Lose weight while breastfeeding – Is it possible?

You can lose weight while breastfeeding, so long that you do it the proper way. A number of people are led to believe that they must not try to lose weight while breastfeeding and nursing their baby. Losing weight can be done as long as you do it the best way possible for your health and your baby’s. The good news is: breastfeeding regularly promotes weight loss, since producing milk burns extra calories. If you supplement this to a moderate calorie diet and add some daily exercise on top of it, you’re very likely to have some weight loss.

The expert on almost all breastfeeding concerns is the International La Leche League (LLL). According to LLL, women who live in developing third world countries who don’t have sufficient nourishment and diets may often produce very nutritious breast milk for babies as they tend to have more effective body mechanisms that aid in the production of milk. This brings up a significant point if you want to lose weight while breastfeeding since your body will work initially towards the manufacturing of high quality milk for your baby, which may eventually prove detrimental to you.

Lose weight while breastfeeding – facts

First and foremost, the act of breastfeeding burns roughly five hundred calories a day. To lose weight while breastfeeding is indeed possible but one must be able to keep up with her own health needs also. Exercising must not be started after giving birth, not until a physician suggests to you that it is ok. Generally, it takes about 1 to 1 ½ months after birth for mothers to be able to start doing light exercising and workouts. By the six week postpartum period, one ought to be able to gradually return to a workout routine.

For this particular reason, it is crucial that you look and manage for a way to lose weight while breastfeeding that allows you to respond and fulfill your nutritional needs also. The LLL recommends that you do not engage in diets within the first two months after pregnancy as you are slowly recovering from a physically traumatic event, which is giving birth. Not eating well during the first couple of months can unfavorably affect you and your baby, and in most cases it’s more essential that your baby gain weight during these first two months than for you to lose weight. No need to worry though since you will lose weight while breastfeeding.

After the first two months, you can work on ways to lose weight while breastfeeding by consuming a diet that is high in protein, rich in complex carbohydrates and plenty of fruit and vegetables. Also, drinking lots of liquids, about 10-12 glasses of water a day, is highly recommended. Calorie recommendations on consumption are greatly dependent on your size, current weight and body frame.

Lose weight while breastfeeding – Recommendations

The healthy weight loss is about one pound (.45 kg) per week as the LLL proposes. It may not be healthy, if you’re losing significantly more than this preferred weight loss when you lose weight while breastfeeding. You will probably have already taken off some pregnancy weight in the first few weeks after a baby’s birth. This idea signifies that women can actually get back to their pre-pregnancy weight within about three to six months, depending on many different factors. If your pre-pregnancy weight was over average weight, it is okay to continue to lose weight while breastfeeding.