Breastfeeding and dieting
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Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
Forum Description: Want help? Need support? Want tips? Men and women share advice and tips in this supportive community
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=29095
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Topic: Breastfeeding and dieting
Posted By: Mrs_B
Subject: Breastfeeding and dieting
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 2:47pm
I know that dieting isn't recommended but I'm unfortunately not one of these people that the weight has magically dropped off while BF'ing and it is started getting me down. Especially now the weather is getting warmer and I have to wear my maternity shorts because none of my other summer clothes fit me 
I know I probably don't make the wisest food choices so just wondering if anyone has any tips on how to curb an insatiable BF'ing appetite??  I am SO hungry all the time. -------------  
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Replies:
Posted By: skp
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 3:25pm
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I put on over 30kg pregnant and sooooo sick of preggie clothes. Its not coming off me very easy either, have 18kg to go
Sorry can't offer any advice as I'm in the same boat, just wanted you to know you aren't alone! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: kellie
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 3:29pm
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I used to make soup by the pot load lol. Just heaps of veges, a tiny bit of pasta and stock if you want.
It is really filling. Also drinking lots of water (carrying a drink bottle around with me) and snacking on carrots etc |
Posted By: monikah
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 3:41pm
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give this a go: any questions PM me
Bfast protein dairy protein carb fruit lunch protein carb 2 x veggies fruit dinner protein 3 x veggies carb 2 x snacks per day: yougurt + 4 cahews Chesse + hummus etc... just small things add also during the day 2 x fat serves ie. butter , oil add also during the day 2 x dairy serves i did this right through my pg and i know ppl doing it Bfing with no probs, they are walking 30-60 mins a day too though so you may not need quite as much but see how you feel :) ------------- 
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Posted By: palomino
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 3:42pm
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iv just started keeping carrot, celery and brocolli pieces in the fridge for when im eating and snacking on the run. normally it would have been chips or stop at mcds.
Popcorns good to snack on |
Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 3:46pm
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I joined weight watchers while b/f when Lauren was 5 months old and did their b/f plan, it worked wonderfully well along side b/f and my weight literally dropped off so fast I couldn't believe it!!
I totally recommend going along to a meeting, you only have to go to a few meetings to get enough info and see how it works, then do it at home by yourself! I did the core plan, which focuses on eating till your full, but not over eating. I still continued to b/f the whole time and it never affected my milk, actually if anything it probably helped milk production as I was eating good food as opposed to the crap I was eating when Lauren was a new born! Good luck, it can definately be done and it made me feel great! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: SpecialK
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 4:22pm
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Great thread MrsB, I was just thinking I really should do something about those extra kgs that I am carrying.
My problem is that I ate really well while pregnant and started putting on weight while BF. I try to eat healthy but am just so HUNGRY all the time! Must try harder and snack on fruit and veg more. And stop the baking! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Mrs_B
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 4:37pm
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I'm honestly hopeless I eat what ever is in sight! I must stop buying yummy things at the supermarket! (I'm not domesticated enough to bake!)
