2 a.m. feedings, 4 a.m. feedings, and 6 a.m. feedings...I am awake for most of them. I am a early riser so when Violet goes back to sleep around 8a.m. I stay up and get my day started. With only a few hours of broken sleep - exercise and eating clean is down at the bottom of my list. However the feelings of out-a-shape-ness is at the top. So here I sit determined to form some sort of plan.

Dieting and Exercise is important while nursing but I am advising to go slow and try not to become frustrated. Here are a few tips as to shedding your baby weight while trying to continue to breastfeed.

Lose weight gradually (1-2 lbs a week). Rapid weight loss can lead to a release in toxins which can be harmful to your baby.

Limit your consumption of some fish. About 6ounces a week is adequate.

Abstain from alcohol - or at least take precautions. If you are going to enjoy a drink wait about

2hrs before nursing your baby to give the alcohol a chance to dissipate. Alcohol is not stored in the breast milk - so pumping and dumping isn't necessary.

Drink plenty of water, about 4-500ml a day. I can't stress this enough, our bodies are 90% water. Water will help your body shed fat and produce enough milk for your baby.

Get out and walk your baby. Throw on a hat and don't worry about getting out of your pajamas. Walking will trigger your happy hormones.

Continue to take a multivitamin. Transitioning into motherhood demands those nutrition levels to remain high.

During recent research it is no longer necessary for nursing mother's to eat extra calories. Your energy needs will depend on your current weight and lot on your activity level. There is no one-size-fits-all recommendation.

While holding baby: you can lunge down the hall, squat in front of the television, do a few sit-ups. Every little bit counts

Strive to eat a well-balanced varied diet and count on taking ten months to a year to return to your pre-pregnancy weight, and don't even think about trying to lose weight until at least six weeks after your baby is born.