Dieting While Nursing

Use weight watchers! It is good nutrition and a lot of the food is FREE, meaning you can eat all you want. Good luck! jj

Instead of thinking about counting calories, count nutrients. If everything you put in your mouth is either low-fat dairy, fresh fruit or veggie, protein packed or whole grain, with very little sugar and some lean meat (if you eat meat) then you will be full and probably loose weight with the help of your gym workouts without putting your milk supply at risk. Good for you!

I started dieting when each of my 3 kids were 3-4 months old. I do Sugarbusters,a lower-carb diet, which changes, not excludes, which carbs I eat. No white flour, white flour blends, no white rice or potatoes. Instead you have whole wheat bread, brown rice, and sweet potatoes. I had 20 pounds to lose. I didn't worry about portion size, so I ate when I was hungry, as long as the food followed the diet plan. The 1st month was slow, but the weight came off within 9 months. And I nursed the last one until 16 months. Good luck!

Let me tell you what works! the Abs Diet. It isn't so much a diet as a healthier way of eating. So this it is ok to eat while you are nursing, plus your body is already burning calories to make the milk to it will really come off. I lost 16 lbs in 3 months. That might not sound like a lot to some people but that is all i really needed to loose. When I got married I was 129( I am 5'7) after my daughter I was about 140 and couldn't lose it(I gained 40 lbs during pregnancy) Then I got pregnant with my son( I only gained 19) so at the beginning of the year I decided to join in with my husband, he had already been doing this diet for almost a year and lost 40 lbs. I am now 127, which is what I weighed in HIGH SCHOOL! It is a diet based on power food and cutting out sugar and high fructose corn syrup. Just google it and you'll find tons on it. it is written by the author of mens fitness magazine but it is also good for women. Just a disclaimer some of the things he says are single male driven, but not entirely inappropriate.

Hi A.,

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Breastfeeding is the BEST diet program ever. I loved that it burns so many calories for us just by simply feeding our baby, how cool is that! I was not (and still not) big on diets/exercise and like to take the easy way, so if you make healthy eating choices and drink lots of water the pounds will just shed away. I found that snacking on pretzels, carrots and apples always helped give me that sense of being "full" and then I wouldn't eat so much at lunch and dinner. You can by the apples already sliced and packaged at the grocery store (by the fresh fruits/veg's) Don't forget to reward yourself occasionally (and don't totally deprive yourself) with your old favorites then it won't be so bad to miss out on them for periods at a time. I am a working mom also, of 3 wonderful kids (7yrs to 7mos), so I know how difficult it is to find time to eat right while trying to take care of the kiddos but I find it's easier to watch what I eat during the day while at work than at home and on the go. So try to make the best of that time while you are at work.

Best of luck to you!
D.

Eat fruits and vegetables every couple of hours. Graze. Graze. Graze. Don't eat anything that comes out of a box. Period. In other words, start eating healthy.

I think we all fall into the trap you are in. You don't want to cut calories becasue you are worried about La baby. I am not a DR. but I would say increase your veggies, fruits, and change to low fat cheeses or yogurts and you should be good to go. I hate the word diet. I still ahve some love to lose after ahving my mini. Plus drink a TON of water. That is one of the main reasons milk drys up...dehydration.

I think you will find that by just making changes you will cut "bad" calories and not the things you need to produce milk.

GOOD LUCK!!!

Jess
Just weaned my 17 month old baby.

PS: Talk to a Dr. I think the comment about cutting calories and giving off toxins is really not based on science. I am a yoga loving tree hugging, just moved from CA chicka but that advice is...well I am sure they meant well but I would hate for it to add to the stress of what you have going on right now. Cutting calories WILL NOT EFFECT YOU BABY DUE TO TOXINS!!!

Weight Watchers ROCK! They have a great online program and I hear it has something for nursing moms!!

I didn't have time to scroll all 50 responses and I am sure you got a lot, but weight watchers has an awesome program that you are able to do while nursing. If you do the points you get an extra 10 points for it...anyway something to think about. I know this week you can try the online stuff for free...

