Weaning Breastfed Baby and Weight Gain

Hi L.,
Breast feeding burns about 500 calories a day, that's why you lost weight. If you don't want to gain it back, then you have to cut at least 500 calories from your daily diet. I know it sucks. I loved breast feeding. Not only for the special bonding time with my baby, but also for the big boobs & weight loss.

Hello L.,

I have to say when I cut down on nursing around the same time as you, I stayed the same weight but when my daughter hit about 18 months, I started to gain it because of my eating habits. I kept eating like I was nursing a 3 month old and it caught up to me, plus I wasn't excercising. So, we stopped nursing at 22 months and I was at my heaviest. Now 5 months later, I have lost 11 pounds with the help of excercise and Jenny Craig. I am not a small woman to begin with (5'6, usually around 155). So, now I am at 164 and I hope to lose the rest by July but I did have to decrease my breads, sugars and meat portions and increase my cardio. I think you are going in the right direction to keep the 15 off, just count calories (I do about 1200-1300 calories with as much fruit and veggies to curb the hunger). Good luck and I was in the same boat but I didn't realize my weight gain, so you are 10 steps ahead of me.
Good Luck, D.

I went through the same thing - I gained about 10-15 pounds once I stopped nursing. You burn over 500 calories a day just from breastfeeding - when you think about how much that is, it is huge! That is almost twice what I used to burn doing my usual workouts.

Once I realized where my body was going, I started an exercise program - 4 days a week of half hour aerobics plus some weight training. I did this for about 5 months and had great results. I lost all the weight and then some, plus I felt toned and fabulous. Then we moved into a new house, and the project of packing, moving and unpacking took up all of my time. It's been hard to resume my routine ever since (that was about 10 months ago). I still work out some every week, but nothing like I used to. But I am happy to say that the weight has not come back. I think once you get rid of that initial gain, your body re-regulates and balances back to your natural weight. At least that's what I keep telling myself!

I do need to get back on the bandwagon, just because I feel so much better about myself and the world when I am exercising. My goal for the summer is to take advantage of the warm weather by getting out there with my girl in her stroller and jogging a few times a week. That is the plan!

Happy training! : )

Same thing happened to me. I was weighing 6 lbs less after pregnancy because of the breastfeeding. When I stopped I gained it all back and then some. My only saving grace has been the nice weather. I just make sure to take long walks after work w/ my little one. I even bought a jogging stroller off of craigslist for about $50. She hates it right now, but I'm hoping she starts getting more used to it.... The main thing I had to do was really cut down on my eating. It was very hard at first because you are used to HAVING to eat more. After a week or two of cutting down you realize that you aren't really that hungry it was just the habit you developed. I tried to do this by eating a lot more fruits and veggies as snacks and also a handful of nuts or trail mix. It's fatty, but a good kind of fat and it really fills you up. It's been tough, but the fact that you realize the calorie difference after breastfeeding is the most important step, just don't let it sneak up on you! Good luck!