Most women will lose anywhere from 10-14 pounds within the first 2 weeks of delivery. This weight may be attributed primarily to the loss of excess fluid in the body, the baby's weight, the placenta and amniotic fluid. Some women might lose a little bit less, and others might lose a little bit more.

As the uterus shrinks back down to its normal size and your hormone levels continue to fall, you will lose weight. Most women gain at least 7 pounds of fat during pregnancy. This fat is meant to help women store energy while breastfeeding. How fast this weight comes off will depend on a number of factors including: genetics, your overall health, diet and exercise.

Some women will hang on to the last few pounds they have to lose until they stop breastfeeding. Your body may want to cling to a few extra pounds to ensure you have enough energy to provide adequate milk for the baby. Every woman's experience is unique with respect to this.

The good news is that with a solid nutritional program and with moderate exercise, you can expect to lose the weight you gained during pregnancy within a reasonable time frame.

Most women will be back to their pre-pregnancy weight within nine months of delivering IF they follow a regular exercise program and eat healthily after delivery. That said some women will lose their pregnancy weight in as little as six to twelve weeks!

One point can't be emphasized enough. Weight loss takes time after pregnancy. A sensible goal would be to lose 1-2 pounds per week, particularly if you are looking for the weight you gained to stay off.

Eating a well balanced diet and partaking in regular exercise are the critical success factors for weight loss after pregnancy. Fad diets will not work, and may actually work against you in the long run.

Exercise is a vital component of weight loss after pregnancy. Many people simply are not able to lose the weight they gained unless they exercise, particularly if their metabolism has slowed at all in the months post partum.

If you are getting exercise on a regular basis and eating well, but still not losing weight a year or more after you give birth to your baby, seek out the advice of your health care provider. There are a number of conditions that may arise after delivery that can contribute to weight gain, not the least of which are thyroid abnormalities which are sometimes very common after pregnancy.

Remember also that every person is unique, and all women will respond to an exercise and fitness plan differently. You may put two women on the same program that have the same amount of weight to lose, yet their results will ultimately be different, depending on a number of personal and biological factors.

The point here is that you should not compare yourself to others! Remember that as long as you are eating well and exercising, you are creating a lifestyle of healthy living that will ultimately benefit you individually as the unique person that you are.

And finally, remember to stay positive. Society puts far too much pressure on women to lose the weight they gained during pregnancy. There is no rush, you will lose the weight and feel great in the process. In the meantime, be sure to be good to yourself, reward yourself for your successes, no matter how small, and remember to smile from time to time!