1-888-988-5515
1-888-988-5515
Breastfeeding is a fundamental stage in the newborn’s development, as it provides all the nutrients the baby needs, especially during the first 6 months of life. In addition, it also provides the necessary defenses to protect against viruses and infections that could affect their health. On the other hand, mothers also benefit from breastfeeding, as it reduces the probability of developing hypertension, type 2 diabetes, anemia, osteoporosis, and breast and ovarian cancer.
However, the desire to lose the kilos gained during pregnancy may lead you to consider taking weight loss supplements, but are weight loss products safe for breastfeeding? This article will answer this question and provide some tips for losing weight while breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding requires certain modifications to ensure that both mother and newborn get the nutrients they need to be healthy. Once you have given birth to your baby, you will need to increase your calorie intake, consuming between 2,000 and 2,800 calories a day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In addition, it is also necessary that your diet include foods rich in iodine and choline for at least the first year of breastfeeding. These nutrients can be found in supplements or foods such as eggs, seafood, dairy products, meats, and legumes such as lentils and beans. In addition, it is advisable to include certain dietary supplements that provide vitamin B12, iron, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Although it is well known that taking weight loss medications is not recommended during breastfeeding, the alternative of taking nutritional supplements is also not usually recommended by health professionals. This is due to certain ingredients that can pass into breast milk, causing the baby to consume them. This can be very dangerous since it can cause discomfort due to the difficulty in metabolizing them.
In addition, the mother needs to focus on having a healthy diet that meets the nutritional needs of this stage, so seeking to reduce weight during breastfeeding by using supplements such as fat burners or appetite suppressants could have an adverse effect.
However, you can consult with your doctor to evaluate whether it is necessary to supplement your diet to ensure adequate intake of certain nutrients or help you regain the elasticity of your skin after giving birth to your baby.
While it is vital to increase your caloric intake during this stage, there are still safe ways to lose weight while breastfeeding, such as:
While having a healthy diet is essential at any stage of life, during breastfeeding, nutritional requirements change, as we mentioned at the beginning of this article. A balanced diet that focuses on consuming the essential nutrients to maintain the health of the mother and baby should not include foods with excess fat and sugar, since they do not provide any nutrients for either party.
It is recommended that, if you want to eat them, you do so very occasionally and in moderate quantities. You can replace these cravings with their healthier versions, or increase your intake of foods rich in fiber to feel more satiated.
Exercising after giving birth is highly recommended as it will help you reduce the weight you gain during pregnancy. However, it is essential to incorporate it into your daily routine gradually to avoid injuries, especially if you had a cesarean section.
Although getting 8 hours of sleep a day can be challenging for the mother of a newborn, it is crucial to take care of your sleep hours, as lack of rest can lead to difficulties in regaining your pre-pregnancy weight.
Even though it may seem incredible, breastfeeding your baby is one of the safe ways to lose weight after childbirth. This is because breastfeeding burns around 500 calories, which is more than the range of 340 to 400 calories that is recommended to increase daily during this stage. Therefore, by dedicating yourself to breastfeeding your baby, you can achieve a healthy weight over the months if you maintain the recommended diet.
Despite weight loss supplements not being included in the list of tips for losing weight while breastfeeding, there are nutritional supplements that can help you during this stage to cover certain deficiencies in your diet. It will help you regain the figure you had before pregnancy, such as:
Collagen is essential for repairing skin tissue stretched while your baby was growing in your belly, helping to heal stretch marks and gradually return the skin to its original position.
Taking collagen capsules once a day in the morning is a significant first step to helping your body recover postpartum.
Protein bars are an excellent option to include during meals, as they will help you ingest the more than 15 additional grams to your traditional diet recommended during breastfeeding.
This supplement is ideal for postpartum, as it includes essential vitamins and minerals to maintain the health of the mother and baby during breastfeeding, such as vitamin B12, iron, zinc, and iodine.
Since a daily protein intake of over 60 grams is required, including a high-protein supplement is an excellent option to ensure this requirement. Whey Protein contains 15 grams of protein per serving and can be consumed twice daily.
Remember that before including any supplement in your diet while breastfeeding, it is essential to consult your physician to assess its appropriateness. Weight loss should be done safely to ensure the health and well-being of both mother and baby.
If your breastfeeding period is over and you want a complete transformation, the Yes You Can! weight loss program is waiting for you with open arms! Do you want to know more? Continue exploring our blog, visit our online store, or call us at 1-888-988-5515.
