[axiomae]

Morning all,

DD is 8 months old and breastfed. We've had so many battles with low supply that I'm still taking the maximum dose of motilium and I've been comp feeding her with formula after feeds until now. Since becoming established on solids, she hasn't wanted the formula top ups, yay! Such an achievement for us to keep BFing this far and I'm very proud

However, this extra baby weight is really starting to annoy me! Would love to lose it but I think part of the reason I lost my supply was dieting too soon. I would love to hear about your experiences dieting while breastfeeding - did you manage to lose weight? Did you lose your milk? Just curious to see if it's something I might consider again now, but I'm nervous.

Thanks in advance

[lilmissmars]

I don't want to discourage you at all, but for me I just couldn't move the weight until I stopped breast feeding.

I did try going on the "lose baby weight" diet shakes but my body was not going to let go of the fat till it was ready. For me, as I said, that wasn't till I stopped breast feeding.

Since November I have lost 12kgs (20kg more to go) and I'm okay with the fact that I stopped breast feeding to do it.

If I only had 5-10kgs to lose I would have kept feeding bub longer to be honest.

I've only known one woman so far who actually lost weight while feeding. She did nothing special to do that though.

[~katiez~]

Also can't shift it while BFeeding - my appetite is far bigger than its ever been and to be honest I'm struggling not to gain! I have a great milk supply, never needed to top up my DD and I don't want to compromise it. I'm a few kilos over weight so will kep trying but can't help thinking that it won't budge until I stop feeding and I don't intend on doing that any time soon.

[lady lady]

With DD#1 I started Weight Watchers combined with exercise (3-4 times a week) when she was about 9 months and lost between 0.5- 0.8kg a week.

With DD#2 (now), I joined again at 4 weeks post partum and am losing between 0.5 - 0.6kg a week with NO excercise. Once DD is 6 months and starting solids I will adjust my points.

With weightwatchers you get an extra 14 points a day if you are Breastfeeding but I find once solids start you can lower these and your body is not "exclusive feeding" anymore.

I did find in the early days I would use all my points as I was ravashing but from about 10 weeks+ the "starving" has eased.

I also found I really needed to exercise (3-4 times a week for minimum of 30 minutes) after 6+ months to lose anything

I also really need to discipline myself and my self control, not working makes me visit a few too many cafe's or do yummy cooking!!!!

[bettymm]

i must say , I also struggle to shift that baby weight till i stop breastfeeding. Im always a little "doughy" when feeding. Partly because I just seem to have more apetite and like the PP above, being at home and not working seems to lead to more sneaky trips to cafes and baking at home!

Keeping active is important too.

[Sunny003]

Google 'paleo' or 'paleo and breastfeefing'

Basically, no sugar, no grains, no processed foods.

Lots of good fats will keep your supply up. Butter, avocado, coconut oil etc

DD is 10wks and I have 2kgs left (gained 17kg) without any exercise at all.

[axiomae]

Interesting, thank you! So it's not just me - makes me feel better than I can't seem to shift the weight! I'm hungry ALL the time and it's such a struggle to be active in a hot QLD summer.

I'm planning on feeding DD until at least 12 months (when I go back to work) and I'm not terribly overweight, about 5kgs over pre-baby weight so it's not much, just annoying that I feel a bit frumpy in a limited wardrobe.

I don't want to compromise my supply and stress over nothing, so I guess I can just accept that I'll hold onto the weight until then. But I don't really want to have to buy a new work wardrobe... sigh!

[nouseforaname]

I'm another who can't shift weight while bf. I think my body goes into some sort of fat storing mode. When I stopped bf ds3 ten months ago I quickly went on to lose twenty kilograms, with clean eating and an hour if exercise three times a week.

Don't stress, eat healthy, moderate exercise and enjoy your bub.

[Natbub0610]

I'm another who did WW whilst BF and with minimum of extra exercise, I found the weight came off, even if it was a little begrudgingly.

[lucky 2]

Another thing to consider is that often women who naturally drop weight whilst bfing tend to have this happen in the second half of the baby's first year rather than the first half.
I didn't have any baby fat to lose (I lost weight during pregnancy) but kept piling it on due to my high calorie diet and lack of exercise. Now I need to lose it.
I know what you mean about a hot summer, unless you can go somewhere cool to exercise (ie gym or pool) or do it in the very early morning or evening it's hard to do.
If it's only 5 kg perhaps do it with dietary changes and hopefully the less hot weather will eventually arrive and your baby will possibly allow you some small periods of absence to do some exercise, even if it is just more walking.
In case you haven't seen this- http://kellymom.com/nutrition/mothers-diet/mom-weightloss/
All the best.