what the heck is with this weight gain?

[lauwen82]

I am new here and this is the first time I am posting so HI everyone! I am a 29 year old mom of an 11 year old 8 y/o twins and a five month old boy. Archie is my first exclusively bf baby but I'm really confused. I lost 13 lbs after he was born and then gained back ten. I was a comfy 127 prepreg and now hover at a steady 160. This is driving me nuts! I thought nursing was supposed to help with weight loss. He bf's all the time even at night and I can't seem to drop an ounce. What happened to losing an average of 2-4 lbs a month post preg? I'm not over eating and have been keeping track of calorie and fat intake just to see. I know its not the worst problem in the world but I have now had to go out and buy fat clothes. I can't even fit into my old fat clothes or my maternity clothes. It is so depressing. I have had my thyroid tested and it came back normal. Am I the only one with this issue with an exclusively bf baby?

[shaunsmommy]

I have the same problem, my son nurses around the clock, i eat pretty healthy and i take at least a 30 minute walk a day and my weight won't budge. I shed 20 pounds the first month, but i have another 20 pounds that just won't come off. I always thought bfing was supposed to help you lose weight.:confused:

[twobadlizards]

This is exactly what happened with me when I had DS (January of 2006), and it's SO frustrating. I gained about 45 pounds with DS, and I'll tell you, no matter what I did, the weight wouldn't budge...until the month I had my first period (DS had just turned 6 months old). Then, suddenly, my weight started dropping and WeightWatchers started working for me. I ended up 10 pounds lower than my pre-pregnancy weight (although it took me a full year after DS's birth to get there).

Here I am again -- DD is 6 weeks old, I lost about 15 pounds in the first week post-partum, and I'm stuck with about 38 pounds left to lose to get back to pre-pregnancy weight. By no means do I seriously overeat, although I confess I haven't exactly been pumping iron these first 6 weeks (some walks in the neighborhood and chasing my 2-year-old are about it so far). I have to assume that my body knows what it's doing because it certainly did the first time. Yours knows what it's doing as well -- the weight will come off eventually if you eat sensibly and exercise, but you may just have to wait until you begin menstruating again or even until your baby weans before that process kicks in. In the meantime, feed your body well and keep reminding yourself how incredible your body is -- you grew a human being inside you, and now you are feeding, sustaining, and nurturing that human being entirely from your body. Your body is a miracle, no matter what size, and a little extra weight during this short time in your life is a small price to pay in exchange for knowing that you're doing the absolute best thing for your baby. You're beautiful, mamas!

[Jennalicia]

My advice is to eat, and eat steadily. Your body will not let go of fat stores if it feels like it won't get another steady meal. I know that it sounds strange, but I have been eating around the clock, and losing a pound every other day. I gained 40 pounds with this pg. The baby just turned 3 weeks on Tuesday. I have 9 pounds left to go.

And yes I eat. A lot. I eat fruit, veggies, and even cookies. I drink 1 gallon of water a day, no caffeine and 2 cups of decaffinated green tea daily. I just started excercising this week (I had a C-section, and have been taking it easy for a few weeks). At six weeks, I will be taking aerobics again (I taught aerobics until my 3rd trimester, then walked 30-45 minutes daily). I will hopefully teach again when another spot permits.

I am in no way skinny, but I am healthy. I did the Weight Watchers thing, but then realized that it was what I was doing anyway and quit. The best thing that I have done has been journaling what I eat.

If no weight comes off after all your best efforts, I suggest showing your journal to a dietician and see if they can make some suggestions.

Good luck with your journey. I will be rooting for you! I am on my way as well. Since this was my last child, I look at the scale and think 'this is the last time I will weigh x weight'.

[jupiterfruitcake]

Oh the exact thing has happened to me this time around. My first pg I lost almost all the weight within weeks and the rest came off about 8 months later when I got my period. This time around I lost 16 pounds then gained back 8 mysteriously. It won't budge despite my efforts. It is comforting to know I am not alone.

[RedheadbyChoice]

Do you exercise at all, sugar?

[gingerbread_ca]

I was at the nutrition store yesterday, unrelated, but she said if you cut white bread, all milk dairy, and white sugar you will feel better all the way around. It's hard to get started, but it will pay off in the end. Less processed foods is bound to help loose weight too. Fill up on fresh fruits and veggies :o) Good luck!

[Jennalicia]

Gingerbread_ca

Does anyone still eat white bread? I haven't in over 10 years. They really make good wheat and whole grain bread that tastes so much better.

As for dairy, it is fattening, period. Even the low fat varieties.

And white sugar is processed. I have steered clear from anything processed or for 6 years. My body began working better after I did that, and I rarely even caught a cold. Weight came off quickly (then I would get pregnant again, go figure).

My lifestyle changes happened when I joined a co-op. Initially, I would buy my teas from there, then it was spices and bulk rice. Eventually, almost all of my groceries and toiletries came from there. I only went to WalMart rarely after that (the co-op is 50 miles from home, so we could only go to the co-op a fews times a month).