Will Weaning Help Me Lose Weight?

Hey S. B.,
I believe it is all up to how much calories in/out is going on. I breastfeed both of my kids for a year and lost all the pregnancy weight plus some. It is not good to diet while breastfeeding. I focused on toning and keeping healthy by working out. You will loose the weight if you keep breastfeeding and exercise. I do remember with the second baby it took a little longer to loose all the baby weight. Hope this helps!

Some people say weaning helps them loose weight and others don't. I am one of the don't people. With my second it took me A LOT longer to loose the baby weight. I also gained more with my second than first. By my 6 week appointment I was back to pre-pregnancy size with #1. With #2 I had lost 2 pounds more than when I left the hospital and had 20ish pounds to loose. I went running everyday and was eating healthy but I was stuck with 15 extra pounds until 6 months or so. It didn't make sense but that is what my body felt like doing. I would just keep on exercising and eating a balanced and drinking a lot of water. It might just take a little while longer but it will come off.

I think some of it is genetic - like some women get stretch marks and others don't, some women go back to their earlier shape and weight and others have to work really hard to get anywhere close. It's not a moral failing. If you want to keep nursing, by all means go ahead. There will be time later to lose weight. You're caring for two little children and that makes it harder to exercise than with just one. I was able to take my first out for long stroller rides from a very young age, but with a busy toddler and a little baby, it was harder for me to get enough sleep and to work around their schedules to get exercise. Plus I can't walk very fast if my toddler walks, but I also don't want him to be ferried everywhere and not burn off *his* energy.

So. Keep nursing. It's good for the baby. Be patient with your weight. Different baby, different body response. It sounds like you're doing well with a healthy diet and exercise, so keep that up. If you feel down about your appearance, see if you can afford to get some stylish new clothes that you feel attractive in. I did that a few months ago and because I feel prettier, I have more of a desire to work out than I did when I only had frumpy "new mom" clothes.

Hi, I lost all my weight while nursing, as soon as I stopped nursing my weight loss stopped. Maybe you should try to cut your calories some not alot since your still nursing.

K.

Um...no, not at all. You are burning extra calories while breastfeeding just by your body producing milk. You really should not be worrying about being back at your pre-pregnancy weight until the baby is at least 1 year old because that is about how long it takes your body to completely recover and go back to normal after carrying/giving birth to a baby. Breastfeeding should help you lose weight, as well as moderate exercise and eating healthy. My doctor said no diets because you would be depriving yourself and baby of essential nutrients, but just make sure not to be eating any empty calories or useless carbs. Whole grains, lots of green leafy veggies and lean protein should help you lose weight and allow you to have more energy to do all the baby running. Something else that hinders new mothers from losing the weight they want is the lack of restful sleep that comes with having a new baby, so just make sure you get as much sleep as possible. Good luck, and don't stress about losing the weight (stress causes you to retain fat, by the way), just enjoy your precious baby and believe you are beautiful.

Try grazing. Instead of eating big meals with snacks, try to eat a LITTLE something every 90 minutes to an hour. It boost your metabolism. And keep the nursing! It does burn alot more calories. If you are wanting something sweet, try a sweet thing that is still healthy, like granola bars with chocolate chips in them or applesauce, raisins, a bowl of cheerios.

To lose my post-pregnancy weight after delivering my baby, I was drinking Mummy magic weight loss tea that's herbal and preservative-free, decaf tea supplement and shed almost 37 pounds within two months while breastfeeding my son.

That's an interesting question...and only one you can answer for yourself, but I will tell you this, "They" tell you that you will lose weight faster by breastfeeding, but like you this did not happen to me over the long run. I actually lost about 20 pounds immediately after I stopped breastfeeding my second child and continued to lose with diet and excercise over time. now I brestfed till the 9 month but that is me, every women knows when to stop and never feel bad about stopping, it is a personal choice and not everone elses business!

Breastfeeding helped me loose weight. I did it for 1 year and actually lost too much weight. A friend of mine did it for a year and lost weight too, but I think it took more than 6 months to start coming off. You just have to make sure your calorie intake is healthy, then you should be able to burn it easier by feeding your son. Good luck and good job for breast feeding this long! I know it's work but it is well worth it!

Weaning won't really help. WHat will help, is to make sure whatever you are eating is good, healthy food instead of junk food and soda. And, get that stroller out and get some exercise. I just joined a stroller strides class and it's lots of fun to exercise with other moms and kids. Good for you for breastfeeding...you're a great mom!

