losing weight while breastfeeding, help!

I am desperate to lose the last 15 pounds I gained while being pregnant with my 5 month old! Everyone tells me not to go lower than 2000 calories a day, but I WILL and have gained weight eating this much a day! I have tried cutting back to 1200 calories, but I hear this is too much and I haven't lost more than .5 pound while doing this 1200 calorie diet for almost 2 weeks now! I'm 5' 6" and 147 pounds, medium frame, 24 year old...Any advice?...please??

you really shouldn't be trying to lose weight until you are all done with breast feeding. Your baby "takes" all the nutrition it needs from you. If you want your baby to be healthy don't start dieting until you are done with breast feeding. You have 18 years to lose 15 lbs!

I agree with the last post....it will come off. Right now, your baby needs you in full health. Just stick with a healthy eating plan for now.

Thanks so much for relplying!! I failed to mention, he's eating 4 solid meals a day now, so he doesn't even come close to soley relying on my milk...I know it would be completely best to wait until nursing is over with, but I'm so uncomfortable at this weight and we have a trip planned for May which will require me in a bathing suit. I don't want to stop nursing just to lose weight like so many of my friends...I'm just looking for a good compromise.

I too just had a baby 4 months ago and am breastfeeding. I had been having a hard time losing "that last 15" and talked to my doctor about what I can do while breastfeeding. He told me that I can go down to 1500 calories as long as I'm drinking enough milk (cow milk that is!) and still taking a multivitamin. He said that this will only work if I work out regularily as well. So a month and a half ago I started running again and doing some light weight lifting as well as watching my caloric intake. I have since lost all 15 plus 3 pounds. I think working out and pushing yourself to keep doing more is key. Of course your doctor may say something different, but my daughter is 4 months old and weighs 16 pounds...so we are all doing quite well!

When I had my first child (1979) I lost all my weight and then some while breast feeding. I ate a lot - both good and bad foods. I also walked pushing an old fashioned pram every day sometimes twice a day for hours. My daughter was born in February and it was cold so I just bundled us both up and went out.
By the way, she was never sick a day EVER until she started school.
If you are able to go walking it is the best excercise! Especially if you are a stay at home mom.