I'm 7 months postpartum and flucuate 5-10 lbs from my pre-baby weight. I've tried lowering my calorie intake but I get so hungry and crave mainly meat... steak, chicken, fish, etc. Sometimes I will be eating dinner and start to feel hungry while am eating!
I burn roughly 1000 calories a week through exercise and I'm still breastfeeding. This is my second time going through this... the first time after I had my baby the weight came off within a couple of months but I'm at my 7th month and I'm stuck and can't figure out why. Has anyone else gone through this?
It's probably because you're BF. The body tends to hold onto a bit of extra weight (more after each kid) while BF because it needs the fat stores.
I'm guessing that - barring any other issues like Thyroid - once you wean, the extra weight will just fall off.
For some nursing moms it's perfectly normal to carry 5-10lbs above pre pregnancy weight while they are nursing. Guess it's the body's way of making sure there is enough for you, baby and to replenish the stores lost during pregnancy. Your body is making up for a lot of losses and maintenance. And you are making sure a whole human is growing!
I had the same thing happen while nursing my first. Couldn't figure out for the life of me why those 10 lbs were hanging on. Of course I read it's perfectly normal *after* I weaned at 16 months and then dropped the weight! lol
And if you are hungry all the time you need to look at what you are eating, how often you are eating and making sure you are drinking lots and lots of water. Sometimes when you feel hungry it's actually thirst! Try eating 6 small "meals" per day. That way your body never does without for too long. Great snacks are things like peanut butter, apple and skim milk, cottage cheese and fruit, edamame, a handful of almonds, whole wheat english muffin with a little peanut butter, yogurt with some fruit and granola, etc.
Don't skip breakfast either. Your body will be trying to play catch up all day.
Eat. You are nursing. You will take off pounds later without starving.
What Leah said - Eat! Your body will cling more to the weight in its attempt to allow you to feed your baby. The weight always seems to come of more slowly the second time around. You're only a small amount up and your body is supporting two people. Also remember that after two babies you have made more veins and your feet are larger, your lungs are bigger..... Don't focus on the number, focus on at what weight do you feel healthy?
CONGRATS on the baby!!!!
I wish I would've been able to 10 lbs pre baby weight!!! THAT'S GREAT!!!
Protein in a diet helps...talk with a dietician to see what types of meals you can plan that are high in protein and will help you feel fuller longer!!
GOOD LUCK!! I hope you get all the baby weight off!!!
I was always famished when I was breastfeeding! The weight still hasn't come off after #3 and he will be 7 in 3 weeks!
Are you reading your body right? Try drinking water when you have those "hunger pangs".
Good Luck!
Eating proteins usually helps one stay "full" feeling...eggs, beans, red meat...
I've been told to follow our "Cravings" that it's our bodies way of telling us what it is missing in the diet!!
Plateaus happen as well...it could be that next week - you'll have dropped the weight you were hoping to!! GOOD LUCK!!
Huh?! If you are craving meat, sounds like your body needs iron.
Could it be that. I too was hungry while nursing. I would have your OB run a blood test to see if you are low on anything.
talk to your doctor about this. if your breast feeding and preggers it takes a lot more out of you. i can only imagine how hungery i would get. the suggested baby weight gain is fifteen lbs. and if you lost it all in a couple of months then i would not worry too much about it. eat healthy things. but its a great question for your doctor.
HI there, Just a thought, I have been doing Atkins for a couple of months and if you go to Atkins.com there are several resources and chat groups, this sort of discussion has happened a lot and one of the things they talk about with hitting a plateau is upping your fat intake. Add some olive oil, avacado, or butter, or even coconut oil to your diet. It apparently works in concert with the protein to get your body to burn fuel in a different way and If you find the group Members that started in April then there are several discussions about all of the logistics involved. Hope that you find it helpful!
Have you thought about it being heart burn. Especially the way you describe it while you are eating. Heart burn can feel like hunger. Just thought I would throw that in. I agree with a lot of the other posts.
I agree with the other moms - while you're still nursing, it will be very hard to drop that last few pounds. I don't know why it's harder with the second baby, but it just really is. If you crave protein, then maybe you need more protein in your diet, or maybe you're low on iron. Usually your body craves certain foods for a reason.
Once you're done nursing, starve it off (sorry, that's the only thing that worked for me after baby #2...).
keep up the nursing! that is what's making you hungry, just try to eat more healthy foods than treats
