Fitness + Pregnancy = ???

KrisyKat

Aloha MFPeeps!!

I have been consistently losing weight for a few years now, but I've been the most successful using MFP to assist in my fitness goals. Now, with only 15 more pounds to go, I know I will have to push even harder. The number on the scale is moving slower, therefore, I've been changing up my exercise routines and researching strategies for pushing past the "weight-loss plateau." Overall, my goal is to get healthier and tone up as much as possible in order to prepare my body for pregnancy. I've never been a mother before and, since I have a wonderful husband and a stable career, I am looking forward to becoming one.

My question is, what steps/measures can I take NOW to help my body recover after becoming pregnant and giving birth? After working so hard and getting in shape, I don't want to end up back where I started. I certainly won't have the same horrible eating habits as I used to, but is there anything I can do to make the whole process easier?

Stats:
Female, 32
SW (before MFP): 180 lbs.
SW (on MFP): 165 lbs.
CW: 145 lbs.
GW:130 lbs.

Thanks a million!!! :flowerforyou:

xStellar

bump

would love to hear from mothers on here who have tips for staying fit throughout/quick recovery from pregnancy

KrisyKat

Anyone?

mrsnathanandrew

bump

ZombieSlayer

Keep eating healthy.
Don't stop exercising.

jbella99

There is a woman at my gym who is about 8 months preganant as she works out with weights, uses the eliptical. From behind you can't even tell she's pregnant. She is hoping stay active will help with delivery and postpregnancy problems.

JulieH3art

Bump.

drea0703

I am currently preparing for pregnancy, too. My nutritionist advised me to stay active and only eat 300 cals more a day. You can apparently do all the things you did before the pregnancy but in moderation of course. She also made it very clear that pregnancy is not the time to increase physical activity.

KrisyKat

Keep eating healthy.
Don't stop exercising.

Will do!! I promise

Sallycinnimon

As long as you continue to eat healthy and exersize, you'll be fine. I did the same thing with my son. When I left the hospital, I was 10lbs lighter than my starting weight. This may not be true for everyone. I was told you only need 500 extra calories a day, so just keep being healthy.

emczech5

Keep exercising. Depending on what your work outs before pregnancy are like you may have to tone it down a little during pregnancy, but every mother I've heard who worked out through one pregnancy but not another recovered much faster after the pregnancy where they did work out.

KrisyKat

There is a woman at my gym who is about 8 months preganant as she works out with weights, uses the eliptical. From behind you can't even tell she's pregnant. She is hoping stay active will help with delivery and postpregnancy problems.

YES!!! I hope to be that very woman some day!! :smooched:

KrisyKat

I am currently preparing for pregnancy, too. My nutritionist advised me to stay active and only eat 300 cals more a day. You can apparently do all the things you did before the pregnancy but in moderation of course. She also made it very clear that pregnancy is not the time to increase physical activity.

That's a big 10-4!! Thanks for passing on the great info :flowerforyou:

KrisyKat

As long as you continue to eat healthy and exersize, you'll be fine. I did the same thing with my son. When I left the hospital, I was 10lbs lighter than my starting weight. This may not be true for everyone. I was told you only need 500 extra calories a day, so just keep being healthy.

I'll definitely stay as healthy as possible. I hear that the "cravings" are tough though :laugh:

Lleldiranne

Just keep using the system. I was about 4 months along when I joined MFP. I set the goal to gain 1/2 pound a week; this was about idea for me. I was sick the first half of my pregnancy, but I walked as much as I could, and added swimming in later. I ate back all my calories. I did set it to gain about 1 lb a week in my 3rd trimester because of how little I'd gained before (due to being sick). My overall gain was 17 pounds, ideal for starting out 20 lbs overweight. I kept it at maintain until my postpartum checkup at 6 weeks. Seven months after giving birth I am 10 pounds lighter than before I got pregnant! (I keep it at lose 1/2 lb a week)

If you are starting at a good weight, expect to gain about 25-35 pounds during a healthy pregnancy. You can pretty much keep doing whatever exercise you were doing before getting pregnant, but it's important to listen to your body and stop if you get tired. It's not a time to break records! I know a few moms who ran 10k or went on big hikes when they were pregnant, but it was nothing new for them. It's important to realize that you main gain more than you plan, and that you will have a pooch (belly) for months after, but that a healthy baby is the #1 goal.

drea0703

You are very welcome, honey :flowerforyou:

KrisyKat

Keep exercising. Depending on what your work outs before pregnancy are like you may have to tone it down a little during pregnancy, but every mother I've heard who worked out through one pregnancy but not another recovered much faster after the pregnancy where they did work out.

Exercise- YAY!!! I can't see myself being a couch potato for nine months :noway:

KrisyKat

But that a healthy baby is the #1 goal.

