Weigh-In Wednesday #3
Hmmm. Looks like I’ll be fat for awhile.
I took a poll on Facebook and seems like most women don’t lose weight while breastfeeding. How is this so? Everyone always told me they lost weight because of nursing. My mom said the lowest she got solely from nursing was 109 Lbs. Seriously?!
Here’s how my week went: I started Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred on Thursday. It went great. I loved the video–it was a challenge but not impossible. And I realized that I’m not in as bad of shape as I thought.
I ate pretty healthy for a couple of days. And kept my calories down. I kept working out and got the scale down to 152. But then my milk supply started dropping. Arg! I guess I will have to experiment with different calorie allowances.
I’ve come to the decision that I’m okay with losing weight more slowly in exchange for successful breastfeeding. I’ve worked way too hard to make breastfeeding work to let it all go for my own vanity.
Here’s some good news though.
Every now and then I get out my fat pants to see if I can fit in them yet. Last week, no go. But after doing the Shred four times, I fit into them! Sure, they didn’t fit great, but I got them buttoned without even sucking in. Maybe after I do the Shred for a few more weeks they will fit much better. And no more maternity pants.
Losing inches but not losing weight. I guess the weight loss will come as I build muscle.
i have come to the same conclusion that i would rather have my full milk supply then lose the weight right now having milk for he baby is the most important thing….. im still on this journey of losing and i will get there i have bad weeks and good ones and i cant beat myself up over them (which i do im more talk i guess !!!! )
It’s hard!! But I think I will still be able to find a way to lose the weight without losing my milk. Even if it takes awhile!
I remember having the same thing happen to me. It seemed like EVERYONE lost weight breast feeding but me. I would watch as all my friend’s weight seemed to magically melt off. “What are you doing to loose weight?!”. “Absolutely nothing but breast feeding, isn’t it fabulous!”. Yeah… Flipping fabulous 🙁
Today will be day three of the shred. It’s definitely been doable, but today my legs hurt so stinking bad I pray I’ll be able to do it at all! Are your muscles killing you?
Yay Shelley for doing the shred! I was pretty sore on Day 2 and 3 but I haven’t been sore since then. I did p90x after baby #2 and that was WAY harder and I was WAY more sore, so I guess it’s all relative! Keep it up tho and keep me posted on your progress!
I read all of the comments from your post and was very surprised!!! My baby is 1 month old today. One of the reasons I was excited about breastfeeding was the weight loss, so I couldn’t believe when all the women from your post said it didn’t help or actually prevented them from losing!!! Oh well…. My baby is happy and healthy and that’s all that matters right now!
I think the body wants to hold on to all the fat reserves so it can sustain you and the baby you’re feeding. So it makes sense, but it’s still crappy. 🙂
I’m on my third baby, and I think breastfeeding took off my baby weight quickly, but I was too big to start and it doesn’t help me there. My baby is 6 months, and my milk dwindled when I went back to work. I plan on nursing to a year, but he’s only nursing when I’m home now that he can have baby food. I’ve joined a website, http://www.loseit.com (it’s also an app, but I don’t have a smartphone), and taken up running. In 4 weeks I have lost 10 pounds. The site helps because I put in my physical stats, starting weight, goal weight, and how much I want to lose per week. From that it generates a calorie budget. It adds calories when they are burned through exercise. It’s really helped me realize how many calories are in the things I was eating and make better eating choices. You can also friend people like on FB and encourage each other.
Way to go Jodi! It’s so great to find programs that help you lose weight.
When breastfeeding, more pediatricians will tell you to increase your calorie intake by 500. Don’t beat yourself up. What’s more important, in my opinion, is keeping the little princess fed. Just stay healthy, and once you and her are finished with breastfeeding all together, then get busy with your weight loss! As Heather said, as long as your baby is happy and healthy, the rest doesn’t matter. 😉
Good things to remember! Thanks!
You’re right, your milk supply is the most important and you don’t want to be losing the nutrients that your baby needs.
Something that is my big focus this year is drinking enough. 8 glasses a day is HARD!! I’ve been keeping track of how much I’m drinking and it’s currently between 5 – 6 glasses, and already I feel much better. It’s stopped me snacking (apparnently dehydration makes you feel peckish, who knew?!), helped my digestion and I feel much better for it. I’m sure you’re better than me at drinking but thought I’d mention it in case it helps xx
I thought about this comment today a lot and realized that drinking water is something I need to do so much more. It’s 9 pm now and I’ve only drunk 4 cups. Eek!
