Hrm... weight loss question...

[Serani]

While I was sitting in the hospital last week, I read an article in a Pregnancy magazine about post-partum weight loss. The article claimed that if you tried to diet - at all - for the first six months or so after having a baby, it would only forestall your weight loss, and maybe even make it take longer than if you just ate, basically, normally.

I've found one other source that has agreed with this. The rest of the sites I knew to look at had suggestions and recommendations all over the board. The La Leche League (obviously) claims all I have to do is breastfeed and I can, basically, eat whatever I want and the pounds will just melt off! (Can you say prop-a-gand-a?) Others say you have to, basically, cut your calorie intake, start exercising at least an hour a day and drink 20 glasses of water to lose any weight (okay, that was a bit of an exaggeration, but you get the idea).

So, I'm wondering if anyone else knows anything about this? I'm worried because if they're right, i don't want to DELAY my weight loss. On the other hand, I'm thinking that just eating reasonably - not taking in a ton of sugar of fat and eating *normal* portions - certainly isn't dieting.

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

[Aananla]

Well, Jen has been losing weight since she started breastfeeding. She's had to increase her consumption to keep up with the baby. She's been drinking a ton of water too, so I'm sure that helps.

I wouldn't worry so much about losing weight while your still feeding Peanut. You're supposed to be eating for two still. ;)

[attriel]

I think that probably refers more to the hardcore diets "You get to eat three leaves of lettuce aday, that's it" and things like atkins or trying to go running 10 miles a day to burn off fat

Portion-size and general exercise, though, aren't really a "diet", like you said; and as long as you don't go from "I'll have 3 12oz steaks for dinner, and a couple loaded baked potatoes" to "I'll have the 4oz tenderloin and three grains of rice, thanks" all in one step, I don't think changing the portion size should "impact"

'course, I'm not a doctor. I'm a lazy & overweight code hacker, so what do i know ;)

--attriel