What is the Best Breastfeeding Diet for You?
Finding a breastfeeding diet that works for you
might be easier than you think.Guest article by Kassie CharlesYou do not have to wean your baby or stave yourself to be able to take off a few pounds! Too many moms feel they have no choice other than to stop breastfeeding if they want to take off a few pounds. We want you to know that there are better ways!
How Do You Safely Manage Dieting While Breastfeeding?
That depends on your personality, your willpower and your preferences. Here are some examples of diets that work for breastfeeding moms who are considering dieting while breastfeeding.
Easy Do-It-Yourself
Breastfeeding Diet
This healthy weight loss plan worked well for me when I had baby #1. It is this simple.
I could eat a per day maximum of:
- 2 servings of starch (breads, crackers, rice, etc…) but only one serving at a time
- 2 servings of protein
- 2 servings of dairy
I had to eat a minimum of:
- AT LEAST 4 servings of vegetables (but you CAN eat as much as you want) but only 2 of the vegetables could be starch vegetables like corn or potato
- AT LEAST 2 servings of fruits (but not more than 4.)
Once a week I had a “treat.” I also walked briskly — to the point where it is difficult to have a conversation -- (pushing my sweetie in a stroller)for 20 minutes a day five days a week. I was able to safely lose the HUGE amount of weight that I had gained and be back in my pre-pregnancy size without giving up nursing.
Other Great Dieting Options
As I said, that was with my Baby #1. My Baby #2 was a different story altogether! She had "severe colic..." which means that for TEN MONTHS this child cried (even as I held her) from 4pm until 1 am every night.I was exhausted. I was tired. I didn’t have the motivation to take on my breastfeeding diet alone this time. If you find yourself in this situation, we recommend two options:
Option #1 -- Medifiast
 Medifast has finally developed a program designed for breastfeeding mothers. If you have never tried Medifast, it is so easy and convenient. They provide 'meals' and 'snacks' and then you also eat one additional meal with lean meat and vegetables per day. Although their Nursing Mothers Guide says that you can start this diet when your baby is only two months old, we would suggest that you wait until at least six months old and when your baby has added enough other foods to be getting at least 30% breast milk of his or her calories from breast milk and 70% from other foods. Why do we love this plan? Because we have seen it work! Tired and worn-out moms tend to reach for unhealthy food. In contrast, this is medically-approved breastfeeding diet plan helps new moms because they have convenient snacks, shakes, soups and more to make it easy to stay on the diet AND keep up with the demands of being a new nursing mom. 
You can find more details from their free downloadable Nursing Mothers Guide on their website at Medifast1.com
Option #2 Diet to Go
Have you ever wondered how celebrities can look so good so fast after birth? It is because they have their own personal chef! I love Diet to Go because their low-fat plan allows breastfeeding mothers to have delicious food delivered right to their door. New moms love it because there is no counting calories, carbs…or even shopping! So instead of just eating a PB&J with the toddler while nursing an infant…you can enjoy a treat of great food made just for you and lose weight too! If you try this diet while breastfeeding, just make sure that you pick the low-fat plan 1600 calorie plan to allow enough extra calories to provide for your baby and still lose weight. I just wish they had had this breastfeeding diet sooner!
GOOD LUCK!
Related Articles:
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Life with a Breastfeeding Baby Page
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