I hear you about the breastfeeding and weightloss. My sister was thinner than she was in highschool just by breastfeeding, so I just assumed that would be the case with me. I was shocked when I weighed myself a month after giving birth and I hadn’t lost anything but the weight of the baby! I thought the breastfeeding would do the work for me. I started working out and watching what I ate (I ate healthy foods and avoided things that tend to put lbs on–like pasta) and that’s the only way the weight came off. I put on 50 lbs (I know! It’s a lot) and it took me over a year to take off. I nursed for 12 months and the final 10 lbs would not come off until I stopped. It sounds dumb, but besides learning how to bf, taking the weight off was the hardest thing I’ve ever done physically. Just takes a ton of persistence…and patience.
That’s discouraging for you, I’m sure! But I think it’s better that we don’t just ‘get lucky’ because then we train ourselves to live a healthier lifestyle which is so much better in the long run.
Hey, I just had to comment on this post. I have always struggled with weight, never losing more than a few pounds after each pregnancy. And I have never been able to nurse my babies for more than 4-5 months tops. After having my 4th baby and getting back to my pre-4th baby pregnancy weight, I joined Weight Watchers. I LOVE this program–love it! SO LIVEABLE! I don’t know if you’ve looked into it at all, but I promise it is worth it! It was the ONLY time I have ever been able to nurse my baby for more than the 4-5 months…in fact, we went on to nurse 13 months, and he would have kept nursing if I had let it keep going. Not only did it really help my milk supply, I lost 69 pounds doing so. The plan really puts food and nutrition in the right perspective and they really support breastfeeding mothers. Anyway, just a thought…I know how precious nursing is and I am so incredibly grateful that I was able to keep it up for so long this time.
Guess what Rachel? I checked it out today and joined! I was happy to see that they have plans for nursing mothers. Sometimes I feel so lost and unsure about how much to eat or how much to not eat. I’m excited to see my progress! Thanks for the suggestion!!
SO, SO excited for you! It was seriously one of the biggest blessings ever. I ALSO LOVE that they have their lifetime program, so once you lose the baby weight, you can be a member for FREE as long as you stay within a certain weight range. It has really helped me have the motivation to KEEP IT OFF! 🙂 (and should you have another baby later, you can still take advantage of this–they give you time to get back to things!) Anyway, if you have any questions, ask away! I think my email shows up in this comment form, right?
I have post-partum hypothyroidism, which means I GAIN weight while nursing. It seriously sucks. With my first daughter, I gained 12lbs in ONE WEEK and I wasn’t even eating much because I was on antibiotics which made my stomach upset. By the time my daughter was 3 months old, I was 30lbs over my “go home from the hospital” weight. Eventually I gave up on nursing (my daughter, who weighed 6lbs 15oz at birth was only 8lbs 1 oz at three months old and was <1% on the weight charts) and as soon as I stopped nursing, the weight started coming off. Not that I'm saying you should stop nursing, on the contrary, but just know that nursing doesn't last forever.
Wow, THAT has got to be frustrating and discouraging. So sorry!
Being healthy is far more important than the number, remember. (Although, yes, it would be much more awesomer to fit into the non-fat clothes, I’m with you there :). And your kiddos (read: little miss) are far more important than being skinny, too. Anytime you feel frustrated with your shape look at them and know it’s for them!! 🙂
Well said!
Oh, there were so many things that came to my head when I read this post, I want to get them all out. I hope I can remember them all. First off, if I remember correctly you and I were about the same hight. If you weigh 152 and you just had a baby I am stunned. If I gained the thirty healthy pounds during my next pregnancy I would weigh way more than that, so I think you’re doing awesome!
Second, great job working hard on breast-feeding, especially if it’s not as easy for you. Breast-feeding is SO hard. Some ladies are on that voluptuous and very fruitful side of having plenty and extra, some (like me) just have to work their toots off to feed their sweet baby the way they want to (and still feel like they never have enough). Exercising while trying to keep that supply may seem so hard and fruitless when it doesn’t seem like the weight is leaving and you’re working so hard. But please remember that working out and keeping your body toned is a wonderful thing to do, even when you don’t see the benefits (okay, I know you already know this, I’m just trying to buoy ya). You’re encouraging your metabolism to speed up! If you can keep your body thinking healthy, then by the time you stop breast-feeding you will be at that much more the advantage, rather than starting at the beginning there.
