Pregnancy & Parenting

I think that us moms who breastfeed just cannot compare ourselves to everyone else - except myabe those that are pregnant!

i try to focus on others and there calories and goals but mine just dont compare-- therefor i think we need our own weigh in group!!

im a mom to a 2 yr old and a five month old

i am 5'4 - 24 years old

starting weight-185 back from january

current -161.4

goal -135

i weigh in on tuesdays- but heck as long as we post  are weights on whichever day we can support one another!

i think this will be fun- we can compare our excerise rather then to peep who workout vigorously since we have to keep our milk supply too!

What's your stats??

Brandy-

Welcome :)

To answer your question, it's safe to start trying to lose weight after the 8 week mark.  You won't want to drop your calories too low until your milk supply is well established.  I dropped my cals to 1700 at 12 weeks PP and my milk suffered.  Now I eat between 1800 & 2000, my milk is fine and I'm still losing.  (My estimated daily burn with the breastfeeding is about 2500 just to give you an idea).

Anyway, hope I helped!

Brandy,

I waited till 8 weeks to attempt dieting.  I've found too I can't just say I need say 1800 calories or something it will vary greatly depending on my son's eating schedule for the day if he is constantly nursing I need more to eat that day if he doesn't nurse much obviously I need less.

I got my calorie estimates from this site http://babyfit.sparkpeople.com/post-pregnancy -nutritional-transition.asp

brandydm

 I started dieting when I when back to work, and about 1750-2000 calories a day has really worked really well for me. The one thing that will effect your milk production is how often and long you express during the day. The first two weeks I was back at work, I'd express every 2-3 hours for twenty minutes at a time. I'd use a dual breast pump so that I wouldn't get lopsided. I was mimicking my baby's feeding schedule. Then I had to go to a training class for 6 weeks, and I'd be lucky if I could express once a day!! It really dropped my production!

Hello, I'd love to join this group!  I've got an 11 month old daughter who will be one year old in a week and she's still bf, woo!  We'll go as long as she wants.  It's hard to lose weight when bf because if you excersise too much or don't eat enough it can really affect milk supply and i've been struggling with this.  I try to walk everday for 20 minutes or so (we take a brisk morning stroll) and other than that I have a Wii fit LOL!  I know that's not excersise but hey, it gets me moving while my daughter sleeps and it's something quiet I can do, not like the noisy elliptical.  I'm 28 years old and I have 33 pounds to go.  If I can drop these 33 pounds i'll be VERY happy!

I haven't posted my weight in a while, mainly cuz it hasn't MOVED AT ALL!!

Monday Aug 5th: 131

Goal Oct 9th: 120-125

I'm a mom to a 4 1/2 month old girl and I have heard that breastfeeding helps you loose weight, not quite working for me.

My pre-pregnancy weight was 165 and  I'm a 5'7 26 yr. old. I'm back to my pre-pregnancy weight but I would still like to lose another 20 lbs.

I lost the 24 lbs. that I had gained in the first month, now I'm stuck. I'm constantly hungry and really tired. Anyone out there with the same problem??? I have never really  done calorie counting so I need some help from you ladies. Please HELP!!!!

How many calories should I be in taking daily???

How do I control my appetite??? Is it the breastfeeding that's making me so hungry???

My baby is sleeping through the night and I get an average of 6-7 hrs. of sleep per night. IS it normal to be so tired all the time??? 

hi!!! i need this group!!! i am mommy to 4 kids. 6 1/2, 4, 2 and 2 months. i am breastfeed my little man. I am about 8 lbs from my prepregnancy weight, but i have a lot to do beyond that! i gained alot of weight with my 1st and 2nd pregnancies and never lost it all So I have about 50 lbs to lose!!! i need help! i'm just geeting started and i'm hoping for the best!

Hello.  I am another mom in need of help too.  I am 26 years old, 5'7", and I just wieghed myself at 203.5lbs.  I have a 5 year old and an 8 month old who I am still breastfeeding.  My pre-pregnancy weight was around 215 lbs. so I've lost a few pounds due to the breastfeeding, but I've been stuck, I can't seem to get under 200. 

I tend to eat and eat!  I am always hungry due to the breastfeeding.  Plus, to make things worse, I am always craving something sweet, so i tend to munch on cookies, ice cream, zebra cakes, anything I can get my hands on! 

Just to let you know Flower7 breastfeeding takes a lot out of you.  I was told that it's like being pregnant without the baby in your belly.  Your body works overtime to make enough milk loaded with all those great  nutrients that only breastfeeding can provide for your baby.  Most times, especially if you don't eat a lot of foods with the nutrients your body needs, your going to be tired and hungry all the time because of how hard your body is working to support you and your baby. 

