Successful Weight Loss After
Pregnancy
by:
Christoph Puetz
Pregnancy and gaining weight go along with
each other. But once the little one is born
the weight put on during pregnancy can be a
concern for many women. How fast you lose
weight after a pregnancy will depend on a
number of factors, including the amount of
weight you gained during your pregnancy.
Studies have shown that most women will
lose anywhere from 8-16 pounds within the
first 2 weeks of delivery. This weight is
primarily attributed to the loss of excess
fluid in the body, (of course) the baby's
weight, the placenta and amniotic fluid that
are removed from the body with the birth. Some
women might lose a little bit less, and others
might lose a little bit more - there is no
"one" number.
How do you lose weight? The uterus shrinks
back down to its normal size once the baby is
born and you lose weight this way. Often women
gain around 6-8 pounds of fat during
pregnancy. This additional body fat is meant
to help women to have enough energy resources
available while breastfeeding. How fast this
weight comes off depends on a number of
factors including: your overall health,
genetics, diet and (of course) exercise.
A woman should expect that it will take
some time to lose the weight she gained during
her pregnancy. It did after all take you nine
months to put that weight on! So, do not
expect to lose it in 2 weeks. But many women
have seen significant weight loss 2 to 4
months after giving birth.
Breast feeding: Some women will hang on to
the last few extra pounds they want to lose
until they stop breast feeding. The body uses
these extra pounds of weight to allow for
enough energy resources while breast feeding.
The good news is that with some discipline
when it comes to eating and with moderate
exercise, a woman can expect to lose the
weight she gained during pregnancy within a
reasonable time frame.
Experience shows that most women will be
back to their pre pregnancy weight within nine
months of delivery if they do exercise
frequently and eat a healthy diet after
delivery. That said some women will lose their
pregnancy weight in as little as six to twelve
weeks!
