Losing weight before trying to get pregnant!

independant2406

Thank you for sharing your story Jeanniebee625. Your an inspiration!!

alligatorrawr

Has anyone ever tried going by Body fat percent instead of BMI? when I was in the best shape of my life my BMI told me I was obese but my bodyfat said I was healthy. it's very easy to do, and I trust it more than the scale and BMI.

alligatorrawr

I think a lot of women think they need to eat for two adults when they get pregnant, which creates a real weight problem after they have the baby. Many develop a eating pattern of way to many calories long after. And we see women, including on this board, who blame their obesity on their children--LOL.

The fact is, you can still count calories while your pregnant, and yes you can still exercise while you're pregnant.

So I am a little confused as to why women are just now wanting to lose weight, because they want to have a baby. Did your doctor tell you to get out of the obese category before having children? If so, why?

Obesity, regardless if you're wanting to have a baby or not, is now the number one health crisis in the nation today, with type 2 diabetes skyrocketing. So even more importantly you want to make certain, that your baby is born into this world with a very healthy active mom to raise him/her. IOW I hope your reasons for losing weight are for the long term, and not just so you can give birth.

Because most women don't put themselves first. I personally put my dogs first, my boyfriend, my family and then myself. Because if it was just me and I died who cares. if it was just me and I was healthy and lived to be 100, it would be a super lonely 100 years. I have a new found purpose in life and I want to have kids now, I want to make an animal sanctuary. I want to live longer and be healthy now because I have a reason. So tenfold if you are wanting a child! We want to be healthy during the pregnancy because WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TO HAVE THEIR BEST CHANCE. If it's losing weight, stop smoking, stop drinking, putting a dollar away a day for their college, no matter what little or big thing it is it's something that mothers and future mothers do. I personally think it's a better reason to lose weight than say, looking good in a bathing suit, or even a wedding dress. and also, weight can have effects on a baby, just as smoking and drinking do. for example, I am 243 pounds right now. I'm 5'9" and my body fat is 46%. Not long ago was I 180 pounds with a 28% BF. and when I was 180, I didn't get sick as much, I wasn't so tired all the time, My body didn't hurt near the end of the day and I could manage stress better because I wasn't in so much pain. and ALL those things have effects on a baby's health and appearance. Did you know when you are conceived your face is perfectly symmetrical with the other side? But mother's illness and stress slowly starts deforming just your appearance. And why even bother to be on community support boards if you don't want to support someone. Go troll somewhere else.

rachelg145

Nobody get mad - I just want to lovingly offer - please please please do not start a healthy lifestyle 'until you get pregnant.' There is a difference between being overweight and eating a lot of calories to maintain it just because you're pregnant and don't think you should 'diet' anymore, and being overweight and eating what a person of a healthy BMI or body fat % at your height would eat. Eating a appropriate amount is not dieting to me, it's eating what you should be eating and the weight loss comes along with it until you are where you should be. I prefer to see things as eating what you should and exercising vs. overindulging and under-exercising. Don't like the word 'diet.'

My doctors told me I didn't need to add any calories just because I was pregnant. I was a about 10 pounds heavier than I should have been when I got pregnant with #1 and gained less than 30 pounds with my first pregnancy, and was 16 pounds heavier than I should have been when I got pregnant immediately with my second and only gained back to the exact weight I was when I delivered my first. I was not limiting calories or eating super healthy or anything in particular, but I wasn't making pregnancy an excuse to NOT keep a healthy lifestyle because it might hurt the baby to eat a reasonable amount vs. overindulging.

Also, someone told me this and it helped: remember that a pregnancy craving is something unusual, not wanting an extra large Blizzard from DQ - MOST people want to down one of those. So on the days when you're like 'I'm pregnant, I'm going to pig out because I have a craving' remember you're really just pigging out on something you've always wanted to pig out on and now you think you have an excuse. Be accountable.

