Pregnant and want to be healthy

[nataliep]

HI, i am new to this - i am currently pregnant, weigh 86.5kgs and my goal is not to put any weight on this pregnancy. Hopefullt this means that when i have the baby, i will actually be about 10kgs lighter (as that is the amount that is normal to gain during pregnancy with baby/placenta/waterweight etc according to my obs)

Anyone else out there trying anything like this or with idea's etc?

My plan is just to make sure what i put in my mouth is healthy. Cutting down fast food, greasy food, nutritionally empty food. And to keep moving and being active during the pregnancy. And eat to hunger - not boredom, emotional reasons etc.

I have found it very difficult to find a system or plan to follow, because my dr says i should not be restricting calories, and haven't found a plan that is ok for PG ppl. I worry that the lack of structure will see me fall off the wagon.

Ideas?

[nataliep]

Um, Hi? Anyone out there? feeling very lonely!

I have been for my hospital appt now, and how great is this - they are currently doing a study on ways to control weigh in overweight and obese women in pregnancy, so as part of that study (if i land in the action group vs the control group - it's randomised) i could have the benefit of consults with a diatician and lyfestyle advise re exercise etc, and have all my skin fold/weight/measurements/bloods etc monitored closely. Would be great to have someone to be accountable to, and montor me, give me feedback etc. I just really hope i get to do it!

And when i did my weigh in with the midwife, i had lost 1.5 kgs! started at 86.8, now at 85.3,woohoo! although my weight often fluctuates that mush in a day so i don't know. and i am sitting here easing chocolate. hmmm...

[leannen]

Hi! hubby and i are ttc our 3rd child and im trying to lose weight at the same time.. im down 3 kg, got 15 to go..
im on a calorie control diet, can be hard, but with determination im going to make it work and lose my weight..
all the best with your preg, how far along are you??
♥Leanne♥

[nataliep]

just over 8 weeks now, very early still. my enthusiasm from a couple weeks ago seems to be waning - i have just spent 5 days in bed with morning sickness and migranes so not much exercise has really been happening. and although my appitite has all but disappeared, what i am eating is hardly 'quality food' feeling very guilty. one would think that nurturing a baby would be motivation enough not to eat a big bag of doritos as a meal. hmp. Oh well, new day, fresh start. Have managed to switch 8 cups of coffee with sugar and milk each day to 6 cups hot water with ginger and lemon and 1 cup coffee with sweetner and 1 cup tea with sweetner a day, so that has to be good right? extra water, and 16 teaspoons less sugar. did take about a week to ween off the caffiene though. think that may have contributed to the migraine. I had been feeling very guilty about all that coffee and the pregnancy.

How are you going with the calorie control? what level are you restricting to? good that you have lost 3 kgs already - well done! hopefully the rest will follow
How long have you been TTC?

Goad to have someone to talk to, and hopefully keep me accountable - thanks for responding!

[Carley]

I think you should focus on eating healthy foods, eat a lot of fresh foods. Fresh foods for snacks will help, vegetables, nuts, beans, quinao is yummy! What kinds of foods do you like? Do you exercise?

[FatFukShrinking]

Hi

I don't think you should have a specific plan while you are pregnant. You don't want to be telling yourself you can only eat certain foods at certain times, and no extra. Just be sensible, listen to your body. You are feeding your baby now. Don't feel guilty.

Your goal is to end up with a healthy baby, not to lose weight.

Eat wholesome foods, try to eat every 2-3 hours. Don't stress if you gain weight, that is what is suppose to happen. It's a good sign.

Be careful about eating fish and tuna while you are pregnant too. (Because of the mercury content)

Good luck with it all and congrats on the pregnancy

[leannen]

sorry it has been a while since i last posted.. had a bit going on here.

im trying to lose a pound or more a week, so by the jenny craig diet book that i have, im able to eat 540 calories a day.. doesnt sound like much, but the more i look through all my recipe books, theres heaps i can eat!
im currently not feeling 100%, got a bug that i cant seem to shake.. i had the same with my youngest son when i fell preg, so there is a possibility that i may be again.. have all the other symptoms too... mmmm will wait and see..

hope you are well, dont fell guilty about what you are and arent eating, just try your best to eat as fresh as you possibly can.. fresh is best is my motto..
hubby and i have been ttc number 3 for nearly a month.. only just started really..

all the best, plz let me know how you are going.. ♥ Leanne ♥

[Shay]

I'm also pregnant and trying to be healthy. Ideally I didnt want to gain weight during pregnancy, but I was told thats a big no-no. Check with your doctor if its ok for you to aim to gain no weight, because from what i've been told its dangerous for the baby. My doctor told me to aim to gain no more than 10kgs, and then worry about weight loss after giving birth.Although i've already gained 2kgs and am just under 11 weeks eep

[court]

im able to eat 540 calories a day..

is that all you are eating leannan?!?