I'm in the same boat, and i know why: I'm not eating the way I should be eating.  I need advice as to how to stick to a plan, on how to keep reaching for the peaches instead of the ice cream.  I keep the good stuff out and easy to find, I hide the bad stuff or just don't buy it, but I still find myself digging out the bad stuff or taking a late night run to the store!! Does anyone have any advice?

wanted to say welcome to all the new comers! I know that dieting can be hard but we have that slight advantage since bfing that we get to eat more. I do admit i love my sweet stuff and i simply let myself enjoy it to, if i take everything away i just fall back into old eating habits.

im not big into working out either im a normal girl with her babies at home and just wanting a moments peace to do something for myself. I think that by changing this lifestyle we all once had we are doing it for OURSELVES and we have to work hard at it!. I admit i slacked for a couple months bc i simply got comfortable like we all do but im doing well and throwin in 30 min of working out 5-6 times a week. I am seeing change again- 155.6 and thats almost 30 lbs since january!

u have to make better food choices but have a cheat day every week so you arent making yourself feel deprived- mine is sunday since hubby home we tend to eat out! Or today our anniversary so i get a slice of DQ cake!

its all about moderation honestly-  u can have that pie but a sliver of it is good enough- besides those first couple of bites really cure the desire we just like to keep our mouths busy and continue eating-lol

good luck ladies im hoping for the best for all of you- keep posting bc it  really is a motivator!!!

Great advice shauna (I too fall victim to the pie demon). LOL  ;)  Welcome new mommies & good luck!!!

Original Post by flower7:

I'm a mom to a 4 1/2 month old girl and I have heard that breastfeeding helps you loose weight, not quite working for me.

My pre-pregnancy weight was 165 and  I'm a 5'7 26 yr. old. I'm back to my pre-pregnancy weight but I would still like to lose another 20 lbs.

I lost the 24 lbs. that I had gained in the first month, now I'm stuck. I'm constantly hungry and really tired. Anyone out there with the same problem??? I have never really  done calorie counting so I need some help from you ladies. Please HELP!!!!

How many calories should I be in taking daily???

How do I control my appetite??? Is it the breastfeeding that's making me so hungry???

My baby is sleeping through the night and I get an average of 6-7 hrs. of sleep per night. IS it normal to be so tired all the time??? 

 Are you still taking your pre-natal vitamins? You should be taking them, or some multi-vitamin, for as long as you are breast feeding. That could explain the exhaustion. Or... could you be pregnant again? The breast feeding method of birth control is really iffy, only about 75% effective. Unless you are on some form of birth control, that could be a reason.

Try getting a little more sleep, if the answer to the questions is "Yes" and "No".

Original Post by mohawk_woman:

 

Just to let you know Flower7 breastfeeding takes a lot out of you.  I was told that it's like being pregnant without the baby in your belly.  Your body works overtime to make enough milk loaded with all those great  nutrients that only breastfeeding can provide for your baby.  Most times, especially if you don't eat a lot of foods with the nutrients your body needs, your going to be tired and hungry all the time because of how hard your body is working to support you and your baby. 

I'm in the same boat, and i know why: I'm not eating the way I should be eating.  I need advice as to how to stick to a plan, on how to keep reaching for the peaches instead of the ice cream.  I keep the good stuff out and easy to find, I hide the bad stuff or just don't buy it, but I still find myself digging out the bad stuff or taking a late night run to the store!! Does anyone have any advice?

 Do not buy or keep the sweets in your house at all!! It's much cheaper and easier to not have them at any time. To hinder the late night runs, hide the debit/ checks or credit cards in a safe and only have enough cash on hand for gas and maybe a lunch or two. If you only have just enough $ to put gas in your vehicle, then you probably won't spend it on snacks.  Extreme, I know, but its' a sure fire way to get into the habit of eating healthier.

Wow m0m6 that's HARSH!!!  If I locked the credit cards in a safe and threw away all my bf's sweets he'd surely have me commited!!!  LOL

I have to have some sweets every day as well, but I just make sure to fit it into my plan.  I buy the "real stuff" for my bf and my son and for me I buy: "Slim A Bear 100 calorie ice cream sandwiches, 100 calorie packs of shortbread / chocolate chip cookies, rice krispies treat squares (100 cals each!), Enteman's 100 cal brownie bites & 100 cal muffins, and weight watchers lemon cakes (79 cals each!).  I also usually keep a couple of "3 musketeers mint" bars in the house, 2 bars to a package and each one is only 75 cals, for when I have to be really naughty!  Hehe.