Good luck to all of you lovely ladies - take care of yourselves, enjoy pregnancy and then love those babies up!!

alligatorrawr

Nobody get mad - I just want to lovingly offer - please please please do not start a healthy lifestyle 'until you get pregnant.' There is a difference between being overweight and eating a lot of calories to maintain it just because you're pregnant and don't think you should 'diet' anymore, and being overweight and eating what a person of a healthy BMI or body fat % at your height would eat. Eating a appropriate amount is not dieting to me, it's eating what you should be eating and the weight loss comes along with it until you are where you should be. I prefer to see things as eating what you should and exercising vs. overindulging and under-exercising. Don't like the word 'diet.'

My doctors told me I didn't need to add any calories just because I was pregnant. I was a about 10 pounds heavier than I should have been when I got pregnant with #1 and gained less than 30 pounds with my first pregnancy, and was 16 pounds heavier than I should have been when I got pregnant immediately with my second and only gained back to the exact weight I was when I delivered my first. I was not limiting calories or eating super healthy or anything in particular, but I wasn't making pregnancy an excuse to NOT keep a healthy lifestyle because it might hurt the baby to eat a reasonable amount vs. overindulging.

Also, someone told me this and it helped: remember that a pregnancy craving is something unusual, not wanting an extra large Blizzard from DQ - MOST people want to down one of those. So on the days when you're like 'I'm pregnant, I'm going to pig out because I have a craving' remember you're really just pigging out on something you've always wanted to pig out on and now you think you have an excuse. Be accountable.

Good luck to all of you lovely ladies - take care of yourselves, enjoy pregnancy and then love those babies up!!

I totally agree, I've seen people start running more than usual or even start working out during a pregnancy because they don't want to gain any weight or want their pregnancy to look a certain way!! I don't know THAT much about being pregnant because I am not even close to trying, but I know it is okay to go jogging and light weights IF you already do so. and shhhhhh I am totally going to use the "oh I'm pregnant I need some corned beef hash" hahaha

Therealobi1

Not trying to be rude, but if you are just now motivated to lose weight to have a baby and not really for yourself then what is going to make you keep the weight off?

Also not trying to be rude back, but you don't know every reason I have for losing weight. A baby is NOT the only one. I'll continue towards goals of health even after having a baby. I'm reaching out with that reason to try to find like-minded people who are in a similar place and mindset in their weight loss. Thanks for your concern.

Ha I lost weight last year to look good on my hols
I love your why more. Good luck I think it's a great idea.
You will form better habits now and keep with it

onefortyone

I am not bashing the concerned people on the thread but no one has said they're planning to lose weight just to get pregnant, then binge throughout the pregnancy and eat all the things forever and be fat mothers. It's not really fair to young overweight women who dream of becoming mothers to assume that overweight women are like that. I was 198lbs and only gained 15lbs throughout my pregnancy, compared to a petite, slim woman I knew who gained 60lbs (and developed GD) with her first son and had already gained 15lbs during the first trimester when I knew her.

I'm not saying that obesity = awesome and naturally slim = bad, but this is a fitness website. The overweight people here are bound to be more mindful and focused on goals than the general population who are getting pregnant and using it as an excuse to overeat. The fact that people are posting here months/years in advance of baby-making should be evidence enough of that!

And my Dr's don't say a THING about my weight, even though I always expect them to. My genetic counselor did say that eating well and exercise/activity is important for everyone - but especially for people like me who have blood clotting disorders. Also that I should get up and walk around every hour on long drives/flights.

independant2406

The overweight people here are bound to be more mindful and focused on goals than the general population who are getting pregnant and using it as an excuse to overeat. The fact that people are posting here months/years in advance of baby-making should be evidence enough of that!

YES!!!

Ninkyou

Last year in June, I probably could have written this myself. I was Obese. I was 5'2 and 211 lbs. I had finally reached my breaking point. I was sick and tired of being fat and I made the decision I needed to lose weight. First for myself, because I needed to work on myself and make myself healthy. I couldn't hike a small incline for 10 minutes without everything hurting and being out of breath. Second, because my weight was getting in the way of my plans for my family. I wanted another child, my daughter was 5 and the age gap was only getting bigger. I wasn't even getting my periods because of my weight, so I couldn't even try to conceive even if my husband had agreed it was time.

