It can take women six months after giving birth to return to their pre-pregnancy weight -- if they do it right, without hurting themselves or the baby. The first half of your "baby fat" should come off relatively quickly and often on its own, within six weeks, as your body heals and gets used to the energy requirements of your new routine. Don't try to hasten the process any more than that with extreme diets that cut out whole food groups. The key is to eat healthily and sensibly. Often, mother nature will take care of at least some of those extra pounds for you.
Reducing Calories
Cutting back on calories is a natural, safe way to lose weight after pregnancy. Just remember that you're requiring more from your body than ever before, especially if you are a first-time mom. You'll need a bare minimum of 1,500 to 2,200 calories a day, and that's if you don't breastfeed. If you do breastfeed, add an additional 500 calories on to that. Here's the good news: Breastfeeding will burn 600 to 800 calories a day, so you'll come out ahead. Some women find that they lose weight after delivering just by breastfeeding alone. If you're not breastfeeding, start trying to take the baby weight off six weeks after delivery by cutting back 500 calories a day.
Choosing the Right Foods
You don't have the luxury postpartum of sneaking a Twinkie and eliminating the calories it cost you from another meal. You'll need to keep your energy up, so what you eat is important. It has to deliver the most benefit for each calorie you consume. Aim for low-fat dairy products and avoid fried foods. Women who successfully lose weight after delivery focus on fruits, vegetables and lean meats. Eat smaller meals throughout the course of the day, as well. Your body will metabolize these "good" calories as you expend energy, and they are less likely to be stored as fat.
Activity
Of course, exercise helps you lose weight, but after you've had a baby, you're probably not going to have either the time or the inclination to go to the gym. However, activity is key to losing the baby weight and easier to achieve than you might think. Just pushing a stroller around the block or across a mall provides valuable walking time. Your baby can provide you with some weight training, as well. Depending on his age, holding him while you do squats can mean working out with 15 to 20 more lbs. or so.
Napping
One of the greatest impediments to losing weight after having a baby is that you're likely to be tired all the time. When you're tired, your body will compensate by making you crave sweets and carbohydrates for fast energy -- but sweets and carbs will keep your baby pounds on your hips. If you nap when your baby does, it will help keep your energy up, your metabolism on an even keel and your hand out of the cookie jar. Sleep can be a precious commodity in the weeks after your baby is born, so don't give in to the temptation to clean the house or work out when she sleeps instead. The house will still be there when you're thin again, and you can do a few sit-ups later with baby nearby and watching on.
