https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Apr 2026 20:18:30 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting/page/2#post-2481586 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 13:48:35 +0000 Kemma 2481586@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My go to is cutting out the excess sugars and simple / white carbs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting/page/2#post-2481471 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 12:31:31 +0000 PawPrints 2481471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really couldn't diet until LO got a bit older and started eating more solid food. When she was 5 months, I was eating like a horse. My main tips would be to try to really focus mainly on exercise. You can do a lot with increasing muscle tone. You could do a bit to shift to protein-heavy food and cut down on carbs a little, and try to up your water intake. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting#post-2481364 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 11:46:20 +0000 Silva 2481364@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellobeeboston: yeah, I joke about the opposite-Atkins diet I could go on. I mean, I'd feel like death and end up malnutritioned. But hey, skinny! :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting#post-2481341 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 11:31:25 +0000 hellobeeboston 2481341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: ugh - good luck! I know - before I was diagnosed with celiac i used to eat entire boxes of pasta in one sitting, i was rail thin, and could never gain weight... but, was a bit 'sickly' - gluten free and healthier, but def put on weight! You'll do OK I'm sure! It's better that we're healthier, right? :)</p> <p>@sarac: thanks for the advice!</p> <p>@T.H.O.U.: thanks - yeah, it's already been pretty eye-opening in just a day and a half! </p> <p>@mrsrain: good to know! Thanks!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting#post-2480846 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 22:25:24 +0000 mrsrain 2480846@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had some luck using weight watchers for breastfeeding moms. I had to adjust HOW I ate, but could still get the calories I needed to nurse while losing weight. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting#post-2480802 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 21:53:12 +0000 avivoca 2480802@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had to drink tons of water and eat healthy fats, but even with that and slowly cutting calories, I wasn't able to lose much until I weaned. I hope that next time I can get in a good groove from the start, eat high-protein foods and less junk that is easy. I want to freeze a bunch of my favorite meals so I'm not grabbing muffins and trail mix all the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting#post-2480795 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 21:49:08 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2480795@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm glad you joined WW! Some things I allowed (avocado or oatmeal) but it was helpful to see what you thought was healthy really wasn't. </p> <p>I was ok to cut fats obviously but still needed water protein and good fats. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting#post-2480788 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 21:41:47 +0000 sarac 2480788@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am like you and am just ravenously, desperately hungry while breastfeeding. With my first, I put on 15 pounds nursing. With my second, I started weight watchers at 4 months, and quickly lost 5 pounds to get back to my prepregnancy weight. After that, my daughter hit her 6 month growth spurt, started nursing more, and things went to hell. I haven't lost any more weight since then, but I think WW kept me from gaining weight, at least. I'm taking a break now and trying to focus on intuitive eating, and I'll give calorie counting a try in another month or so. I've also found that as my daughter eats more solid food, my appetite has gotten much more manageable. </p> <p>If I were you, here is what I would do: spend the next month or two trying to eat healthier foods, and to stop eating when you are full. I would work on getting a good exercise routine going. Then, as soon as your baby is eating a few meals a day of solid food, I'd start WW or some other kind of diet. I know that when my daughter was fully nursing, I simply could not restrict and still get through the day. Not for long, at least. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting#post-2480649 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 19:50:54 +0000 Silva 2480649@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellobeeboston: I'm already nervous about this. I lost a TON of weight breastfeeding and eating like crazy. I mean ice cream every night, butter on an entire baguette, whatever I wanted whenever. I was still losing weight 18 months later......And then, I was diagnosed with celiac disease. That explains that.</p> <p>So yeah, might not be so easy for me next time 😜 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting#post-2480639 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 19:42:30 +0000 petitenoisette 2480639@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catlady: same here, except corn was ok but I was GF for about 8 months. This got me high school skinny! But I am not sure if I could have ever mentally done this diet if it wasn't for my daughter and the sake of our breastfeeding relationship. Regardless, even when I was down to about 7 foods trying to figure out what she could handle, my supply was totally fine. </p> <p>I'm back on everything but dairy now and have gained 5 lbs in one month! I'm ok with 5 lbs but hopefully it doesn't keep coming on... