I Can't Lose Weight While Breastfeeding! ADVICE!!!

[KRP1981]

My son just turned six months old and I am breastfeeding him. I breastfed my daughter (almost 9) and other son (4 1/2) and the weight just seemed to fall off both times. This time however, I lost some weight, almost all of the weight I gained, and now my weight has been at a standstill and I cannot seem to lose anymore!
With my 4 year old, I lost the weight I gained and then 15 more, easily! Like I said, it just melted off.
Now granted, I know I am not 20, or 24 anymore. I will be 29 in 4 weeks. But would my current age make THAT much of a difference?
I breastfeed exclusively (no formula), he still nurses during the night, and I have just recently started giving him some solids.
I try to eat well and limit the snacks. I exercise. I don't know what else to do! :shrug7:
Obviously, I am not just breastfeeding for the weight loss perks; that is just a bonus. I will continue to breastfeed him until he is a year old, at least.
I just feel very frustrated because I was expecting the same thing to happen as with my other two and that I would lose weight easily. I just feel really discouraged and it's like nothing I do helps. My weight is at a standstill. I have tried upping my calories for a week or see to see if it would "jumpstart" my metabolism...nothing. And it's not that I don't have weight to lose...I am 5'5", average to larger bone structure, and my weight is just floating around 182 lbs. I am trying to lose 20. In a healthy way; I'm not expecting to lose it immediately or anything like that. I just want a start to it!
Has anyone else ever experienced this before? Is anyone else struggling with this or have any advice?
I had some routine bloodwork done a few months back and my thyroid levels are fine so I know that isn't the culprit.
Any advice or words of encouragement are welcome!

[cintinative]

Well, I had to give up dairy for both of mine because they had an intolerance and that allowed me to lose weight pretty fast. =) I don't think you want to do that though! Have you noticed a difference in your waist line (measurement) or hips? I noticed you said you have gained weight. Do you think you have been eating more? Or has your baby been nursing less? How is your milk supply? How is your energy level?

[maryjones25]

You tried upping your calories to jump start your metabolism? That doesn't sound logical to me... if you want to jump start your metabolism you should do resistance exercises and build up some muscle! :) Don't eat more if you're trying to weigh less!

The big problem is that you're not supposed to diet when you're bf'ing... so if you can't diet, the only other way to lose weight is exercise. But finding time and motivation to exercise is a whole nother story!!

While I was breastfeeding, I seemed to hold on to that "extra" weight... I stopped breastfeeding in january, and I've lost 5-10 pounds since then. And I notice that i'm not nearly as hungry anymore (which makes it easier to diet!).

What do you typically eat during the day? How many calories do you normally consume?

[greenrays]

My 1st kiddo I lost my last 10lbs when I stopped breastfeeding him at 12months old.

Currently I'm having the same problem as you, my son is also 6 months old and I can't lose anymore than 3lbs!!! I have done the wii and inside activities and I think it's time to step it up to running outside now that it's nicer weather. I ran once last week and had shin splints for 3 days afterwards.... I was just thinking it was b/c I'm fat and my legs aren't used to holding myself up on this weight!! lol

I don't do dairy either...so that isn't helpful in weight loss for me.

[nuffsaid]

weight watchers has a nursing plan, used it, lost 90 pounds, kept it off 2 years.

I actually had no idea how MUCH a bf mom needs to eat.

If you are seriously cutting back, you might be starving your body.

when you starve yor body it hangs on to everything it can~

with the other six kids when I did not lose I think that was my problem.

lost when I did eat more`

somethinkg to look into

[res030ei]

First of all I want to say YAY for you on breastfeeding your kids! I wish everyone that could, would breastfeed. I did our 2.

As for the weight, I agree with nuffsaid about the weight watchers program since they do have one for nursing moms. It allows you to loose weight but at the same time take in enough calories to maintain your supply. Im a huge fan of weight watchers overall. I am 5'4. with our son I gained 90 pounds! i weighed 125 when i got pg with him. i lost about half after having him and the rest I had to do on my own so I did weight watchers. With out daughter I gained 50 and lost about half from giving birth then the rest plus some with weight watchers. The breastfeeding program worked really well for me both times. I didnt go to the meetings I just got the books and did the program on my own. I still pretty much use it to maintain my weight.

amanda

[KRP1981]

Originally Posted by cintinative Well, I had to give up dairy for both of mine because they had an intolerance and that allowed me to lose weight pretty fast. =) I don't think you want to do that though! Have you noticed a difference in your waist line (measurement) or hips? I noticed you said you have gained weight.

Sorry, I reread my post and it does sound like I said I gained weight; ("I lost some weight, almost all of the weight I gained") What I meant was, I have lost all the weight I gained with the pregnancy.

I haven't been keeping up with body measurements, no. That is an idea. I know it is possible to lose inches without losing weight. My energy level? Not great. I don't get much restful sleep.

[KRP1981]

Originally Posted by maryjones25 You tried upping your calories to jump start your metabolism? That doesn't sound logical to me... if you want to jump start your metabolism you should do resistance exercises and build up some muscle! :) Don't eat more if you're trying to weigh less!

Sounds weird but my husband's doctor once suggested this to him when he lost weight some years back. Sometimes when you are watching calories your weight loss will plateau and eating a bit more (I didn't mean anything drastic, and only for a week!) will rev your metabolism back up. I also read this on some other weight loss boards....look it up if you don't believe me.

The exercise I've been doing has involved a lot of resistance training and I have noticed a difference in my muscle tone.

A typical day I eat cereal or oatmeal for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, and I always cook our suppers so it could be anything! But it always includes a green salad along with it and is relatively healthy.

One of the bad things I find myself doing on days where I feel like I'm so tired I can't move is reaching for something sweet to give me that energy boost, and it helps temporarily and then I feel worse from the crash. So I've been trying to make a better healthy choices when it comes to needing a pick me up...like fruit, or a bowl of cereal.

[KRP1981]

Originally Posted by nuffsaid If you are seriously cutting back, you might be starving your body. when you starve yor body it hangs on to everything it can~ with the other six kids when I did not lose I think that was my problem. lost when I did eat more` somethinkg to look into

Aha! So I'm not the only one who has heard of this!
Part of me is so scared to try to eat more...I'm afraid it will backfire. I guess the trick is just making sure all the calories are good, healthy ones.

I've wondered if this is what is going on with me, except my milk supply seems very plentiful. But then again, with all three of my kids it was. My sister calls me the Dairy Queen.

I've tried WW in the past; while not b'feeding, and then for a time when I b'fed my other son....I had pretty good results...I might just try that again.
Thanks!

[oceanbreeze]

Yes sometimes eating more calories will jump your metabolism into working as usual again to lose weight.
Some ppl take dieting to an extreme and even though they can be exercising daily, they won't drop a pound. The body thinks there is something going on and you are "starving" it. So the body will go and hang on to every last pound/thing you eat to avoid starvation.

There are lactation consultants who may be able to help you determine a calorie intake that is good for bf'ing moms to eat in a day. I've heard its somewhere around 500 extra calories a day to be able to produce milk, but i'm not sure. Talk to your doctor or a LC and find out what is going on, they can help you safely lose more weight while still bf'ing.

Best of luck to you hon! & congrats on already losing the baby weight!