Why does breastfeeding help you lose the weight?

[JillyLilly]

I plan on breastfeeding and I was curious why it's easier to lose pregnancy weight from it? Who all lost the weight fast from breastfeeding? Does it really work?

[knufrio]

1500 calories per feeding is a huge defecit, and not correct. Especially seeing as an average sized women only needs that many calories a day. You'd literally have to consume over 10,000 calories a day in order to simply not starve. Its usually between 600-800 calories/day but can fluctuate depending on your size. Also it will increase your appetite so some women don't lose weight because they are still consuming more calories than they are burning.

[Chrissyjohnson]

Makes you burn a crap load of calories about 1500 per feeding

[mummainoz]

I didn't lose weight but according to some it burns calories and helps your uterus shrink back faster. My friends didn't lose weight until they started working out after baby was born either but I do believe it does help the uterus shrink faster but its usually recovered by 12wks anyway.

[ambie32693]

I believe that's an old wives tale. I know women that actually gained weight from breast feeding, than when baby wheined they lost weight. however, everyone is different!

[luxah]

Because our bodies burn calories while the milk is being made. (If I read that right). Then it is being expelled to our babies. Though it only burns I think somewhere between 300-500 calories. You could loose weight, as long as you're balancing your calorie intake with what is being burned off.

[knufrio]

Breastfeeding burns a good amount of calories per day(usually about 600-800) that's why it helps.