I have been dieting and have lost 15 pounds so far this year. It's been a lot of hard work and I have about 30 pounds to go to get to a healthy weight (also my pre-pregnancy weight!) Now I am pregnant with the third (surprise!) baby and I don't want to lose the ground I've already covered! Can I continue to lose weight through a healthy diet and exercise without harming the baby? My thought is that since I'm already overweight, I should not need to gain extra weight while pregnant. Can I "replace" the bad weight with pregnant weight? Although I'd love to be lighter than I am now when the baby is born, that may be unrealistic, but I definitely don't want to be heavier! Please help.
No sarcastic answers please.
Thanks!
2007-04-04 07:53:17 · 21 answers · asked by chickenfeed 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
You're about right in saying you can "replace" bad weight with pregnancy weight. At least that's what I'm doing. I was about 30 pounds overweight prepregnancy, but I was working on eating more healthily and exercising more often. You will need an increasing number of calories since you're pregnant, but as long as you make sure those are coming from healthy sources, you won't gain much weight. It is okay to lose some weight in the first trimester, but after that my doctor doesn't recommend it. I lost about 7 pounds in my first trimester, but I wasn't really dieting to see the scale move. I was just making healthier food choices (apples instead of dessert, salad instead of hamburger, water instead of cola...you know what I mean!) and walking or doing my Fit and Firm Preganncy with Denise Austin DVD (lol) every day.
You'll probably end up weighing more at the end of the pregnancy than you do right now, but not as much as if you'd just eaten whatever, whenever, and sat around like a bump on a log. I'm aiming for a 20-pound weight gain from my current weight (about 174). If you weight more than that, you may can get away with only a 15 pound weight gain. You'll have to ask your doc to be sure. Just diet to be healthy, not to move the scale, and those pounds will be easier to lose postpartum!
2007-04-04 08:02:12 · answer #1 · answered by grayhare 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My doc told me that even if you are overweight you should gain a little weight when you are pregnant - which never really made sense to me - but personally it doesn't appeal to me either. But I will do what is best for my baby.
2 years ago I lost about 30 lbs and ended up being at the higher end of a healthy weight. Now, at 5 months preg, I gained about 10 of those lbs back...just trying to stay in control, basically. I figure that if I don't go crazy and over do it, eat healthy and continue to exersise, whatever happens to my body will proabably be the healthy and natural thing that should be happening. I am hoping to only gain 25 lbs (which was reccomended by my doc) and then after little Claire is born, I will head back to the gym to get serious about losing that weight again.
Gotta do what's best for the little one, no matter how it might make you feel.
2007-04-04 07:59:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Absolutly under no circumstance diet while pregnant. You just need to make sure you don't gain too much weight this time. Do not have the mentality that you are eating for two. Know that for a singleton pregnancy you only need about 200 extra calories a day. That equals to about one piece of chicken, grilled with no skin on it. Make sure you eat healthy, no soda what so ever. Eat only fresh fruits and veggies. The canned fruit has syrup on it, which has lots of empty calories. Do not eat any pre processed or prepared foods, make everything from scratch. That cuts so many calories right there and is so much healthier for you and your baby. Try to gain just the right ammount of weight, but if you gain a little more, don't worry you can loose it later. Trust me. Just don't diet whatever you do, and please don't eat those frozen dinners that only have 200 calories per meal, they are full of preservatives and chemicals. ( I knew a woman who did that)
Also do a reasearch on line, Denise Austin has pregnancy workouts for all stages. (Check with your doctor first) She does the right workouts that don't strain your stomach muscles but help keep you legs, thighs and buns in pretty decent shape. Also helps get oxygen to your baby. The DVD has three videos on one, a video for each trimester. They combine yoga, light aerobics and stretching.
2007-04-04 08:00:55 · answer #3 · answered by Barbara C 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Talk to your doctor ASAP. It's not healthy to lose weight while you are pregnant. Your body loses weight when you are eating fewer calories than what your body needs to maintain. When you are pregnant you need to eat what you normally would because you are eating for two. You are going to gain weight during pregnancy because the baby is growing. The baby alone will make you 20-30 pounds heavier because of its weight and the amniotic fluid.
I urge you to talk to your doctor in depth about this for your safety and the babies safety. It's NOT a good idea. I know it sucks it's just the facts.
2007-04-04 07:59:29 · answer #4 · answered by Logan and Ella's Mommy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Talk to your doctor first...Weight Watchers used to have a program for pregnant women, but it is important to talk first to your physician. There are specxific nutrient requirements for a pregnant woman, and too few calories will wear you out, but a good sensible diet and maintaining a moderate exercise level (now is not the time to start an exercise regimen, but you should not become a couch potato either) will help ensure good health and weight throughout and after the pregnancy. Good luck.
2007-04-04 08:00:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Weight loss can be a touchy subject during pregnancy! You need enough calories to ensure your health during pregnancy as well as the healthy development of your baby. Your calorie needs as well as other nutritional needs increase during this time.
It is never too late and the fact that you want to start watching your diet closer is wonderful!
. A dietitian can work with you and your doctor to monitor your weight and ensure you are getting what you need nutritionally. You may want to start by asking your OB/GYN for a referral to a dietitian. You definitely want to make sure that the dietitian you choose specializes in pregnancy.
congrats and good luck
2007-04-04 08:04:13 · answer #6 · answered by ♥♥™Tia™♥♥ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lot of people exercise while pregnant and eating sensibly shouldn't hurt the baby at all. It's a good idea though to let your OBGYN know whatever exercises you normally do just to make sure they approve. Congratulations and good luck! A year later and I still haven't lost my pregnancy weight.
2007-04-04 08:00:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's a tough problem. Try to continue the good habits you've learned by dieting. You know the baby needs calories, so make sure they count, Get your protein, fiber and calcium. Eat your fruits and veggies. That's all you can do. Maybe your doctor can give you a goal of how many calories a day you can safely eat.
2007-04-04 07:59:55 · answer #8 · answered by Kat H 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi,
You can find some great pregnancy exercises that help you minimize stretch marks and cellulite and help you with a quick recovery to a looking good Again at
http://www.pregnancywithoutpounds.co.nr
hope this helps and wishing you the best of health
2007-04-05 23:02:40 · answer #9 · answered by John N 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
talk to ur doctor about it when u go for a check up. they can suggest some things that will help but they may want u to wait until after the baby is born.
congrats on the new addition!!
2007-04-04 08:01:34 · answer #10 · answered by Courtney T 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