Dear Alice,

I’ve been married for four years and, baruch Hashem, I have three children. I’ve been finding that my baby weight is not coming off easily anymore and I’ve gained quite a bit since my marriage. I don’t want to starve myself, but how can I lose the weight I’ve gained?

Chani

Hi Chani,

I understand your frustration from trying to lose your baby weight before having another one, but don’t think it happens in an instant — or even in a month!

Many women I work with seem to think that the weight gained during pregnancy should come right off. However, even if your weight gain was in the perfect range, it still can take anywhere from three months to a year to lose it. While weight is a big part of the equation, even your body going back to its original form can take time.

Here are some factors to consider:

  • 1. Your body needs to shrink back to its original form, which can take a few months. Until then you might retain your pre-baby appearance, even if you lost all the weight.
  • 2. Your system needs time to settle back to its original state. This means that despite your best efforts, you may have a hard time seeing results at first.
  • 3. Nursing can affect your appetite, making you hungrier, and it can affect other aspects of your metabolism as well.
  • 4. On a practical level, babies don’t sleep well for a while, remember? Lack of sleep and routine can make it more difficult to lose weight.

So, is there an ideal time by which one should be able to lose baby weight? No! It’s super individual.

However, if it’s been 6–9 months and you haven’t seen any results, ask yourself how objective you’re being about your efforts. Are you sticking to a properly structured food plan? Are you tracking a food log? Drinking enough water? Also, be sure to rule out any medical issues that could be preventing you from seeing results.

Best,

Alice

Alice Harrosh is a nutrition counselor and manager at Nutrition by Tanya, with 14 locations including a branch in Five Towns right on Elderd Lane (behind Jildor Shoes). Alice knows that making healthy choices is not always easy as she has been through the struggle herself. As an optimistic person, Alice’s favorite quote is: “It’s never too late to start eating better. If you have a bad morning, make it a better afternoon.” For more information on Nutrition by Tanya or the TAP (Tanya approved products) food line, please visit nutritionbytanya.com or call 844-Tanya-Diet (844-826-9234). For daily tips and inspiration, you may follow @nutritionbytanya on Instagram. Our beautiful and healthy new cookbook, Cooking with Tanya, is now available in Judaica stores or through the Menucha Publishing website.

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