Start moving Exercise put your baby in a stroller and
walk the pounds will begin coming off
you must eat healthy for your baby

I too am nursing my 5 month old and trying to lose weight. I am using the Weight Watchers plan (just started last week). You can do it online without having to attend meetings. It has a plan for nursing moms. If you lose weight too quickly it can reduce your milk supply. The great thing about it is that you don't have to prepare special meals for yourself. You can eat what your family eats. I have 4 children that range in age from 5 mos. to 12 years, work full time, etc...Weight Watchers has really fit into my lifestyle thus far. Congratulations on sticking to the nursing, it is not always easy! Good luck with your weight loss!!

I am expecting my first chld in May so I am certainly no expert on this. However, I am overweight myself and have sucessfully lost weight before on Weight Watchers (right before I got pregnant I lost 25 lbs but have gained it all back with the pregnancy). What I do find interesting is that Weight Watchers actually has a program for nursing moms. They take your weight, height, age, and physical activity into account and figure out how many calories you need while nursing, I have several friends who have lost weight on this program easily and never had a problem keeping up their milk supply since the program is tailered for each woman. I'm certainly not trying to push Weight Watchers and I'm not a recruit for them or anything, but it may be worth looking into. I'll be going on it myself after I deliver. Good luck to you and you're more than welcome to keep in touch. It's good to have a support system when loosing weight.

I've nursed all my babies, and it's not a very good idea to "diet" while you're nursing. It might benefit you to change some of the things in your diet though. Try to eat more fresh fruits and veggies. Less processed foods. If you start exercising at least 3 days a week you will start to notice a HUGE difference in your body. The change will not happen immediately, but you'll start to feel better almost instantly! You never know, if you make some changes to your diet and exercise regularly then you might not need to "go on a diet". Good luck and God bless!!!!

I would also recommend the South Beach Diet. It made losing those stubborn pounds easy while eating healthy, good foods. My fourth and last baby will be two next month and I'm 5 pounds lighter than before I got pregnant (125 lbs and a size 6). It's awesome! I also exercise consistently (run,walk,cycle,swim,exercise videos...whatever I can get in). Make exercise and good nutrition a regular part of your life and I'm sure you'll have success! Good luck!

The general rule is to take in 500 calories for the baby above and beyond what you need. Depending on your height and weight, there is a scale that can tell you how many calories you need per day. I took off a little of my baby weight with exercise, but I was busting my tail and was tired all of the time. My real weight loss happend when I joined Weight Watchers (I lost 28 lbs). You dont' have to buy special food, you can eat the same as your family...you just count "points." Each food is assigned a point value based on calories/fat/fiber slide rule. You just eat whatever you want as long as it adds up to your points for the day. If you are nursing, they make a note of it and add a specific number of points to your current point value (based on height and current weight). "Diets" can work, but are usually short-term...I learned "how" to eat better and have kept the weight off for a year now. Good luck and God bless!

I think Dieting would be a no no, especially because you need to keep your milk up for the baby. I would suggest the opposite. Eating a very healthy breakfast of oatmeal and fresh fruits every morning and healthy snacks in between meals. It will speed up your metabolism and I think you will get better results than dieting. Plus, I think I just Hate the word DIET. It sounds so depriving. Cut back on the junk food yes, but fill yourself with healthly, non processed food and you can even do a little exercise with your baby. Good luck.

I didnt read all the responses so it might have been said. I know weight watchers has a program for nursing mothers. I'm planning to do that after my son is born.

