losing weight while pregnant

irishcailin2012

Hi all, just wondering if anyone can help. I'm 14 weeks pregnant, 5'9" and was told yesterday that I cannot get into a specific unit for having my baby as I'm just over the recommended bmi that they will allow to be in this unit. I'm 4lbs over the limit. To say I'm gutted is an understatement!!!! I've been up since 2.50am and I cried as I cant believe I've let myself get like this.

I have to be extremely careful of what I eat as I put on weight easily. I'm not going to starve myself but I have to do something and lose some weight before my baby is born. Has anyone been successful at this and done it healthily? I have back problems due to a car accident 13 years ago so I cannot power walk and I sometimes can only walk 1.5-2 miles due to the pain.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Replies

AmykinsCatfood

There are classes for pregnant ladies that you can take. An aqua class would be great for you since it takes pressure off your back, or there's Pilates and yoga classes where the poses are modified for pregnant women.

Ninkyou

It's not recommended to diet while pregnant. Speak with your doctor.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientinstructions/000603.htm

AmykinsCatfood

It's not recommended to diet while pregnant. Speak with your doctor.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientinstructions/000603.htm

Diet no, but exercise Yes!

SLLRunner

Please do not try to lose weight while pregnant, and just because you want to get into a particular unit to have your baby. In fact, no offense intended, but that whole notion is a bit ridiculous.

Please speak with your doctor.

emdeesea

A specific unit? I'm lost. Like a birthing unit?

SLLRunner

It's not recommended to diet while pregnant. Speak with your doctor.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientinstructions/000603.htm

Diet no, but exercise Yes!

Exercise can create a calorie deficit, but it's stupid to try and lose weight while pregnant.

Lots of pregnant women exercise lo stay fit.

Slasher09

Ask OB for help. You shouldn't be doing this without strict medical supervision. I know some ladies in my birth club were put on gestational diabetes diets to help their sugars and also to control how much weight they were putting on while pregnant, but those diets were figured out by their OB. You can also add in some light, low impact exercise, but if you were not active before pregnancy/up until now that is something else you need to get cleared by as well. HTH

nomeejerome

You are pregnant and now is not the time to be losing weight. Talk to your doctor.

JeanineLaymon1970

Leslie Sansone's Walk away the pounds is a GREAT program! The easy walk (1 mile, 17 minutes) and brisk walk (2 mile, 30 Minutes) sound like viable options for you. Record what you eat religously... Then review to see where you can cut calories, and choose healthier options. You can do this in a painless, safe manner! BTW i was in a serious car accident in 2000 (multiple pelvic fractures) and I am able to do this easily now.

Some ideas:

Breakfast:

Fat free Lite yogurt 6 oz. (around 80 calories)
Fiber one cereal original 1/2 cup (60 calories)

Snacks:

Light Cheese Sticks (50 calories) (can also place in tortilla and heat up in microwave for a yummy treat)
Laughing cow spreadable cheese (35-45 calories per wedge) with light crackers or a tortilla. Lots of yummy flavors!

Dinner:

Use ground turkey, and chicken instead of pork or red meat. We do not even notice the difference anymore.

Salmon: Cut into 3 oz portions, dash with lemon juice, sprinkle cajun spices, add a very thin pat of butter, and broil for 10 minutes. Better than any restaurant, PROMISED!

Also www.hungrygirl.com is a great resource!

Good luck!

Jeanine
:flowerforyou:

JeanineLaymon1970

Had to add something after seeing the other posts. If you gain too much weight while pregnant, it is unhealthy for the mom AND the baby (speaking from someone who gained 100 pounds during pregnancy). Dieting while pregnant when your BMI is too high is perfectly okay. Make sure you discuss your plan with the OB, to ensure everything is good for baby. But exercise and eating healthy ARE GOOD FOR PREGNANCY AND THE BABY!!!! I think people are freaking out because of the "D" word (lol diet).

J

Sasafrash

I've read that for the first trimester you should only consume 100 extra calories, your second two hundred and your third three hundred. Therefore so long as you don't eat more than necessary you should gain weight at a healthy rate. If it's only 4 pounds it could easily fall off. Especially if you're swollen from being pregnant and retaining water. The best way to lose water weight is by consuming more water. You're body won't need to store water if you're providing it with enough water through out the day. Another article I read is about the amount you should be drinking. You should consume half your weight in ounces of water. Therefore im156 lbs I should consume 78 ounces of fluids a day. Obviously since in dieting it should be water. And choosing better options fresh vegetable and meat opposed to frozen and processes will lower sodium prevent retention.

marieamethyst

I lost weight while pregnant by just cutting out what made me gain the unhealthy weight in the first place, and drinking lots of water every day (all of the walking between my desk and the restroom probably helped too!). I did not diet however, and I had an OB and nurse handling my pregnancy. Talk to a medical professional and have them develop a plan with you.

