Gaining Weight

Drink only water, and lots of it (what I mean is watch juice levels and avoid sodas and sweet drinks). Avoid artificial sweeteners! Make sure you're getting enough iodine (I live in Germany right now and the doctors prescribe it for nursing moms and pre-teen girls), as your thyroid may be at risk. All the other women had great advice re fiber, whole foods and Weight Watchers, if you need support. Stick with it!

Try your best to be happy and enjoy the blessings of this amazing phase in your life. It's so short!

L. D., mom of three

Don't do the diet pill thing - their success rate is low. Try looking at what exactly you are eating, not how much. In fact, if you cut back too much (which you should not do if you are nursing) then you are actually slowing your motabalism. Eat more vegetables (watch out for things like broccoli or you'll have a gas-y baby:-0) and easy on breads/pasta. Lots of sugar in them. Stay away from diet sodas. They all have Asparatame in them (except for Diet Rite) and the list of side affects is two pages long, INCLUDING weight gain! Quite often when we are in a hurry we grab the nearest thing to us for food, which ends up being carbs. Oh - big no-no - stay away from fastfoods. LOTS of fats.
Good luck!
C.

Hi E.,

Your nutrition isn't absorbing in your system. Have you changed anything? Your prenatal? Your stress level? Are you eating more "ready-to-eat" foods? The chemicals in faster foods, processed frozen and fast foods, will cause weight gain. Nutrasweet also causes weight gain. Look at everything you have done and get back to me if you have anymore questions. Nutrition is the key to keeping your weight stable. Something has gotten it off kilter.....(sometimes it's just the birth, but that can be readjusted too!)

Regards,

M.

I agree with Lauren, get your thyroid level checked. Tell your MD your concerned, and he'll order a thyroid level check. It's as simple as a blood test. If it's abnormal your MD will call you, if you don't have a followup scheduled, and call in a prescription. That's the first step.

I've been hyper and hypothyroid from Grave's disease, a thyroid dz. If you're abnormal, write me and I'll tell you more ;) Good luck!

Go see your doctor and get your thyroid levels checked. If you are more active than before, eating the same amount and gaining weight you may be hypothyroid. It is relatively common and is easily treated. Definitely do this before trying any diet pills.

Chances are, your metabolism has slowed down, possibly from not eating enough or not eating often enough. My suggestions are to eat your regular meals, maybe in slightly smaller portions, but add two smaller meals or snacks between. This doesn't mean you eat more junk, pick healthy snacks to hold you over until the next meal. Eating more frequently will help increase metabolism because your body will be getting and burning energy more often.

Also increase your fruits and veggies while slightly decreasing your meat and grains. A good way to do this is buy making meals with a good portion of fruits or veggies in the main entree and adding a side of veggies. Make sure that most of the grains you eat are whole grains, which is very good for your body. Also drink lots of water. I find it easiest to drink a big cup in the morning (I take it with meds) and big cups between or with each meal. I also tend to get very thirsty at night so I drink more water then. Anyway, the increase of fruits and veggies gives you a steady flow of food to burn without providing so many calories and fat. It fills you up faster, but you need to replenish sooner, so you eat some healthy snack with fruit or veggies. Providing more low calorie food without the excess fat and calories. The water helps keep you hydrated and helps keep you from feeling hungry.

Remember that when you are pregnant or nursing your body needs more resources for the baby, so it's kind of natural for you to gain some weight and your body to try to store whatever it can to provide for the baby. Also remember to make sure you are getting a good balance of foods so you get the nutrients you and baby need.

Hi E.,
After I had my son, I had a major thyroid problem. It's worth getting it checked for sure because if it is your thyroid, you'll slowly keep gaining weight and won't be able to lose it no matter how much you diet or workout. The good thing is that it's easy to remedy once it's discovered.
If you want to talk about it, you can call me.
L.
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Oh please don't take diet pills.....they are not good for you. If you care to hear a much more healthier way to nutrition and health, check out my website: www.mdsharesjuiceplus.com. Whatever you decide to do, please check out all the research behind whatever product you take. So many times, people make rash decisions without even knowing what they are really taking and the consequences can be serious. Congratulations and Blessing to you and your new little ones.

How often do you work out?? Nursing always seemed to make me gain weight too. The 3rd time around I realized I needed to get moving. I do Cardio and Strength Training 5-6 times a week and I feel better and am seeing the weight come off!

Any chance you could be pregnant again? You can still get pregnant while nursing. I think weight gain just comes with getting older. My daughter is 2..I am 33..and for no reason, I also have been putting on a few more pounds. Our metabolism changes. I don't know much about diet pills, but I would definitely not take any while you are nursing. The best thing you can do is continue to eat healthy, and pass those nutrients on to your baby. Good luck...and enjoy this time to nurse. It will be over before you know..and then you will have the time to deal with your weight issue. Take care!

