Weight Plateau Despite Breastfeeding

Just wanted to say you are not alone :) I also lost 18 pounds in the six weeks after my second child was born. She was born in July. I don't have a scale at home so in December I found out at an appointment that I had gained back one pound, not lost anymore. I have a six month old and almost three year old and I breastfeed...I don't even want to get back to my pre-baby #1 days! I would settle for the pre-baby #2 days :). I have never dieted and as soon as I start to think about trying I feel like it is not in me. But both my parents have adult onset diabetes sooo I am thinking that healthy eating and being active is the best thing to do for my kids and myself. And since I am on the go all day and pretty good at avoiding most junk food I think I may just have to get used to this size until I figire out a way to excerise even more.

I lost some weight after my first, but my "big" weight loss was after my second. By six months I was down 5 sizes from my return to work at six weeks. I combined exclusive breastfeeding (awesome) with following a healthy diet, not dieting. My company was participating in the "Eat Well, Live Well" challenge, so I went back to work focused on eating 5 fruits and veggies a day and getting at least 10,000 steps in. I worked out for about 30 minutes at least 5 or 6 days a week and snuck in "little" activities, like extra squats and abs, when the kids let me. I also focused on making generally good eating choices, avoiding junk, drinking water, and not dropping below about 1500 calories a day at the lowest.

It did not take time, but I keep a "health" journal. I write down my weight regularly and my general activity and how I ate, but I do not track my calories. If I ate well but had a piece of cake, I note that. If I ate terribly all day I note that. I also took pictures "before" (when I went back to work) and my measurements (except my bust--I refused to even think about that until I weaned), and periodically updated my progress. That made me more motivated. Focus on eating healthfully for now, but it is important to be conscious of what you are eating. Just eat at least 1500-1600 calories, try to fit in some deliberate exercise in addition to child chasing (my older son LOVED working out with me--he had his own cardboard dumbbells I made him and everything), and keep at it.

I gained almost 50 lbs with my second, and it took me about 9 months to a year to get most of the weight off. I am 5' 2" - so I looked like a round blob. I can understand your feelings & some women do not lost weight while they are breastfeeding - my body kept most of the weight on when I was breastfeeding. See if you can get your hubby to watch the little ones for you so you can go to the gym to get some time to yourself. You will feel better and will be a better mom and wife.

I'm expecting our second right now, so I don't know about harder with subsequent recoveries...but I'll say I didn't REALLY start losing until after I weaned at 16 months. I DO think that I became more careful at that point and I had more time to exercise...but I'd been watching what I ate and exercising while nursing too. It was very frustrating - especially when I had friends who were like "I had TWO bowls of ice cream tonight - don't you LOVE the breastfeeding metabolism?!" Um, no, thanks - I had yogurt and still managed to gain more weight. ;)

Once I quit BF, it was about 8-9 months before I got rid of all the weight, and was actually in better shape than before I'd gotten preg. It was a frustrating time, but I tell you what - I wouldn't have traded nursing my little girl for anything.

This time, I'm going to try calorie-counting more diligently after the baby is born, while being careful not to cut too much - milk production is important! And so is your sleep. :) You have time to get your body back - enjoy this time with your kiddos while they're tiny, and do your best to healthy in the process! Note - I'm talking to myself too. ;)

your body hangs on to fat when you are bfing..it needs it to make the milk..if you want to shed weight you're gonna have to work out..i used to run in the park pushing the stroller..Elysian Park in Echo Park is great for that..or around the Silverlake Reservoir ..or even the Rosebowl..i used a Frog Bugaboo b/c its only 16 lbs..and is sturdy..the pounds came off doing that..i would take my son to the park..run..then we'd park and he would play..
then i'd go home and do a 20 minute workout while he napped..and then at night sometimes i would do P90X..
you could just do 10 minutes morning..10 afternoon ..and 10 at night..buy some dvds ..like Denise Austin's Get Fit Fast or some of The Firm dvds..P90X is the best..also a lot of people like Tracy Anderson..and i hear her dvds are pretty easy and effective..
also start your day w/ an ice cold glass of water..gets the metabolism going..
i joined Equinox gym..b/c they have a daycare..most gyms do..and that also gives you a break..so u drop the kids at the day care..go take 2 ..30 minute classes..then shower and steam..nice break in the day..and u lose weight..
i had my son at 41...and he is now almost 5..i'm in better shape than i was before i got pregnant b/c i subscribed to Shape and Fitness mags..followed their tips and i work out...you can lose the weight but you're going to have to workout a bit..and u may really get into it like i have..

good luck

D.

I was and am in a very similar situation. The truth is, your body is in a mode were it will give up fat before it will take from your milk supply. Thats why your body stored fat in the first place, for breastfeeding. I also dropped 17 lbs then platued until month 4 or 5. I decided to "watch what I ate" without dieting. I lost about 2 lbs a month. I also did a non caloric restricting fast the consisted of eating only fruit, veg, beans, nuts, and avocado for two weeks (I got it from a book called the seven principles of fat burning). I know of two women who did it breastfeeding and it didn't effect their milk supply. I would look at doing something about it. You can diet, you just have to restrict calories to 1800 instead of 1400. Some woman can't loose the last 10 until breastfeeding. But I think you can diet, but if it affects your milk supply, stop.

Yes! It gets harder with each pregnancy and it's REALLY hard during nursing. With all of mine I lost some pounds right away the first few weeks, but then MAJORLY plateaued, pretty much until I quit nursing when I could diet and exercise properly again. While you are nursing, your body is hungry and very tired. This makes it almost impossible to lose weight. Just eat healthfully, don't sweat it, get as much sleep as possible (cruel hoax, I know) and try to keep healthfully mobile. But you may just have to wait a while before you can really hack away at the weight. The healthier you eat now, the easier it will be to lose later. Don't eat junk and sweets or the deep rooted fat etc will be harder to lose.

