community

all boards


birth clubs



my blog

Sort:
11-20-2012 at 12:38 PM
Liz5663
Not Ranked
Joined on 12-31-2007
4,367 Points
Liz5663 is not online. Last active: 05-23-2013, 9:36 AMNewbie

Breastfeeding Diet

I am still about 20 pounds heavier than I was pre-pregnancy.  I would LOVE to begin exercising; however it is difficult to do so with a newborn.  As of now, I am limited to a walk with the stroller around the neighborhood. 

 

Anyway, my question is this what is the best food to be eating while breastfeeding and trying to lose weight?  I do not want to sacrifice the extra nutrition and calories, but two months after delivery I would love to see more weight loss.


 Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker 
11-20-2012 at 1:09 PM
LalaMama81
Not Ranked
Joined on 07-16-2009
Philly Burbs
96,675 Points
LalaMama81 is online. Last active: 05-24-2013, 7:02 AMGold
You can't diet when breastfeeding. You need to eat your normal amount of calories plus a few hundred more. Making milk burns upwards of 500 cala a day. You can exercise eat healthfully, but you can't cut calories. Your milk supply will suffer. Some women, I'm one if them, hold on to the extra weight until their done bfing.


Ellie 9.08, Violet 8.11 
11-20-2012 at 2:54 PM
jussagirl0...
Not Ranked
Joined on 02-13-2010
11,990 Points
jussagirl02 is not online. Last active: 05-23-2013, 10:05 PMBronze

LalaMama81:
You can't diet when breastfeeding. You need to eat your normal amount of calories plus a few hundred more. Making milk burns upwards of 500 cala a day. You can exercise eat healthfully, but you can't cut calories. Your milk supply will suffer. Some women, I'm one if them, hold on to the extra weight until their done bfing.

this exactly. You can make good food choices, but you still need to keep up your caloric intake so your milk production doesn't suffer. You need an extra 500 calories a day while breast feeding.  


 Baby 
Birthday Ticker Ticker  
11-20-2012 at 3:27 PM
lcherian
Not Ranked
Joined on 11-18-2004
Saint Cloud, FL
3,604 Points
lcherian is not online. Last active: 05-23-2013, 8:04 PMBronze
I cut out all wheAt and white flour, and I feel so much better! I have much more energy and never feel tired. Plus I weigh less this time around while breastfeeding. I also make sure to eat oatmeal, eggs, spinach, broccoli, flax and chia seeds everyday.




 
11-20-2012 at 4:16 PM
AppleMomma
Not Ranked
Joined on 12-03-2009
8,988 Points
AppleMomma is not online. Last active: 05-01-2013, 8:24 PMSilver

Honestly, I'm "dieting" and I'm BFing.

Granted I'm taking in 1900-2100 calories a day, which works fine and hasn't affected my milk whatsoever.

If it did affect the milk some I would be eating oatmeal each day, take fenugreek, & drink Mother's milk tea, which I do eat oatmeal often and I have the other two on hand to help in case I notice a drop in milk supply.

While I have 3 children and my newborn is still waking every 2-2.5 hours, I make it priority to fit in 3 good workouts at this point. I can't afford the amount of extra weight (75 pounds from my healthy weight) on my body and my Dr. has asked me to do what I can to make sure I can get at least half a pound off each week. I also have hypothyroid which makes losing weight extra work. Especially when breastfeeding.

Just eat plenty of calories (I use MyFitnessPal.com to track) and make it good foods. Changing the foods you eat is a great way to "diet" while BFing. Not necessarily dropping calories.




 
11-20-2012 at 4:26 PM
rnbeth477
Not Ranked
Joined on 05-05-2010
Orlando, FL
11,897 Points
rnbeth477 is not online. Last active: 05-23-2013, 6:33 PMBronze
I used Weight Watcher's breastfeeding mothers plan after I had my DS with lots of success. They will provide you with the amount of points or calories you need to eat to keep up your supply and still not interrupt your supply.

 Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Lilypie First Birthday tickers 
11-21-2012 at 8:36 AM
Liz5663
Not Ranked
Joined on 12-31-2007
4,367 Points
Liz5663 is not online. Last active: 05-23-2013, 9:36 AMNewbie

Liz5663:
I do not want to sacrifice the extra nutrition and calories, but two months after delivery I would love to see more weight loss.

