Can I lose that last 5lbs while breastfeeding?

[LCmomof3]

Hey everyone! I had my third(and last!) child 4 1/2 months ago, and I have lost most of my pregnancy weight. I am working on firming up and lifting weights again for the first time since high school and it's great.

Although I feel like I'm seeing results , I'm not losing weight and I have a good 5lbs or so till I'm back down to my ideal weight. I am wondering if this is because I can't be at a calorie deficit while I'm breastfeeding... any ideas? Thanks for any help, L

[terracotta]

It's possible your body will hang on to that last 5 lbs until breastfeeding is over. Some women do well with a slight calorie deficit. As long as your milk production is fine, it is ok to have a deficit. You could try dropping down 200-300 calories from what you are currently eating, as long as you are eating over 1800 calories (absolute minimum for breastfeeding).

[freebirdmac]

Stop with the goal scale weight. That number is irrelevant. With the weightlifting you're doing you could end up at a higher scale weight with less body fat. Use measurements or progress picts, or how your clothes fit instead. Heck, just dropping the extra fluid in your breasts is probably worth 5 pounds

[LCmomof3]

I am probably barely making that 1800 calories and I am having a hard time keeping my milk supply up. Maybe if I add a few hundred calories my milk supply will go back up and I'll burn more calories making milk? My extra weight is mostly around my abdomen and I usually I carry extra weight in my butt/thighs, so that makes me wonder if my body is sabotaging me.
Oh, and I wish I was carrying that extra 5 in my boobs but unfortunately my milk only lets in when she latches on (; Thanks for your input!

[freebirdmac]

Well your first priority is doing what you need to do to keep your milk up. Certainly increasing the cals should help. We can lose quite a bit of muscle during pregnancy. Getting the cals up should help you regain muscle as well as increasing your milk supply. You can back burner the fat loss for a few months. You're already so close to where you want to be and it's only been 4.5 months. Your hormones can take 6 months or so to get back to normal. And you've had 3! Cut yourself some slack and give it time.

[Gracehbd]

Originally Posted by freebirdmac

Stop with the goal scale weight. That number is irrelevant. With the weightlifting you're doing you could end up at a higher scale weight with less body fat.

Very true.

For what it's worth though I've heard that breastfeeding uses 500 daily, which is a pound a week - but ofcourse we all know weight loss is far more complicated than that, and regaining any lost muscle, as well as feeding your baby up, are probably more important right now : )

[Little Nessi]

I'm breastfeeding also and was able to drop that last 5 by eating more.

I'm also on the small side. Basically what worked for me was eating/snacking every time I nursed my son.

I think I kept my cals at 1800-2000 per day and the weight just came off with little to no effort.

1 oz of breast milk is 20 cals. So depending on how many oz your baby drinks that is how many cals you're burning per oz.

My pedi told me to eat lots of protein and fats since that's what the baby needs. I still had oatmeal, pumpkin, sweet pot etc.

Plan out what you can grab and munch while feeding your baby. Good luck! you look great!

[terracotta]

Yes, if you are having trouble keeping your milk supply up, then you have to increase your calories. If you are undereating, your body will hold onto that fat for feeding the baby.

[ToraAdams]

I think you look great. I understand you frustration your very young and have a ton of responsibility .. Its nice when you can have just ONE DAM thing for yourself!!!!

Whatever you have been doing just keep it up . Its hard for me this time of year to be super motivated and I can tell you have some that I need.!!!!

Congrats on the bablet!!