Any Hope Breastfeeding and Low Carbing?

[lil'enginethatcould]

I had my son 4 months ago.When I was pregnant the whole low carb diet I had adopted for about a year and a half went out the window.I ended up gaining a whopping 60 lbs.I decided to nurse my son and I am very proud and lucky to have done so for this long.Unfortunately,I haven't lost as much weight as I had hoped.First of all,I haven't been able to establish an excercise routine.Not only do I have my son,but also a three year old.So it's been really hard getting back my old excercise routine.Secondly,I haven't exactly been following a low carb diet.I have read that a low carb diet isn't recommended while breastfeeding,so not wanting to effect my supply I have been afraid to go back on Atkins.I'm really not happy with my size and overall fitness level though and wish I could at least lose some of this weight.Has anyone had experience with breasfeeding and low carbing?Does it really create low supply?I know I will need extra calories,but can lower carbs create any problems?Veronica

[randtbrown]

Join us on the challenge thread under NEW MOMMY CHALLENGE- we are all in the same boat!

My doc said totally fine to do low carb, but add one higher carb item of either fruit or whole grain to each meal.

[LunaAshling]

You can find alot of good info in my past bf'ing threads. Just follow the link in my siggy!

[razorbackmama]

I am nursing my 20mo right now. Supply isn't a concern of mine anymore, but when you burn a lot of fat, the toxins that are stored there can get dumped into your milk...not so good for a nursing baby!

So what I have done is to start out at a higher level of carb intake. I've been trying to stick around 60ish grams per day (which is still SIGNIFICANTLY less than what I was eating!) so that I limit my weight loss to about 2-3 lbs. per week. Anything more than that can interfere with supply or dump toxins into the milk.

I'm not losing SUPER fast this way, but I know I'll get there eventually.

[lil'enginethatcould]

That's good info to know Razorbackmama!I thought maybe the induction allowance of 20 carbs seemed a bit drastic for a nursing mother,but I wasn't sure what was a good amount to start out.Plus it's less pressure to stick with 60 grams versus 20 grams after being away from Atkins so long. I haven't started any type of regimen yet...we are in the middle of a move. I wanted to get moved and settled first as well as do my research,before I give it a go.Hopefully,I can come up with a way to fit my excersise as well.I'll have to read some of the old threads too for additional help.Thanks

[razorbackmama]

Yeah, I've read (somewhere LOL) that nursing moms do best to start out at the maintenance level or thereabouts, so that's why I picked 60 as my number to try to stay around. And actually sometimes I've had to boost it a bit because I'm still losing a bit too fast at that rate. I weigh myself every morning so I can get a feel for where I am.

[lil'enginethatcould]

Tarrah,my boy Liam was born 1/27/06!Do you have any tips on quick but healthy meals?Things that have been easy to prepare since Liam's birth haven't exactly been low carb My hubby works evenings so I have no one to entertain/mainly hold Liam while I cook.Sometimes toys just don't cut it for him.I feel really crunched for time at dinner,trying to get back to holding Liam before he works himself up into a frenzy.

[lil miss]

HI. Just a quick note ot tell you how happy I was to see this thread. I lced for a coupla years and lost and was so happy with my appearance for the first time in my adult life. I just had my 3rd son 4 weeks ago and am nursing and feel very disgusted with my girth. BUT I do not in any way want to jeopardize my supply or obviously my baby so I am looking to lower carbs but not do induction, etc.

[randtbrown]

Just want to welcome you all to join us in the new mommy challenge:

~*~NEW MOMMY CHALLENGE~*~ May 18th, 2005~*~

[randtbrown]

Originally Posted by lil'enginethatcould

Tarrah,my boy Liam was born 1/27/06!Do you have any tips on quick but healthy meals?Things that have been easy to prepare since Liam's birth haven't exactly been low carb My hubby works evenings so I have no one to entertain/mainly hold Liam while I cook.Sometimes toys just don't cut it for him.I feel really crunched for time at dinner,trying to get back to holding Liam before he works himself up into a frenzy.

My best advise (besides gettingn Liam an Exosaucer that you can pull into the kitchen- Kyle plays in it for an hour at a time these days!) is to cook most everything once a week. For example- on Sunday's my DH grills a bunch of meat- chicken breast, flank steak, pork chops, sausage, etc. Then, we eat off of it all week. The meat is done, I just make a salad (or a can of green beans or other veggie), and a starch for him (a can of beans, a bag of flavored rice, etc). THat is pretty quick. Sometimes we have a big salad with grilled chicken on it, the flank steak can be made into fajitas pretty fast. Put a pot roast in the crock pot in the morning. An easy but quickie is to take frozen chicken breast and put them in the crock pot (still frozen) with some salsa on top and cook on low all day- take out at night, put some cheese on it and a side salad and side of rice (whole grain even you can eat).

I only grocery shop once a month for my main stuff. I have a calendar that I sit down with and take the time to plan every dinner for the entire month, leaving 2 days a week for eating out or whatever. I then make a list with everything I need and I'm prepared- which is 1/2 the battle. To keep your carbs up a little for nursing, eat a piece of low sugar fruit (apple with a tbs of natural peanut butter) or have 2 small servings of whole grains (SF bread or wheat pasta) a day. You are a new mom- a good looking sandwich for dinner is enough these days!

But my best advise really is to plan ahead. When your DH is home to hold the baby or the baby is taking a nap (mine doesn't nap.....) prepare a meal. Check out linda sue's sight http://users3.ev1.net/~fontlady/recipes.html for good recipies (I think she has monthly menus on there too). When you make a cassorole- make two of them and freeze one for later.

If you need any more help, feel free to PM me!

[lil'enginethatcould]

Some great ideas Tarrah!I think I will plan on buying a little freezer after our move.Not only would it be good for storing my expressed milk,but it will be helpful in freezing meals.I packed my "skinny" clothes today.I thought I was going to cry.I'm looking forward to being able to where them again.

[razorbackmama]

I haven't worn my skinny clothes in about 5 years, and I'm soooooo looking forward to getting to wear them again!!!

[randtbrown]

Ode to the skinny clothes....... I had just reached goal when I got pregnant and just bought an entire new wordrobe so I'm very anxious to get back into them! They are mostly winter clothes, so I hope to be in them by then- unless I'm pregnant again- that would be okay too!