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I've been on a ketosis/ carb cycling diet for the last 5ish weeks (started at 6 weeks pp), in conjunction with hiit exercise 6 days a week, and I'm back to pre pregnancy weight after baby #2. I gained 28lbs the second time, and I am breastfeeding. Don't know how much weight loss was natural vs. from the program. I honestly think that genetics has a lot to do with it, and every body is different. Best of luck!

Can you try tracking your calories to see how much you're actually eating? I think that would be a good place to start since calories in/calories out is all the really matters for weight loss.

Agreed with tracking calories in/calories out - that really helped me when I was breastfeeding. I used My Fitness Pal and added an extra 500 calories or so to my goal so I wouldn't lose my supply.

I also think a lot of it is genetics. I was lucky enough to lose weight breastfeeding (and gained some back when DD weaned ) but I know others hold on to weight until they wean.

I lost all the weight plus an additional 10 pounds while EBF LO1 (probably largely due to super restrictive elimination diet). After getting off the elimination diet, I gained those 10 pounds back, plus another 5-10 after getting pregnant and miscarrying.

So I started off my pregnancy with LO2 at 5-10 higher than I was with LO1, and have since lost all my pregnancy weight but it was slower. I'm 11 months post-partum, didn't lose it all until at least 8 months pp. I still haven't lost those extra 5-10 pounds and I'm ok with it as I am still EBF and hungry all the time. And frankly, I look and feel ok at this weight and have decided for myself that if I stay this way, I'm ok with that too.

My advice would be to just be kind to yourself right now and try not to stress, especially if you are still nursing. I feel like breastfeeding does all sorts of weird things to your body and you are still very recently post-partum. Also, if you are not sleeping well, that can change things. I tend to eat more poorly and gain weight when I am tired.

I agree with the above posters that it's much different with baby 2, and I was also frustrated with this. I plateaued for months, and it was probably around 9 months when I finally saw the last few pounds come off. This also coincided with my baby sleeping more, and us transitioning to formula due to supply issues secondary to not being able to pump enough at work. This was the opposite with my first--I was one of those can't keep weight on breastfeeding mom's that time but I was also sleeping a lot more and had more time to exercise.

And of course eating is only part of it too--if you're not able to be active enough you won't be able to lose weight. But again--you're only 4 months PP so I wouldn't stress too much!

@Nutella: You know what's so annoying; DH cuts out sugar for a week and drops like 5 lbs

I didn’t read all the replies but I just wanted to say I’m right there with you.

The only way to lose weight is by burning more calories than you consume. The good news is that you don’t need to exercise to lose weight, just eat less. An easy way to do this is just log the calories of the foods you eat (I use MyFitnessPal), then slowly lower it each week until you start to see the loss you want. A safe loss while nursing is typically .5-1lb per week.

You can wall me if you want more details. I’m almost 5 months pp and I’ve lost 45 of the 50 I gained during my second pregnancy (and I’m only about halfway to my goal weight). Weight loss is not easy, but it’s definitely simple.

I’ve found http://www.reddit.com/r/loseit to be a huge help. They have a great FAQ and it’s a huge supportive community!

@Nutella: I have not needed to add exercise. I’m a SAHM and we go to the park, but with an infant I don’t do more than push the stroller around while I make sure my toddler is playing safely.

It really just comes down to calories. Obviously exercise will up your calories burned, which will enable you to eat more or lose weight faster. And exercise is vital for health, but it’s not strictly necessary for weight loss. You can’t outrun your fork.

You just have to find what works for you. If you’re enjoying paleo, keep at it and just figure out how to eat less. I have just come to terms with the fact that I am almost totally incapable of intuitively knowing how much food I need!

@Nutella: when baby #2 for me was 6 months old I started Weight Watchers and I was also breastfeeding... But at 6 months he was also eating food so I felt like I could start... WW has an online only version (that's all I've done) but they also have a meeting option.... I just liked it was all on my phone and easy to follow - with the BFing they give you LOTS of extra points, but I still lost weight. I also had DH do it with me so we could do it together and hold each other accountable!

There are free apps like MyFitness Pal & LoseIt that count calories.... but for some reason I feel like WW works better and I like that its a very structured plan. I followed a lot of SkinnyTaste recipes too because she gives SmartPoints values!

@Nutella: I've also noticed that as I get older, it becomes more difficult to lose weight and keep it off.

I think the biggest thing is to understand what you're eating. I was always resistant to measuring portions, until I measured and realized I was overeating. It took some adjustments, but I am happy to say I am doing much better with portions now because I measure, not estimate.

I lost my baby weight by breastfeeding really quickly with my first but my second was a different story (though in all fairness, my pregnancy went two weeks longer the second time and I had gained a bit more than the first time). I remember reading something about the period of peak weight loss from breastfeeding is between months 3-6 because the composition of the breastmilk becomes fattier, I guess. I know breastfeeding affects everyone differently but that did end up being true for me. By month 6, all of the weight came off - it was just much slower than the first time. Obvisouly, it's great to eat well for you and your baby but I'd try to be patient with yourself and give your body some time.

I am grateful for the few extra pounds I still have as I feel like I need the support to continue to breastfeed my 13 month old ALL NIGHT LONG. But as soon as thats over I will eat a little less for a few month and see if I can lose the last few pounds (5-8 would be nice).

But really, exercise, while not really about weight lose has done SO MUCH to make me feel better about my body and to shape what I have and that's been huge for me. I actually often get smaller but gain weight and I always feel better, like how I look better when I am gaining muscle. Which I (at least used to) put on pretty easily.

All this is to say that what the scale says is only part of it, how you look and feel is also important.