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breastfeeding-related stories

Rebecca Romijn Drops 60 by Breastfeeding

Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment

rebecca romijn
Rebecca Romijn just dropped 60 pounds, and she claims exercise was not part of her weight loss plan. Breastfeeding 4-month-old twins Charlie and Dolly is what did the trick. The 36-year-old does not pretend she's in great shape. She admits to wearing Spanx underneath most everything. But the baby weight, well, it's gone -- even though Rebecca reportedly eats 5,000 calories a day just to produce enough food for her baby girls.

"I think within the first three weeks, I took off like 35 lbs. without doing anything!" the new mom says. "I haven't been able to work out that much because I have twins. It's impossible to get back into a regular schedule."

I admit, I'm skeptical about the whole breastfeeding weight loss plan, and maybe it's because I'm jealous it never worked for me. But there are women out there who swear it's pretty effective, and not just celebrities, like "The Office" star Angela Kinsey, who says breastfeeding her baby was like running a marathon, and actress Naomi Watts, who said her baby sucked her slim. In one That's Fit poll, 18 percent of respondents said breastfeeding totally worked for them too.

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Grilled Cheese, A 'Canning' Idea and More - February 25 to March 3

Nutrition & Supplements

As fabulous as we at That's Fit think this blog is, the truth is there are hundreds of wonderful blogs on healthy living to be seen all over the blogosphere. So in this feature, Fit Links, we'll introduce you to some that have caught our eye.

Love grilled cheese? Um, yeah, who doesn't? Slashfood gives us some tips on how to make this comfort food classic a healthy, balanced meal.

Get ready to start canning your own goods -- according to Lemondrop, Depression-era living is the latest rage.

Long day at work? Yeah, me too. Luckily Fitsugar has some great lunch ideas for that stressful day. Give 'em a try!

Inauguration Day Workouts, Mickey Rourke and Fitness DVDs - Week in Review - January 19 to January 25

Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Best Life with Bob Greene

week in reviewIf you missed our daily postings this past week, we invite you to take some time to catch up on our prior week's news and gear up for a new week of healthy living information and inspiration.

Bringing your workout inside for the winter or too frugal to hit the gym? Liz has an excellent list of 10 DVDs you should be shopping for. And she knows, because she's tried out each one.

Don't kick that coffee habit just yet! Laura has five good reasons to enjoy caffeine (happiness! and sex!) ... as long as you drink it in moderation, of course.

Think you're too busy for that workout today? President Obama worked out on Inauguration Day. If he had time, so do you.

Is skinny in? Maybe, says Fitz ... if you like to hide behind small trees. If not, then maybe you should shoot for healthy and active instead.

Get fit for free, says Martha, and exercise during commercials. Here's one to start with -- the plank.

Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke put on 33 pounds of muscle for his role in The Wrestler. Find out how he transformed his body in seven short months.

The Office's Angela Kinsey compares breastfeeding to running a marathon (when it comes to losing the baby weight, at least), but Jacki's not so sure. What do you think?

Virtual smoothies aren't very nutritious, but Maggie says that The Wonder-Juice Machine game has great smoothie ideas ... and relieves stress at the same time. Who knows, maybe you'll discover a new favorite recipe!

Bob Greene thinks you should skip the bedtime snacks and after quitting them for a whole week, I have to agree. What about you? Could giving up late-night treats help you shave off a couple of pounds?

Holy cow, you guys! You lost 68 pounds last week in our America Takes it Off: Shrink a Size challenge! Only 36 to go, and we know you can do it!

Have a great week, everyone!

Angela Kinsey - The Office Star is Not in Shape

Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment

Angela KinseyLooks can be deceiving, says The Office girl Angela Kinsey. The star, who wowed onlookers at her first after-baby awards show last spring, may look in shape. But really, she is not.

"Here's the thing; I'm not in shape," says the 37-year-old actress. "There's not as much of it, but none of it is toned." As for losing the weight that is anything but firm, she compares breastfeeding baby Isabel Ruby (now eight months old) to running a marathon. Of course, she does. All actresses do. Apparently, nursing just sucks it out of you. The Office pal Jenna Fischer works out all the time. But not Angela. All she does is pump, and she's good to go.

So maybe I'm just bitter about the whole breastfeeding-causes-rapid-weight-loss thing. It just isn't fair and so I assume it can't be real. But readers say it works. Eighty-nine of you responded to a recent poll asking if breastfeeding can make you skinny. Eighteen percent said it totally worked for you. And 13 percent said you've seen it happen. A bunch of readers are with me -- 23 percent said it's just not that easy. Then 22 percent said "who knows" and 11 percent said "who cares." Maybe I shouldn't care either. So it took me years (and a tummy tuck) to return to my former pre-baby self. I should just be happy with the path my body took. Yea, but I'm not. Bitter.

