Newbie Mom/Newbie Keto

newbies
(Jenni) #1

Hello everyone! I am a breastfeeding new mom and trying to lose some of this breastfeeding weight. Yes that’s correct! I weigh more now, than when I delivered my son! I think it’s a myth that you lose weight when breastfeeding, because I have gained!
3 weeks on keto, I lost 5 lbs and then gained 3lbs. I am exhausted all the time and fall asleep at 7PM with my son and I’m still tired. This week I have been starving and have had major acid reflux (have not had since I was pregnant). I have been eating the same things for 3weeks now and I’ve gained and feel gross. Not sure what I am doing wrong!
This is my info, any advice is appreciated!

5’5
210lbs

Carb Manager App
25g Net Carbs
111g Fat
89g Protein
1446 Net Calories
**I give myself 300 leeway with calories, since I am breastfeeding **

Breakfast:

Coffee: 2tbsp half & half (HWC tastes so bitter!)
1Tbsp MCT
1 Tbsp Kerrygold
Egg casserole
1 egg, 1/8 ground pork, green onion, 1/8c cheese

Lunch:
2 Al fresco chicken sausages
1/2c full fat cottage cheese
1/4 cashews
1 avocado

Snack while drivingto pick up my son:
Finish my keto coffee from the morning (yeti keeps it warm all day)
4 slices hormel natural ham lunch meat
1oz cheese

Dinner:
2 hamburger patties with 1oz cheese

Dessert:
2, 1×1inch fat bombs

Water: 75oz reg water
32oz Dr Bergs Electrolyte mix

|

(Michael - When reality fails to meet expectations, the problem is not reality.) #2

I’m sure others with more relevant experience will reply with helpful specifics. At 3 weeks in, your initial loss and subsequent regain was water. That’s normal when starting. A lot of stuff is happening all at once, compounded by the birth and feeding of your baby. You may not think so yet, but eventually your weight will move and it’s probably more important to make sure your baby is getting sufficient nutrients rather than worrying about your weight.

I’ll add this: if you ‘have been starving’ you are not eating enough. Keto is not a calorie restricted weight loss diet. It is a metabolic normalization process that takes time dependent upon how much metabolic damage has to be fixed. You must eat sufficient fuel (fats) to have the energy and sufficient building materials (proteins) to accomplish it. Carbs inhibit the process, the fewer you eat the better. Hungry before meals is OK, just your body’s way to remind you it’s time to eat. Hungry all the time is not OK, it’s your body’s way to tell you “Eat More!” Your metabolism has only two ways to compensate for lack of incoming fuel: make you feel tired and exhausted so you use less energy; or, slowdown overall energy requirements. I think you’re experiencing the first option. Start eating more so you don’t advance to the second.

(Bob M) #3

For me, when I was 210 pounds, I ate more than that in my first meal of the day. But I’m also male.

I think doing anything when you’re not getting much sleep is tough. Sleep is so important. I had should surgery, where sleeping was very difficult. Even eating a strict keto diet, I still gained weight.

Personally, I would drop the MCT and Kerrygold for the coffee. I’d eat more at breakfast, lots more. I’d drop all snacks and dessert. I’d try to go to three meals a day, then two if you can. (And you might not be able to do that for a long time, as you’re feeding a baby too.)

Eat more but less frequently.

And observe yourself over time. If you realize that you’re overeating something, don’t eat it or limit it. For me, that’s bacon, nuts, yogurt. I can eat those with no off switch. Anything with sweetness, including fat bombs, are also a downfall for me.

What I have been doing for a long time is eating until I’m full. If that means I eat 1.5 pounds of ground beef in a sitting, and then something else after that, that’s what I do. Today, for my first meal of the day (10 am), I had 3 thick slices of beef with a piece of cheese on each on, a hunk of smoked trout with a piece of cheese. Mustard and hot peppers on each. A cup of beef bone broth. Several chunks of cacao. (Sorry, I don’t measure anything so have no idea about calories, carbs, whatnot.)

I’ll eat dinner around 6:30 pm (so about 8 hours later), which will be chicken wings with hot sauce. If I’m still hungry, I’ll have beef or ham. I keep eating until I’m full. I will have more cacao and might have small squares of dark chocolate.

Then, no eating until tomorrow at about 10-11 am again.

I’m not hungry between meals. I’m that way because I make sure I’m that way – I keep eating until I’m not hungry. (If I do get hungry, say my workout took a lot out of me, I will eat a third meal. It’s rare but does happen, like two days ago.) I figure if I can’t do this and meet what goals I have, I should be doing something else. Hasn’t happened yet.

What I tell my kids: if you’re hungry, you should eat. The foods you eat should increase your satiety. If they don’t (you’re still hungry after eating them or can’t get enough of them), maybe that wasn’t the best choice?

(Jenni) #4

Thank you so much! This is really helpful! I have to have my coffee, do you suggest just some half and half?