So I first focused on myself. I started losing weight steadily. My husband proposed to me the challenge that if I reached 155 lbs (which is overweight for my height, but definitely not obese) then we could start trying for a baby. So I held on to that thread and I never let go. 10 months later, Easter weekend, I reached my TTC goal and weighed in at 155 lbs. It was beyond thrilling. I weighed less than I did in high school, I had energy up the wazoo, I was healthy, I had gotten my periods back and we started TTCing. One month of trying and it happened. I'm now 22 weeks pregnant with my 2nd little girl.

It's definitely helpful to have a goal in mind when losing weight, just don't put a time limit on it. It'll happen when you get there. I also think it's important to focus on YOU. Do it for yourself first, and let the babymaking be the bonus/prize at the end. Once you reach whatever goal you set, it's also important to keep up with the eating habits. I still count calories, but I make sure I get those extra couple hundred calories on top of my maintenance for baby and get some exercise, even if it's lighter exercise than before. I've gained 6 lbs so far for this pregnancy and my doctor is thrilled with my progress.

Good luck on your goals, ladies!

independant2406

Last year in June, I probably could have written this myself. I was Obese. I was 5'2 and 211 lbs. I had finally reached my breaking point. I was sick and tired of being fat and I made the decision I needed to lose weight. First for myself, because I needed to work on myself and make myself healthy. I couldn't hike a small incline for 10 minutes without everything hurting and being out of breath. Second, because my weight was getting in the way of my plans for my family. I wanted another child, my daughter was 5 and the age gap was only getting bigger. I wasn't even getting my periods because of my weight, so I couldn't even try to conceive even if my husband had agreed it was time.

So I first focused on myself. I started losing weight steadily. My husband proposed to me the challenge that if I reached 155 lbs (which is overweight for my height, but definitely not obese) then we could start trying for a baby. So I held on to that thread and I never let go. 10 months later, Easter weekend, I reached my TTC goal and weighed in at 155 lbs. It was beyond thrilling. I weighed less than I did in high school, I had energy up the wazoo, I was healthy, I had gotten my periods back and we started TTCing. One month of trying and it happened. I'm now 22 weeks pregnant with my 2nd little girl.

It's definitely helpful to have a goal in mind when losing weight, just don't put a time limit on it. It'll happen when you get there. I also think it's important to focus on YOU. Do it for yourself first, and let the babymaking be the bonus/prize at the end. Once you reach whatever goal you set, it's also important to keep up with the eating habits. I still count calories, but I make sure I get those extra couple hundred calories on top of my maintenance for baby and get some exercise, even if it's lighter exercise than before. I've gained 6 lbs so far for this pregnancy and my doctor is thrilled with my progress.

Good luck on your goals, ladies!

Thank you so much for sharing your story. You are an inspiration to me! Congrats on your success and the new kiddo on the way!

helpimfalling

Last year in June, I probably could have written this myself. I was Obese. I was 5'2 and 211 lbs. I had finally reached my breaking point. I was sick and tired of being fat and I made the decision I needed to lose weight. First for myself, because I needed to work on myself and make myself healthy. I couldn't hike a small incline for 10 minutes without everything hurting and being out of breath. Second, because my weight was getting in the way of my plans for my family. I wanted another child, my daughter was 5 and the age gap was only getting bigger. I wasn't even getting my periods because of my weight, so I couldn't even try to conceive even if my husband had agreed it was time.

So I first focused on myself. I started losing weight steadily. My husband proposed to me the challenge that if I reached 155 lbs (which is overweight for my height, but definitely not obese) then we could start trying for a baby. So I held on to that thread and I never let go. 10 months later, Easter weekend, I reached my TTC goal and weighed in at 155 lbs. It was beyond thrilling. I weighed less than I did in high school, I had energy up the wazoo, I was healthy, I had gotten my periods back and we started TTCing. One month of trying and it happened. I'm now 22 weeks pregnant with my 2nd little girl.

