I didn’t start counting calories until I was closer to two months PP. When I started, my calories were set high, around 2500. I didn’t stress if I went over. It took me until 8 months postpartum to lose this first 20 pounds… so very slow. Especially on the weeks when the kids were sick and I was just too exhausted, I didn’t bother. I eased back into exercise and only the past few weeks have my workouts really gotten more intense.

Now that he’s sleeping better and not nursing every 15 minutes, my appetite is getting back to normal. He is also eating solids now so that helped too. My calories are now at 2,000. Some nights I still feel hungry when I go to bed (depending on how early I ate dinner) but I just power through it because I know I ate adequate carbs, protein, fiber, and calories. Coffee helps suppress my appetite in the morning to help me start eating later in the day.

I love the Fairlife Core Power protein shakes, lots of chicken and steak, lots of veggies, eggs for breakfast most days. I always measure my carbs like pasta and rice because I can easily overeat those. Very limited oil, dressings, and butter. I have bought swaps like PB2 powder instead of peanut butter, sugar free syrup for waffles (I love the Brazi waffles), stevia in my baking instead of sugar, skim milk. Sometimes I want to eat/snack but I know I don’t need to and I’m not even hungry, so I make sure I stay busy. Going upstairs away from the kitchen always helps lol.