E....this is simple. I have an month old son and still breastfeed. I have been working with a trainer to get back in shape. It is not easy, but you do need to be consistent. Eating the right foods is extremely important since you are still breastfeeding. Eat mostly fruits and vegetables, some oatmeal in the morning, and lean meats at lunch and dinner. Eat little to no breads, potatoes, and such (at least for now to give you a jumpstart). Along with that you need to increase your activity to 1 hour per day. (That's in addition to chasing your little one). Take them for walks now that it is cooler outside.(make sure you are walking fast enough to raise your heartrate) Also include some kind of weight resistance training to build muscle. (squats are easy to fit in and if you can hold your baby while squatting in the mirror- they will enjoy it also.) Diet pills are not only harmful to your baby, they are harmful to you also. There is no easy way out.. you just have to make time for yourself and do the work. It will come off. Also, make sure you are getting proper rest...I know us breastfeeding moms don't sleep enough, but remember that our bodies need it too. Good luck and don't stress too much about this. Just be consistent and it will start to happen.

Same thing here....Personally, even if it may sounded as the easiest way out, I wouldn't recommend any diet pills if I were nursing. Remember that women's metabolism slows down as we age (unfortunately). When I lost control on my weight, I enrolled in a gym. They have an amzaing nursery!! I work out and keep in shape so I can chase my two yr. old. This has been the only way to keep my weight while eating what I want. Hope it helps!

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It's pure, safe and beneficial!!!!

Its called Going Going Gone

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There's really no diet pill on the market that is safe while nursing.
Weight Watchers however does have a plan that is geared towards nursing mothers. You can do it online or go to weekly meetings or both. I lost all 40lb of my baby weight when I finally decided to go to WW.
Good luck!

I haven't read ALL your responces but hopefully I'm not repeating a reply...Lack of sleep affects weight loss and it's really hard with little ones to get that sleep...your not alone...also try to read labels cuz transfats are not needed and omega 3 fatty acids are very needed for your brain and for your nursing baby....Kudos to you for Nursing....keep it up.

Same thing happened to me when I was nursing. Other moms kept telling me that nursing helps you lose weight becasue your body burns extra calories to make breast milk. With me it was the opposite. It was like my body held on to every ounce of fat becasue it knew I had a baby to feed. After I weaned, THEN the extra weight easily melted away within a few months without dieting. Give it some time. I wouldn't diet while you are nursing, or take diet pills. Wait until baby is weaned and see how it goes.

Hi E.! Please don't worry about the weight gain right now as it is only temporary. I too gained weight. I lost weight after having my son, but then started gaining as I was nursing due to increased caloric need. Your body goes through enormous change to create and sustain a baby. After a time you won't need as much additional calories and your body will adjust. I was ALWAYS hungry!!! I nursed for two years and I am back to the weight I was 8 years ago! Please do not take any diet pills of any kind. Your body is requiring the calories and MOST importantly........ANYTHING that you put in your body WILL go through the breast milk and to your baby. Be gentle with yourself and allow your body to adjust. Subsequent births also add more weight more quickly. Have faith...you will return to normal with proper diet and exercise when ready. I hope this helps...I've been there too!

I don't know of a diet pill you could take now. I'm in the same boat I'm having problems losing weight since having the baby. My baby was born April 7th. I am just trying to get in extra walking during the day. I power walk the mall. Also I cut down on drinking sodas and juice and just drink water.

I too nurse my 7 month old. I lost all my weight after having him, but am now 15 pounds above that weight; I don't know why.
I also have a Thyroid problem I discovered before my 2n child was born over 8 yrs ago. I feel like all I crave is food and sweets and that may be the culprate of the gain.
I hope from what I read that after I stop nursing I will go back to the norm for my weight. For now I will keep nursing I feel it is more important then loosing the weight.
B. mom of 3 boys 13,8,7 months.

Dear E.,
please do not take a diet pill. They're all bad for your baby.
Now you must be taking in calories that you don't realize you are ingesting. So write down everything you eat and look at it at the end of the day. Don't forget every BITE counts! And drinks other than water ARE calories! ;-)
Are you exercising? I have a fitness class for moms and their babies. I'm located in Davie. I take into consideration the fitness level of every participant.
You can put the kids in a double stroller and come exercise with me. If you're interested, write back. the name of my class is Little Booties Boot Camp.
Good luck,
S.

As I've matured I've had a hard time losing some of the weight that I put on. I ran across a diet in Prevention magazine. It's call the flat belly diet. Your eating normal food that you purchase at the grocery store. The website is www.flatbellydiet.com I bought the cookbook and love it. I've lost 10 pounds in the last month with out any additional exercise. Since there are no pills it would be should be safe for the baby.

Hi E.,

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