Dear A.,
I am not a nurse, nutritionalist, or Dr., so I can only offer advice on what I know from my own personnal experience.
You should absolutley go ahead with your plan to start excersing, but do not cut back on caleries. Cut back on Fat.
Eat more often in smaller portians. I know that this is a hard concept, especially for a working mom. If you are anything like me, you can barely get in three meals, let alone, 5 or 6 a day. Trust me, it is worth the extra effort. Increase your vegetables and decrease the meats and high fat dairy products. Continue to incorporate carbs, but make tham whole grains/whole wheat instead, and of course, in smaller portions. Eat low-fat/fat-free yogurts once a day as a snack, nutritional cerals with skim milk, have your pasta or rice dishes for dinner, but in half the size you normally would, add vegetables to the dish and have a big salad with low fat dressing. Eat lowfat popcorn and other 100 calerie snacks in the afternoon for a pick-me-up. For lunch have 1/2 sandwich and brothy soups or a big salad with lemon or low-fat dressing, etc....
This way you are still giving you body and your baby the nutrition you both need, but in a more balanced and heathly way that will also help give you the energy you need to hit the gym before or after work.
It worked for me, I lost 17 lbs in 6 weeks. I hope it works for you. Good luck:)

A.!
Here is another vote for WW. I did it with both my babies while nursing and have had great results. I gained 70 lbs with baby #1, lost it all within 10 months on WW, then gained 40 lbs withe baby #2 and have lost all that plus some in 9 months. Think of WW as a life style change not a diet. Also, I have found ti is easier if you have others encouraging you and participating with you. I started a weight loss program at work with other co-workers - $4 was also an incentive to lose the weight!

GOOD LUCK

I agree with Adele M. Exercising is key. Muscle burns fat. The more muscle you have the faster your body burns the excess fat. Cardio is also key and walking IS a great way to get started. You can work up to a walk/jog combo to burn more fat. You should do at least 30 minutes of cardio a day with a raised heart rate. Another alternative is a body pump class or if you prefer a video to do at home. The body pump uses weights to tone your muscles and increases your heart rate at the same time. Also, muscle weighs more than fat so do not get discouraged if the scale doesn't move down as fast but pay more attention to the way your clothes fit and the shape your body begins to take. You will be amazed at the difference in just a couple of months. If you use weights remember to increase your protein intake with lean protein such as chicken breast or tuna. I always drink whey protein in water after every workout. You can find whey protein shakes at healthfood stores and even Wally World. Protein feeds the muscles. I eat only whole grain starches, lean meat, vegetables and fruit. It also is important to eat 5 or six small meals a day. Cut out all fast foods, sugary dinks and fried foods and cut way back on processed starches. Drink lots of water all day long. That will help flush out your system and also help keep you from being as hungry. You will find that you really do not have to "diet", you just change what you put into your body and exercise and you will start to see good things happening! Stay positive...you CAN do it!

Hi A.! I am currently nursing my 8 months old and my experience with both my boys is that my body is not one of those that loses weight effortlessly while nursing! I think my body actually goes out of it's way to hold onto the fat ;)

Anyhow, I joined the YMCA and have been working out 3-6 times a week for 6 months. My muscle tone improved and all that good stuff, but not a single pound lost. Last Monday I finally settled on the South Beach Diet as an eating plan. I am one who tends to forgive too many things (chocolate, pizza...whatever) when not following a plan LOL. I weighed myself yesterday after just 1 week on the diet....I've lost 5 pounds already!

Needless to say I am SO excited! The reason I chose South Beach is because it's not really like a 'diet' - it truly is just they way we need to eat in general. Little or no processed foods, lots of veggies and fruits eventually, and lean meat and fish. It is also not calorie restrictive and you don't need to feel hungry ever. I think it is compatible for a nursing mother because of the no calorie restriction. You need more calories than normal to nurse...they just need to be the right kind of calories and you should lose weight.

Just my 2 cents! Good luck!

While nursing you need to consume 1800 calories a day. As well, you don't want to loose more than 1 to 2 pounds a week. There are many toxins that are stored in fat. As you loose weight(fat) those toxins are released and you don't want too much circulating and getting to the baby. The last 10 pounds are the hardest because the body holds onto those fat stores to make milk. Most importantly those 1800 calories need to consist of a healthy, well-balenced variety of foods, lots of fruits and veggies. Best of luck!

