Giving birth and life to a human being is the most powerful and beautiful feeling a woman can experience in her life. Life with a new baby is difficult and challenging, as well as delightful.
But besides the new life with a baby, there are a few other new things. And one of them is the woman’s body.
The woman’s body is continually changing during the pregnancy as the baby is growing inside its mother. But the body continues to change even after birth. And the quantities of the changes vary from woman to woman. And something similar in every woman after giving birth to their child is their weight. Yes, of course, weight also varies, and every woman is different, but something that most women have in common is the fact they have gained weight during pregnancy.
And what’s something else most women have in common? It’s a fact they all want to lose that weight.
Losing weight after giving birth
Is it difficult to lose weight after giving birth? We can’t give you a simple answer because every woman is different, and every case is unique.
Some women don’t even gain weight during pregnancy, while others gain enormous amounts of it. Some women don’t have difficulties losing the postpartum weight, while others never come back to the weight they’ve had before pregnancy.
So, it’s effortless for some to lose weight, and for others, it’s challenging. And there is also a middle ground, where women can lose weight if they make a little effort. It’s basically like losing weight that’s not pregnancy-related.
Many things can help you lose weight after giving birth, and believe it, or not one of them is breastfeeding.
Can you lose weight while breastfeeding?
Yes, you can. Breastfeeding can help you lose your weight, but again it’s not the same for everyone.
Usually, when you are breastfeeding, you are burning 500 to 700 calories every day. It sounds incredible, and it is. But you should be very careful because you shouldn’t under-eat your calories. You need to follow the recommendations you’ve been given by your doctor about how much you should eat and what you should eat. And what’s most important is how many calories you need to intake daily.
You need to consult with your doctor on every topic that has to do with losing weight after giving birth. So if you are planning on dieting first, ask your doctor about it.
But let’s get back to our main topic, losing weight while breastfeeding.
If you want to lose weight during the breastfeeding period, you should know that many factors affect it.
It depends on your metabolism, the food you eat, the exercise you do, and how often. And it also depends on how much weight you gained during your pregnancy. It may take you up to nine months or even twelve to lose the weight you have gained during pregnancy, and sometimes there is a possibility that you won’t lose all of it.
When you are breastfeeding, you need to consume at least 1,800 calories every day, and that’s a minimum. That way you can be sure that you will have enough milk and that you and your baby will be healthy. Also, you will have enough energy that you are in desperate need of when having a baby.
If you consume around 1,800 calories each day and are breastfeeding, you can expect to lose one to two pounds every week.
Why is it crucial to consume enough calories, and how much do you need?
If you want to have enough milk for your baby, you need to consume enough calories, because they directly affect milk production.
Everyone is different, and depending on your lifestyle, the daily calorie intake varies. The 1,800 is minimum, but you should always consume the number of calories that go with your daily habits and lifestyle.
- If you have an active lifestyle, you should consume from 2,650 to 2,900 calories per day
- If you live a moderately active life, you should consume from 2,450 to 2,700 calories per day
- If you have a sedentary lifestyle, you should consume from 2,250 to 2,500 calories per day
In normal circumstances, if you want to lose weight, you need to consume fewer calories than these, and if you want to maintain the weight, you should eat just like the example. But if you want to maintain your weight while you are breastfeeding, you should consume additional calories every day, from 450 to 500. It means that it’s easier to lose weight if you are breastfeeding.
But the most important thing is not to starve yourself because you need to think about your health and your baby’s health.
And while you are breastfeeding, you need to think about the food you are eating. You should try eating healthier and being careful that the calories you are consuming are not coming from snacks, sweets, or fast food.
What’s always god to do is drink a lot of water. It is suitable for your skin for your health, and ultimately it’s suitable for weight loss.
If you plan on eating around 2,000 calories every day, be sure that those calories are on the healthier side. Don’t eat plenty of carbs; instead, eat a lot of protein and fibers from vegetables and fruits.
Many think that the best way to lose weight is to skip meals, but that’s wrong. It’s wrong, especially if you are breastfeeding, so please don’t do it. What’s worse than eating too many calories is eating too low calories.
And if it doesn’t go how you planned, don’t be harsh on you. Everything that is happening with your body is completely normal. Your body has been changing for some time, and now it needs some extra time to change again.
Just be patient, take care of your baby, and the weight will eventually be gone. Be gentle to yourself and remember that breastfeeding can be your number one ally in losing postpartum weight, just if you decide to live a healthy life.
Watch the following video for more tips:
