So, I am currently breastfeeding my 4m old son. I've never lost weight by breastfeeding alone (this is my 4th child). For the past year and a half I have probably lived in the Zone about 80-85% of the time. After my son was born, I wasn't super strict about it, (enjoying the holidays as well as all the meals our friends graciously blessed us with). Anyway, after Christmas I realized I weighed about 5lbs. more than I did a week after birth. NOT the direction I want to be going!! I participated in a Zone Challenge at our gym and did two weeks of strict Zone. Normally, I do 11 blocks per day; since I'm breastfeeding I did 13. I didn't really lose anything but a few pounds of water weight. I guess it's possible there was a change in lean body mass, I didn't have a chance to measure before and after. The lack of any weight loss was frustrating, and my husband and I went away for a weekend, so I didn't really Zone at all for a few days (probably completely negating any change that had happened in the previous two weeks). Okay, to get to my point...

During the two weeks I did strict Zone, I had a VERY hard time maintaining my milk supply. In fact, it drastically decreased... and I was drinking A TON of water. Immediately upon stopping, my milk supply increased again. During the two weeks, I tried to deny that was the cause of my breastfeeding issues, but once the supply increased again at the end, there's no denying that was the reason. Has anyone else had this problem? Any suggestions? I'm not going to stop breastfeeding. I do believe the Zone is a healthy way to eat / lifestyle. I just don't know how to make it work for me and my son right now. I REALLY want to lose my baby weight, but I also want to enjoy breastfeeding my son at least for the next 6 months...

PLEASE HELP!!

Hi Heather!

Burning fat to produce all you energy, as you do in the Zone requires a lot more water than buring carbs to produce energy (at least 1.5 times more). Now that you're strictly zoning, even though you haven't experienced significant weight loss on the scale, you are most likely in the Zone and are burning fat to produce your energy. As you're already aware breastfeeding also increases your need for water intake. I realize you said you've been drinking a ton of water, but you probably need more. The amount of water needed daily varies between individuals. For example, my usual daily intake is around 1 gallon, more in summer months, while others do fine on the minimum recommendation of 1/2 gallon a day. Increasing your water intake even more will probably restore your supply to where it was. My other thought is to note any changes in your son's nursing habits, which would also have an effect n you supply.

Keep us updated and good luck!

Heather, perhaps your doctor can give you some suggestions on a breastfeeding coach. She can go through a list of things that could be causing your problems. Stress is a big one, a large amount of stress can drastically decrease milk supply. You also need a lot of water, and if you were in the Zone during those 2 weeks, your body required a lot of water for fat metabolism. Another idea is the overall balance of hormones, and if these are off, then the milk supply will decrease, too.

I think that a breastfeeding therapist or coach can probably troubleshoot through much of this better than we can.

I had difficulty with my third pregnancy, I had lots of trouble maintaining my supply. I wasn't following the Zone at that time, but I know that I was stressed out because of it, and I think that the real cause was an underlying gallbladder issue, as well as my hormones were just really all screwed up.

Thanks for the responses!!

I've increased my water supply (and have been keeping track of how much I drink... yesterday it was ~ a gallon); so far, that seems to be helping. We'll see after a few more days, since yesterday was really my first day back to Zone-ing.

I hope the increased water intake works, 'cause I feel so much better (physically and emotionally) when I'm in the Zone. I know it's a healthy way to eat, so it seems so weird (and frustrating!!) that I wouldn't be able do so while nursing... but there was no way to deny the effects I was having were related to the Zone.

Here's to the H2O!! =)

Glad that the water is helping! Keep in touch!

Dear Heather,

I am also breastfeeding an almost 5months old baby. I haven't done the zone very well as I don't know the blocks that I need to add but I haven't forgot the principles for balancing my diet. I am however, starving most of the time but be aware that I am probably eating less blocks than needed. My milk supply is fine so far I have been drinking nursing tea..would that help you? for example
Weleda Nursing Tea for Breastfeeding Mothers...

Also, I don't know if you are also expressing milk? I am back to work so most of the time I express. My milk supply went down at the beginning but then I was told to express more often (every 4 hours more or less) to produce more.

I hope this helps you

Mar

Hi Mar!

The minimum number of blocks a day for an adult woman is 11. Dr. Sears' recommends the breastfeeding moms add one more fully balanced block to every meal (1P, 1C, and 1F) which would make a minimum of 14 blocks a day. This is the amount the average man eats daily (refer to the meals in the men's 7 day meal planner, found in the EATING tab).

I'll bet you're probably right that you're not eating enough.

Have fun with it!

Mar, the breastfeeding tea is a good idea, too!.

I am also thinking that fenugreek is an herbal remedy to help boost milk production. I don't see it on the list of ingredients in that tea, but I think you can find fenugreek in some herbal teas.

