Post Partum Weight Loss

I had read that losing the baby weight was really easy. Well, that didn't happen for me. Seeing all the celebreties lose all their baby weight within a couple weeks can be discouraging. They have access to a personal chef, and a trainer so of course they are going to look great soon after the birth of their babies. And yes, there are women in the real world you can lose the weight quickly, but for women like me, it can be a challenge. According to most experts, the average weight gain is between twenty-five and thirty-five pounds. If you are overweight, it is suggested to gain between fifteen and twenty-five pounds. Underweight women should gain between twenty-eight and fourty pounds. In a typical pregnancy, the weight gain during pregnancy consists of the following:
• baby-6 to 8 pounds
• placenta-1.5 pounds
• increased fluid volume-2 to 3 pounds
• uterus-2 pounds
• increased storage of maternal fats, proteins, and other nutrients-4 to 6 pounds
• breast enlargement-1 to 2 pounds
• blood volume-3 to 4 pounds
• amniotic fluid-2 pounds

I am considered overweight and I gained approximately forty-five pounds when I was pregnant with my daughter. I was doing well until the last trimester when I began to swell. Being on my feet all day long while at work helped contributed to the swelling. My feet were so swollen, and I had to wear men's slippers. I was quite miserable at the end of my pregnancy. The first fifteen to twenty pounds was easy to lose since it was mainly the baby, fluid, and some fat. Then I stalled. I must admit I was not eating sensibly and exercising like I should have on a consistent basis. I have found that consistency and patience along with hard work are the keys to losing those extra pounds. Not any diet pills or fad diets. With diet pills and fad diets you may lose the weight quickly, but it's not the healthy way to go. In fact, it can be detrimental to your health. Fancy workout equipment and/or a gym membership is great as long you are eating right and giving yourself time to see results. Inconsistency and impatience were my downfalls.

Over the summer, I decided to mow our yard with a Reel Mower and eat smaller portions so I began to eat on a small plate. Doing daily chores and seeing the results of my yard work kept my mind off looking at the scale every week and obsessing over the lost pounds and inches. Between that and eating fewer calories, I began to shed the weight. Before I knew it, the numbers on the scale were getting smaller and my clothes were getting looser. It was a great feeling to finally start fitting back into some of my pre pregnancy clothes. Within three months I had lost sixteen pounds making my total of forty-three pounds. I am a few pounds away from my pre pregnancy weight. I still have to lose the thirty pounds I was trying to lose before getting pregnant. I know with persistence, smaller portions, and daily exercise I will get there and be at my goal weight.