Hi A.,

I went on weight watchers when I was nursing. They actually give you more points while you are nursing. So you get the nutrients you need and still lose weight. I didn't work out at all until about a month ago. So that weight loss was strictly weight watchers. I would definitely work out though. It will only go faster. I lost 32 lbs and am thinner than I have been since I was 13 yrs old. I am 33 sahm of a 2yr old girl.

I think you will be fine as long as whatever program or method you choose considers the fact you are nursing. I got on Weight watchers when my son was about 5 months old and had no problems with my milk reducing, but I have had some trouble getting the weight off because I cheat too much! I am still working with weight watchers for guidance and trying to focus on eating lots of fruits and veggies. I think joining a gym sounds like a great idea, I am going to do that in the near future as well. I wish you the best!

Hi, A.,
I felt compelled to respond to your message because in a nutshell the answer to 'dieting' while nursing is ABSOLUTELY NOT! But, let me qualify it a bit. While nursing, you need about 300 additional calories per day. However, the content of those calories is critical. Your food needs to be healthy: low fat, high fiber to keep your bowels moving :), high calcium with lots of whole grains and fruits & veggies. It you eat using that guide, you will be eating what's best for your baby! Lots of people talk about how you lose baby weight quickly while nursing, but you want to void 'empty/fattening' calories that will keep the weight on (and not provide any benefit for your baby). Here is one example of what your body will do if you don't eat properly: if you don't eat enough calcium-rich foods, your baby will deplete the calcium supply in your bones, increasing your risk of osteoporosis! So, the baby will get what he needs, but at your 'expense'. I hope I'm not scaring you, but it is SO important that you eat well for your baby. I wish I had some good websites to refer you to for recipes. I continued to use the "What to Eat While You're Expecting" recipe book while I nursed. One tip that I can give you regarding whole grains is that they make those little bags of microwave whole grain rice now - 90 seconds and your eating whole grains. Choose fish, chicken or low-fat beef along with this rice and a steamed veggie and your done. Then, you can endulge in a Skinny Cow ice cream sandwich for dessert and get a little bonus calcium! :) Good luck with your exercise and healthy eating! You will make the right decisions!

I did it, and you can too! I lost 60 pounds.... took 9 months to gain it, and a year to lose it, but you can do it. I signed up for weight watchers and did it for 6 months.... just online. I was not into the meetings. Also, I took my baby to the pool during the day, put her in the Bjorn, and just walked back and forth for hours.... she loved it, it was easy on my healing c section (After 3 months of course) and I got a tan. So good luck! Just take a good vitamin. The baby will get what they need, and if your diet is lacking, it pulls from your bones and things. This is a very important time to eat a HEALTHY DIET vs. a fad one.... because it could really hurt your body if you try to take shortcuts. And don't worry- chasing two little ones should whip you right back into shpae! Oh- also, I bought a baby jogger and just wandered around town lake in the mornings... it is free, and once you start walking you really do not have the option of stopping until you get back to your car. :-)

First keep a food diary for a week. You may find you are taking in an excess of calories. You can safely cut back to 2,000 a day while nursing if you are overweight. The most important thing to remember is to keep a balanced diet and lots and lots and lots of liquid (preferably water). Don't cut out your protein, it's as essential to your milk production as calcium. You can eat lots of lean protein and beans, so this will be less calories but still the nutrients. And remember the water, eight to ten eight ounce glasses a day, at minimum!

Good luck!

Check into the diabetic diet (it's not a diet, it just has you eating 45 grams of carbs per meal and a 15 grams of snack per snack). I was overweight when I got pregnant, had gest. diabeties, followed their diet (portion control is HUGE) and exercised (20 minutes of exercise bike, easy tension and speed) AND came out of the hospital 40 lbs lighter after I had my son.
It WORKS and once you start it, you can do it!!!

