Pregnancy calorie limits?

MissCleopatra

Im 17 weeks pregnant and look disgusting. I love my bump, but my whole lower body has blown up and is full of wobbly, lardy, lumpy cellulite. I feel grotesque.

I've always been chubby-ish (swinging between higher end of normal BMI to just into overweight catagory ie. 25 to 26), but i was always solid, and muscular, not loose and wobbly and lumpy like this.

My weight immediately pre-pregnancy was around 133-135 lbs, at 5ft 1 1/2" tall. At 16 wks pregnant i weighed 144lbs. (so approx 10lb gain in 16 wks already! - grosse). Im yet to be weighed this week.

I put on most of this weight in the 1st trimester - I weighed 141.5 lbs at my 12 weeks booking in apptmnt with midwife, so i've gained 2.5 to 3 lbs in the last 4 weeks (wks 12 to 16).. and the other 7lbs was gained between wk1 and week 12 of pregnancy.

I've been trying to eat healthily, especially this past 7 weeks, w/o making myself hungry or losing energy, and whilst getting enough nutrients for a growing baby - but im not sure how many calories i should be consuming?

I would LOVE to lose some of this grotesque wobbly thigh lard (you can barely see my muscle structure below the layer of cottage cheese and jelly, which has never happened to my solid legs before) - is this possible whilst im pregnant?

At worst i do NOT want this excess body fat problem to get any worse.

Can anyone help with any advice about how many calories i should be consuming to try to lose some excess body fat, or to prevent any more forming? I've been taking about 1600 calories a day - is this about right?

What did/do you eat to keep in shape whilst pregnant? HELPP! xxx

CraftyGirl4

You can exercise moderately while pregnant. Ask your doctor for suggestions if you are concerned that something you are planning to do might harm the baby.

You're weight gain is right about on par with normal. The average woman gains 25-35 pounds while being pregnant. Remember that most of that is the baby itself, extra fluids and such to support the baby and most of it will go away after the baby is born. Also, remember that if you feel you are gaining weight too quickly or gaining too much weight, you are eating for two, but one of you is very, very small. Ask your doctor if he/she feels your gain is appropriate.

khrys1

I've been reading a lot of books on the subject lately, and most say that after the first trimester, you should aim to eat 300 more calories a day than when you're on maintenance level, and definitely NOT try to lose weight after the first trimester. However, if you're eating what you should, you can definitely work on toning exercises, etc. Good luck!

SheilaSisco

I don't know for sure, but I would assume you should just be eating at your maintenance calories. As for exercise, consult your dr, of course, but things like squats and lunges should be relatively safe and target your thighs and butt. Hope this helps!

SarahRuth♥

I've been reading a lot of books on the subject lately, and most say that after the first trimester, you should aim to eat 300 more calories a day than when you're on maintenance level, and definitely NOT try to lose weight after the first trimester. However, if you're eating what you should, you can definitely work on toning exercises, etc. Good luck!

This is what I have been told as well. Maintenance calories + 300. Do not try and lose weight now. Baby needs proper nutrition. You should aim to gain no more than the recommended 35 lbs or so. If you stay around there you should not have a problem getting back to your starting point shortly after the baby is born and THEN you try and lose.

MissCleopatra

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I should have mentioned that i still do a fair amount of toning exercises - not as many as i used to, but i do:


1 set: 50 reps LEG EXTENSIONS on 2nd bar down (not sure how heavy this is but it burns like hell after about 30reps - ive been going for low weight/high reps instead of my usual heavy weights low reps now im pregnant).

1 set: 200 LEG-SQUEEZES on Thigh Trimmer

1 set: 50 wide leg SQUATS (down as low as possible each rep)

1 set: 50 standing bent leg hamstring/glute KICKBACKS

I do the above approx 3x a week before bed.. and i also do:

10 mins on EXERCISE BIKE on heavy setting (so legs burn quickly) 2-3x a week


I know this isnt a lot of exercise, but to be honest i always had small bouts of heavier weight-training pre-pregnancy and then long bouts of doing the above (or often less) and my legs always managed to stay in chunky but mostly firm, toned, muscular shape, with just a TINY bit of cellulite occasionally......... so i cant understand why my legs are so grotesquely wobbly, untoned, lardy, lumpy, and plain old FAT now? All the tone has gone, all the shape, all the muscle-definition... and they just wobble all over the place. And the cellulite?... OH MY LORD! its everywhere! right down to my knees!

What am i doing wrong?!

My maintenance calories are apparently 1660 Kcals. Every day up until today i have eaten consistently less calories than that - approx 1400-1500 calories total.
Today i did admittedly have a treat dinner and go over maintenance cals by 35 cals.. but i've been under every other day this week, soo..?

Ive aimed for a high protein, med-low carb, low fat diet. (except the odd treat, which has still been counted within my 1660 cal target) .

Can anyone suggest what im doing wrong? Im so confused and disgusted with myself but just dont know how to get back control of my bloating body. My self-esteem is rock bottom, and its overshadowing the joy i feel about the beautiful gift of pregnancy. Im miserable. x

SarahRuth♥

My honest opinion is that you are far too concerned about how you look during pregnancy. The baby should come first, and you certainly should not be cutting calories and eating below your maintenance calories while pregnant. Talk to your doctor about the proper nutrition you and your baby need during pregnancy, and worry about losing weight after the baby is born. I'm sure your perception is a bit off too. You can't possibly look that grotesque, and I'm sure nobody else notices these imperfections that are bothering you so much. Worry about baby right now. Worry about weight after baby is born.

sixtyinchesoffury

hey lady!!! i'm 9 weeks pregnant right now and totally understand your concern. i've been gaining too but i've been eating toooooo

much sugar i know that! have you been checked for gestational diabetes??? maybe this is causing a lot of water retention which

can really make cellulite more noticeable. let's hope that's not the case i've also read that simple carbs can cause a ton

of water retention which i think is much more likely. something else to think about is are you being totally specific as to your food

diary??? i've been using this site for over 3 years and know that when i get to guessing too much on my food i tend to pack on the

pounds

anyway, if you need to vent or just a friend to see you through this----friend me, plus i'm a shorty too (5 feet) and we need to stick

together :drinker: