So, I’ve been tracking every bite and every sip for about a month now. Been doing 16:8 IF with strict keto and maintaining between 1300-1800 cals a day because technically I shouldn’t consume less than 1800 cals while breastfeeding. I do cardio and weights twice a week and even take collagen vital proteins every day.
This is my 2nd baby, I’m almost 35, currently at 222# as a 5’8” woman…. what’s the deal? Is it my age? The fact that it’s my second? I gained half the weight with this pregnancy (was 190 before, and that was after a steady weight gain of 40# during Covid)
I lost 8# the first week (water weight of course) but then it just bounces between the same 5# up and down since. I can’t get lower than 221 and often it’s back up to 225. I just don’t understand.
Any tips or suggestions? I have done strict keto before and usually lose 10# per month steadily. Is it because I’m doing it in conjuction with IF this time?
Sincerely,
The very frustrated and disheartened
You don’t need to do keto if you are counting calories. Also I lost weight by going to 1500 a day and I went up to 2500 I don’t lose but a pound a week now. You might be on the decline but it’s super slow. Bike riding will help if you can do it plus it’s fun.
It’s because hormones get weird postpartum and breastfeeding. Your metabolism and water retention are all over the place right now. You’re not doing anything wrong; it’ll just take time for your body to settle down. Set your goals to be consistency with the process, not the scale number.
10months PP here and new to IF. Stopped BFing prior to IF but I know so many women who state they cannot shift the weight until they stop BFing. This seemed to be true for me as well. Give yourself some grace, you have grown and birthed a child and now you are feeding. The weight will come off but it might not be until after your BFing journey has ended or jt may be much slower than usual weight loss.
Your body knows what it’s doing and I’m sure you are just changing slowly. You can’t be too strict when you’re breastfeeding as your baby needs those nutrients as well. Also - and hopefully this will cheer you up - breastfeeding can use up to 800 cals a day which added to healthy eating WILL have an impact soon.
I’m doing keto and IF, and also breastfeeding my almost 7m old. I started right around the time we introduced solids, just in case my supply took a dip. I found that 16:8 doesn’t move the mark much for me and I have to do at least 18:6 to see results. Currently, I mix 18:6, 19:5, 20:4 and OMAD. I make sure to pump when giving baby solids, which has helped keep my supply up. I also make sure to keep my calories between 1500-1800. If I dip below that during my OMAD days, I make sure to eat 1800 cals the next day.
Girl! Do WW (formally weight watchers) it’s so simple and the app is awesome. There’s a setting designed for women who are breastfeeding. I’m 5’8 and 38 years old, have lost 45 lbs so far. It’s seriously made such a difference in my life, and is based on eating real foods and not one specific kind of food. I can’t recommend enough.
And maybe my 2 workouts just aren’t cutting it… but my schedule is so hectic I don’t know if I can commit to more at this time - two a week plus a cleaning gig I do for 4 hrs on the wknds is all that’s sustainable right now… it’s all I ever did before too and it was enough then, but maybe it just isn’t anymore.