It sure is!!! I'm really looking forward to motherhood!! Thank you sooo much for the advice!!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL YOU SPECIAL LADIES OUT THERE!!! :flowerforyou:

tmarie2715

Keep doing exactly what you are doing now, provided your doctor agrees with your fitness plan.

Once you are 130, you should be very confident that you've once shed a large amount of weight and can easily shed the 25 lbs a woman with normal BMI is suggested to gain during pregnancy.

Eat right, work out right, and good luck!

islaybower

Sounds like you'll be doing all the right things, but definitely agree with others saying you hardly need any more calories - certainly no more than 300 per day, and I think it maybe goes up to 500 more per day for the last few weeks?. Make sure you are getting plenty of nutrients and vitamins for your calories (your own body's supplies will just deplete to grow the baby if you are not taking in sufficient, which will make post-birth recovery harder).

Keep active throughout, but listen to your body - I ended up housebound with pelvic girdle pain and gained a ton of weight with my second, because I tried to power on through a bit of discomfort.

tmarie2715

As long as you continue to eat healthy and exersize, you'll be fine. I did the same thing with my son. When I left the hospital, I was 10lbs lighter than my starting weight. This may not be true for everyone. I was told you only need 500 extra calories a day, so just keep being healthy.

I'll definitely stay as healthy as possible. I hear that the "cravings" are tough though :laugh:

I think cravings are an urban legend. I didn't have any weird cravings. I didn't overindulge on fried food, fast food, or ice cream. If you are eating healthy now, you'll want to eat healthy while pregnant as well.

JulieH3art

Unless you are emaciated, you won't hurt your baby.

ZombieSlayer

Oh... and a link... your calorie needs change over time. You don't need a full 300 extra the whole time.

http://www.freedieting.com/tools/pregnancy_calorie_calculator.htm

summer8it

I didn't suffer any cravings, either, although some things seemed yummier than normal. I was really into salads with ranch dressing, but as cravings go, that was very managable!

Starting your pregnancy as fit and trim as possible will set you up to recover your body quickly. Don't overindulge, keep moving, and after the baby is born, breastfeed!

kadins_momma07

Bump!

My husband and I will start trying for baby #2 this August and I'm hoping to lose a good bit of weight by then. I started out on MFP weighing about 184 lbs, I'm currently 175 (weigh day is tomorrow so hopefully I'll be less!) I've been eating better and exercising almost every day. I plan to eat good and still exercise almost every day during pregnancy. Right now I do a workout DVD in the mornings, some sort of Jillian Michaels or Biggest Loser...which I think will be a little too much for pregnancy. So I plan to find some good pregnancy workouts to do. I also have an elliptical and definitely plan to continue to use it often during pregnancy. Swimming, belly dancing, walking, yoga, light weights... all of those things are great for pregnancy workouts. Good luck to you on conceiving your first baby!!

lcchrt

Most women who are fit and workout BEFORE they are pregnant and during usually snap back pretty fast afterwards! As long as you are eating well and continue in a healthy lifestyle you should be fine! After you have baby if you nurse your body will snap back in just a few weeks. 10 weeks after I had my dauhter not only had I lost all the baby weight, I lost an extra 10 pounds

Keep up the great work and sending baby vibes your way!!

KrisyKat

:flowerforyou:THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU:flowerforyou:

...to everyone for all the fantastic advice!!! I'm feeling much more confident about the whole pregnancy process now!!

themonkey75

I actually lost weight in the first 3 months of pg (due to feeling pretty ill most of the time!!) I went totally off eating meat and any greasy food. My strongest craving was for tangerines and oranges and lemons. Hardly sinful!! I would say that you've got to keep as fit as you can is a great idea- prepare for labour and remember you need a lot of stamina to get through that one. Being fit really helps. Swimming is amazing when you're pregnant ,as is pre natal yoga -good for core strength. Nursing brilliant too (although I found that was when I had really intense cravings- it made me very hungry!! had to be very careful of cake). Just eat healthy and keep fit and don't put too much pressure on yourself, its an amazing process and our bodies are pretty amazing in how we can deal with such big changes.

themonkey75

oh and good luck xx

YogaBunny2012

Best of luck! I would suggest blogging during your pregnancy to keep yourself motivated to keep it healthy and fit

victoria4321

I'm not a mother but I know a few lol. Definitely don't eat for two and keep working out during your pregnancy. There are some things you can't do like distance running but you can bike or swim. Also you can keep a heavy strength training programing going too. You won't be going all out on sets but you can still lift pretty heavy for your whole pregnancy really. There was a pregnant woman crossfitting with us and she pretty much did it up until birth. She looks amazing now btw. Look at some of these women here

http://crossfittingfortwo.blogspot.com/


Just to add. Its better to get into a good routine before becoming pregnant too. It's safe to maintain your current level of fitness but I think the risky part comes from trying to push yourself too hard if you're not used to it.