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting#post-2480400 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 16:29:28 +0000 travelgirl1 2480400@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am in the same boat. I gained so much with both of my pregnancies and lost it all last time within a year. I'm 7 months pp now with 13lb still to lose and rather than cutting back on the amount I eat - because I am starving all.the.time - am just trying to eat clean. I have cut out most processed stuff and eating spiralised or riced veggies instead of pasta and rice. I need to add in some exercise too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting#post-2480152 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 14:13:32 +0000 hellobeeboston 2480152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nanilani: Thanks... and YIKES. my normal breakfast is 27 points. that's clearly not OK. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting#post-2480150 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 14:12:49 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 2480150@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellobeeboston: I couldn't diet when I was breastfeeding because I was SO hungry all. the. time. haha. I just tried hard to eat right but I ate if I was hungry. It melted off after the first kid but I'm at 24 months PP with my 2nd and I finally got the last 5 lbs off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting#post-2480128 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 14:05:24 +0000 nanilani 2480128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellobeeboston: Good luck! :goodluck: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting#post-2480126 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 14:05:12 +0000 nana87 2480126@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Gluteny foods are all super high in ww points so it might do really well for you! I've done ww before and found it hard to do as a vegetarian bc beans, one of my major sources of protein, have lots of points </p> <p>I didn't try to lose weight at all until lo was over 1 and I realized I was using nursing as a crutch/excuse not to take the time to care for myself. I'm just barely to my prepreg weight now that lo is almost 2 but I've found the most useful things to be making time to exercise and eating "real" healthy food rather than carb-heavy snacky food (like I was eating way too many croissants lol). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting#post-2480121 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 14:03:36 +0000 hellobeeboston 2480121@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nanilani: I just joined!!! After googling it seems like their new formula works well with a GF diet....Going to try it out for 3 months and see if it helps... thanks!</p> <p>i might make my husband join too </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting#post-2480105 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 13:55:48 +0000 nanilani 2480105@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellobeeboston: I don't know what their new secret formula is, but foods high in added sugar are high in points. Lean proteins are low in points, and fruits and veggies are free regardless of calorie content. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting#post-2480088 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 13:50:06 +0000 hellobeeboston 2480088@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MUI831: oh good to know.... i totally remember before (10+ years ago) it was all about the fiber, right? maybe I should try it!!! I do much better with a PLAN. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting#post-2480085 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 13:49:07 +0000 Mommy Finger 2480085@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellobeeboston: WW is totally different now. They are more concerned with sugars and saturated fat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting#post-2480069 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 13:39:24 +0000 hellobeeboston 2480069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm GF due to celiac, and of course, my sister just tells me that Lucky Charms, our fave cereal from childhood is GF. UGH, step 1 is going to be: DO NOT BUY. haha.</p> <p>Along the same lines, I'm not sure I can do WW due to being GF. I substitute a lot of GF things (pasta &amp; bread) and there is barely any fiber, so the whole WW thing doesn't really work out in my favor. At least, that was the way the old WW worked 10 years ago, it was really fiber/calorie based.... maybe the new way (whatever that is) would work better being GF..... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting#post-2480061 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 13:34:00 +0000 nanilani 2480061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another vote for Weight Watchers! I've lost ~13lbs in the past two months using their plan for nursing moms and have not noticed any significant impact on my supply. I'm better at meeting goals when I have a structured framework like their points system to work towards. I've never done the old style WW, so I can't say if it's better or worse than the new version. I will say I like it better than calorie counting because if I'm still hungry, I can always eat as many fruits or veggies as I want.</p> <p>I've been working out as well, but I didn't see results until I made the healthy food swaps encouraged by WW. