Breastfeeding And Weight Loss - Not My Reality.
* What The Experts Say, Versus My Reality.
"They" say that breastfeeding is supposed to help you lose weight. I guess I'm the exception to the rule. Despite breastfeeding both of my daughters in quick succession, instead of losing weight, weight seemed to have found me.
* My Pre Birth, Pre Breastfeeding Days.
Before giving birth to my two adorable children, I was a svelte 125lbs. Standing at 5"1, wearing a size 7/8 in clothing, I wasn't too bad to look at!
By the time I reached the end of my second pregnancy however, I easily tipped the scales at 181lbs! You can only imagine how that much weight on my small 5"1 frame made me feel both physically, mentally, and emotionally.
* Breastfeeding And Weight-loss? - Yippee! Sadly, Not For Me.
How thrilled I was to find out that in addition to the major benefits breastfeeding provided my daughters and myself, an added bonus included helping me lose weight.
Unfortunately, as mentioned from the outset, I was definitely the exception to the rule.
For instance - the entire time I breastfed my first daughter, I may have lost 10lbs. By the time I became pregnant with my second daughter, I had packed on another 30lbs in addition to the weight I hadn't lost from my first pregnancy!
Fast forward to August 2009- I'm currently at 154lbs, and I've been breastfeeding my youngest for about 21 months now (not exclusively however, so don't get all weird on me). Though I've been breastfeeding for that length of time, I've only managed to lose 27lbs.
In addition to the exercise (what little I can get - I manage) and healthy eating, I still haven't managed to reach my ideal weight. Often, I get easily discouraged and dismayed carrying around all this extra weight, which is both tiring and unhealthy.
Although I don't expect to be ubber-thin anymore, it is my desire to be healthy and to get back in a size 6 again (hey, a girl can dream). Which makes me wonder: will I ever reach my goal weight, or will I have to settle with embracing my new post-pregnancy body? I guess only time will tell.
As for now, the idea that breastfeeding helps you lose weight, has definitely not been a part of my reality.
Check this article out from one of our fellow hubbers.
- The Importance of Breastfeeding
Bottle feeding in the US has become the social norm. Today more women are working outside the home and forumla feeding seems to be faster and more flexible, and a hostility towards breastfeeding has been... - For women saying no to breastfeed babies
Losing weight by breast-feeding According to a popular belief, breast-feeding makes you lose weight rather than put on.