Don't feel bad, I was in maternity clothes for months. It took me a year to get into my pre preg size clothes after my 3rd. And I only nursed for 6 months.

Hi! don't worry after I had my second it took me about a year to loose the baby weight (and i'm a petite girl), like someone else said do watch what you eat and how much you eat, but healthy don't over do it, because as soon as you stop doing it you will gain the weight back. if you keep that discipline with the food, keeping a moderate but significant change you will achieve long term success which is also better as you will stay eating that way from being used to it. Good luck!!

My third will be six months on the 8th. These are my "tricks":

1) Eat breakfast. I posted my favorite quick and easy recipe on another thread a month ago. Basically it's about 6 ounces of Greek yogurt, a banana and/or other fruit, a peanut butter granola bar (smashed to bits) and a small amount (.5 tsp. or less) of organic maple syrup. Combine and stir. Tons of protein, oats for the breastfeeding, and a sweet/tart flavor I love.

2) Walk. I put the baby in a wrap or structured carrier and pace the downstairs living areas. My 33 month old follows me like we're in a parade, lol.

3) Have a large glass of water nearby at all times (and drink it, lol).

Hope that helps,

S. :+)

You have to EAT to feed you and your baby. You have to EAT the right foods. You have to EAT so your body can rebuild after the pregnancy and childbirth. I will send private message with the product that I recommend. But here is what my "moms" have said about EATING right.
Julie - baby number 5 and with eating properly, i went to my pre baby # 3 birth weight. And I ate!
Allison - baby #3 was a breeze. I had been doing the nutrition program for the year before I got pregnant, while I was pregnant and after I gave birth, i am back to the weight of my 20s! Little to no effort, just eating the right foods. And adding a bit of super foods.
Carri - I was told that the weight would be harder to lose after each baby. Not with the right food. baby #2 was out and within no time I was back to where I wanted to be...AND healthier than ever, baby too! I share my program with both kids now!

B.
Family Success Coach

We sound like twins. I live in Irvine and I have a 3 year old and a 3 month old. I lost 20 pounds pretty quickly and, despite exclusively breastfeeding, the rest of the weight is staying put. It totally sucks! I think I am probably eating a little too much junk, but even in the last couple of weeks when I have watched what I eat a lot more and started exercising again, the weight is still not coming off.

Maybe we can encourage each other to exercise by walking together with the babies. Send me a message if you'd ever like to meet up!

K.
http://oc.citymommy.com - looking to connect with local moms? CityMommy has it all!

I hear you sister!! we're in the same boat. I'm exclusively breastfeeding my 8 month old daughter. At first the pounds just melted away (27 of them ) I am now stuck with 20 "extra" pounds. I don't mind it's just I don't want to look like I'm expecting!!!!

I think you & I (and everyone else in our boat) need to be patient. After breastfeeding is over we can drop our baby fat. I plan on breastfeeding for one year so I have anywhere from 4-6months left to go. Hang in there!! we're doing this for our little ones.

Hi there,

I can't believe those moms around me (and it feels like I am surrounded by them) that are back in skinny jeans a couple of months after giving birth. Oh well, that is not me. I gained 50 or 60 lbs with my first and lost 30 lbs after her, but never got back down to my pre pregnancy weight. Very hard to take off the weight after first baby, but I think it was because I ate EVERYTHING because I was pregnant with the first, so I TRULY gained weight, not just baby weight.

So, with my second, I ate properly during my pregnancy and so only gained 25-30lbs and experienced a large weight loss within the first 6 weeks or so, then plateau. I did do weight watchers after 6 weeks to try and make sure I was eating healthy (they allow breastfeeding mothers to be on program, by giving more allowance for caloric needs). I started up an exercise program and was watching what I was eating and yet the weight would NOT come off, until I was finally done breastfeeding. Then my final 5-10 lbs came off with some work, making sure I was exercising.

I had to be careful with too much exercise and breastfeeding, my milk supply would go down, so I just did what my body would allow. Now I am working on getting off those 30lbs left over from my first pregnancy. Doing it with weight watchers, which really simplifies the process of losing, even though any losing of weight takes committment and work on your own part.

Just to let you know too that your body internally and such has not recuperated, repaired itself for one year after the birth of a child. No matter what weight you are.

Good luck, I know it is frustrating, but you will do it. I also had a 4 year old when I had my second.

E.

Breastfeeding made me plateau! I would lose about 15 lbs initially and then stall until I stopped breastfeeding. With my 2nd it was also much harder than my first due to age, etc. I didn't breastfeed my 2nd very long at all either, but I couldn't do anything to get the weight to move while breastfeeding. For some it makes the weight fall off, but not for all! Just keep eating very healthy and exercising as much as possible and then when you stop breastfeeding, you will most likely be able to drop the weight. Your body is also still transitioning from wanting to "hold on" to everything to feed a growing baby. Many women report a sudden drop 6-10 months after having a child. It seems that for some of us, our bodies suddenly realize they're not supporting a baby anymore and let go! You will probably have to cut your calorie intake further at that point, but cutting out sweets and white flours/sugars will really help you as well as drinking 80-100oz of water per day (the old 64oz rule is better than nothing, but for your weight and height you need more. I am 5'8" and was over 200 with both pregnancies, and wondered why I was so dehydrated. My doctor told me I need more like 100oz of water per day instead of 64.)