Safely Lose Weight While Breastfeeding

You've chosen to breastfeed your beautiful new baby, because you feel that it's the best thing you can do for your baby's health. And in my opinion, you're exactly right.

But what about you, Mama? Are you struggling to lose those last few pounds of pregnancy weight, or maybe a little more?

For some lucky souls, nursing a baby is all it takes to shed that weight, but for the rest of us, it takes a little more. I know what you're asking yourself. Is it even safe to diet while nursing a baby? The answer is yes, it can be safe, but doctors do recommend that you strive to lose no more than a pound a week (or up to five pounds a month) in order to maintain your milk supply and quality. So where to begin?

Talk to Your Doctor

Before beginning any weight loss or exercise plan, especially after having a baby, be sure to discuss it with your physician. Most doctors advise waiting until four weeks post partum to begin.

Choose a Plan

First things first, decide the route you're taking. There are many safe diet alternatives for nursing moms. The bottom line, though, is that a nursing mom should try not to go below about 1800 to 2000 calories per day. Remember, though, that your body is burning an extra 400-500 calories per day in order to create milk for your baby.

For some, sticking to a certain amount of calories will be sufficient. For others, like me, a more controlled plan works better. Personally, I like the Weight Watcher's Plan for nursing moms. It's well structured, but allows one to eat in the "real world." No prepackaged foods are required, and it's even simple to dine out on the plan.

Exercise is also important for anyone trying to lose weight. Not only do you burn extra calories with exercise, but you also build muscle. Muscle mass burns more calories at rest than fat. It's a simple fact, and adding exercise to your program will most certainly help to make the process faster, as well as help you to maintain your loss.