Safe to lose weight in early pregnancy?
evolve33
Posts: 61 Member
Hello everyone, I'm 6 weeks pregnant with my second baby, and weigh 126lbs. With my first pregnancy I started at 135 and gained about 40lbs. I didn't feel heavy untill after I had my baby, and struggled to lose the extra weight. With the help of MFP I eventually reached my goal weight of 113lbs - where I feel healthiest.
My question is, is it safe to lose 10 lbs during the first 3 months, before I really need to start eating for two and gaining at a slow and healthy rate? I'd like to have less to lose after this baby, since I'm 7 years older, and it was hard work the first time.
My question is, is it safe to lose 10 lbs during the first 3 months, before I really need to start eating for two and gaining at a slow and healthy rate? I'd like to have less to lose after this baby, since I'm 7 years older, and it was hard work the first time.
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Replies
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That question is best left for your OBGYN. I personally wouldn't aim to lose weight while pregnant but more so focus on my nutrition and maintaining a semi active lifestyle during pregnancy to make labor easier. there are plenty of prenatal workout dvds and of course swimming, walking and aerobics.0
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With my first, I was 30 years old, got pregnant at 117 and delivered at 131. No sickness, no problems with the pregnancy, and delivered a 7lb 4oz healthy baby. That 117 dipped down several times in the first 2 months. As long as you're eating right watching out for morning sickness, etc you should be fine just let your doctor know.
BTW - "eating for 2" is a myth - your baby will take what it needs. You need to eat to maintain your health, and a nutritious diet.0 -
marlyluv25 wrote: »Hello everyone, I'm 6 weeks pregnant with my second baby, and weigh 126lbs. With my first pregnancy I started at 135 and gained about 40lbs. I didn't feel heavy untill after I had my baby, and struggled to lose the extra weight. With the help of MFP I eventually reached my goal weight of 113lbs - where I feel healthiest.
My question is, is it safe to lose 10 lbs during the first 3 months, before I really need to start eating for two and gaining at a slow and healthy rate? I'd like to have less to lose after this baby, since I'm 7 years older, and it was hard work the first time.
Talk to your doctor.
I guarantee you he/she will not say it's okay to lose weight while pregnant.
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I guess I misread - I don't think you should deliberately be trying to lose, no.0
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No....your 126 lbs and pregnant not 326 lbs. We don't even know how tall you are. You want to lose 10 lbs in 6 weeks, that's aggressive for your current weight even if you weren't pregnant. Common sense????0
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HelloDerGuys wrote: »You should not lose weight. If you were obese or morbidly obese maybe, but you, no way. Stop thinking about yourself and think about the child.
This^
Were talking about vanity pounds here........if you had medical issues due to weight, that would be another story.0 -
My advice: Talk to your doctor.
My opinion: Why wouldn't you just maintain during the first trimester? There are options other than gaining or losing.0 -
marlyluv25 wrote: »Hello everyone, I'm 6 weeks pregnant with my second baby, and weigh 126lbs. With my first pregnancy I started at 135 and gained about 40lbs. I didn't feel heavy untill after I had my baby, and struggled to lose the extra weight. With the help of MFP I eventually reached my goal weight of 113lbs - where I feel healthiest.
My question is, is it safe to lose 10 lbs during the first 3 months, before I really need to start eating for two and gaining at a slow and healthy rate? I'd like to have less to lose after this baby, since I'm 7 years older, and it was hard work the first time.
Ask your DOCTOR!!! not uneducated goggle experts!0 -
I have my first prenantal apt. next week, and I do plan to ask her. I am not trying to be a stick thin pregnant person. I have no desire or ability to starve myself - I'm a monster when I'm hungry. What I'm talking about is limiting junk food and starting excersise - like yoga or swimming - with my 6 year old. I would never take nutrition away from my baby to lose "vanity pounds". I'm trying to make myself healthier from the start and maintain throughout pregnancy, so I don't pack on pounds with empty calories like I did with my first. I plan on gaining what I need for my baby once he or she starts growing (larger than the size of a plum) during the second trimester. Any weight I gain now will not be going to my baby.0
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I am talking about losing 10lbs in 12 weeks, and gaining it back plus another 5 - 10 during the remaining 20 weeks. Nothing drastic.No....your 126 lbs and pregnant not 326 lbs. We don't even know how tall you are. You want to lose 10 lbs in 6 weeks, that's aggressive for your current weight even if you weren't pregnant. Common sense????
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marlyluv25 wrote: »
I am talking about losing 10lbs in 12 weeks, and gaining it back plus another 5 - 10 during the remaining 20 weeks. Nothing drastic.No....your 126 lbs and pregnant not 326 lbs. We don't even know how tall you are. You want to lose 10 lbs in 6 weeks, that's aggressive for your current weight even if you weren't pregnant. Common sense????
you need to talk to your DOCTOR0 -
marlyluv25 wrote: »
I am talking about losing 10lbs in 12 weeks, and gaining it back plus another 5 - 10 during the remaining 20 weeks. Nothing drastic.No....your 126 lbs and pregnant not 326 lbs. We don't even know how tall you are. You want to lose 10 lbs in 6 weeks, that's aggressive for your current weight even if you weren't pregnant. Common sense????