 

I don't mean diet in the sense that I want to eat salad and drink water all day.  I mean to say meal plan?  What is healthy, keeps the calorie level where it needs to be, and tastes good enough for me to keep eating well... and helps with breastfeeding production, energy, etc?  

 

I was thinking about trying a loose version of the Paleo diet after Thanksgiving... It seems to allow all the meat and veggies I want with none of the grains and processed crud that is SO much easier these days.  Any opinions?


 Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker 
11-21-2012 at 9:10 AM
mandapie
Not Ranked
Joined on 05-14-2005
NOLA
7,679 Points
mandapie is not online. Last active: 02-25-2013, 3:07 PMBronze
rnbeth477:
I used Weight Watcher's breastfeeding mothers plan after I had my DS with lots of success. They will provide you with the amount of points or calories you need to eat to keep up your supply and still not interrupt your supply.


I did this exactly with DS1 and will start again probably right after the holidays.

Lilypie First Birthday tickers Lilypie Third Birthday tickers 
11-21-2012 at 9:18 AM
inateapot
Not Ranked
Joined on 08-27-2003
Seattle area
3,868 Points
inateapot is not online. Last active: 05-10-2013, 12:38 PMNewbie

The Paleo diet is very close to what I was eating while pregnant - I had gestational diabetes. My weight gain slowed dramatically while eating that way. (No one worry - I had a VERY healthy 9 pound, 1 ounce baby) 

I would encourage you to try a loose version of paleo. Don't go crazy - you need *some* carbs for brain development, but there are tons of meals and healthy foods you can eat that will help you be healthier while you breast feed!

I'll bet you'll see some weight come off as you make healthier choices!  



BFP #1 - Madeline Rose, born 9/15/2008
BFP #2 - miscarriage at 12 weeks due to triploidy, D&C in Feb 2011
BFP #3 - ectopic pregnancy. methotrexate 9/2011
BFP #4 - Elizabeth Doreen, born 11/2/2012
 
11-21-2012 at 9:21 AM
inateapot
Not Ranked
Joined on 08-27-2003
Seattle area
3,868 Points
inateapot is not online. Last active: 05-10-2013, 12:38 PMNewbie
oh! And don't forget your water. Drink as much water as you can tolerate!! :) Good for you & baby. 


BFP #1 - Madeline Rose, born 9/15/2008
BFP #2 - miscarriage at 12 weeks due to triploidy, D&C in Feb 2011
BFP #3 - ectopic pregnancy. methotrexate 9/2011
BFP #4 - Elizabeth Doreen, born 11/2/2012
 
11-21-2012 at 9:46 AM
AmyG*
Not Ranked
Joined on 08-12-2010
24,577 Points
AmyG* is not online. Last active: 05-23-2013, 9:23 PMGold

You can diet, you can calorie count, you can exercise and you can lose weight while breastfeeding.

The caution is to not overdo the exercise, or lower your calorie count too drastically very quickly or you may see a drop in your supply.

The best recommendation is watch fat and calorie laden snack foods, choose healthier meals, and begin a walking or swimming routine because they are fairly easy on post pregnancy bodies.  remember all of your joints are still loose from the hormones to loosen things up so your hips would spread for pregnancy and labor--so you may be at higher risk for some joint injuries if you go nutso.  Don't drop calories by more than about 100 a day, stay at that level for a week or two while monitoring your supply before making another change.

realize that a lot of women do hold on to 10-20 lbs while breastfeeding.  part of that is your body's protective effect on a bit of fat stores to ensure baby's milk always has the proper amount of fat and calories.  But also, if you were to weigh your boobs when breastfeeding, they probably weigh 10 lbs when full of milk.  if you weigh yourself first thing in the am when engorged, yeah well the scale might not look so nice.  You have extra milk glands, ductwork, and milk storage which will account for some weight as long as you are still breastfeeding.

 


AmyG 
Hot Topics

New dad or dad-to-be? Chat with other dads here!
Visit the Dads & Dads-to-be board

Need baby shower inspiration? Get ideas here!
Visit the Baby Showers board

Chat with other crafty moms here!
Visit the Crafty Moms board

search boards

choose another board

From The Nest Boards:
"What's on your pre-baby bucket list?"
sessionswedding on BNOTB

"Hello baby ... Goodbye marriage?"
maganh91 on
Trouble in Paradise