BabyWhispererForums.com
EAT => Breast Feeding => Topic started by: Mommymac on April 22, 2008, 20:20:14 pm
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I am trying to lose weight and it seems in vain. I am nursing, and I don't want to cut back on calories too much. I am exercising and reducing portion sizes, but I feel like I am STARVING all day! Should I be following my body's signals or ignoring them a bit. I know it's difficult for some women to lose weight while nursing, but I need to lose 30 lbs... at least 20 while I am nursing (which I plan on doing for the next year)
My son is 2 months.
Any suggestions???
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I do slimming world its really great as you can eat loads!!!
Kate x
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Weight Watchers points system is a good one too, you can eat lots on it, you just have to make smart choices... it teaches you portion sizes and proper nutrition while still allowing you to eat your good old favorites! About 6 years ago I lost 30 lbs in 4 months (pre-baby days) and kept it off. Recently I started keeping track of my points again to get rid of the last 7 post-baby lbs. I didn't use all of the extra pts allowed for BFing, and my milk supply did drop a little, so if you are following some sort of structured plan just make sure you follow whatever BFing recommendations there are. (those 7 lbs were gone in a month)
HTH!
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If you are starving, you should eat, that is your body's way of telling you you are cutting calories too much. I kept my bottomless pregnancy appetite until about 4 months, when it shut off like a switch. (Interestingly, that is the same time I got my period back)
Be sure you're getting plenty of exercise, as your dr. says you are allowed. Doing cardio intervals (such as walking on hilly terrain) and light weight training is the best way to burn fat and increase your metabolism. Do work up to it slowly and be careful of your joints, as you may still have loose joints for some months after birth - I still had loose joints until my dd was about 5 months, which made jogging out of the question, for example - I jangled all over like a marionnette!
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lifting weights will definately help. The more muscle you have the more calories you burn while not doing anything, and the more cardio you do the more hungry you get not to mention just the idea of my "milk jugs" bouncing around while exercising was enough to keep me sitting. I am not bf anymore and from the first of the year a few people where i work decided to play the "biggest Loser" and I lost 21.5 lbs from jan-march. It definately helped motivating me to be in a game But I cut out all things white(white bread, pasta:(, sugar potatoes,Oh and the longest I have ever went w/o ICECREAM:((((((( ) lifted weights and cardio kept heart rate between 140 and 165. my mom is a trainer and she finally convinced me you don't have to run to get you heart rate up and too high actually does't work as well. which is good for me I HATE running, dont mind walking fast uphill. I lost almost all of the weight with my first one just bfing the first year (65lbs) so dont give up you can do it!
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Cardelovascular exercises are fantastic they leave you feeling full of energy and you can use your baby as a weight. My gym instructor got me to put my EJ in his carry harness and do 30 step ups using my bottom step, 30 min power walk (can also be done with baby in pushchair) and she also told me to do all my house work that was possible to do with a baby on your chest and to do all this with your belly pulled in and a straight back every day. You can also do swimming and I know this one sounds like a joke but skipping fast for 10 minutes is excellent but very tiring. When baby gets older there is other baby-weight moves but Luke is to young for them at the moment so I will tell you them in a few more weeks. Most definately eat if you are feeling starving as my doctor even know tells me you are eating for 2 not just yourself so to keep your calories up at 2000 calories a day and do not go below this or over it by 500. Well if you do everything doctors tell you then (I FOR 1) would have no riskes in my life
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I have to run to wake my son - so forgive me if I my posts reflects someone Else's...
If you are hungry, you eat. What you eat will determine weight and hunger.
If you are hungry, eat a protein like tuna, some carrot sticks and a glass of water. This will be nutritious and will satiate your hunger.
Chocolate and all that good stuff - puts on extra weight and you are hungry 45 minutes later.
Good Luck.