No. Actually the first few months are the most important and when the most birth defects develop.0 -
Again, I am going to talk to my Dr, and ultimately follow her advice. I like hearing other mom's stories and opinions based on their experience. Thank you to those that have shared.0
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It is absolutely crucial that you get the proper nutrition during the first trimester. All their vital systems are developing right now, and to do that properly you need to make sure you're eating right and taking care of yourself. Eating at a deficit and trying to lose weight is going to place unnecessary stress on you and your baby.0
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Maintaining your weight while eating a healthy diet would give your child as good a start, if not better, than restricting your diet/calories and then adding weight later.0
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marlyluv25 wrote: »
I am talking about losing 10lbs in 12 weeks, and gaining it back plus another 5 - 10 during the remaining 20 weeks. Nothing drastic.No....your 126 lbs and pregnant not 326 lbs. We don't even know how tall you are. You want to lose 10 lbs in 6 weeks, that's aggressive for your current weight even if you weren't pregnant. Common sense????
At only 126 lbs to start, 10 lbs in 12 weeks would be pretty drastic - even before considering the complicating factor of pregnancy.
Ask you doctor if you must, but frankly this seems to be a question that could pretty easily be answered using common sense.0 -
I actually had this very talk with my OB recently as I was coming off a bulking cycle and looking to cut. So I wanted to know if I got pregnant during the cut cycle, should I stop the cut immediately. Her advice was that so long as the weight didn't put me close to the underweight category (which for me, it wouldn't), 10 lbs wasn't a problem over 2-3 months as it's not uncommon for some women to lose that sort of weight in the first trimester due to morning sickness. I was also asking her about my lifting regime and if/when I needed to back off, but that's not really applicable to this question.
But, this came with several caveats: (1) my diet was overall very healthy (which it is), (2) my numbers on various blood tests stayed within accepted ranges (which she said for most wasn't a problem) and (3) I wasn't experiencing any other symptoms (extreme fatigue, irritability, etc.). She said any reduction in cals may exacerbate such symptoms and that some of her patients start with this idea in mind but don't actually follow through on it (unless they were already overweight when they got pregnant). She told me if you were in a healthy range for weight or overweight, this wasn't a problem for most women. She just wanted me to avoid any dramatic cal cut (which I wasn't considering) or any supplements that I didn't discuss with her first (including all herbs, vitamins, minerals, etc.) -- which I already do.
Given your weight, you seem like you're likely already rather lean. But without knowing your height, it's hard to say. If you are rather lean, 10 lbs may be too much.
As my OB suggested to me, you could also focus on simply only gaining 20-25 lbs rather than 40, then you don't need to worry. So your post-baby weight will be pretty much the same as pre-pregnancy weight. I know quite a few women who were able to manage this.
In the end, as many have said, talking with your OB is best.0 -
Cutting out junk food and increasing physical activity are both good ideas, pregnant or not. Going on a very limited calorie diet is not. Realistically, many women have very unblanced diets during the first month and lose weight because of morning sickness. So, losing a bit will not hurt you and is not unusual. But there is a difference between just cutting out junk food or not feeling much like eating and having a mission to lose weight.
In any case, it makes more sense to aim for maintaining weight and then slowly gaining, than losing and then gaining more than recommended.0 -
I wouldn't try to do it on purpose. You're gaining some important weight that will sustain your little one in and outside of the womb.
That being said, I doubt a reasonable loss would hurt, but it won't help if you are not obese to begin with. (I lost 10-20lbs in the first 4 months of all my pregnancies due to nausea - I was borderline overweight to start with though.)
Good luck0 -
First - Ask your doctor.
I suspect that she will tell you to NOT actively try to lose weight, as you are already at a reasonable weight (or if you're tall, underweight).
But there's nothing wrong with trying out some yoga or swimming, and swapping the junk food for more nutritious choices - I'd be surprised if any doctor disagreed with that.0 -
You should really discuss this with your dr. Your baby is developing and I don't think it is a good idea to lose weight at any stage of pregnancy. You need to get professional advice and prenatal care for you and your baby. Do what will be the healthiest for your baby. It is only 9 months of your life, and you can lose weight after the baby is born. Meanwhile eat as healthy as possible, for both of you. In the long run, it will be beneficial for you both.0
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marlyluv25 wrote: »
I am talking about losing 10lbs in 12 weeks, and gaining it back plus another 5 - 10 during the remaining 20 weeks. Nothing drastic.No....your 126 lbs and pregnant not 326 lbs. We don't even know how tall you are. You want to lose 10 lbs in 6 weeks, that's aggressive for your current weight even if you weren't pregnant. Common sense????
