I remember looking at my body in the mirror one night, wondering, Why is this weight not coming off? I had always heard that breastfeeding helps you lose weight, yet here I was—a year into nursing—and my weight seemed stuck or even creeping up.
I was eating "healthy," staying active, and taking care of myself as best as I could, but my body refused to let go of the extra weight. I felt betrayed, frustrated, and honestly, a little resentful that no one had warned me about this.
I would do a 1-hour advanced barre class, followed by 1 hour in fat-burning mode on the stationary bike at the gym after a protein-packed meal, and later spend another hour swimming with my kids—and yet, I was still carrying the extra weight. I was eating so little that I would go to bed hungry, convinced that my body should be burning through fat.
If you’re nodding along, feeling like you’re doing everything “right” but still not seeing results, let me assure you—you’re not alone. Here’s why extended breastfeeding can actually slow down weight loss and what you can do about it.
Breastfeeding relies on prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk production. While prolactin is essential for nourishing your baby, it also:
✔️ Inhibits fat metabolism (your body holds onto fat as an “emergency reserve”).
✔️ Suppresses dopamine, which can increase cravings for sugar and carbs.
In the early months, this fat storage is beneficial, but after a year, it can become an obstacle to weight loss.
By the time you hit the one-year mark of breastfeeding, your sleep is still disrupted, your body is exhausted, and your stress levels may be through the roof.
Here’s what chronic stress (from lack of sleep, constant nursing, and the mental load of motherhood) does:
✔️ Increases cortisol, which signals your body to store fat, especially around the midsection.
✔️ Makes you crave sugar and processed carbs for quick energy.
✔️ Leads to insulin resistance, which makes it harder for your body to burn fat.
The result? Even if you're eating healthy, your body might be in “storage mode” rather than “fat-burning mode.”
Many women under-eat or don’t eat enough protein while breastfeeding. But guess what? Not eating enough can slow down metabolism and cause your body to hold onto fat.
When breastfeeding, your body prioritizes milk production over your metabolism, meaning it will conserve energy (aka fat) if it senses that calories or nutrients are too low.
Do you ever feel like you’re always hungry? That’s because breastfeeding increases appetite to ensure your baby gets enough milk. But over time, this can:
✔️ Lead to overeating or constant snacking, especially on easy, high-carb foods.
✔️ Cause erratic blood sugar levels, making it harder for your body to burn fat.
Breastfeeding lowers estrogen levels, which can:
✔️ Slow down metabolism and fat breakdown.
✔️ Affect muscle tone, leading to less calorie burn.
✔️ Cause fluid retention and bloating.
Low estrogen also means that your body isn’t in fat-burning mode the way it was pre-pregnancy.
After months of frustration, I decided to stop fighting my body and start supporting it instead. Here’s what actually helped:
Instead of focusing on eating less, I focused on eating smarter. This meant:
✔️ 100g+ of protein per day (helps burn fat and build muscle).
✔️ Healthy fats (avocado, coconut oil, nuts) to stabilize hormones.
✔️ Swapping simple carbs for fiber-rich, complex carbs (sweet potatoes, quinoa).
✔️ Electrolytes & hydration to combat cravings and water retention.
Breastfeeding can deplete key nutrients like iodine, selenium, zinc, and magnesium—all essential for thyroid function and fat-burning.
✔️ I started taking a high-quality thyroid-support supplement with iodine, selenium, and B vitamins.
✔️ Added seaweed (iodine), Brazil nuts (selenium), and bone broth (minerals) to my diet.
✔️ Focused on better sleep & stress management (even just 20-minute naps helped).
Instead of endless cardio, I focused on resistance training and short, intense workouts (HIIT, bodyweight exercises, pilates).
✔️ More muscle = higher metabolism.
✔️ Strength training helped reshape my body, even if the scale wasn’t moving quickly.
I incorporated hormone-balancing herbs like:
✔️ Ashwagandha (lowers cortisol & stress).
✔️ Maca root (supports energy and hormones).
✔️ Milk thistle & dandelion (supports liver detox, which helps estrogen balance).
If you’ve been struggling to lose weight after a year of breastfeeding, know this:
✨ Your body isn’t working against you—it’s protecting you.
✨ Small changes can shift your metabolism and hormones back into balance.
✨ You don’t need to stop breastfeeding to lose weight—you just need to support your body in the right way.
If you’re ready to rebalance your body and finally see results, check out my supplements designed for postpartum metabolism, stress, and thyroid support.
Related topics: Breastfeeding & Immunity: No Judgment
XX to your INVISIBLE BATTLES & UNSEEN STRENGTH,
Carola Le-Wriedt, Founder, Wellhistic & The Holistic Detox