I stay between 1800-2000 cals / day and I usually eat my meals in the following pattern:

B: 300 cals

L:  500 cals

S:  200 cals

D:  500 - 700 cals (depending on my calorie goal for the day)

Desert:  300 cals

I eat healthy meals and try to get as much protein as possible (I aim for 90+ grams a day).  I usually have 2-4 servings of vegetables with dinner and forgo the potatoes or pasta that I make for the boys. 

I eat big meals, I just eat them in a smart way!  For breakfast I either have:

oatmeal and fruit

2 servings of "better n eggs plus", 2 pieces of bacon & a piece of wheat toast with spray butter

or "Heart to Heart waffles" and 2 servings of "Better n eggs plus"

These are all FAST meals that I can whip up while the baby is in her swing (and before she starts to meltdown LOL) they're all healthy and they're satisfying for at least 3-4 hours

For lunch I eat whatever I want that contains at least 15g of protein and fits into the 500 cal limit (and I do mean anything)

For dinner I eat steak, center cut pork chops, pork loin, grilled chicken breasts, tacos (with fresh corn tortillas, lean ground beef, veggies and salsa), We even pick up taco bell / subway from time to time.

Eating this way enables me to have 3 - 100 calorie deserts every single night and I think that's probably what keeps my fingers out of the box of honey buns and that big apple pie I bought for the boys.  :)

Good luck mommies!

Thank you guys for all the advice.

I'm still taking prenatal vitamins, and funny you ask about being pregnant again... I just took a pregnancy test two days ago ( I was so nervous ), and it was negative. I am on birth control ( mini-pill ), I'm even wondering if that could be the reason I'm so tired. I don't know anymore...

How long does it take for your menstrual cycles to get back to normal?  I'm a first time mom and my baby is 4 1/2 months and I still haven't had a cycle.

Thank you Mohawk_woman for your advice, and yes, I totally feel you on the craving sweets, I have been out of control lately. I'm trying to keep fruits in the house instead of bad sweets. Wish me luck!

I'm so glad I found this forum...

flower7 - I'm on the minipill as well and I don't get my period when I'm taking them, now if I miss a dose or two I bloat up like a baloon and if I miss 2 or more then I always start to spot.

Gotta love that minipill...  I'll be sad when I have to stop taking it!  LOL 

I eat skinny cow ice cream sandwiches!! TASTEY!! Getting rid of all the junk food was the only way for me to start my diet, because I'm a grazer. But, now gas prices are high enough that I don't drive unless I have to!

TO FLOWER 7:  Breast feeding is a natural form of birth control. So, while you are exclusively breast feeding your cycle will more than likely not come. I didn't get my cycle for almost 5 months too. I had the Implanon implant put in when my husband came back from Korea, though. Not too bad. My arm was REALLY sore for about 2 days. Now it's only tender when I accidently touch the implant.

Thank you everyone for the great advice!  mOm6, the total lock down of all those devilish sweets is probably what I need to do to get started becuase I am a grazer too.  It seems like I eat mindlessly!  It's so depressing!  But anyway, ahazel1980 has the right idea when I do get myself on track and thank you for that advice as well.

Yesterday was the first day that I actually logged everything I ate in my food log, and was I shocked!  I didn't enter the last three items that I had for the day because of how dissapointed I was in myself for eating that much.  When i first started calorie count, I followed the recommended amount of calories I should be having in one day.  By dinner time, I was sooooo hungry!  We ended up having to go to the city, so my hubby and I stopped at A&W for dinner.  i bought the mama burger with onion rings and a med soda and inhaled it in under 5 minutes!  Of course that ruined my calories intake and I hadn't counted calories until last night.  Is there a recommended amount of calories a bfing mom can have in a day?  Is 1750 cals too little?

OMG i love sweets and AHAZEL1980- right on with dessert!! I usually have it every night as well i just have too!! I love that stuff to much if i got rid of all of it i would completely stop dieting!!

i so splurged last night though- with DQ and a nice ribeye steak wow- to bad we could eat that stuff every night - but im thinking some terriyaki pineapple chicken skewers tonight with brown rive and vegies!  mmm mmm

i guess i need to go eat breakfast!-- I found this carnation sugar free choc mix for only 60 cals a serving - i only drink choc milk and that was good and filling too- if u like choc milk u should try that!

Anyone here try the mirena BC? I am on that but have only some minor side effects

A range of 1700-2000 cal sounds about  right. Try spreading out your food throughout a 12-14 hour period, the largest meal somewhere around hour 7-8.  If you eat a small meal every 3 hours, then you won't get that hungry

Hello ladies, I hope you guys had a great weekend. I can't seem to be able to stop eating junk, I do well one day and the next day I fall off the wagon again... I don't know what to do. 

Any of you guys had a tough time getting started???