You said you're already 6 weeks pregnant and you were asking about losing weight until the 3rd month (approx week 12) that's why I said 6 weeks, because you have 6 weeks left until you will be 3 months pregnant.
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I started out overweight with my last pregnancy, I had Hyperemesis gravidarum, and my Doctor hospitalized me when I continued to lose weight into my third month, but it was for dehydration and not malnutrition. I couldn't keep the vitamins down either. Long story short, with each pregnancy I vomited much of what I ate, from before the pregnancy test came back positive, until 24 hours after delivery. I had three perfectly normal babies, but it took a toll on my body. I was weak, tired, and didn't produce milk. I think it really messed with my metabolism and made dealing with the stress of having a new born more difficult. I would never have restricted calories purposefully, it definitely was not worth weighing less after giving birth than before becoming pregnant.0
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There are some new studies that indicate that losing or maintaining weight can be healthy during pregnancy--for women who are obese. You are NOT anywhere near being obese.
There is NEVER a need to eat for two--there are slightly increased calorie recommendations along the way of 100-200 calories at a time. At no point do you need to be consuming twice the normal amount of calories.
Consult with your OB-GYN, but you might benefit even more from talking to a dietitian.0 -
You cannot be talking about losing 10 pounds over 12 weeks AND losing 10 pounds in the first trimester. ...you're 6 weeks along. You've got just 6-7 weeks left in the first trimester. Fyi.
But no. If you're really worried about losing weight after baby is born, then simply focus on gaining a smart amount of weight throughout your pregnancy. Don't aim for 40 pounds, which is the high side of normal, but 20 or 25. Focus on eating nutrient rich foods.0 -
marlyluv25 wrote: »
I am talking about losing 10lbs in 12 weeks, and gaining it back plus another 5 - 10 during the remaining 20 weeks. Nothing drastic.No....your 126 lbs and pregnant not 326 lbs. We don't even know how tall you are. You want to lose 10 lbs in 6 weeks, that's aggressive for your current weight even if you weren't pregnant. Common sense????
You're pregnant and want to basically lose a pound and a week, and you're 126 pounds?
Do you realize how unrealistic this is? How dangerous this can be?0 -
For what it's worth my doctor told me to focus on only gaining 25 pounds, and that I shouldn't have been adding more then 300 extra calories a day. What we did is watch my weight week to week... If I had large gains I was more cautious the following week. I also had to be super clean with eating just out of my own OCD tendencies when I got pregnant. Dropping your calories too much would scare me, but honestly the whole eating for two things makes me want to put a pencil in my eye.
The above is my personal experience, not advice. Every pregnancy is different, even with the same body.0 -
No....your 126 lbs and pregnant not 326 lbs. We don't even know how tall you are. You want to lose 10 lbs in 6 weeks, that's aggressive for your current weight even if you weren't pregnant. Common sense????
I agree. You're not overweight and you could be compromising the health of your baby.
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Thank you all for your input. I realize I sound like a narcissistic fool, but really I'm not. I was just starting to get back on track and lose some of the extra weight I have gained through junk food and laziness, by eating healthy and exercising, when I found out I was pregnant.
When I exercise and eat right, without restricting calories beyond what is resonable for my BMI, I lose fat and get leaner naturally. I know this because I have done it before, and when I get closer to my healthiest weight, I naturally stop losing and maintain.
I just feel like it doesn't make sense for me to give up on my newly begun healthier lifestyle, because I'm pregnant, even if it means I continue to lose a little at first. I eat when I'm hungry, exercise moderately because it makes me feel good. I love thinking about my baby growing inside me, and that I am fueling myself with the right things to give them the nutition they need.
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marlyluv25 wrote: »
I am talking about losing 10lbs in 12 weeks, and gaining it back plus another 5 - 10 during the remaining 20 weeks. Nothing drastic.No....your 126 lbs and pregnant not 326 lbs. We don't even know how tall you are. You want to lose 10 lbs in 6 weeks, that's aggressive for your current weight even if you weren't pregnant. Common sense????
You said you're already 6 weeks pregnant and you were asking about losing weight until the 3rd month (approx week 12) that's why I said 6 weeks, because you have 6 weeks left until you will be 3 months pregnant.
You are correct. These are not hard numbers for me - I just found out I'm pregnant and had blood tests to determine how far along, so I miscalculated a bit. The 10 pound goal was what I set and was working towards before I found out. I realize this goal may not be realistic now, but I don't want to abandon the changes I have been making in my life, because I feel they are making me healthier, whether I lose weight or not. With my first pregancy, I quit smoking and instead ate everyhting in sight, healthy or not, and gained too much, too fast. I don't want to repeat that with this one.0
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