After you have given birth, one of your concerns may be losing the weight that has piled on during pregnancy. Although you may be eager to lose the weight, most doctors recommend waiting at least six to eight weeks after delivery before dieting and exercising. When you breastfeed, you can lose the weight quicker than if you bottle feed your baby.
Time Frame
According to La Leche League, breastfeeding mothers should wait at least two months before trying to lose weight. This time not only allows for recovery from delivery, but also gives you adequate time to build up a healthy milk supply.
Function
Breastfeeding helps a woman lose weight after pregnancy by burning calories. The Breastfeeding.com website sponsored by Bump Magazine states that women that exclusively breastfeed burn 600 extra calories per day. Breastfeeding also causes a reduction in the hips and thighs of a woman along with an overall reduction of body fat.
Prevention/Solution
You should eat only when hungry if you want to lose weight quickly while breastfeeding. Weight loss is typically quicker in the first six months of breastfeeding when a woman eats to hunger. The Subcommittee on Nutrition During Lactation states that without any additional calorie restrictions, breastfeeding women lose an average of 1.3 to 1.6 pounds per month during the first six months of breastfeeding.
Benefits
To lose weight quickly, you can reduce your caloric intake by at least 25 percent. The La Leche League states that you'll lose an average of a pound per week and not affect the weight gain of your baby. However, you should maintain a diet of at least 1,500 to 1,800 calories per day to ensure good health for you and your baby. Additionally, increasing your activity level can help you lose weight quickly. You should spend a minimum of 30 minutes daily participating in some form of aerobic activity, such as walking, jogging and cycling.
Warning
Crash diets, weight loss supplements and fasts are not recommended for women that are breastfeeding. This can affect a woman's milk supply and could cause harmful substances to pass through the breastmilk.
