Trouble losing weight while breastfeeding?

[regulaone]

Hi, My little guy is 8 months old now and I've been doing Atkins for 2 months and not lost a pound. I only have 10 pounds left to lose but still! I was just wondering if anyone else has had a hard time losing while breastfeeding and was there anything that helped?

I noticed this quote from Dr. Atkins on another thread:

Audience: Is your diet safe to use while breastfeeding a newborn? Or
should I wait until she is weaned?
Dr. Robert Atkins: The diet is quite safe for breastfeeding; however, weight loss will be painfully slow because of the hormones involved in supporting breastfeeding.

I gained 70 pounds my first pregnancy through overeating and preeclampsia and didn't lose that last 35 until after I quit nursing. Then my next pregnancy I gained 30 (yay!) and lost it all the first three months and then dropped another 20 by the time I weaned. This last time I gained 38 (boo) and am now 8 months along with still 10 pounds to lose. I feel like I am on a yo-yo diet constantly fighting the same pounds.
Very frustrating.

I checked my milk with a ketone stick and there are only trace ketones in in, while my urine shows moderate to large. I've not noticed any negative side-effects with my baby. I'm eating under 20 carbs a day and I really would like to get rid of this weight so that I can enjoy fitting in all my clothes before we think about getting pregnant again.
Does anyone have any suggestions that have worked for you?

[Momma2threegirls]

Re: Trouble losing weight while breastfeeding?

Congratulations on nursing your 8 month old That's fabulous

Many women find that they don't drop the last 10-15 until the stop nursing. As you know, your milk is supposed to be your infants main source of nutrition throughout the entire first year. That last 10lbs is likely natures way of proecting your milk supply and your infant. I have nursed all my babes past a year. With my first I became PG while nursing and we didn't have a typical weaning progression. With my twins I droped almost all the pregnancy weight by around 9 months...but then hung to the last -10 until they were about 14months (still nursing) then as they started really spacing out their nursing my body finally let go. I dropped the last 10 and then started on my "left overs" from my first pregnancy. They are currently 21 months (nursing) and I am back to my pre 1st pregnancy weight! yeahhh!!!

I guess, what I am trying to say is be patient. Your milk is so much more important than 10lbs and babies are small for such a short time period. Hang in there. Revel in eating and being healthy and trust that in time it will happen!

Erika

[kellyf48]

Re: Trouble losing weight while breastfeeding?

I started atkins when my twins were 8 months (nursing) and i didnt lose a pound. I felt sick to my stomach and fainted after day 3. That was my experience. It started to dry up my milk also so i had to quit atkins and tried ww. Interesting to hear about what others have done,

[regulaone]

Re: Trouble losing weight while breastfeeding?

Thanks for the encouragement Erika! You're right, my little guy is growing up so fast. He's going to catch his older sisters before I know it. I know his health is the most important thing right now. I guess I was just hoping it would be like my second time around and the weight would just magically disappear! Would you reccomend staying at the 20 carbs or should I start adding 5 at time until I start gaining?

I'm so sorry to hear about your experience Kellyf48. I've always had an overabundance of milk so I haven't noticed any drop from doing Atkins.