**she says as she eats nutella off a spoon**  -------------
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Posted By: monikah
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 5:08pm
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yea we have a no junk food zone at home. noone can bring crap in. that way if you want something naughty you actually have to go out and get it and normally decide you cant be bothered. lol. if its just a case of eating lots of things you shouldnt just try not to buy them at all and then you wont walk past the pantry every time you are tired or bored :) -------------
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Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 7:10pm
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I'm with Monikah - protein and carb in every meal with a serve or 3 of vege!! We did the body for life eating plan using their website (they have recipes and stuff) and DP lost over 10kg in less than 2 weeks and the only thing he changed was his eating. The other thing he found was that he was way less hungry and the smaller servings more often kept him more satisfied and the food was super yummy!! I didn't lose weight (that would've been pretty unhealthy for me!!) but my body shape totally changed and I got like uhm leaner if that makes sense?? It was awesome!! I went on our stationary bike for 10 minutes or for a brisk 10-15 minute walk everyday and lost every single little lump or bump that wasn't sposed to be there within 3 weeks. I felt so good! We're just getting back into eating like that again coz me having ms made it difficult. -------------   
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Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 7:41pm
| Ok I'm clueless when it comes to food make up and things like that so....what are some examples of proteins and carbs? It's a whole nother language!! I am like you skp - put on over 30kg, and have around 14kg to go. |
Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 8:09pm
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Check out this - http://www.bodyforlife.co.nz/wawcs0140834/ln-create-a-meal.html - Body For Life
ETA sorry its just a list of what constitutes protein, carbs, veges, how much fat is ok (though if you're BFing I'd have an extra serving) and what kind and what constitutes a portion since its not just what you eat but how much  HTH-------------
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Posted By: Caniry
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 8:35pm
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I was one of those people who put on lots of weight while pregnant too - I think I gained about 24kg. Breastfeeding definitely takes it out of you - I was probably eating twice as much as my husband! I started walking once my son was about 5months old and it helped me lose the pregnacy weight .
I also find doing the shopping on a full stomach helps and then I am less tempted to fill the trolley with junk food. Good luck - and remember it took 9months to put the weight on....so you have 9 months to lose it again. |
Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 8:44pm
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Yay thanks babe
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Posted By: monikah
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 9:06pm
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here is the basics (for the plan i go by anyway)
Protein: chicken 120g eggs 2 beef 100g corned beef 100g lamb chops 2 small lamb roast 85g pork fillet 125g ham 125g baked beans 130g dairy protein: milk 1/2 cup trim milk 1 cup cheese 20g custard 125g yogurt low fat 150g fats: oil 1tsp buter 1tsp cashews 4 almonds 6 penuts 7 avocado 3tsp grain carbs cornflakes 30g just right 30g muesli 30g special k 30g weetbix 2 biscuits bread 1 slice bagel small 1/2 ryvitas 3 taco shell 1 fruit 1 piece of most 1/2 large banana kiwifruit 2 dates 3 prunes 4 plum 3 i think thats the most common ones, hope it helps -------------
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Posted By: palomino
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 9:24pm
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And dont feel bad when 9months comes and goes and you still havent lost it
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Posted By: kellie
Date Posted: 02 October 2009 at 10:45am
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omg only 3tsps of avocado? I have a whole one on my toast for breakfast every morning lol.
And I thought I was being healthy ------------- 
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Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 02 October 2009 at 11:23am
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Yup the avo is high fat, but its a good fat! So rather eat that than a choccie bar -------------   
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Posted By: monikah
Date Posted: 02 October 2009 at 11:40am
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yea its a good fat so its great for you but it is still a fat which means it carries alot of calories. off the top of my head i think 9 cal per gram? it will lower as opposed to raise cholestrol so its good for your body just not your waist if you eat too much -------------
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Posted By: kellie
Date Posted: 02 October 2009 at 2:56pm
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wow, I am glad I know that now! I mean I knew it was a good fat as such, but I didn't know it could make you fat! -------------
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Posted By: Nikki
Date Posted: 02 October 2009 at 10:32pm
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I gained about 16kgs both pregnancies and had 10kgs to lose after Jake and 8kgs this time .... I'm also one of those with a HUGE appetite while BFing and don't lose any weight. My midwife said straight after I had Jake (when I thought it was all gonna "fall"off) that you go either way - body clings to the weight but you have good milk supply, or it falls off but you may struggle with milk supply. I tried to exercise when Jake was about 3 - 4 months and that week I lost a kg but he didn't gain any weight (he was a heart baby so weighed frequently) and fed more frequently and we were both miserable! So I stayed "fat and happy" (well, not really happy cos I couldn't fit anything, but I dealt with it and knew it was for a good cause) til I stopped bfing (he was 10.5months) then it fell off. I only had 2kgs to go, and hadn't even tried to lose it, when I got pg with Morgan.
