from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
After 9 long months of pregnancy and weight gain, many new moms quickly begin thinking about dieting in hopes of losing some of that extra weight. Nursing mothers often consider dieting long before their baby is ready to stop breastfeeding. While going on a “diet” is not recommended while nursing, there are several safe and healthy ways for nursing mothers to change their diet without compromising the quality and quantity of breast milk available for their babies. Losing weight while you’re nursing is not as difficult as you may think. In fact, by breastfeeding, you are burning approximately 200-500 calories per day, which puts you at an advantage over mothers who formula feed their babies.
Steps
Set Realistic Goals In order to avoid frustration when attempting to lose weight, understand that satisfactory results will not happen over night. The production of sufficient nutritional breast milk requires tremendous work on the body’s part. Work with your body’s efforts rather than against them and don’t rush it.- Take it slow. Decrease your caloric intake gradually so as not to interfere with the production of a good milk supply. Realize that it may take up to a year to return to your pre-pregnancy weight.
- Expect to lose 1 to 2 pounds per week or 6 pounds per month total. Losing weight too rapidly can diminish your milk supply and fail to produce enough nutrients for your baby. Aim for slow and steady weight loss.
