Trying to Lose Weight While Nursing! It Just Isn't Coming Off.

Updated on February 28, 2008
T.R. asks from Sherman, TX
11 answers

I gained 40lbs during my last pregnancy and now I'm payin' for it. I'm on the treadmill for 30 min. a day jogging/walking but, I can't seem to lose a pound! If I cut too many calories, my breastmilk gets thin and my daughter gets hungry. I know how to diet and I know all the healthy foods to eat, but I don't have a balance while nursing. HELP PLEASE! All suggestions are welcome.

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H.G.

answers from Austin on

I also gained 40 lbs during my pregnancy - I went on Weight Watchers and have lost a total of 42 lbs and am still nursing my 7 month old. The great thing about WW is you still get to eat and be healthy all while losing weight. Good luck and feel free to email me at ____@____.com if you have any questions.

2 moms found this helpful
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R.W.

answers from Houston on

Give it time!! Trust me... I have a 13 month old daughter I breastfed until she was 11 months and I also gained 40 pounds during my pregnancy. I didn't do any dieting or much exercizing and I now weigh less now then I did before I got pregnant. But my weight didn't come off until she was about 9 or 10 months. But once it started coming off, it fell off dramatically. Don't worry, just give it time. Just rememer to take in what you need so that she is getting what she needs, which is top priority.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.P.

answers from Austin on

You do need to consume an additional 500 cal/day while nursing. Be sure to include dairy! You also should make sure that you're eating enough protein - this helps the lean muscle mass. Shoot for 80-100 grams of protein daily. What really helped me while nursing and trying to lose baby weight was eating several small meals througout the day - I ate like 6 or 7 times each day - but not large meals - so like almonds and a yogurt, or an apple with peanut butter, cottage cheese with fruit, etc. Also, lots of water! I have this large jug that I try to drink all of in the am, fill up at lunch, and finish again by dinner.
The exercise you're doing sounds great. Strength training will help boost your metabolism and tone your muscles - try adding 15 minutes of sit ups, push ups, and lunges to your routine - I tried to find creative ways to sqeeze these in during tummy time so that I could nap when she napped! Love those naps! :0) Speaking of rest - you're body is less likely to shed excess pounds if you aren't getting enough sleep - shoot for 7-8 hours (haha). Even if you have to squeeze it in during nap times - the more rested, the better you're body will be able to release the weight! :) Keep up the good work you sexy momma!

1 mom found this helpful
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G.M.

answers from San Antonio on

Don't worry about the weight gain yet, wait till you finish nursing then lose the weight. There is nothing wrong with being a little over weight after pregnancy. Eat good food that will nurish your baby and you'll be fine!

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A.L.

answers from Beaumont on

You may just need to hold off until you quit nursing. You definitely can't cut calories, and if working out isn't working, then you'll probably just have to wait until you're done nursing. I lost a little while I nursed, but didn't start really losing until I could cut the intake and calories.

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D.T.

answers from Houston on

Hi T.,

Visit www.GoFigure8.com and then call me if you're interested.

Be sure to read the testimonials:-)

D. Tompkins
Office: ###-###-#### or ____@____.com

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C.W.

answers from Houston on

Hi T., It may not come off while nursing. I am a mom of two (a 3 year old and 10 month old). With my daughter I did not starte loosing weight until about 3 months after I stopped nursing and now with my baby I just stopped nursing him about 6 weeks ago and have started to notice a small budge (about 2 lbs). I believe it has something to do with the hormones your body produces while nursing.

See I was training for a marathon all fall 2007 while nursing my son- and not one pound was lost!!! Now that tells you something. I called my friend who is a GP Dr. and she told me that some women become hypothyroid while nursing which corrects itself 12-18 weeks after nursing is completed.

I know its not real advice, but I wanted you to know you are not alone and you can really drive yourself crazy worrying about it and even running a marathon won't work right now.
So please be patient (I know it is hard-trust me at about 6 months I broke down with sheer frustration) but my husband really was supportive and told me to hang in there.

Email me if you want to chat.

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K.C.

answers from Austin on

T.,
I have a one year old and am still nursing. She is now on cow's milk during the day and I am not pumping at work anymore. I nurse her in the morning and in the evening. I always enjoyed nursing and pumping for all the right reasons but it also it meant I could "check out" for 10 mins. I just recently started to lose weight and it's not going anywhere too fast :). I've heard from MANY women that they didn't start losing weight until after they finished nursing. GOOD FOR YOU FOR NURSING IN THE FIRST PLACE. Don't give up now just because you want to lose 40 lbs. You will have the rest of your life to lose weight but only a short time to enjoy your special time with your daughter. Good job for working out!! I tried WeightWatchers and loved it, but my milk supply suffered even with the extra 'points' for nursing added in. I will eventually start that again. ps I have lost about 10-15 lbs since I've started decreasing the number of feedings. My total weight gain during pregnancy was 30 lbs but I was overweight to begin with so I still need to lose 65 lbs to be at my 'ideal' weight. You and I will BOTH get there!
good luck!K.

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J.T.

answers from Houston on

Uh yeah losing weight while nursing...that didn't happen for me!!! I heard that you have to have 3 periods after birth to be able to really assess any weight loss. And well I didn't have any periods while nursing. But I can tell you this. With my 1rst child I gained 80lbs and lost all that plus some...and now I have a 3 month old which I gained almost 50lbs with. I quit nursing her at 2 months and during that time I was losing anything. Now I will be happy when I lose another 15lbs...

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S.C.

answers from Houston on

Hi T.,
Good for you for working out! That's so good for your physical and emotional health. But as for nursing and dieting I wouldn't take away any calories while your nursing. I would give your body whatever it craves or feels like and make sure that you are nourishing yourself and hence, baby. You are working out and that's great, keep it up and eat well and plentiful, as well as diverse. And when you stop nursing, then start reducing the calorie intake in relation to the calorie expenditure and you will start losing weight, also- give your hormones some time to go back to normal. You have a 3 month old? It's been no time :)!! So relax, congratulate yourself for making physical exercise a priority and for finding the time to do it with two little ones, and eat what your body want until the nursing is over. Just my opinion, and you said they were all welcome, not judging what I think is right or wrong. Best of luck and isn't it true that the breast feeding weight loss line is a wives tale!!??? :) Never worked for me and I nursed for 14 months!)

Take care,

S.

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C.L.

answers from San Antonio on

This was like reading a post I wrote myself! I have no good advice, only that my Dr. said some woman just can't lose weight while nursing. Good luck!

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