So anyway - not much help .... but just wanted to say if you struggle to lose it now, at least it may "fall" off when you stop BFing like it did for me.  ------------- DS (5yrs) and DD (3yrs) |
Posted By: Mrs_B
Date Posted: 04 October 2009 at 3:56pm
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Hey thanks for the tips everyone
Nikki - I had wondered about that idea as a lot of ladies I've meet have had to wean or comp with formula due to low milk supply and they have all lost their pregnancy weight really quickly! Me - I'm still hanging on to 7kg of it and have an abundance of milk! Interesting... -------------
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Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 04 October 2009 at 4:22pm
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I only gained 4kgs (that wasn't pure baby) with Jake and it was gone within a fortnight of his birth but I ate healthy, did pilates and walked alot when I was pregnant. My mum dropped any baby weight she gained super-fast too and neither of us had any issues with milk supply - in fact it was the opposite lol there was milk to feed Africa!! I wouldn't put too much stock in weight gain = milk supply but thats JMO.
As for avocado mmm so yummy but yes the saying 'everything in moderation' does apply to healthy food as well! Best of luck with your weight loss journey mummies -------------
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 04 October 2009 at 8:18pm
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I've just gone back onto my old eating plan and even without exercise over the past week I've already lost weight and my son is sleeping better so it must be good for him too. I have cut out caffiene, chocolate and sweets (their not good for us anyway). I eat protein and complex carbs at every meal (the combo of carbs + protein is easier for your body to break down, harder to be stored as fat and boosts your metabolism and energy levels). I eat as much fruit and veges as I can (fills me up so I don't get hungry plus lots of fibre to help everything move through my body The other thing which is really important is to drink heaps of water. Firstly because that way you don't fill up on caffeine or sugar rich fluids but also because if the kidneys are water deprived then the liver needs to pick up their slack meaning it can't do one of it's main jobs which is to convert stored fat to energy. I have 2 glasses of water as soon as I wake up every morning and try to drink 1-2 glasses every hour until about 4pm. So I don't feel like I'm completely depriving myself I have a treat day every Sunday. Today I had a coffee, a muffin and a scoop of low-fat icecream. It definitely helps that I have a pre-schooler who I won't let eat junk so I'm preparing healthy food for her anyway and I want to set her a good example plus I have a picture in my mind of what I know I can look like and that's my goal. -------------  
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Posted By: monikah
Date Posted: 05 October 2009 at 11:07am
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yea i agree. right from day dot we couldnt have any unk food in our house cos i didnt want DS to ever see us eating it. when i was pg my weight exploded in the first 3 months (totally un-baby related) cos i ate heaps of junk food but once i cut it all out it stopped. maybe just concentrate on not eating any junk food for now so you know for sure your not gonna end up depriving bubs and see what happens. my sis magically dropped all her weight when she stopped BFing to so maybe that will happen in your case as well. -------------
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Posted By: Joscia
Date Posted: 05 October 2009 at 12:38pm
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I don't fit with your MW's theory either Nikki - I have a massive milk supply, and the preg weight seems to have fallen off with v. little effort. Even my pre-preg clothes are a little big on me now. (Sorry.)
I have also had a voracious appetite, so just figured just DS was sucking everything out of me! I do eat pretty healthily though (always have) and I don't think I put on too much weight during the pregnancy (I refuse to weigh myself as a general rule, so I don't really know how much I was / am) I make sure I eat 'good BF food' each day: - Start off with 1st breakfast: a bowl of Hubbards LSA porridge with a cut up banana + sml glass of spirulina -Then 2nd breakfast  : 2 pieces of wholegrain toast with marmalade or honey & a cup of coffee
-Lunch: usually a bowl of soup with either meat or fish in it + 2 more pieces of wholegrain bread, or a sandwich with ham / chicken and veges -Afternoon tea: Nutty muesli bar + small pot of organic cyclops yoghurt + another cup of coffee + maybe a piece of fruit -Dinner: always something different - but generally includes some kind of protein, carb + lots of veges (I almost always have dessert at the moment too - either ice-cream or hot choccy or something...) |
Posted By: Mrs_B
Date Posted: 05 October 2009 at 1:21pm
Damn there goes out that excuse out the window then! 
