Breastfeeding can burn as many as 500 calories per day, enabling some breastfeeding mothers to lose weight more quickly while nursing. Other women have difficulty losing weight while nursing, however, and this frustration can lead women to search out diet plans for assistance. The Atkins Diet is a diet plan that restricts carbohydrates, especially simple sugars that cause the most dramatic increase in blood sugar levels. Since a nursing mother is making milk to nourish her baby, her diet is especially important to ensure that the baby receives the best nutrition possible. Ask your doctor for clearance before attempting to lose weight after childbirth.
Atkins Explained
The Atkins Diet consists of four phases. The first phase is the most restrictive and limits participants to a maximum of 20 g of carbohydrates per day. Phase two allows you to introduce more carbohydrates back into the diet using a slow and controlled process. Phase three begins when you are 10 pounds from your goal weight and allows even more carbohydrates to be added back, including starchy vegetables and whole grains. Phase four, or the maintenance phase, is designed to last for the rest of your life, promoting a healthy diet with a strong knowledge of how carbohydrates affect your body and metabolism.
Necessary Modifications
According to the Atkins Diet, nursing mothers may participate in the Atkins program, but it is recommended that all weight loss phases be avoided and mothers should adhere to phase four, or the maintenance phase. Depending on a woman’s current eating habits, the maintenance phase may lead to some weight loss due to a healthier way of eating.
Concerns
The Atkins diet is essentially a high-protein diet and may cause ketosis to occur. Ketosis is a condition that results from the rapid breakdown of fats and a limited intake of carbohydrates. The La Leche League states that it is unknown what effect ketosis has on a breastfeeding baby. Since ketones pass through breast milk, it is unclear whether the baby would experience a negative impact related to her mother’s state of ketosis. Additionally, the Atkins Diet may result in the mother restricting her calorie intact, though this is not the intention. A low-carbohydrate diet combined with calorie restriction can cause a decrease in milk production, which would negatively affect the baby’s growth and development.
Healthy Eating
If you are breastfeeding and want to lose weight, eating a healthy diet with fruits and vegetables and lean meats while limiting the amount of sugar intake is a good place to start. Exercising several days a week is also beneficial. If these efforts do not help you lose weight while breastfeeding, talk to your doctor. Your body may simply hold onto weight while nursing to maintain your milk supply. The positive changes in your eating habits that you make while nursing will make it easier for the weight to come off once your baby weans.
