Hi- I'm interested in losing between 20-25 lbs. With my first pregnancy, I gained about 32 lbs and lost all the baby weight plus 5 lbs. at only 4 months postpartum. I attributed this to the fact that I am and was an avid runner and was also breast feeding. However, when pregnant with my second child, I gained only 29 lbs. during the pregnancy and didn't manage to lose all of my baby weight afterwards at all even with the same amount of exercise and breast feeding. By the time I became pregnant with #3, I was 13 lbs. heavier than I was beginning pregnancy #2. With this last pregnancy, I only gained 27 lbs. and was jogging 2 weeks postpartum and breast feeding. Now, baby #3 is almost 2 months old and I'm at a stand still with my weight. I now have about 8 lbs. to lose from this pregnancy and about 13 lbs. left over from the previous pregnancy. I want to cut calories without diminishing my milk supply and also exercise on a regular basis. Now, it's harder to fit in exercise daily with three kids and with bad weather…etc…any suggestions?
You should not cut calories when you are breast feeding, weight loss can wait. But, like I commented on another post, a woman can spend her whole life obsessing about that 10 or 20 pounds, or she can actually get out and live it.
Wait until you're done nursing...as I recall I was famished when I was nursing...my body needed the calories to produce the milk. It took me a while to lose all the weight, but I've heard that aerobic exercise like running can actually prevent weight loss because it increases your appetite. When you're done nursing, try weight lifting. It increases calorie burn.
It's harder to lose the weight the second and third time around mostly because you are in the kitchen feeding the other children. Once I stopped making myself a meal and just finished what the kids left on their plates I found it easier to get back to my usual weight.
This time of year is hard to do anything outside with little ones around. How about switching it up a little and using exercise videos in the house instead? There are a lot of free choices. Around here I can check them out at the library for free, watch them on instant watch on netflix, or find them on youtube.com. You can also find a lot of hardly used dvds at goodwill or savers. The kids always love joining in so it's like a family dance party.
As far as cutting back on your calories I'd suggest taking a look at exactly what you are eating and working from there. Cutting out processed foods and sticking with good quality protein and lots of fruits and veggies will give you the good diet you need to breastfeed while helping you lose the extra weight.
It happened to me, and to most of my girlfirends, who BF. the body wants to hold on to a bit of padding, as insurance in case you hit slim times while nursing. Address it when you are done with the feeding.
Best,
F. B.