Joscia - that seems like so much food! I'm sure I don't eat that much but can't seem to lose any weight?? Maybe I should start writing down what I actually eat... maybe I eat more than I think or maybe it's just genetics?? -------------
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Posted By: Joscia
Date Posted: 05 October 2009 at 2:18pm
I know - it looks like heaps when you actually write it down aye! 
I've always been quite a big eater though (normally eat more than DH - in fact I was known amongst his friends for a while as 'the remorseless eating machine.' They should see me go these days! Ha!) I'm sure genetics plays a big part too. Having said that, I do do a moderate amount of exercise as well - normally an hour's walk to the dog park and back whilst carrying DS, several times a week... |
Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 05 October 2009 at 2:58pm
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Genetics do play their part but I think people underestimate the 'type' of food they eat. Like an earlier poster said - they were eating a full avocado on toast for breakfast because they thought it was healthy. Well avocado IS good for you but not a whole one everyday Toast as a breakfast staple is about as useful as all the preservatives they add to it. You need to be eating something like porridge which is an absolutely brilliant breakfast staple!!!!
After growing up surrounded by the females in my family trying every diet under the sun (they're all pretty slim but there are a heap of them and they're all pretty vain too  ) I've come to the conclusion that simple and as unprocessed as possible is best!
Joscia I eat like you too though not a second breakfast coz my porridge leaves me full til lunch I can't walk by myself coz of a low bp while I'm pregnant but I do pilates. I feel better when I do abit of exercise.-------------
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Posted By: Joscia
Date Posted: 05 October 2009 at 3:06pm
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Babe - your family sounds like mine: Predominantly female and, sadly, riddled with eating disorders. My sister and I are the only ones who haven't been sucked into the faddish elimination diets and general neurosis that goes with them. I think we're both 'robust eaters' as a kind of backlash towards it!
I'm all for the 'everything in moderation' approach, and not beating myself up about food. Life is way too short. |
Posted By: SpecialK
Date Posted: 05 October 2009 at 3:44pm
Well, I don't know where I am going wrong then! I put on weight after I had Harry  and I think I eat pretty healthy.
I have porridge with milk and banana for breakfast, but two hours later am absolutely starving. Today I tried to stretch it out to lunch by eating heaps of fruit, then had brown rice and beef stirfry for lunch and more fruit. Then two hours later was starving again. I can't work out whether I am genuinely hungry or whether I just got used to eating more. So this arvo had coffee and home made cookie
------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: monikah
Date Posted: 05 October 2009 at 4:54pm
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make sure your eating 2L + of pure H20 a day. your body can often through in hunger signals even if your slightly dehydrated cos it knows that most foods have some water content. i reckon the writing down every single little thing you eat is a great idea. ive been doing it for years along with my training schedule. check out http://www.healthyinspirations.co.nz/centres/state,nz - this link and see if there is a centre near you. they have a BFing / preggy eating options for foods and its not counting points or anything like weight watchers and you have to combine it with exercise. you do 3 daily visits a week to ensure your eating well AND exercising. personally i love it, but i get it free cos the gym i work for owns the centre down here. its hard with kids so i go at 7am every morning no matter what cos DH doesnt leave till 8. anyway feel free to have a look although the website isnt that great.
ETA: specialk dont forget fruit has a lot of sugar in it. so be careful not to eat more than a couple pieces a day. try home made pumpkin and kumara soup. mmmm yum. its so think its like eating a meal. lol -------------
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Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 06 October 2009 at 12:03pm
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Special K try a small serving of carb and protein at morning tea like a boiled egg (protein) and some crackers or something.
I second Monikah with drinking heaps of water! It def helps with that full feeling. -------------
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