Look Good Feel Great After Pregnancy

by Cathy Cripps

The amount of extra weight you manage to lose which was gained during pregnancy will depend on many factors. 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.

An additional seven pounds or so of body fat is gained during pregnancy but after birth when the uterus reverts back to its normal size and the hormone level starts to drop then the weight will start to fall as well. The extra fat gained is used as energy while the mother is breastfeeding but there is no magic formula to calculate how quickly each individual's excess weight will reduce.

After all, it did take nine moths to put the weight on and you cannot expect to lose it all overnight but having said that some women are fortunate enough to lose almost all of this weight within a matter of months after the birth. Often the last few pounds are the hardest to lose and that may be because the body often holds onto a little weight to ensure the baby has sufficient milk but even this is not a certainty as every woman experiences this differently.

Nevertheless with a good nutritional diet plan and regular physical activity there is no reason why normal weight or close to it should not return within the year. Many women in fact will be back to their original weight within a year of having their child providing they follow good dietary and exercise regimes. Of course the annoying thing is when you see or hear about women that have regained their weight and shape in less than twelve weeks.

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. To enjoy permanent weight loss after pregnancy, a mother must realize that it should be achieved slowly as the long term benefits of this action will be improved health and fitness.

In addition, dieting right after pregnancy for a new mother who is breast feeding should probably be put on hold as a breast feeding new mother needs a significant amount of energy for the continual 24 hour care of her baby that may last for a year. While it may take over half a year for a mother to get close to her old metabolic rate and hormone level there may be some changes that are permanent.

Most women will lose up to fourteen pounds when they give birth but seeing as they may have put on over thirty, there will still be some way to go.

Now while this weight loss after pregnancy happens immediately it can still leave up to another twenty one pounds which needs to be lost in the next half to three quarters of a year, but it must be done safely.
For more information visit: : Pregnancy Inforation