Managing Weight While Pregnant

[Anonymous]

I am wondering if anyone has managed to only gain 15 to 20 pounds during pregnancy. I am on my 2nd and have not lost all the weight from #1 yet so I am starting off at least 15 pounds over what I would like to be. I am 5'3 and 140 pounds. Was 120 when I got pregnant with #1. I do not want to end up over 175 again with this one but it seems like I am much closer to that than I was with before.

Is it safe to exercise and watch my weight without hurting the baby? Stupid question, I know. I just feel so tired and gross. Has anyone managed an exercise regiment and kept their weight low? Just looking for some inspiration that it can be done. I am only 7 weeks and have not gained so far but I feel mushy and gross and bloated already.

[Anonymous]

I know exactly how you feel and what you're thinking. I started my second pregnancy still carrying about 13 lbs from the first kid, and I was very concerned about weight ranges. Bottom line- talk to your doctor of course! They will be able to tell you a range that they find healthy for you based on where you started. I started thinking I really needed to stay in the 15-20 lb gain range, but the docs pushed that to 25-35 because they didn't think I started overweight. I found the important thing was to just try and eat healthy and get some form of exercise (MUCH more tired with the second kid so exercise has been tough). I also feel gross and mushy and blah, but have noticed that even just a short walk after dinner has helped me feel a little better. It's imperative that you don't diet right now, don't try and lose weight and most important - DON'T OBSESS ABOUT WEIGHT GAIN! You and your doctor will talk about that, but you just need to be healthy, eat healthy and gain enough weight for you to get through this. The baby will take what he/she needs, but you need the strength to get through this, and to get through delivery and post-delivery. Look up what the weight gain goes towards (the baby, the fluids, etc) and that may help you feel better about what you're gaining - it helped me).
good luck!

[Anonymous]

You should talk to your OB. But I think its "safe" to manage your weight, as long as you're doing it the right way...

Under no circumstances, should you be "dieting" or going hungry while you're pregnant. That is a bad idea.

Yes, of course you can and should exercise during pregnancy... but again, now is not the time to start marathon training. If you've been sitting on your butt the past 2 years, its OK to start walking, or even doing some more aerobic exercise... but the focus has to be on taking GOOD care of your body... not on "losing weight" (or even only putting on X amount of pounds).

The other thing you can do, is make sure you're eating better. Eat healthy food. Skip the chips and have a banana.

But whatever you do.. its important to eat when you're hungry. Likewise, if you don't want to put on 60 pounds... Don't eat when you're NOT hungry.

[Anonymous]

I started my pregnancy about 40 pounds over weight-I kept saying I'd lose weight but when I turned 39 and still hadn't lose any weight (ok I didn't try all that hard) my OB said to just get pregnant! I gained 21 pounds, which my OB was shooting for (she said 20-27 given my starting weight).

I was sure to walk every day and also did some very light aerobics. As the PP said, I only ate food with value, even though I was craving chocolate and pringles (which is so weird because I have never really liked pringles) like crazy. It is wasn't something that had a clear nutritional benefit, I didn't eat it. I lost the 21 pounds really quickly--in about 10 days--since most of it was obviously baby, water, placenta etc. Now on to the 40...... Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I managed to only gain 25 lbs - I did it by eating normally. I walked a lot but just because I live in the city and walk to work. I only ate when hungry and (maybe a blessing in disguise) I had bad heartburn in last trimester that I actually lost a few pounds. I never really had an enormous appetite or cravings - just a desire to eat certain foods at certain times (green apples, roast beef and iceburg lettuce???)

[Anonymous]

I threw up the entire first trimester and lost 14 lbs, so that was easy!! I found that with my second preg, I simply could not eat all the crap I wanted, b/c then I would have had to feed it to my DC! Watch the snacking...make those healthy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I managed to only gain 25 lbs - I did it by eating normally. I walked a lot but just because I live in the city and walk to work. I only ate when hungry and (maybe a blessing in disguise) I had bad heartburn in last trimester that I actually lost a few pounds. I never really had an enormous appetite or cravings - just a desire to eat certain foods at certain times (green apples, roast beef and iceburg lettuce???)

I could have written the above post.
I think the healthy range is 25 to 35 depending on your height,starting weight,etc.
15 lbs sounds too low so I would ask your OB. In my experience if you continue to move a lot (walking,swimming,etc) and focus on eating really healthy food only when you are hungry (not out of boredom)excess weight shouldn't be a problem. Pre-natal Yoga also helped me feel in tune with my body so that I didn't eat out of stress,etc. and made peace with my changing shape.

[Anonymous]

I tried to manage my weight and I continue to excercise 4 times a week. I am 32 weeks and have gained 30 pounds so far. My doctor says its fine as long as I am eating right and continue to excercise.

Just talk to your doctor about what would work best for you.

[Anonymous]

I kept a food diary, logged every bite I ate and charted my weight gain. It kept me honest! People kept telling me to eat ice cream and other things and to indulge but I didn't eat that stuff much when I wasn't pregnant. I did not diet - but I ate very good food - more than any other time in my life. I substituted fruit for sweets and, except for special occasions like my shower, stayed away from chips, cookies, etc. I gained 23 pounds and had a 7 pound healthy baby. I was really motivated because I have seen how some of my friends gained so much weight that they were unable to lose it - even years later. I didn't work out but walked about 2 miles per day to and from work. After a couple weeks of eating healthy stuff, you lose the cravings for the bad stuff and really enjoy things like apples and plain yogurt.