Losing Weight After Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a very exciting time. Your body is going through many changes, and the most noticeable one is the amount of weight you are putting on. In fact, this is what many people will see right away; it is what will "give you away" as being pregnant. And for once in your life, putting on weight is a happy, joyful, and natural experience instead of cause for regret!

But after you give birth, you might not still be thrilled about that extra weight. The new mother, while excited about her baby, is also going through some trying times. Post-partum depression is a problem for many mothers, and this is exacerbated by her view of her heavier body. The important thing to keep in mind is that your body will not instantly snap back to your previous weight or anywhere close to it. Recovering your pre-pregnancy weight takes time as the body needs months to adjust.

While you are pregnant, you can expect to gain about 25 to 35 pounds. Of this, you'll lose about 13 pounds when you give birth and shortly afterwards. Therefore, you'll still have somewhere around 15 to 20 pounds to deal with. So expect this! When you look in the mirror the week after giving birth, you are not overweight! You're exactly where you should be for a mother who has just finished her pregnancy.

Losing the weight after pregnancy takes patience and it takes time. You can expect to spend about a year getting back to your pre-pregnancy state. Making this change in less than eight months is not considered healthy; you should aim for losing about one or two pounds a week. It's also not uncommon for this time to be longer than a year. Remember, every body is different.

Avoid the temptation to immediately start a drastic diet and spend many hours working out. In fact, for the first three months, don't diet at all. Eat as much as your body feels like it needs, focusing on natural, healthy, vitamin-rich foods. Stay away from fatty foods; you no longer need to intake extra fat. Eat a variety of foods and get used to moving your body again. After your period is behaving regularly again, you can start dieting. Use your doctor as a dietician. They can tell you if your dieting and exercise patterns are healthy, and can help monitor your progress.

Similarly, take it easy with the exercise regimen. If you exercised while you were pregnant, then stick to the same rate of exercise afterward, at least at first. Your body is in a state of healing right now, and you don't want to push it too far. Walking is a great activity, one you can take your baby along for. It is low-impact, and a good way to ease back into exercise.

Above all, keep your body problems in perspective. Don't compare yourself to other moms; every body is different. And they are likely just as despondent about their post-partum bodies as you are. Some women, however, can shed the pregnancy pounds easily. For some, it will take longer.

This all sounds easy, but these principles can be difficult to follow for a new mother who is tired, depressed, and frustrated with her body. Instead of focusing on your body, focus on your baby instead! Your little baby will provide you with a lifetime of joy, and he or she certainly does not care what your body looks like!

So keep up healthy habits in your diet and exercise, and enjoy your new star status as a mother! Don't forget to take a little time for yourself. You've just been through a trying experience, and do what you need to in order to stay relaxed and on top of things.

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