Does breastfeeding help you lose weight?

I just wanted to hear experiences from others. I found that breastfeeding in the first few months seemed to help with weight loss, and I was lucky enough to be back to my pre-pregnancy weight six weeks after birth (though I was not back to pre-pregnancy shape...!)

However, after a year it seemed to make less of a difference, and in fact I started to gain weight whilst extended nursing - or maybe it was all the sitting on my butt once I went back to work!!! I continued breastfeeding up to (age) 27 months and about two weeks after the last nursing, I was sitting at my desk at work looking at the huge pile of 'snacks' I had and thought "I just don't feel hungry!" and I then lost around 3kg over the next month. I then realized that whilst nursing I was just constantly hungry and eating - probably due to my body's need for 'more' to produce milk.

Do/ did you find breastfeeding promotes weight loss or gain?

Having breastfed my 2nd one for almost 5 months now, I've lost all my pregnancy weight plus an extra 5 pounds lighter than pre-pregnancy.  I've lost all my weight but I'm not back in my pre-pregnancy shape though.  I'm not on a diet or anything.  I'm just eating the way I normally do.  I hope I can maintain this weight AND lose that bull-dog face belly pouch.  :(

With my 1st one, I lost all my pregnancy weight after about 3 months, and I was kind of back in pre-pregnancy shape, I breastfed for 9 months and around month 7 I gained a few pounds back, then 2 months later I was pregnant so I can't comment on whether I kept my weight or not after that.

Breastfeeding did not help me lose weight at all.  I only started to lose weight after I joined a Mommy & Baby fitness class twice a week when my son was 5 months.  Then it only took a couple of months to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. 

Breastfeeding for me has been the most amazing weight loss system ever.  I joke around about how if I could bottle it and sell it, I would be a millionaire!  I have lost all of my pregnancy weight, and then quite a bit more where I'm now underweight.  It's amazing how for some people breastfeeding works for weight loss and some people it doesn't.  However, I also eat relatively healthy.  Although my chocolate addiction is just as real as it was during pregnancy.