It isn't a good reason to quit nursing if you want to continue and it isn't supposed to work this way BUUUTTT, with both my girls I did not lose the rest of the baby weight until I stopped and then all but 4 or 5 pounds fell off with no effort. The kid's doctor and my own doctor swore that it was because I must be eating less but I did Weight Watchers/food diaries before and after and it was the same. For me, I had to stop nursing to lose the weight. It was a lot easier the second time knowing that. I just concentrated on eating right the whole time for good nursing and good health and knew that the weight would come off easily when I stopped nursing around a year. AND it did. Having said that, my friend is just the opposite when she nurses she can eat anything she wants as long as she's nursing and still lose. So, I guess everyone is different. I;ll bet you fall more into my camp if the first baby was easy. I wouldn't wean until you are absolutely sure because it is really hard to try to relactate if you do stop. Just take comfort and know that most likely when you do stop nursing you'll drop the majority of your baby weight with ease and only have a few pounds to diet and exercise off.

Weight Watchers has a program for nursing mothers that helped me loose weight and was still able to nurse. it is wonderful.

no dont stop breastfeeding. most women actually lose weight while breastfeeding and it is healthier than formula. yes you eat more while breastfeeding but you have to make sure that what you eat is healthy. eat a balanced diet with fruits veggies etc and not alot of empty calories from like chips and candy and such. you also have to remember this is your second child. that means you are older. as we get older (and with women the more kids we have)our metabolism slows down and its harder to lose weight. just stick with breastfeeding eat right and excersise and you should get the weight off. good luck and good job.

I would not stop just to loose weight. Try only eating three meals a day and no snacking. I lost a lot of weight breastfeeding when I stopped eating so much! I kept thinking I am burning the extra calories so I can eat this! I am not saying go on a diet. However, just be consious of what you eat. Also I lost the most weight at the five to sixth months point of breastfeeding. Good Luck!

My first baby I lost the weight without trying while breastfeeding. My second baby I tried a little harder. Now after my third it's darn near impossible to lose any weight at all! I blame MOTHER NATURE, lol...

S., You are right. Your body is going to hang on to some extra weight while you are breastfeeding to make sure it always has enough to supply the baby with everything he needs. That is why your appetite is bigger. Weaning will change your metabolism back to normal (after a few months) and you will be able to lose weight easier. That being said, I do NOT think you should stop breastfeeding now. You and your baby enjoy it, and it is the best thing for both of you right now. Think about how quickly this year will pass, and what a short time it is in the span of your life. Is it really that big of a deal to carry a little extra weight for a little longer? I have one friend who actually gained a good bit of weight when she weaned because she continued to eat the way she did when she was nursing, so watch out for that. I only breastfed my first 2 babies for a month or two and all the weight was off by 7 months. My third I nursed for 1 year, and it took a couple of months after I weaned her to lose the end of the weight. It will come in time. Just enjoy this wonderful time with your baby. It will pass too quickly!!! Hope this helps!

Hey S.,

I can tell you upfront that weaning will not help you loose weight faster. IF you do wean, like you mentioned, you will have to adjust your calories as your appetite might remain a little longer and if you stay at the same caloric intake as when nursing you will actually gain weight.

If your goal is to lose weight, it is not contingent upon weaning. Weight is all about, age, metabolism, stress, food/caloric intake, exercise/energy expended and SLEEP.
It is expected that weight loss following a second pregnancy will be less and take longer, but that does not mean you can not get back to your pre pregnancy weight. It can be done in a healthy way.

As with age, we all have to be careful how fast we add that pound or two. This just means being cognizant of how much we consume for how much energy our bodies use to stay at our "maintenance" weight. It realies is about the number of calories, but still try to make healthy choices. Especially while you are making milk for your little one.

Stress is important in that if you are overly stressed your body produces more cortisol which is essentially a steroid hormone and can keep the weight on.

SLEEP.. .this is the most important thing anyone needs who is working on weight loss. I can attest to this as my first child didn't sleep do to severe acid reflux and neither did I for almost 2 years. I maintained my same diet and activity level and my weight was finally right when I became pregnant again. And now with another newborn, I lost all but 9lbs by 2 weeks(And I had gained more with #2.) Crazy that the only difference in the both babies is that I slept for the second.

I would tell you to review your sleep, calories, stress, activity level and adjust them to fit your body's needs. If you want to wean then do so, but I do not think it is going to help you loose or gain weight. However it is allowing your palette to enjoy more foods as your body is burning more calories to make milk.

I hope this is helpful. You sound like a wonderful mom. And like you, I just love the bonding from breastfeeding.

-MB

Most people say nursing helps them lose the weight as the baby is helping burn the calories. Make sure you are choosing healthy foods, lots of fluids, add in some walking (kids in a double stroller?) If you make good choices with your food/cooking, you'll be down in no time. Anyone that chases after two busy boys is going to be burning alot of calories! Please keep nursing that baby! (especially through cold/flu season) you won't regret it!

First don't stop breastfeeding, this is the best for baby. Besides you only have one chance to breastfeed,and can lose the weight at any time. Look at what you are eating, give up most of the carbs. like noodles, bread, rice, pot. really starcty foods, will help with weight lose. I do not think you will lose the weight just because you stop breastfeeding. God Bless B. A.