math doesn't add up.

KF1216

I'm so frustrated over here:(
I'll try to be brief.
Start pg 5'9", 186, BMI 27.5
By 20 weeks I was up 20lbs. Ten or more of this happened over the holidays (which is pretty typical for me to gain that much at the holidays even when not pg!)
At 20 weeks I started getting grossed out, so turned to MFP and started being much more dedicated about charting, and even adjusted MFP maintenance goal of 2300 calories down to 2,000 calories (with approval from my OB).
One month later, here are the stats:
16 days went over 2,000 goal. Overage max 500 cal (8 days), 300 cal (4 days), under 300 (4 days).
Under 2,000 goal, 8 days, typical shortage of 1-200 calories.
Fitness: 14 days in last 30 days, ~20min or more of exercise, typical calorie burn of 200.

Weight gained= 6lbs.

By my math, the overages added up to 6,000ish too many calories over the month, which for a normal person should mean weight gain of 2lbs, right? That's not accounting for the days I stayed under goal, or for the fact that my "maintenance" was supposed to be 2300, not 2000.

Now I'm at 24 weeks and from here on out I'm supposed to gain 1lb a week just for the baby, so I guess that scale is just going to keep on moving. I'm afraid it will start jumping by 2's and 3's each week though at the rate I've been gaining

meggwyn

I totally understand where you're coming from, as I always gain a lot despite having a healthy diet and getting in good exercise. Some of it could just be extra water retention. Our digestive systems slow down, so you could have extra stuff in there, etc etc. And 6 pounds over 4 weeks is still only 1 1/2lbs per week, which can be typical in the 2nd trimester! As long as the things you're eating are good fuel for your body and you're getting that exercise in to stay strong and keep your heart healthy, don't beat yourself up. Just keep trying to stick with your goal and I bet the weight gain will slow down a bit when you hit 28 weeks.

Also, maybe 2000 isn't the right amount for you since you're so tall. (I'm only 5'4, so you seem tall to me! lol) Maybe 2200-2300 would be a more realistic goal to stick with. Just try not to go over or under too much. I'm not really one to talk as tracking cals and staying within them are not my strong suit! lol But figured I'd suggest it! In the end, no matter how much weight you end up gaining, you'll have a huge chunk of it come off the first month and the rest will eventually come off, too! The important thing is to stay healthy! (hugs)

stephysd

I did my big gains during the second trimester and now in the third it's been a lot slower if any at all. Just try to focus on the fact that you are growing a child, you need to gain weight, and as long as you are eating healthy and trying to get in exercise/movement .... you are doing the best you can. You are suppose to gain weight at this time and your body is not going to follow a predetermined path for it. It may not gain the 1 pound a week, it might switch to half a pound or no pounds for a week and then gain 1.5 pounds the next. Just focus on what truly matters, the life growing inside you.

spunkychelsea

I completely understand where you're coming from. I kept and keep telling my husband that the scale jumps just do not reflect what/how much I'm eating. Yes, I am eating more than normal because I'm pregnant. Yes, I am supposed to gain weight. But seriously? 2 lbs a week some weeks on eating slightly above/appropriately above maintenance? It doesn't make sense and it's NOT FAIR.

My daughter I gained a lot of weight. I just stopped looking at the scale because it didn't make sense and wasn't helping things to obsess over it. I lost it after her. Eat as healthy as you can, and like previously stated, you're growing a life you're bound to put on weight.

I overate somewhat this weekend. I gained a pound from Friday - Saturday and another pound Saturday - Sunday. I know a lot of it is probably sodium (read pizza and fries Saturday and pizza again sunday - But I was good and didn't eat as much as I really wanted!). However my pattern for a long time was once the weight is on - water weight or not - it stayed. But I'm going to eat normally, drink a bunch of water and just keep chugging along cause obviously the baby and myself REALLY needed that food.

My biggest weight jumps have always been 20-24 weeks also. You gained 6? I gained 8, 9, and 8 lbs (3 pregnancies) during that time. It's a sucky time. After that it started to slow down.