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Naomi Watts - Baby Sucked Her Slim

Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment

Naomi Watts
Come on. Come on! Tell me, someone out there, that it took nothing more than breastfeeding for you to drop your baby weight. Tell me that while nourishing your new babe, your pounds melted right off. No dieting. No exercising. Just sucking. I just can't wrap my head around this. I mean, I see how nursing might help in the weight loss department but can it really slip you back into skinny jeans in oh, less than 30 days?

Naomi Watts, just shy of one month after giving birth to son Samuel, is pretty much back to her pre-baby figure. And to what does she owe her rapid weight loss? "I'm breast feeding," says the 40-year-old Naomi. "And he's sucking it all out of me, it seems. And when the baby comes out, it's a lot of weight right there."

Yea, I get that. The births of my big babies (both were more than 10 pounds) caused me to shed 20 pounds on their delivery days. But what about the 30 that remained? No way breastfeeding can tackle that pudge. Or can it? Tell us what you think.

Breastfeeding - Can It Make You Skinny?


Other Celebs Who Dropped the Baby Weight ... FAST!(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Brooke BurkeConstance ZimmerNicole KidmanJessica AlbaJennifer Lopez

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Spice Girl likes being curvy

Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Nutrition & Supplements

You know I'm not talking about Posh when I say there's a Spice Girl who likes her curves -- does Posh even have a curve? Nope. It's Baby Spice Emma Bunton who remarks that she doesn't think she'd look very good thin.

"I like being curvy," says the new mom of almost one year who just isn't someone to obsess about her figure 24/7. That doesn't mean she wasn't concerned about fitting into her skimpy Spice Girl outfits after having her baby boy, though. Breastfeeding and lots of walking helped get her into shape and she's careful about what she eats too -- no carbs on this girl's dinner menu.

When she's in the mood to indulge, Baby Spice says she does love chips, Coke, a great wine, and Chinese food. Cheers to a woman who knows what she likes, curves included.

Love Thy Curves(click thumbnails to view gallery)

The Spice GirlsBaby SpiceBaby SpiceBaby SpiceBaby Spice



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Donating breast milk

Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements

infant drinking from a bottleIt's a gift from the heart. Well, actually it's from an area more... above the heart. If you're nursing your baby, did you know you can also donate some of your breast milk to a milk bank? The donated breast milk will go to babies who, for one reason or another, don't have the option of nursing. The most common recipients are infants in the neo-natal intensive care unit. Premature and sick infants are 10 times more likely to acquire intestinal infections from formula. In addition, premature delivery can delay a mother's milk supply and it's best if the infants start on breast milk right away. Some things you should know:
  • Breast milk is produced according to demand, so if you start pumping extra to donate your body will respond and produce more.
  • To donate breast milk you cannot drink alcohol, smoke, use medications (over the counter or prescription), use herbal treatments, or take illegal drugs.
  • You should check with your doctor before donating breast milk.
Your doctor may be able to put you in contact with the nearest milk bank. Otherwise, your local hospital will have information.

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Vitamin D: 40% of US infants and toddlers aren't getting enough

Healthy Kids, Nutrition & Supplements

Vitamin D is critical for bone health and also plays a role in immunity. But many US infants and toddlers aren't getting enough vitamin D. According to research from the Children's Hospital in Boston, a full 40% aren't getting the appropriate amount of vitamin D.

Breast milk doesn't contain high quantities of vitamin D, so if you're breastfeeding your infant ask your doctor if supplementing the vitamin is a good idea. Toddlers can benefit from vitamin D-fortified milk. Perhaps the best source of vitamin D is sunlight. While it's, of course, important to protect your child's skin, some exposure to sunlight is healthful as it triggers the production of vitamin D in the body.

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FDA warns nursing moms about nipple cream

Womens Health, Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements

Breastfeeding isn't always easy in the beginning. Poor latch can lead to sore and cracked nipples, which -- until they heal -- can make nursing even more difficult. Mom's may be tempted to reach for a soothing cream to ease their pain, but the FDA recently put out a warning that babies can be harmed by the ingredients in Mommy's Bliss Nipple Cream.

The chemicals in the cream, which infants can be exposed to during breastfeeding, can cause respiratory distress, vomiting, or diarrhea. Though the company no longer sells the cream, moms may still have it in their homes. The FDA recommends throwing it away. In addition, if your baby has experienced (or is experiencing) any difficulty from this cream, contact your doctor right away and call FDA's MedWatch at 1-800-332-1088.

I don't know about you, but I get really tired of hearing these kinds of stories, both as a mother and as a consumer. It's commonsense that a cream used for breastfeeding shouldn't contain harmful chemicals. In fact, the cream itself is advertised as "all natural" and there's no mention of these two ingredients on the company's website. The company claims there have been no reports of injury; hopefully, that's the truth.