SunofaBeach14

Talk to your doctor and actually listen to what he/she says.

servilia

What is this unit and why do you want to be in it?

Blue801

Had to add something after seeing the other posts. If you gain too much weight while pregnant, it is unhealthy for the mom AND the baby (speaking from someone who gained 100 pounds during pregnancy). Dieting while pregnant when your BMI is too high is perfectly okay. Make sure you discuss your plan with the OB, to ensure everything is good for baby. But exercise and eating healthy ARE GOOD FOR PREGNANCY AND THE BABY!!!! I think people are freaking out because of the "D" word (lol diet).

J

^^this
Studies actually show health benifits for both mother and baby for mom to lose some weight while pregnant if morbidly obese. I just went through this situation ( morbidly obese and pregnant). If you are very obese 4 pounds is not a large amount of weight. Best plan is to discuss it with your OB. Log what you are eating and eat healthy foods. Just adding some activity to your routine could knock out those 4 pounds and then it's just a matter of maintaining until delivery. I was doing well until I went on bedrest. Bummer. Hope you have a happy healthy pregnancy! If you don't make the cut for that unit you could always just let it go, change your perfect plan, and lower your stress level.

Ps or bribe the techs to fudge the numbers when they weight you ; )

rml_16

It's not recommended to diet while pregnant. Speak with your doctor.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientinstructions/000603.htm

Diet no, but exercise Yes!

The guidelines for exercise are generally that if you did it BEFORE you got pregnant (regularly) you can keep doing it, but don't start anything new while pregnant -- especially if it's strenuous.

rml_16

Talk to your doctor and actually listen to what he/she says.

And this.

This is the ONLY advice the OP should take from this thread. THE ONLY ADVICE.

FrankiesSaysRelax

I think eating healthy and exercising is a fabulous idea, but you need to make sure you're consuming enough calories for both you and the life you're trying to grow. Losing weight while pregnant is generally not recommended and you should be consulting a doctor not the MFP community.

NavyKnightAh13

Talk to your doctor.

When I was pregnant back in 2011, I was 243, and then went down to 225 then 220 by the time I was 5 months preggo. I was walking everywhere (had to with classes and job) and while the doctors were a little bit concerned about me losing, they weren't too worried because I was fat enough to began with. Had a healthy kiddo (by the time all was said and done, I was 205) and he will be 2 years old in a couple of days.

I do recommend light exercise (someone mentioned aqua classes, even walking) but no strenuous activity, and talk to your doctor.

SLLRunner

Had to add something after seeing the other posts. If you gain too much weight while pregnant, it is unhealthy for the mom AND the baby (speaking from someone who gained 100 pounds during pregnancy). Dieting while pregnant when your BMI is too high is perfectly okay. Make sure you discuss your plan with the OB, to ensure everything is good for baby. But exercise and eating healthy ARE GOOD FOR PREGNANCY AND THE BABY!!!! I think people are freaking out because of the "D" word (lol diet).

J

With all due respect, advising someone who is pregnant to lose weight at all, whether they have a high BMI or not, is bad advice.

Her doctor needs to advise her.

That said, a friend told me about when she was pregnant and lost weight due to nothing she did. She was under her doctor's very watchful eye and told she'd have to go the hospital if she lost anymore weight. She was miserable.

I think eating healthy and exercising is a fabulous idea, but you need to make sure you're consuming enough calories for both you and the life you're trying to grow. Losing weight while pregnant is generally not recommended and you should be consulting a doctor not the MFP community.

Yep.

LishieFruit89

Leslie Sansone's Walk away the pounds is a GREAT program! The easy walk (1 mile, 17 minutes) and brisk walk (2 mile, 30 Minutes) sound like viable options for you. Record what you eat religously... Then review to see where you can cut calories, and choose healthier options. You can do this in a painless, safe manner! BTW i was in a serious car accident in 2000 (multiple pelvic fractures) and I am able to do this easily now.

Some ideas:

Breakfast:

Fat free Lite yogurt 6 oz. (around 80 calories)
Fiber one cereal original 1/2 cup (60 calories)

Snacks:

Light Cheese Sticks (50 calories) (can also place in tortilla and heat up in microwave for a yummy treat)
Laughing cow spreadable cheese (35-45 calories per wedge) with light crackers or a tortilla. Lots of yummy flavors!

Dinner:

Use ground turkey, and chicken instead of pork or red meat. We do not even notice the difference anymore.

Salmon: Cut into 3 oz portions, dash with lemon juice, sprinkle cajun spices, add a very thin pat of butter, and broil for 10 minutes. Better than any restaurant, PROMISED!