I actually just started drinking "Mother's Milk" breastfeeding tea today. I've had a few friends recommend it so I thought I'd try. We'll see... Actually, since I increased my water intake things have been great. It stinks, though, 'cause it seems I have to drink almost a gallon and a half. I feel so full... and I spend half my day in the bathroom - the water seems to go straight through me!! I am frustrated, though; I'm not seeing any weight loss (I know, I may be losing fat and gaining lean muscle mass; but measurement-wise, I don't see a difference either). Is it possible this is because I only have about 10-15 lbs. to lose to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight? It seems with past pregnancies I held on to the last 10 or so lbs. until I stopped breastfeeding, then it all came off quickly. So many people say they lose weight breastfeeding, why does this not happen for me!?

Hi Heather!

Glad to hear you've resolved the milk supply difficulty!

I'd need to know your current body fat % to be able to address your weight loss question. Keep in mind you had been eating less blocks than you require. Tha alone will be enoungh to prevent stored fat loss.

Heater, ..I know exactly how you feel..I am stuck in the same weight...I believe Sue told you that eating less is not convenient for loosing stored fat...I guess that will be my one of my problems!

I am glad that your milk supply is getting better... to be honest, I think that the most important for the milk is to be relax...if you think fenugrec can help go for it! (if you like the taste).

By the way...about breastfeeding and weight loss..I haven't lost the weight either..I will hope that it happen to me at stopping (as you said) mmm

If there is anything I can do to help you let me know . I promise I will check this froum more often..I just lost track between the baby and been back to work...

Sue..14 block is not too much? Sorry...having some extra kilos/pounds for ages just got me into the bad habit of been afraid of food..even though I love it!

LOL, just had to laugh about the comment that the weight comes off so quickly when breastfeeding!

It never worked for me, either!

Hi Mar!

14 is correct. It's not too much for a breastfeeding mom. If you have an older baby/toddler who is nursing much less, say once or twice a day, you could probably drop it to 12 to 13 blocks.

I breastfed my kids. It was before the Zone, and I was able to lose weight pretty easily while breastfeeding.

Try to lose the fear of food. I you eat the right things, you can eat a lot, all day long, never be hungry, and lose the extra fat.

Oh... I've been eating 13 blocks per day. Normally I'm an 11-block-er. I'd read that you should add 1/2 to 1 block per meal, so I did 13. I'll try going to 14 and see if that changes anything.

It feels so weird to eat so much... and I can totally relate, Mar: it's kind of scary to eat so much!

Heather, I will start with the 14 blocks and I let you know... not easy to find the good timing when working 10 hours per day and then going home with the baby...but I will try.

Thanks Sue for your advice...and you look fab!

I'll keep in touch

Thanks Mar!

I'm happy to help!

I put on 40 lb with my first pregnancy. I was crossfitting before and had gotten down to 19% bodyfat before my pregnancy. I am about to start the zone, I have returned to crossfit, working my way back up to women's standards since the 3rd week post partum. I would love to know how things are going with you breastfeeding moms since you made the cahnges, as I am trying to figure out how many blocks to take 13 or 14?

My guess is, if you're CrossFitting, you're going to want at least 14 blocks (esp. if it's every day). I've had to stop counting blocks and just try to eat balanced meals/snacks throughout the day; because my milk supply was really suffering (even if I forced myself to drink 2 gallons of water a day in addition to breastfeeding/nursing teas). My son is 6 months old and I still have 10-15 lbs. to lose; however, I think much of that may stay on until I stop breastfeeding. I know my body composition is changing a bit, but it's certainly not happening as quickly as I'd like it to.

I figured at 14 blocks I was consuming about 1200-1400 calories, which wasn't enough to maintain my milk supply... also, I didn't see any weight loss.

This probably isn't much help, but it's what I've experienced...

Heather

Hi! I'm new to this website, but have been living zone-ish for a long time,(strict before and during my pregnancy, not so strict since birth) and successfully breastfeeding for almost a year. One food that can really help milk production is oatmeal! Steel-cut oats are especially effective, and also highly recommended in Dr. Sears' books. Try incorporating a serving of oatmeal every day and see if that helps.

Congratulations on your commitment to breast feed for at least a year! That's a great start for your little one.

(I don't know if it's OK to post this, I haven't read the terms, but a great site for breastfeeding advice is www.kellymom.com)

I have been wondering if I should be Zone-ing while breastfeeding but have been doing it for 5 months. I did it all during pregnancy and gained 10 less pounds with my second than with my first. Now I have been steadily losing weight and weigh even less than I did before both my babies! I feel like breastfeeding sucks the life out of you! I can't seem to eat enough or cheat enough with the Zone to keep weight on or gain weight. I am eating about 17 blocks or more a day, the same as my athlete husband, and I only work out like twice a week.

Is the Zone maybe just not right for everyone? I know it's strange to post something about losing too much weight because it seems like no one could have that problem...but I don't want to be continuing to lose weight and hope I don't. Should I eat out of the Zone or just eat even more blocks! It's pretty expensive, though!

-KT

KT,

When breastfeeding in the Zone, you eat the amount recommended by the calculator for you at your current activity level, plus 3 more fully balanced blocks daily (17 sounds like too much). With the Zone diet, when you reach your ideal body fat% you are supposed to add extra monounsaturated fat to your meals and snacks to prevent further loss of body fat. This goes for both men and women.