It's definitely helpful to have a goal in mind when losing weight, just don't put a time limit on it. It'll happen when you get there. I also think it's important to focus on YOU. Do it for yourself first, and let the babymaking be the bonus/prize at the end. Once you reach whatever goal you set, it's also important to keep up with the eating habits. I still count calories, but I make sure I get those extra couple hundred calories on top of my maintenance for baby and get some exercise, even if it's lighter exercise than before. I've gained 6 lbs so far for this pregnancy and my doctor is thrilled with my progress.

Good luck on your goals, ladies!

Great advice.

I'm doing this weight loss journey to be the 'me' that I want to be. And that 'me' includes being a mother, getting to do more fun and active things with my family, becoming a better choreographer (what I do for a living), and living longer to be able to enjoy all of things that are important to me in my life.

Goal179

I did this for my second baby. I was a little over wight for my first baby. During my second pregnancy, I was about seven years older, 30-40 pounds heavier and out of shape. I did not want to be diabetic during the pregnancy. I lost about 20 pounds before conceiving. i lost an additional 25 pounds while i was pregnant. I focused on very healthy eating. I focused on light exercise and pregnancy yoga during the pregnancy. So as the baby got bigger, the only weight I gained belonged to him. (Most Dr.s don't want you gaining a bunch of weight anyway if you are already in the obese zone) I think I gained about 12 pounds total. My baby was about 8 pounds, and the rest was fluid, so I had a negative gain if that makes sense. I ended up being about 25 pounds lighter after the baby was born. I have said all of that to say this, if you can't get the weight off before you conceive, you can still continue to lose weight in a healthy way while you are pregnant. As long as you are eating nutritious whole foods for you and the baby, you can end up skinnier after the pregnancy then you were before. =0) talk to your doctor. He will tell you what is best for your current weight and condition. Start taking your pre-natals now, if you haven't already. Eat well. Best of luck.

xalee12

Im trying to lose weight for baby too! I feel like im running out of time being age 31.

sagefae

I'm also trying to lose weight for baby # 2.

I've been needing to lose weight. I would do so well for about a month, then stop, and put weight back on. It has been a constant battle for a while. My husband and I have been thinking about having a second baby, especially since our son is now 3 and we don't want too big of an age gap.

I went off of birth control a couple days ago, but it will still be at least a month or so I'd say before my cycle is normal again. In the meantime, I'm trying to get under 200 lbs. I know that's still obese, but we're both over 30, and I feel like I'm getting too old, haha! This time around I will keep the healthy habits though!

Good luck to all you ladies with your weight goals and with TTC!

Anyone who wants to, feel free to add me.

arrielle10

I was overweight before I got pregnant and had the same thing. Ended up loosing in the first trimester because I was so sick. I didn't really gain until the last trimester and it was all baby and water retention. ( I gained 15 pounds)

kbeyer23

Before getting pregnant with both my boys I wanted to lose weight and get to a certain # before conceiving. I had this ideal in my head about it, but the reality was that my heart yearned for a child and I was putting undue pressure on myself each time. Both times, I ultimately did not reach my weight goal, but instead let go of my unrealistic expectations and conceived when it felt right to my husband and I. (And I was seriously overweight- 270+lbs.) I don't have any other health problems and both pregnancies were perfectly healthy (I exercised and ate right for the most part) and I had two 7.5lb healthy kiddos.

Now, I am not saying this to make a judgement on your reasoning or anyone else's to lose weight before conception. That's a personal decision, obviously and I would support a friend either way in the same situation. I'm no doctor and I know everyone's health is a different story. I'm just relaying my experience and the fact that I am so grateful that I chose to have kids while overweight instead of waiting. It's totally possible to have a healthy obese pregnancy. (And healthy babies of average weight!)

Best of luck to you all who are getting ready to start families- being a mommy is honestly the most amazing thing in the world!

SandyBVTN

Im trying to lose weight for baby too! I feel like im running out of time being age 31.

I had my son at 35 and most of my friends are having their kids in the mid-30's! Do what feels right to you, obviously, but don't let the age thing stress you out!

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