Hello A.,

I just recently had a baby also on 10/26/2007. When I went into labor I was 202lbs and Im only 5'6. Im only breastfeeding. I dont diet but I walk the mall in the morning with the baby in the stroller and I walk the neighborhood at night. I have take sodas out of my diet and I eat healthy. Ive currently have lost 35lbs since my daughters Zoe's birth. Also breastfeeding burns up to 350 calories per feeding. Stay encouraged it will all workout. Be Blessed

Kysha

Hi A., I have done alot of research on this too! From the time that I had my daughter to now I have lost 44 Pounds... That includes the "birth" weight though. And my daughter was 10 pounds... So I have probably lost 10 - 15 pounds on my own. It has been tough! I still have about 20 pounds to drop! I don't follow a VERY strict Diet because everything I have read has said not too... Even Nutri System will not let you join while you are nursing. I take in about 1600 - 1800 calories a day.. I lost quicker when I would walk/jog 4 days a week. Lately I haven't been doing it and Pretty much eating without thinking, and I have very Easily gained back 5 pounds! I think that you probably wouldn't want to be too strict, make sure that you take your vitamins, and just try and work out...I know weight watchers has a program for Breast feeding mothers.. Good Luck!

Weight Watchers is a fantastic program and very easy to follow. They have a system for nursing moms to get the extra calories they need. I did it when I was nursing my first and lost weight and nursed for an entire year! Good luck!

Weight Watchers has a plan for breastfeeding moms. You are eating more calories than a non-breastfeeding mom on WW, but will still lose weight because it factors in the calories needed to sustain your breastmilk supply for your baby. That's what I'm doing and I've lost all my pre-pregnancy weight already.. and I',m gonna keep going :)

Congratulations A. on your two beautiful boys and congrats on being ready to start this new chapter in your life~ I have three boys- A six year old who I nursed until he was two and now 16 month old twin boys- who I am currently nursing. It has been my experience, that if you start exercising- you will begin to lose weight. Walking is a great way to begin- and actually, I power walk or bike ride most days for my exercise- along with light weights and abs about 3 days a week as well. Just watch your food intake- as far as , cutting out the processed sugars, fried foods, etc... get more fruits, veggies, water,etc... whole grains, lean meats,etc... but- you don't necessarily have to go on a "diet". Just start to cut the sweets and so forth.... you'll begin to lose weight-. You are correct in thinking that if you diet to strictly- you'll begin to diminish your milk supply. You need a certain amount of "fat" to produce milk. But- that doesn't mean you have to keep lots of weight "on" your body. Good luck with your workouts. If you can, pick up a double jog stroller or even just use your double regular stroller- and get out for your walk with you kids! I do it every morning with my twins- and it's great!
xo,A.

I have a copy of the book "Eat Well, Lose Weight While Breastfeeding" by Eileen Behan, R.D. This book explained a lot to me but I did not find encouragement to change my eating habits.

It has been years now (since I needed the book or used it) and have made great progress with LA Weight Loss Center. Just sticking to what they tell me to eat (no extra exercising added, yet) and am replacing old with better habits while I lost 26 lbs in 14 weeks.

Good luck!

Before doing anything, go talk to your doctor! He/she will be able to tell you everything you need to know. In fact, you could even bring in a printout of everyone's advise, and see what the doctor thinks.

hello- I have about 100 lbs to loose and have been either pregnant or nursing for almost 4 years! I don't eat pre-packaged foods, we rarely have sugar, we have low fat meats (like skinless chicken breast) and we severely limit sodas and the such. This is what I suggest for all women looking to loose weight, wither you are pregnant or nursing or whatever. Yet, I can't seem to loose weight.

Before getting pregnant I went from a size 20 to a size 10 in a year by drinking Slim Fast- 3 shakes a day and one snack and salad. I also exercised an hour and a half every day- 45 minutes in the morning and 45 minutes at night.

Good luck!
S., mom to four girls

first pray for wisdom in this area. it is hard! it seems like all women go through this when they are nursing and the devil totally takes advantage of their fragile state of mind. start by moving more and eating a little less. see how your baby reacts. the problem with cutting calories too much is that your body gives off a lot of toxins that go right to your breastmilk when nursing and cause problems with your baby...sometimes serious problems. i encourage getting the book "the perfect weight" by jordan rubin.
good luck & God bless

Hi. Weight Watchers has a great plan for nursing moms. Weight Watchers is a great weight loss plan. You don't have certain foods to have to buy like you do on Nutri System. I highly recomend Weight Watchers.

