Does Breastfeeding Make You Lose Weight?

The question, does breastfeeding make you lose weight? is a common one for new mothers. It's a well-established fact that breastfed babies have fewer calories than formula-fed ones and can help you lose weight if your goal is to become more healthful. In fact, many medical experts recommend breastfeeding for infants as young as six months old for the benefits of breastfeeding.

If you have been asking the question, does breastfeeding make you lose weight, it is important to know how this particular practice affects your weight loss efforts. Although breastfeeding can give your baby plenty of nutrients, it does not provide as much calories as some other forms of nutrition. This is usually true for the first few months, when your baby is primarily consuming breast milk to meet his or her nutritional needs. Breastfeeding will keep your baby well-nourished, but most breastfeeding moms find that they end up eating quite a bit more when their babies start eating solid foods.

If you are looking for a way to help you lose weight, consider adopting a couple of strategies to incorporate into your daily routine. First, while breastfeeding, keep track of how much you are eating. If you are losing weight, this may be a good time to also add in a healthy eating plan to help you stick to your goals of eating fewer calories and adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet. This type of meal planning can help you keep your calorie intake steady while breastfeeding and can help you stick to your goals of losing weight.

Another thing you might want to consider is the idea that breastfeeding may help you lose weight. Researchers have found that the amount of calories a mother consumes when she is nursing is much higher than the amount of calories she consumes when she is breast feeding her baby. New mothers often find that they consume several times the recommended daily amount of calories when they are breastfeeding.

While there is no need to stop drinking your regular beverage of choice, it is wise to minimize the consumption of calories from beverages that contain high amounts of sugar, such as sodas and juices. Adding in a new beverage such as breast milk can help you effectively and efficiently help you lose weight while breastfeeding. Additionally, research has shown that women who breastfeed their babies often consume fewer calories than women who do not breastfeed.

In addition to these helpful tips, you may want to think about taking advantage of what modern science has to offer regarding weight loss. Many researchers believe that breastfed babies gain less weight than formula fed babies, primarily because breast milk contains lower calories. New technologies such as the Baby Einstein weigh scale allow a parent to accurately monitor the progress of his or her baby during the first few months of life. Using this scale, parents can learn how much weight your baby is losing and can begin developing a losing weight plan that works for them.

You may also want to consider researching the number of calories you are consuming through foods and drinks each day. Many diet plans recommend making adjustments to your daily diet based on how many fewer calories you are consuming through breastfeeding. These diet plans may work very well for some people but they may not work as well for you. If you find you are still consuming more calories than you believe you should be, changing your diet may be an option for you.

In conclusion, breastfeeding does make you lose weight. It is important to remember, however, that weight loss will depend largely upon your individual lifestyle. For some people, the weight loss will be gradual and may take time. Other people will experience rapid weight loss when breastfeeding their babies. You may be surprised by the difference between your results and those of others, but once you find out, you will be excited about learning about your new breastfeeding partner!