Also www.hungrygirl.com is a great resource!

Good luck!

Jeanine
:flowerforyou:

That doesnt sound like enough calories for someone who isnt pregnant

irishcailin2012

Thanks for your replies. The unit is a midwife led unit attached to the hospital.
When I had my first daughter I only gained about 10lbs and the tiny bump I had
Was gone straight after giving birth. Back then though I was about 2 stone
(28lbs) lighter than I am now! I've also had 2 miscarriages and been through
Alot in my life and unfortunately comfort ate - I know thats no excuse though!! Oh here in ireland
We dont get to see an obgyn! Actually care is quite bad, we only get 1 scan
Throughout entire pregnancy which I just had and I had to fight for that one!!

lisalsd1

I think like other posters have said; obviously, consult the dr. BUT something I would say just as a piece of advice is don't diet, but maybe took a look at how you were eating prior to getting pregnant, and really consider what habits/foods caused the weight gain. You maybe have "bad habits" that you could change while pregnant and wouldn't put you or your baby at risk. An example that I could think of would cutting out soda (it's calorie rich and nutrient-less). Ditching soda, by no means, would harm your baby.

I would change my mind set from thinking, "I need to lose weight" to "I don't need to gain as much as other people." If you are already overweight, in the US, it is suggested to gain less weight (15-20 lbs I think); whereas, if you are at a "normal weight," you should gain somewhere between 25-35 lbs (I think; you might want to google those #s to get a better idea).

It is recommended, in the US, to continue the exercise that you were doing pre-pregnancy (pregnancy isn't the right time to start a serious workout program), BUT walking isn't a serious program that is going to cause a tremendous amount of stress to your body. If you have already had one child, you already know what it is like to be pregnant. So let your body be your guide as far as light/moderate exercise.

Marcia315

I lost weight when I was pregnant but only because I threw up every day and was nauseous 24/7. Not a pleasant way to lose weight.

randomtai

I lost weight when I was pregnant but only because I threw up every day and was nauseous 24/7. Not a pleasant way to lose weight.

This!! Hyperemesis is no joke!

AmykinsCatfood

It's not recommended to diet while pregnant. Speak with your doctor.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientinstructions/000603.htm

Diet no, but exercise Yes!

The guidelines for exercise are generally that if you did it BEFORE you got pregnant (regularly) you can keep doing it, but don't start anything new while pregnant -- especially if it's strenuous.

Which is why I suggested low impact aqua classes or yoga specifically for pregnant women... which exist specifically to help pregnant women stay active which can be beneficial to the pregnancy.

rml_16

It's not recommended to diet while pregnant. Speak with your doctor.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientinstructions/000603.htm

Diet no, but exercise Yes!

The guidelines for exercise are generally that if you did it BEFORE you got pregnant (regularly) you can keep doing it, but don't start anything new while pregnant -- especially if it's strenuous.

Which is why I suggested low impact aqua classes or yoga specifically for pregnant women... which exist specifically to help pregnant women stay active which can be beneficial to the pregnancy.

Unless you are her doctor and know her specific needs and medical history, you should not be suggesting anything. Even non-pregnant people should't just jump into yoga. It is not easy and it can result in SERIOUS injury.

And there may be extenuating circumstances that make even low-impact water exercises a bad idea. You don't know anything about this woman except that she's pregnant and wants to lose weight so she can give birth in a specific place. For all you know, she's a perfectly healthy weight or has a serious medical condition. Maybe not. But you don't know her and considering that she came to a weight loss message board full of strangers to get advice instead of asking her doctor in the first place, the only advice she should receive or follow is to talk to her doctor, since she didn't think of it herself.

Charlottesometimes23

Oops DP

Charlottesometimes23

Thanks for your replies. The unit is a midwife led unit attached to the hospital.
When I had my first daughter I only gained about 10lbs and the tiny bump I had
Was gone straight after giving birth. Back then though I was about 2 stone
(28lbs) lighter than I am now! I've also had 2 miscarriages and been through
Alot in my life and unfortunately comfort ate - I know thats no excuse though!! Oh here in ireland
We dont get to see an obgyn! Actually care is quite bad, we only get 1 scan
Throughout entire pregnancy which I just had and I had to fight for that one!!

Do you have access to an accredited dietitian? They would advise you not to diet to lose weight but they could help with diet to make sure you maintain suitable gains throughout your pregnancy. Do you get a chance to be reassessed at a later date? You might fit into the category down the track.

butterrum13

Like what everyone else said, check with your doctor before you do anything. With my #3 I was plenty big enough to begin with (235) and I lost throughout my first and early second trimesters (not on purpose). My OB was not at all happy.