (Is that just me?)

[okiemama]

I'm so bad about eating everything in sight when I'm BFing. I lost a lot after having DS, and got below prepregnancy weight to what I consider my "happy weight" when he was almost a year. I continued to nurse into my next pregnancy so I have yet to see if I magically drop any when I wean, but the weight is coming off much slower this time, even though I started out weighing less. I'm pretty sure I dropped at first and have begun actually gaining. Ugh. I worked out a lot after DS though, and these days it's a struggle with two kids. If I actually have the time and motivation to put in a workout video or something, inevitably somebody starts crying 5 minutes in. Can't wait for springtime and lots of neighborhood walking!

Eta: I forgot I don't have tickers anymore, DS is 2.5 DD is 5 months

[penguino11]

I'm definitely in for a weekly check in too! My LO is four months and I was told the "weight will melt off" while ebf. Well, it's not!! I just started tracking calories on myfitnesspal again. You can find breastfeeding in the food or the exercise section to account for those calories too. I think I'll be heading back to the gym sometime soon too!

[puffandstuff]

With DD1 I was 10 lbs below pre pregnancy weight when she was 5 months old. With DD2, I'm 15lbs above pre pregnancy weight. I'm going to use myfitness pal to track calories and head back to the gym next month (she'll be 6 months and starting on solids). Although I want to loose the weight I don't want to compromise her food.

[franklymydear]

Jan 20, 2015 11:33:48 GMT -5 happyin14 said:

I would love a weekly check in. Mostly to keep me talking about eating healthy things. I am willing to post? What day? Monday to get a good start or Friday because weekends are all about wine and ice cream? (Is that just me?)

Doesn't matter what day to me! As long as there is something because I need some motivation... I did go for a 4 mile walk today but my eating hasn't been the healthiest. I am currently starving and holding out as long as possible for dinner haha

[happyin14]

I vote Fridays! We can talk about the week and then think about what needs to happen when we can all actually do something about it. Can cook meals for the week, etc.

I'll start this Friday!

[flcl]

Jan 16, 2015 15:10:55 GMT -5 franklymydear said:

DD is about 6 months old and she has been exclusively breastfed. I had some supply issues in the beginning due to me not eating enough (I had some major heartburn, reflux issues) and really had to work to get my supply up. Well now that the holidays are over I really want to start loosing weight but I don't want to compromise my supply at all. Any suggestions on how to safely lose weight? I really hate calorie counting but will do it if I need to. Trying to get 10,000 steps a day and start a Couch to 5K program... other then that I am at a loss.

Unfortunately, one of the strategies that worked/works for me is the one you hate.  I, too, didn't like the idea of having to count calories but tracking energy in/energy out helped me see where the issues were.  I downloaded an app so it's easier to keep track on my phone.  It helped me lose/maintain my weight before baby and it's helped me get rid of the baby weight now.  I've also heard that it's tough to lose that last 5 pounds until after you wean.  

With exercising, do activities that's fun, keep it interesting and find a buddy.  I love to dance and since my clubbing days are over, I play some of those dancing video games.  I also like running so my H and I will go for runs together.  He helps motivate me on days that I need it and vice versa.

Not sure if this would work for everyone but one of our friends just dropped 20 lbs by brushing her teeth after dinner.  This prevented her from snacking in the evening!

[franklymydear]

Jan 21, 2015 17:27:44 GMT -5 flcl said:

Jan 16, 2015 15:10:55 GMT -5 franklymydear said:

DD is about 6 months old and she has been exclusively breastfed. I had some supply issues in the beginning due to me not eating enough (I had some major heartburn, reflux issues) and really had to work to get my supply up. Well now that the holidays are over I really want to start loosing weight but I don't want to compromise my supply at all. Any suggestions on how to safely lose weight? I really hate calorie counting but will do it if I need to. Trying to get 10,000 steps a day and start a Couch to 5K program... other then that I am at a loss.

Unfortunately, one of the strategies that worked/works for me is the one you hate.  I, too, didn't like the idea of having to count calories but tracking energy in/energy out helped me see where the issues were.  I downloaded an app so it's easier to keep track on my phone.  It helped me lose/maintain my weight before baby and it's helped me get rid of the baby weight now.  I've also heard that it's tough to lose that last 5 pounds until after you wean.  

With exercising, do activities that's fun, keep it interesting and find a buddy.  I love to dance and since my clubbing days are over, I play some of those dancing video games.  I also like running so my H and I will go for runs together.  He helps motivate me on days that I need it and vice versa.

Not sure if this would work for everyone but one of our friends just dropped 20 lbs by brushing her teeth after dinner.  This prevented her from snacking in the evening!

I figured this is what would be said... Looks like I will start tomorrow! I lost a bunch of weight on WW and have been avoiding calorie counting because it's sooooo time consuming, but I want to feel great this summer! Thanks for the advice! I like the brushing the teeth idea!

[franklymydear]

Jan 21, 2015 17:27:28 GMT -5 happyin14 said:

I vote Fridays! We can talk about the week and then think about what needs to happen when we can all actually do something about it. Can cook meals for the week, etc.

I'll start this Friday!

Its already working - I have a plan for what I am going to do tomorrow because I want to be able to talk about it on Friday!!!