Pregnancy tips How Fast Should You Try To Lose Your Pregnancy Weight - Especially While Breastfeeding?

After I delivered my daughter, and after gaining 37 pounds with my pregnancy, I was really anxious to get back to my normal weight. However, I had read that you shouldn't lose your pregnancy weight too quickly because it could affect breastfeeding. According to the La Leche League, losing weight too fast could release toxins stored in your body fat into your breastmilk. Read more:

exercise.about.com

From the article:

Though you may be eager to jump into a workout program or diet, easing into light exercise is crucial for keeping your body safe and injury-free. Even the fittest moms may have trouble getting back to exercise. After all, having a baby is a major ordeal and something you'll need time to recover from. You'll need clearance from your doctor and, depending on what kind of birth you had, it may be 4 to 8 weeks before you can engage in serious exercise.

Breastfeeding can help you lose weight, requiring an extra 500 calories from you a day and helping reduce some of the fat you gained during pregnancy. If you do breastfeed, make sure you're giving your body the fuel it needs for that extra energy demand. Now isn't the time to go on a diet; restricting your calories too much can reduce your milk supply, and losing too much weight (more than two pounds a week) can actually release toxins that wind up in your milk.

The good news is, you can still exercise if you're breastfeeding. Studies show that moderate exercise won't affect milk production as long as you're giving your body enough calories.