Making Milk When You Want to Shed the Unwanted Pounds
In the last few months of pregnancy, I could hardly move because I was waddling like a plump duck. I did, however, have one constant and nagging thought, “I cannot WAIT to feel free to work out hard and eat less, so I can lose this baby weight!” Am I alone? Anyone else out there?
Here’s the thing – I breastfed. Which means, as soon as I started cutting the calories, my breast milk disappeared too. I wasn’t one of the fortunate ones that produce enough milk for two, let alone one baby. So, I strategically grew my milk supply through nutrition, pumping, regulation and a schedule. And let me tell you it was hard! It was especially hard when I realized that the more calories I consumed, the more milk I made, and right at the time when I was trying to shed the unwanted weight.
Tips and Tricks
Here are a few tips to prepare your body for breastfeeding, while maintaining a healthy weight.
- Eat around the clock – your body uses the fuel you put in to create milk for your baby and that process burns calories like crazy! But you have to fuel it to make it. So manga (eat)!!!
- Eat food rich in nutrients so they absorb into your breast milk and transfer to your baby.
- Add the extra calories you need into your diet with a protein shake. Give Mommi a try – it is designed for women in the years of motherhood!
- Continue to take your prenatal vitamins. Mommi gives you vitamins in liquid form so they penetrate the bloodstream! Ever hear that you shouldn’t drink alcohol if you are breastfeeding unless you pump and dump? The alcohol gets to the baby through the breast milk. So it’s important you get those vitamins to your baby through the prenatals you consume. Mommi delivers a full prenatal in each serving!
- Don’t exercise your milk away! Exercise is so important in any healthy regimen but don’t overdo it to the point that you lose your milk supply – it really happens! Instead, remember that at rest you are producing milk and burning calories. Your body is doing hard work for you, so honor it!
The Freak Out
When I was pregnant with my first baby I gained a total of 75 whopping pounds and she only weighed 8.8. EEEEEEKKKKKKK! I freaked out about losing that weight. Then a year later and 65 pounds lighter, I realized the weight came off without a lot of effort in the exercise department and I did not starve myself. So feed yourself, feed your baby and naturally exercise when it feels right.
