Weight loss after pregnancy is not generally a problem but just how much weight you can lose depends on many things. Obviously just how much you lose after the birth will depend on how much the baby weighs and that of the amniotic fluid and placenta.
As hormone levels in the woman’s body return a level of normality she will begin to lose more pounds but you have to remember that around an extra 7 pounds of fat are put on during her pregnancy. Energy is stored in this excess fat ready for breast feeding the baby but how quickly each woman loses weight is dependent on factors like genetics, the mother’s health, how much exercise they get and the type of food they eat.
Patience can be hard when you desperately want to lose weight after your pregnancy but you have to remember it did actually take three quarters of a year to put in although it can be annoying when you see women who are back to their original weight and figure within a few short months. For a few women, those last few pounds they are desperate to shed may have to wait until after they have stopped breastfeeding their baby as this is natures way of ensuring the child receives all the milk it requires.
The good news is that with a solid nutritional program and with moderate exercise, you can expect to lose the weight you gained during pregnancy within a reasonable time frame. The truth is that a large proportion of mothers will in fact have their old weight and figure back within that first year if they maintain a good exercise regime and healthy diet. A small number of women will annoy many other mothers and have their pre-pregnancy figure back in under three months.
What it is not taken into account is the number of physical changes that happen to woman once she has given birth and will alter some things she may have taken for granted. In order to lose weight after pregnancy both safely, and effectively; a new mother should undertake a program of slow and steady dieting along with exercise that will produce long-term beneficial results.
Another aspect of taking your weight loss after pregnancy slowly is because you may need a little additional weight to ensure there is sufficient energy to feed and take care of the baby. A mother’s metabolic rate and hormone levels prior to the pregnancy will gradually return over a period of about 6 months but it is always worth remembering that giving birth can cause permanent changes.
The initial weight loss after birth of around fourteen pounds will just about put a dent in the total of up to thirty five pounds in weight that was gained during the pregnancy. With perhaps another twenty pounds or more to lose the mother should follow the previous steps and attempt to lose the weight slowly but steadily within the following six to eight months.
