Nursing and exercise = can't keep weight on

[Anonymous]

I am not trying to brag and/or be hated or annoying. I am 6 months postpartum and am finding that between exercising 4-5x a week and nursing I am losing weight like a bat out of hell. I am 5'7 and 125 and the weight is falling off fast and I am concerned it isn't going to stop. I don't really want to lose any more weight. But it is important to my mental health to work out. I work 50-60 hours a week, have little to no help from my spouse who works a lot and have two kids under 3. So I don't have much time to think about food. Please help me figure out a plan for eating enough AND for eating the right calorie-dense food so I either maintain or even go up another 5 lbs if I can. I am not ridiculously skinny but I am more comfortable with myself when I am 5 lbs heavier.

[Anonymous]

I am also thin and guilty of not making time for food while keeping a fast pace. For me, my milk supply will start dropping so I'd have to slow down/sleep more/eat more. Lighten up on your exercise and sneak in more calories. Breakfast is where I try to get a high calorie/high protein intake. I like a smoothie made with coconut oil/greek yogurt/fruit/berry/nuts, and a hot oatmeal/quinoa recipe. Plus I'm serious about getting 4-5 servings of a high calcium food every day. I drink 2 glasses of cow's milk a day plus a greek yogurt at lunch plus cheese some other time. And I add an avocado to my salad and coconut oil to my smoothie.

[Anonymous]

This happened to me too. I am 5'6" and was 118 when I got pregnant. I didn't exercise after my baby was born, but by the time DS was 6 months old I was 106 lbs. the weight just dropped off because of the nursing. I had to eat a ton of calories too. I finally got it to level off around 108 until I stopped nursing at 15 months. I literally was eating cupcakes everyday.
I think that you really need to ramp up your calories or stop exercising so much.
I'm sure most people can't relate, but it is distressing. I was not healthy at 106, and my Dr was worried. She also put me on high calorie shakes.

[Anonymous]

^^ PP again. Try to get as much calcium as possible. I have noticed that I've been breaking my toes left and right since my DS was born. I'm positive it's related to nursing and the baby taking the calcium that he needed to grow.
I'd never broken a bone before my DS was born.

[Anonymous]

Happened to me as well- fell well below my prepregnancy weight and then some. Fast forward 8 years and I'm well OVER my pregnancy weight by 20 pounds. Breastfeeding and exercise were the best diet plan ever, middle age and slow metobolism not my friend at the moment. Enjoy it!

[Anonymous]

Carnation Instant Breakfast is your friend.

If you can tolerate, Ensure shakes are what they give old people to keep their weight up. (I don't like the taste much.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ PP again. Try to get as much calcium as possible. I have noticed that I've been breaking my toes left and right since my DS was born. I'm positive it's related to nursing and the baby taking the calcium that he needed to grow.
I'd never broken a bone before my DS was born.

Also make sure that you are getting enough Vitamin D. My DH had 3 spiral fractures in his foot due to a Vitamin D deficiency.

[Anonymous]

Use whole milk instead of a lower-fat variety. Snack on nuts during work. Eat eggs - high in fat and full of good nutrients - cooked in butter. Whole fat yogurt and cheese. Avacados, even though they're out of season. Peanut, almond butter on whole-wheat bread. Smoothies with whole milk yogurt, fruit, and flax seeds. Red meat once a week. Put olive oil on your salad and veggies. Nothing replaces eating five times a day, but these ideas are worth a shot when you just don't have time. Also, tell your husban he needs to help more because you are at a breaking point. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Check your thyroid. This happened to me too, turned out I was extremely hyperthyroid.

[Anonymous]

My thyroid was fine, but it's a good idea to check.

[Anonymous]

Five Guys.

[Anonymous]

Not to steal your thread but how in the bleeding hell are you finding time to work out??

[Anonymous]

This happened to me. I weaned 2 months ago and have gained one pound. Desperately need to gain a few pounds - I look run down. I'm eating healthy, doing VERY light workouts (walking, light lifting, yoga type stretches). I get my thyroid checked every year because my mom is has a history of issues, time to do that again I guess, it's been just under a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not to steal your thread but how in the bleeding hell are you finding time to work out??

Op here. I work out at 5 am before work.

[Anonymous]

Exercise two mornings a week and make lunch for yourself/prep dinner the other three. Put DH in charge of dinner two times a week.