Remember as with any weight loss and exercise program,
moderation is the key! How fast you lose weight will depend on a
number of factors, including the amount of weight you gained
during your pregnancy.
Most women will lose anywhere from 10-14 pounds within the first
2 weeks of delivery. This weight may be attributed primarily to
the loss of excess fluid in the body, the baby’s weight, the
placenta and amniotic fluid. Some women might lose a little bit
less, and others might lose a little bit more.
As the uterus shrinks back down to its normal size and your
hormone levels continue to fall, you will lose weight. Most
women gain at least 7 pounds of fat during pregnancy. This fat
is meant to help women store energy while breastfeeding. How
fast this weight comes off will depend on a number of factors
including: genetics, your overall health, diet and exercise.
You should expect that it will take a little bit of time to lose
the weight you gained during pregnancy. It did after all take
you nine months to put that weight on! Many women have
successfully lost weigh however, in just a few short months
after a delivery. Some women will hang on to the last few pounds
they have to lose until they stop breastfeeding. Your body may
want to cling to a few extra pounds to ensure you have enough
energy to provide adequate milk for the baby. Every woman’s
experience is unique with respect to this.
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.
Most women will be back to their pre pregnancy weight within
nine months of delivering IF they follow a regular exercise
program and eat healthily after delivery. That said some women
will lose their pregnancy weight in as little as six to twelve
weeks!