[nataliep]

Well, Leannan - Good Luck!! maybe the sickness is a sign Hope all is well with whats going on.

Have been trying to make better food choices - and doing ok. I think the place i fall down is a eat well, healthy for 2-3 days, then have massive cravings that i give in to and end up eating all the junk that i had substituted for over the previous days. If i could stop those big blowouts, i reckon i would be set. Wilpower, oh willpower, where art thou? and the breads/pasta that i love i am trying to switch to wholegrain (but the texture is a bit ugh) and have smaller portions.

I had spoen to my midwife, at my local hospital they are currently doing a study in ways to reduce weight gain in overweight and obese women during pregnancy - with a BMI of 32 i am eligable in the obese category. It involves regular guidance with a nutritionist/diatician to give advice on eating and exercise. although i haven't started yet, and could well be in the 'control' group (no intervention or advice given). But the regular weighing and skin fold tests just might keep me focussed. From my initial appointment, she said it was fine for me to loose 5kgs over my first trimester!! that seems so huge to me, and i was really shocked. She did say to forget calorie counting, and pay close attention to me appitite and eat to that. But i kind of feel as if i'm not really in touch with my appitite - it has been out of control for so long, how do i tell the difference between actual hunger and that need/want/crave to eat?
Exercise has been up and down. I have vowed this time to keep going - last preg i stopped and piled on weight at a scary pace. But i am finding cardio (the usual step aerobics classes, treadmill, rower) all puff me out really quickly, uncomfortably so. But so far weight training has been good - i am loving pump classes still. And trying to be active with my toddler - dancing to kids shows with him and stuff like that. I just feel like i can't do really intensive stuff though, so need to keey moving more constantly instead.

So glad that there are finally people talking back here!!

Shay whats your due date? i reckon we might be close - i am due 15th Dec

[Shay]

Well, Leannan - Good Luck!! maybe the sickness is a sign Hope all is well with whats going on.
Shay whats your due date? i reckon we might be close - i am due 15th Dec

Oh we are close! Mine is the 9th of December.

I'm jealous that you can have blowouts! I have the opposite problem, i cant stomach food so most days i survive on breakfast and fruit. I really miss food

[leannen]

Court,
yeah darl thats all im eating.. im actually thinking of adding the lemon detox diet in too!! im feeling fantastic apart from my cold that ive managed to shake off! thank the heavens above for that!! lol

no bubba yet.. got AF, first one for this year!! YAY!!!!! im excited to see it actually.. (i have pcos, so its a bit exciting to have them!) will keep trying though.. the practice is fun! lol..

anyone else gone on the lemon detox diet?! i would love to know how you went on it!!

all the best, Leanne xx

ps.. my youngest son was due on 18th, was born by csection on 12th dec 07, 10 pound 11 ounces!! hence the reason for the csection and the weight gain that i had!! lol!!

[Miss Jo]

Your goal is to end up with a healthy baby, not to lose weight.

I couldn't agree with you more FFS!

The last thing you want to do is be skinny and have a baby that isn't healthy.

[nataliep]

Absolutely the goal is to have a healthy end result - for all involved. being obese actually increases the chances of gestational diabeties, large babies that require assisted delivery, blood sugar issues in newborns, deep vein thrombosis and other complications during the pregnancy.

I am not trying to be 'skinny' i am trying to reduce my obesity and be heathier, and i have the support of a medical team in this decision - at no point would i ever put being thin above the health of either myself or my baby.

I feel the need to make this very clear, as i have personally had a lot of criticism from family and friends for attempting to control my weight during pregnancy. It is percieved as vain, or a fear of putting on weight and 'loosing my figure' . This is not the case. I just want to be the healthiest mother that i can.

[Shay]

I completely understand how you feel natalie. I have people judging me because I want to restrain the amount of weight i gain, even though its for very similar reasons as yourself, such as gestational diabetes etc.

Could you go to a specialist like a dietician to help you out and give you an idea of what to eat and how to exercise so that you get all the nutrients and still lose weight healthily?