And third of all, Oh my goodness, you are working out! And working from home! And blogging! And mothering three sweet little ones, and your husband is in school, and you are so young! You are doing so great! Good job! Please let yourself feel accomplished every once in a while, because girl, you are accomplishing a lot. It’s hard, so I’m so impressed.
And, you are beautiful.
love ya!
Becca
PS, I am still in love with your ‘crate & barrel clock’ it’s simply lovely.
What a great comment to read Becca! Thanks so much for all your kind words.
What she said! (Becca) As your baby grows, the demand on your milk supply will be more, which equals more calories going to the baby. Relax. Enjoy. You are already doing everything right. Just give it some time. God bless you for having your priorities straight.
Thanks Doreen! Gives me hope.
I also never lost any weight while breastfeeding, in fact I hate it when people when asked how they “lost weight” they say, “breastfeeding” ugh. NOT ME! Everytime I tried to cut calories my supply dropped. 🙁 I am not 152 though, so i breastfed for a year with my twins and only 6 months with my littlest …. I was ready to start losing weight selfishly and she wasn’t the best nurser ever. However, I think it’s great for you to be so relaxed in the fact that it’s going to be a slow process bc you are nursing and thats okay!
I realize that it took 9 months to gain the pregnancy weight so it will take at least 9 months to lose it. Thanks for your comment!
Like many other truths (or half truths) about pregnancy, labor, and motherhood, we tell in order to not discourage the mother to be or new nursing mom. I think also no one wants to be the bearer of bad news for a new mom. The wonderful thing is the added weight or curves is evidence that you are a superhero with super powers! I mean wow you grew a human and you make milk!!!!! COngrats!
That’s true, especially when my sisters and mom all seemed to lose weight with breastfeeding. But it’s my own fault for not eating well during my pregnancy.
You are right, your milk supply is more important than weight loss right now. I had my son 8 months ago and I still feel like I look pregnant. But then again, I lack the willpower to actually go out and actually try so for that I give you kudos. You inspire me to change.
Thanks Kendall! You should join in with me!
Hello, I read your blog often and this is the first time commenting! I don’t know how long you have been nursing for BUT, I only really started to shed the weight after 3 months of exclusive breast feeding. I have 3 boys (4, 2, and 9 months). With each I gained 35-40lbs. It took me a GOOD 9 months – a year to lose all the weight each time. Breast feeding definately helps long term. It’s a fact that you are burning an extra 500 cal. everyday. If you continue to eat healthy and properly and work out you WILL lose the weight. I aimed to lose 1/2 to 1 lbs every week. That was do-able for me. Don’t beat yourself up over it. Stress will cause you to hold on to your excess weight. You are doing awesome, hope that this encourages you to continue 🙂
That’s good to know–3 months after. I guess that’s when the babies start eating a lot more during their feedings, right? Thanks!
hey losing inches sounds good to me! Just keep exercising and the weight will drop! Besides sometimes inches is way better than lbs. I saw a great picture on pinterest of a girl at 140 all tone and then her at 115 i think and she was all flabby. The heavier toned look was gorgeous. Sometimes the scale is our enemy. Good luck, I’m trying to drop some weight as well so I understand how frustrating that can be! Thanx for sharing, it’s always inspiring! Keeps me moving to know other people struggle to but keep on working at it!
Natalie
http://www.projectdowhatyoulove.wordpress.com
I guess there are a lot of women who have read your post that are ready to share their thoughts too! I just wanted to let you know that I had a baby at practically the same time you had yours. I really enjoy reading about your struggles and the advise you give. While this is my second baby, I really appreciate being reminded about certain things that happen because I just had a baby. I know, sounds silly. Anyway…
I am not a large women, in fact I am probably on the low side of women-who-have-had-babies weight, but I EAT LIKE A HORSE while I’m breastfeeding (waaay worse than even while I was pregnant) and I am not ashamed of it. I agree that all social conventions are thrown to the wind and the baby is the first priority. Good for you!
Here’s the deal….Weight Watchers is great! It takes the guessing out of the extra calories needed for nursing…you get 10 extra points a day if you are nursing. I did it after my second baby and lost 27 lbs and got down to a size 4….I was a size 10 when I got pregnant (I never lost all the weight from my fist baby). Did weight watchers again after my third baby and got back down to a size 4. It teaches you how to eat, and losing weight is 80% the food….so when you are in survival mode with a newborn and are too tired to work out…it’s fine, you can still drop weight because you are eating right. You can even do Weight Watchers online now!