6 Weeks Pregnant and a little concerned!

WanderLaura30

Hey everybody!
We just recently found out that we are pregnant with our second, and we are ELATED! My oldest is 20 months, and I've managed to lose 18 pounds in the past 2 months. I've been working really hard: running about 15 miles a week, eating real foods, counting my calories. Now I'm concerned, because I'm still about 15 pounds over what I was when I got pregnant with him, and I gained 30 pounds with him. I'm determined to have a healthy pregnancy and only gain around 15 pounds (I weigh 200, so I'm still in the "overweight" category). My current problem is that I've been just maintaining the past 2 weeks, and I don't know if that's a problem or not. Should I still be losing a pound or so a week during my first trimester, or is maintaining what I should be doing? I'm just so worried. I really don't want to face complications of high blood pressure or anything else.

So what do i need to do? Currently, my calorie goal is set on 1240, but I burn around 400-500 calories/ day, and I usually eat at least half of those. Do I need to up my calorie goal or keep it the same?

I'm grateful for this group!

Ninkyou

You should up your calories to maintenance and when you exercise, strive to eat at least half of those calories (depending on how they're calculated... MFP/Machine/HRM/etc.).

-OR-

You could use something like http://www.freedieting.com/tools/pregnancy_calorie_calculator.htm which will calculate the amount of calories you need with your exercise already included... so you eat that same amount everyday.

With the first trimester, you don't need any additional calories above your maintenance. When you hit the 2nd trimester, then you should be increasing your calories about 300-350 calories above your maintenance (plus exercise, unless you're using the 2nd method I listed).

justinskitty

I read a ton of articles when I got pregnant to see how much I should be eating. Really. A lot of people say eat for 2 or don't worry about it. I gained 52lbs with my first and I took 3 years to take it off plus 10 more lbs. I wasn't about to go back there. You do not need to up your calories in your first trimester. I did take mine from lose 2lbs a week to lose a 1lbs a week since I knew 1200 would just be too little. I went to 1500. I was 5'6 150lbs so at the top of normal weight for my height. I ended up getting down to 147 before I added anything back. The first trimester I ended at 150. The 2nd trimester I ended at 166 and right now I'm 32 weeks and I'm at 170. July was my worst month because of 4 birthdays (including mine). I love sweets

Anyway after the first trimester I took my calories from 1lbs loss to .5 loss a week. I have left it at that for my third trimester. I was shooting for a 25lb gain but I think I'll end up around a 30lb gain. Oh well. I still look the same with a basketball attached to my belly. I walk daily and do workouts at least 4x a week. Some days I'm just hungry and I eat everything. I've had a few 2500 days. Most of my days are around 1800 though and I never use the exercise calories to eat more. I just try to stay healthy and eat healthy. When I fail at eating healthy I don't let it ruin the next day. I ate so many donuts the last time I was pregnant. Only a few this time around

Talk to your doctor when you see them. They might have some ideas on how to keep things in check. Being healthy has made a huge difference in how I feel this time around. I still feel great and I can do a ton of things I couldn't do at this point with the first. It's so worth it!

bruerin

Honestly, talk with your Dr. People can tell you what they are doing (some are following their Dr's advice, others are following info they have found on the internet). Your Dr should be able to guide you. Since you are already pregnant, it is too late to worry about your weight. Concentrate on nutrition and if your Dr permits you, exercise. Good luck with your pregnancy, I hope it is a happy and healthy time for you!