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!
