Dieting while Breastfeeding???

Okay ladies...question of the day.  I'm thinking about post pregrancy (woo hoo - only 8 more weeks)...and about how I have some weight to lose...like 60lbs...and only 12lbs of it was gained during pregnancy!!! The rest was gained during the "I'm so comfortable with my boyfriend" phase...now I'm going to attempt to breastfeed...and i hear that is great for the baby and also helps you take off the weight.  I know that you have to be careful about your diet while breastfeeding to ensure that the baby gets the proper nutrients...does anyone know of a good "diet" to follow while breastfeeding to ensure maximum weight loss/baby health...should I just limit calories?  Weight Watchers?  Just not sure what to do...I don't want to hurt the baby by limiting foods I eat.  Our wedding is next May...so I've got about 8 months to take off the weight...and I plan on exercising...any other suggestions??

[sallystar]

Also...can you limit carbs & sugars while breastfeeding - or does the baby gets some nutritional value from them?  

[mlb1234]

I am no expert but I think you will have a hard time actually dieting if you are breastfeeding.  My sister was starving when she breastfed her kids!!!  It made her sooo hungry making all that milk all the time!!  ALso I have read that to really benefit weight-wise from breastfeeding it has to be done from 4-6 months.  (That the weight benefits don't really kick in until after 3months).  Best of luck - maybe someone more experienced in this area will have more suggestions for you!!

[taysmommy]

you really only need the equivilent of en extra sandwich a day to get the extra calaries needed to nurse, the question is will you be ABLE to only have that lol, i was one also that was hungry all the time while i was nursing, worse then when i was pregnant, i had to lose 60+ pounds that i gained with the pregnancy, and surprise surprise i lost it all in about 3 months,( and i ate more each day then ive ever ate in my life)  i chalk it up to the breastfeeding, ive never been a skinny person, ive always had a muscular build, but when i was nursing i was a stick

just try to buy healthy foods, not diet foods, wic has great meal plans that can tell you what foods are great and healthy to eat while nursing ( tuna is veryyy good when nursing, and also healthy for you too)

[myproblem]

Weight Watchers has a program for breastfeeding moms. I have a friend who did it and looks great. Her baby is fat too, so I guess she was eating enough.

[lovethebops]

Yes, as mlb1234/taysmommy mentioned, I was a HUNGRY nurser too, I ate whatever I wanted and though I lost all the weight I gained (24 lbs.) from pregnancy by nursing/small amount of exercise, by the time I had weaned my daughter, I continued eating as I had and put on 6 lbs post-breastfeeding. You really do need the energy to produce the milk, but my problem was all the high calorie food I was eating, It was more than I and DD needed. Just be healthy and eat smart and continue taking your prenatal vitamins and you will be fine. Good for you doing the breast feeding!!

[kris123]

I am brestfeeding a little and eating right and at of today (4weeks post)  i have lost 25 of my 51 weight gain.  I do walk everyday for 30min.  Just eat right and walk - you will be ok.  I only drink water and nothing else.

[mum2beagain]

I breastfeed my six month old and do weight watchers and have lost 36lbs since he was born.

[rubyolivia]

My sis in law lost a bunch of weight just from breastfeeding. She was tiny to begin with and lost so much that she looked sick. She was doing nothing else....no dieting, no exercise, was eating 3+ meals a day and just lost a gob! She hasn't nursed for 6 months now and while she has gained enough back to look healthy she's still super skinny! And she lost it pretty quick too.....within the first 3 months!

[sallystar]

Thanks for your advice!!! I guess I'll just try to eat healthy, not really limit anything and just see how I'm feeling...I hope I don't get hungrier and end up gaining weight - that'll be just my luck!  My aunt called me today to tell me how pretty her "heavy" friend looked at her wedding last weekend...and to tell me where she bought her dress!! LOL...um okay so I guess people are expecting me to stay chubby right up until my wedding.  I want to prove them wrong!