Q= I gained 35 pounds during my pregnancy, and seven months later I have lost only 25 pounds. How long should it take for me to lose the rest? I am getting impatient!

A= A women have to appreciate the fact that it takes nine months to gain all that weight, and it usually takes between six and 12 months postpartum to lose it. Typically, women lose 15-18 pounds within the first six week after giving birth and then 1/2 – 1 pound a week afterward. That`s not what people want to hear. But women need to give themselves a break.

Patience is especially important if you are breastfeeding. A slow and steady weight loss for mom is important for the health of the baby. Nursing require an additional 300 to 500 calories a day. Rapid weight loss could potentially compromise the fat content or quality of the breast milk. Although nursing women tend to experience dramatic weight loss initially because of the calories that breastfeeding requires, it may take them longer than other women to lose those last 5-10 pounds. The effects of breasfeeding on the body are complex and actually slow down the weight-loss process

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