Carrying a baby can make you pack on the pounds, but fear not--by making some healthy decisions, you will be able to shed the extra weight almost as quickly as you gained it. To find out how to lose weight after pregnancy, read through the steps in this guide.

Mothers who are in good shape before becoming pregnant will likely find that it won't take more than a few months to lose the extra weight after having a baby. Those who weighed too much even before the baby pounds accumulated will probably find it harder to slim down. Either way, it is important to begin working off the excess baggage as soon as you are safely able (without straining or hurting yourself, of course). If you do not, you may increase the chances of obesity in later life, which can lead to serious health problems. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/21/health/webmd/main4625573.shtml

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor before using the information presented here.

One mistake to avoid is starving yourself. Placing yourself on a restrictive diet plan can not only deprive you of essential nutrients that your body is craving right now, but it can also backfire by making you too hungry, and thus more liable to pig out. The good news is that starvation is probably not necessary to help you lose weight fast anyway--most women find that by simply eating healthy, well-balanced meals and staying away from junk food, the excess padding from pregnancy comes off relatively easily. Help yourself stay nourished by getting plenty of the following foods:

1. Yogurt
2. Dairy
3. Beans
4. Fish
5. Lean Proteins http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/21/health/webmd/main4625573.shtml

Just as you shouldn't begin a drastic crash diet just after having a baby, you should also not start a highly strenuous exercise routine immediately, either. Once you feel strong enough to start working out, begin a light program, such as yoga, jogging, or even walking at a rapid pace. As a precaution, it is best to ask your physician if your body has recovered enough from the pregnancy to take on heavy exercise. Don't feel bad if it takes you up to a couple of months to start hitting the gym. After all, childbearing is extremely hard on the body, and you need to recover! http://exercise.about.com/od/exerciseduringpregnancy/a/postpartweight.htm

Some women find it difficult to lose weight at first, even when eating right. Oftentimes this is the result of water retention. If you were given fluids intravenously during labor, there is a fairly good chance that your body is still holding on to a lot of the liquid. If you feel bloated, particularly around your hands and ankles, you are probably retaining water. This effect can last for weeks after your baby has been born, but eventually you will expel the excess through urine and perspiration. http://pregnancychildbirth.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_lose_weight_after_pregnancy