<rant on>
OK so by the end of my pregnancy i had only gained 30 lbs. Practically everyone (including random strangers at the mall, etc) told me that i looked great and was "all baby" and looked like i just swallowed a basketball. I had no swelling whatsoever, and several ppl told me that from the back they couldn't even tell i was pregnant. So because of all that I thought I would have an relatively easy time losing the baby weight afterwards..especially since i would be breastfeeding. However, I couldn't be more wrong. It has been 3 weeks since I had my baby, I have been exclusively breastfeeding, and I still am the same exact weight since I came home from the hospital..still only 10 lbs down from my preggo weight! Plus, I still look like i'm about 4-5 months preggo..pre-pregnancy pants do not even begin to zip up, let alone button. I must admit I am a bit shocked at all this, since most of the stories I've heard from friends who said they lost 10-20 lbs just in the first few weeks of BF'ing...now I didn't expect to lose that *much*, but I also didn't expect to not lose ANYTHING!!
anyway, if anyway else has ever experienced lack of weight loss or weight gain with BFing (i didn't know this was physically possible, but i guess it is), i would like to know, and if u have any tips, words of encouragement, etc. when they were discharging me, my hospital told me I need to take in an extra 800 calories per day if i am exclusively nursing. now I am not a person who eats a lot (in fact during pregnancy it was difficult for me since I would get hungry but I would actually get sick & tired from eating so much; i know it sounds weird, but i'm not a really a person who loves food). So i am confused as to how with such a large extra caloric expenditure how I could not be losing any weight. i should add that in the first ~ 2 weeks of life my son gained almost 2 lbs (from 6 lb 8 oz to 8 lb 4 oz) and grew almost 3 inches, and I was exclusively BF'ing him so it's not like my body was not working, KWIM?? and i have several friends who exclusively formula-fed their babies and lost 20 lbs in the first 2 weeks after delivery..so i just don't get it.
and sorry if this all sounds so vain...i am ever so grateful to have my baby boy in my life and i am so glad i am able to breastfeed him, but then when i get the chance to think about myself & my appearance i just get annoyed and worried if i will be stuck this way forever, and if i eventually need to shell out some $$ for an entirely new wardrobe (NONE of my clothes fit now except for maternity clothes).
anyway thanks for reading/listening to my rant..
</rant off>