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Breast-feeding may boost IQ

Nutrition & Supplements

Mother breastfeeding babyAccording to a recent study, babies who were breastfed exclusively for at least the first three months of life scored higher on IQ tests at age six than children who weren't breastfed exclusively. Previous research has shown that breastfed babies had enhanced thinking, learning, and memory abilities.

Researchers aren't exactly sure what the link between breastfeeding and IQ is. It could be a nutrient in breast milk -- perhaps the amino acids or cholesterol that's found in breast milk but not in formula. Or it could be the attachment-inducing act of breastfeeding.

The researchers of this study recommend breastfeeding exclusively for at least three months, though six months to one year may have added benefits.

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Sleep helps you lose the baby weight

Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness

I breastfed both kids -- my firstborn for nearly seven months and my second for 13 months. Why the difference? I had this fantasy that if I stopped breastfeeding I'd lose those last stubborn pounds. So I switched my first bundle of joy to the bottle and watched the pounds simply stay there. It wasn't until I joined Weight Watchers and started eating less and moving more that the pounds came off.

According to this study in the American Journal of Epidemiology cited in Women's Health, I should have been sleeping more. Women who slept five hours a night were three times as likely to retain 11 post-pregnancy pounds as women who slumbered seven heavenly hours each night. Sleep-deprived cells releasing more appetite-stimulating hormones or stress hormones may be the culprit.

Granted, switching to the bottle did allow my husband to help with middle-of-the-night feedings -- our first did not sleep through the night until 11 months. But I do have a bit of regret I stopped breastfeeding so early in hopes of instantly losing the weight. It just didn't work. Diet and exercise ... and maybe more sleep over time did.

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Baby bacteria may predict obesity

Nutrition & Supplements

A Finnish study discovered that the bacteria found in a baby's gut may be an early predictor of future obesity. The study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that babies with high amounts of bifidobacteria and low numbers of Staphylococcus aureus have a reduced risk of overweight and obesity. This study is in keeping with previous studies which determined that breast-fed babies are less likely to gain excess weight. Bifidobacteria, which seems to have a positive effect on weight control, is present in breast-fed babies.

The exact role the bacteria play in weight gain or weight maintenance is still unknown. But the correlation is strong. In the Finnish study, the bacteria mix was studied in children at birth, five times before age two, at age four, and, finally, at age 7. A majority of the children who maintained a healthy weight had higher levels of bifidobacteria and lower levels of S. aureus as babies than those kids who gained excess weight.

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Want your kids to have less stress in life? Breast feed them

Motivation, Nutrition & Supplements

The debate rages on with natural health supporters and practitioners who claim that natural breast feeding is much healthier for babies than commercially-produced formula.

Aside from health benefits, researchers in Sweden believe that breast feeding may also lead to less stress in those who are fed that way as babies.

9,000 kids from the UK to -- all born in 1970 -- were observed to provide researchers with the conclusions they were looking for. All were given a "anxiety level" rating by their childhood teachers. Parents were also asked about major life events such as divorce that happened when kids were between the ages of 5 and 10.

Although some non-surprising results were found, there was one surprise: striking differences were found in stress levels between kids who had been breast-fed and those that had been bottle-fed. One is a natural nutrition source connected to a mother: the other is an artificial device that mimics the breast. Which would you prefer as a baby?

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Expectant and new parents get updated allergy advice

Healthy Kids, Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements

When I became a mom for the first time, my own mother remarked on how much parenting techniques had changed since she was a young mother. I told her frequently, "Just you wait." I know how quickly health advice can change, and I'm sure that by the time my own girls are mothers they'll roll their eyes at our co-sleeping, sling-wearing ways.

One piece of advice that isn't likely to change is that breast milk is the best first food for babies. But a piece of breastfeeding advice that's been commonly dispensed for the last several years is being discarded due to lack of evidence.

Expectant and breastfeeding mothers have often been told to avoid eating foods like milk and peanuts to prevent allergies in their unborn or nursing children, but the American Academy of Pediatrics is now saying that there's no evidence that avoiding allergenic foods will reduce the risk of your child developing allergies.

Good news, especially if you're in your third trimester and craving a milkshake!

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Breast-fed kids are smarter

Nutrition & Supplements

Do you believe that those kids who are breast fed actually end up smarter compared to those fed formula as babies? Well, not all breast fed babies end up smarter, but many do.

A new study gave credit to breast-fed babies being more smart to a very common gene that is found expressed in about 90 percent of the population.

In this case, the breast-fed babies who shared the gene with parents ended up outscoring bottle-fed peers in intelligence tests according to the research. The gene in question helps process fatty acids, which in turn assists the intelligence quotient of those kids who have it present.

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