KF1216

Thank you so much to those who have responded! It makes me feel a lot better. I really wish I could relax about this and just enjoy my pregnancy, but I feel like when I relax, don't track calories, don't weigh myself, I end up gaining huge amounts (though....*head scratching*...I'm gaining a lot when I AM stressing about it to, so...).
This is my third baby and I think what ticks me off the most is that with baby #2 I was 30lbs heavier at the beginning of pregnancy, I ate terrible and exercised hardly never and still gained 35-40lbs. This time I am trying *so* hard and looks like I'll end up in the same boat (or higher!) when it's all said and done. I did manage to lose all the the weight that time, plus 30lbs more but it's so hard! I know that my diet and exercise habits are worlds better now than they were back with baby #2, so it shouldn't be as hard to lose this time, but it's just so discouraging

TLCEsq

The one thing I have learned about pregnancy weight gain = it doesn't make sense. Plus it isn't all fat either, in fact very minimal fat if you don't overeat like crazy. Our bodies change shape after giving birth for various other reasons, like the stretching of the uterus and having our internal organs crammed everywhere lol.

hiba_84

I have learned the hard way that there is no math nor any sense to how pregnancy weight gain works. I have stressed over my gain for a while and got really depressed over it.
Now that I figured there is nothing I can do and how I eat or the frequency of my work outs are never gonna add up to how much I am gaining, i feel much more free. I have not stepped on a scale in days and even if I do, i look at the number and move on with my day.

Like the ladies here say, we have lost the weight before, we know the tricks and we can do it again.

Destanie_Robyn

The math doesn't add up ... and probably won't! I agree and echo what a lot of women said previously! Your body undergoes so many changes during pregnancy, you have increasing hormones, a slowing digestion system which is absorbing more nutrients than normal, gas/bloating, possible water/fluid retention and weeks with huge jumps in weight due to baby's growth at certain times! All that plus the changes in metabolism definitely can make it frustrating and everybody is different and can even be different pregnancy to pregnancy with in the same person.So I can truly understand your frustration! Especially since (don't know about you but) my doctor is constantly telling me to 1.) watch my sugars and weight gain and 2.) drink lots of water. He's been telling me to watch my sugars since my 6 week appt - not because I have GD or excess weight gain.. but just simply as a preventative measure! Easier said than done! I feel like everybody's body/pregnancy is different and as long as you are eating healthy and following the main health guidelines I wouldn't stress too much about the weight gain - just as long as baby is healthy and happy!

tiggerhammon

Sorry if I repeat what has already been said, I didn't read the comments.

I wondered the same thing when I went through a solid month eating at maintenance, drinking plenty of water and walking a few times a week and was upset when I gained 12lbs in that month! The next month, I tracked less consistently, ate out more (twice at an all-you-can-eat and I don't limit myself well in those places) and didn't walk nearly as much and gained 4lbs that month. Your body is going to do what it needs to do, regardless of calories.

I read an article on a woman who extreme dieted while pregnant. She heavily restricted calories and worked out a lot! She still gained 13lbs. By math, and if she weren't pregnant, she would have lost weight and probably gained a good figure with the amount of exercise she was doing. It isn't going to make sense, your body is going to do what it needs to do, just eat healthy and exercise (without pushing yourself) and focus on a healthy baby.

I voiced my concern to my doctor the month I gained 12lbs, telling him I felt like it was way too much. His response: "you wouldn't be normal if you weren't concerned about weigh gain. Let me let you in on something - you ARE going to gain weight. This is a good thing. Please don't fight it."

Disclaimer: I absolutely DO NOT support what the woman in that article did. Her baby was born with a low birth weight and a list of problems. It was only going to say, it doesn't matter what you do - you are going to gain and are probably going to gain more than you want to.

KF1216

thanks again everybody!
I had my Ob appt this morning (24 weeks) and once again discussed at length the fact that I'm REALLY trying, and it's not going well. She was super sympathetic, said I'm doing all the right things, that some people's body's just gain more weight and that I should really just try not to stress. I'm going to try to take her advice, though will continue tracking calories because I find when I don't do that, things REALLY get out of control! I will be more lax about it if I need to though - i have woken up at night hungry a few times and I can see that only getting worse as time goes on. Anyway...thanks again for taking the time to make me feel better:)