. I know that they say “nine months up, nine months down” in regards to losing pregnancy weight, but I am so frustrated. My baby is eight months old, and I’m still ten pounds heavier than I was before I got pregnant. Will this extra weight EVER come off?
According to recent studies, 20 to 30 percent of women are still 4 to 5 kg (9 to 11 lbs.) heavier than their pre-pregnancy weight a year after giving birth. So, yes, what you're experiencing is pretty normal. While exercise plays an important role in shedding those extra pregnancy pounds, it's also important to monitor the types and quantities of food you're consuming.
Some women find that rather than losing weight, they actually gain weight during the months after giving birth because they simply don't have the time or the energy to make healthy, balanced meals. Fortunately, dishing up nutritious meals doesn't have to be as difficult as you might think.
No one's expecting you to play Martha Stewart at this stage in your life. The key to avoiding postpartum weight gain and to shedding those extra pregnancy pounds is to find quick and easy ways to prepare a variety of healthy foods and to avoid using food as a substitute for sleep (an all-too-common trap for many new moms). Good luck!