Good Luck,
Kim

I would suggest a visit to you obgyn, and voice your concerns. I was put on a 1800 calorie diet, with moderate exercise to lose the baby weight. I have about 60lbs to be back to ideal weight, so I know how you feel.

Another vote for Weight Watcher's. I lost weight without harming my milk supply when my little one was about the age of yours. They system is very nice to busy moms!

Like the others said, talk to your doctor and your local La Leche League.

A. ~
I think "baby fat" is given to us for a reason - to help us to cope with the amazing demands of taking care of a baby, which are as you well know, enormously taxing on the body.
You will probably find that when you stop nursing, you will find your "baby fat" just dropping off you - that's how I found it to be and I've had six.
In fact, I have noticed that with many first-time mums when they stop nursing, they sometime become so thin they look anorexic (think Princess Di after William's birth and movie stars who gave birth more recently) - there seems to be an enormous dip as the body rectifies itself.
By the way, did you know there is a book called "The next 9 months" - ha-ha. Just shows how much it takes out of us.
All the best
Jewel

keep up the water and cut back on the intake

A.,
Energy intake and exercise: A woman needs extra energy—almost 500 kcalories a day above her regular need during the first six months of lactation. To get that you must eat an extra 330 kcalories of food each day. Women need at least 1800 kcalories a day to receive all then nutrients required for successful lactation.
I believe that breastfeeding helps with postpartum weight loss. Studies have shown that intense physical activity; can raise the lactic acid concentration of breast milk, which may influence the milk’s taste. Some infants may prefer milk produced prior to exercise (which has lower lactic acid content). So you can either breastfeed before exercise or express your milk before exercise for use afterward.
Mothers need additional carbohydrate to replace the glucose used to make the lactose in breast milk. Fiber recommendation is 1 gram higher during lactation.
Continue taking the prenatal vitamins. Drink plenty of water (juice, milk) to protect from dehydration. You may need to take supplemental iron it this time because iron stores dwindle during pregnancy.
Infants can develop symptoms of food allergies so try to exclude the most common offenders—cow’s milk, eggs, fish, peanuts, and tree nuts.
I think that nursing along with exercise will be efficient enough to loose weight. Be patient with yourself.

Weight watchers has a very effective wieght loss program for nursing mothers. I believe you need a 1000 extra calories??? But I was very successful with WW. Also I found it easier to loose the weight using WW than after I quit nursing.

You may want to buy the book Eat Well, Lose Weight While Breastfeeding by Eileen Behan. It is a great book since it specifically addresses what you are requesting. Good Luck!!

I am an old-fashioned grandma-Women in third world countries who don't get enough to eat are able to nurse their babies-of course it takes a toll on them! But nursing a baby takes rest, fluids, and the childs ability to suck. You need to maintain a well balanced diet with some kind of good multivitamin and calcuim supplement, but you can probably cut your calories in half.

I've also lost a great deal of weight during that time period. I've lost 120 lbs approx using the Suzanne Somers way of eating over the course of 1 1/2-2 years.

It is very healthy and keeps you with plenty of healthy carbs and proteins/fats. My OB/GYN looked over it and said it was perfectly healthy for me even during pregnancy. I actually LOST 16 lbs during my last pregnancy and had a perfectly healthy bouncing boy!

I also have an awesome natural supplement and diet program you may be interested in. Just email me directly if you'd like more info!

I found this book helpful when I was trying to lose the "baby weight" after my first baby was born. This is kind of a long link, so if it doesn't work just go to amazon.com and search for Eat Well, Lose Weight While Breastfeeding by Eileen Behan. It can be done ~ Bon Courage!

http://www.amazon.com/Well-Lose-Weight-While-Breastfeedin...