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting#post-2480026 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 13:15:53 +0000 Maysprout 2480026@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I focused on eating healthy and drinking lots of water instead of trying to restrain my appetite, I'm a huge grouch when pregnant or nursing if I don't eat enough. We also joined a gym recently that has childcare included while you workout and it's been a game changer in getting real workouts in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting#post-2479945 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 12:27:31 +0000 psw27 2479945@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would just cut calories gradually, stay super hydrated and make sure you are getting enough healthy fats. And of course, making sure the calories are coming from healthy sources. My breastfeeding sweet tooth was out of control, so I feel your pain! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting#post-2479942 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 12:26:58 +0000 mfa_lady 2479942@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think this is different for everyone. I had to eat a TON of calories to keep up my supply, but because I WOH full-time, it was often far easier for me to grab junk to snack on instead of real, good food. I love the suggestions from people to keep eating a lot, just eat better stuff. I'm sure that would have done the trick for me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting#post-2479932 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 12:23:35 +0000 Mommy Finger 2479932@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I allowed myself 6 months to just be. Like you, I'm working full time and nursing so I was really trying to find my groove after having #2. Thankfully, that 6 months took me through the holidays so it was sort of easier to change my mindset. I agree that swapping out healthier options for the crap is a good idea but can be hard when you forgot to plan out meals so take out is a must. I just joined weight watchers so I'm hoping that helps. They take into consideration if you're nursing so I don't find it too restrictive. Hopefully when it starts getting warmer, I'll be able to take the kids outside and be more active. With my LO not sleeping through the night yet, it's hard for me to justify getting up early to exercise when I barely am getting any sleep as it is! But we'll get there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting#post-2479928 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 12:20:31 +0000 mamabolt 2479928@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a ton of luck the first time around with following WW while nursing. But I've not heard the best things about the "new" WW so no idea what I'll do once kiddo 2 is born in a few weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting#post-2479924 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 12:19:08 +0000 hellobeeboston 2479924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tofuwad: Great advice!! Good idea to cut slowly... I was tracking what I was eating through my FitBit app and was surprised to see I've been eating over 2,000 calories a day. OOPS... so maybe over the period of a month I could gradually go down to about 1600-1800 calories and see if that helps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting#post-2479922 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 12:17:17 +0000 hellobeeboston 2479922@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JenGirl: Yeah, I'm not planning on being too hard on myself - but with summer approaching and we're planning A LOT of beach time, I'd like to get rid of some of this new flabby-flab.</p> <p>I need a stop-justifying-sweets-because-i'm-breastfeeding support group ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting#post-2479918 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 12:16:28 +0000 tofuwad 2479918@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm currently in the same boat. I used MyFitnessPal app to track what I was eating normally. For me that ended up being about 1800-1900 calories per day (which was maintaining my weight).</p> <p>Then I did a drastic cut to 1300 per day in order to lose about a pound per week (again, using MyFitnessPal to track calories and exercise). That totally tanked my supply. And I had never had a supply problem before that, so I think I just made too drastic a cut in calories. </p> <p>So then I did a bunch of research on KellyMom and discovered that you should gradually cut calories slowly. So maybe one week cut out 100 calories, then in two weeks cut out 200 until you're at the calorie threshold you find appropriate for your dieting and supply. </p> <p>But I took this approach because I know from experience that if I start working out and don't track calories I'll just eat more and won't end up losing weight. The other thing i discovered is that protein makes a big difference in my supply. </p> <p>Good luck! I fell off the wagon last week while we were moving so I've got to get my butt in gear! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-amp-dieting#post-2479900 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 12:08:52 +0000 JenGirl 2479900@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not getting enough calories can decrease your supply, so I wouldn't do real hard core dieting if you're already worried about your supply. But I think it's a great idea to try to switch to getting calories from healthier foods and cut out junk. And hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Also, cut yourself some slack. I don't think women should be expected to g st back to prepregnancy weight so quickly. Especially if you're breastfeeding and watching your supply! </p>