Hi. You should look for a strollerfit class. Strollerfit is our local group of mommies who workout with their babies. Great for mommy talk and you get a great workout. I tried it 6 weeks after my daughter was born and I loved it. Most of those groups meet during the day, but you can check out what they do online and get your own mommy group together a couple of times a week with girlfriends. I nursed for a year and it was hard balancing eating right and exercising, but I found that I was a happier, healthier and more energetic mommy if I took time to take care of me.

Weight Watchers is a great eating plan to follow. It teaches portion control rather than cutting out certain foods like other diets do. Math is easier than counting calories too because every food is assigned a points value, and based on your height, age, and lifestyle, you have a certain number of points that you can eat everyday. Nursing mothers get about 10 points more per day than other women, but it is necessary for them. Also, if you exercise, you can earn more points that day to eat. Hope this helps. Good luck!!!

HI
I was on Weight Watchers and nursing moms are allowed more calories per day than other women. It is a great weight loss program and does work. So I would say rather just cut down slowly and eat lots of fruit and veggies and water.

you can cut calories, but don't be too drastic about it. make sure you are getting enough calcium for you and your baby. eat cheese, yogurt, drink milk, and take a calcium supplement. it is very important to take calcium, for your teeth and bones. i learned that much too late. also drink enough liquid, it doesn't have to be plain water, so that you can continue to produce milk. eat a healthy, balanced diet, lots of liquids, and a calcium supplement.

Hi A. -

Cutting back your eating will not hurt you any. I am doing the same thing. I started walking a lot each day and trying to not snack and if possible only eat two very healthy meals a day, half of the week. This has really helped me drop the weight.

It's like a psychological thing on us that we are "eating for two" and it just really isn't so. Just stay within reason - don't do anything drastic as this will throw your chemistry off and may affect the breast milk. Do gradual stuff with re to eating; and exercise daily. Also --- don't overdo on the exercising because if you are like me - you will increase your appetite due to the exercise you do. That's why I just do tons of walking - outside or stairmaster - just walk an hour a day and you will see amazing results within weeks. And, you won't have the appetite to go with that type of workout. That has worked for me - cutting down on my food and keeping my exercising very simple - I hope it helps you! You go girl!!!

Good luck to you!
Alli

Hi A.,

I know your frustration I too had a lot of weight to lose after my second baby (still do)and was nursing him also. I would not change calorie intake mush but would go to a nutritionist and talk about your concerns and tackle that gym membership with a quickness. I had a hard time losing weight while I was breastfeefing unlike what most women tell me, all the stories about your tummy shrinking faster and all was not true for me! But when I stopped breastfeeding I immediately lost 10-15 pounds so just hang in there it is a process and it will get better.

A.,
My first advice would be to discuss it with your doctor :), second my weight was a huge frustration for me while i was nursing also. Although I seemed to loose weight gradually, I never seemed to loose it in my belly! I had finally gotten to a point where I decided I could not do anything major until I stopped nursing. However, I knew two other nursing moms who did South Beach Diet (skipping Phase 1) while nursing, and got great results! I have been on the South Beach Diet since I stopped nursing, three weeks ago and I have been seeing great results :)! I feel healthier, and I am enjoying all the food I am eating :)

I don't have an answer for your specific calories question, though I suspect you'll need more calories still. I have heard that some weight loss companies (Weight Watchers?) have special diets for nursing, but I've also heard not to diet at all because you can decrease your milk supply. You might consider, at least for a month before you start solids, only exercising, and maybe cutting out desserts. Or instead of dieting in an extreme way, just following recommendations for healthy eating with some extra calories. I think the American Diabetes Association has guidelines. Or one of the later stages of South Beach, with healthy carbs, might be good. I'm no nutritionist (though it may be a good idea to see one) but South Beach seems very healthy to me and the recipes are great. I would imagine that if you just pay close attention to how your baby reacts to any changes, you'll know if your supply is decreasing.

Good luck,
K.
Mama to Milo

Try the Holy tea (nothing to do with religeon) Dr. Miller 's