Help, please! What foods should I be eating?

ihavehope2013
ihavehope2013 Posts: 16
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi Everyone:
Im 42, 5'0 and 186 lbs. My goal is to lose between 40-50 lbs, but Im also going to be trying
to get pregnant (first baby). What foods do I need to be eating to help me lose weight, but I
also want to build my body up to have a healthy pregnancy? Thanks!

Replies

  • MUSTLOSENOW55
    MUSTLOSENOW55 Posts: 181
    Healthy food! Focus on fruits, veggies, protein, healthy fats, complex carbs. Good luck!
  • ihavehope2013
    ihavehope2013 Posts: 16
    Sounds good to me! I will have to do some research on the healthy fats and complex carbs, I just bookmarked
    some sites. Thank you so much.
  • MUSTLOSENOW55
    MUSTLOSENOW55 Posts: 181
    You're welcome :). My favorite carbs are steel cut oats and sweet potatoes. For fats I love nuts and nut butters ! And most importantly weigh and measures your portions to make sure you are in a calorie deficit
  • ihavehope2013
    ihavehope2013 Posts: 16
    Hmm, interesting. I will also have to check out steel cut oats. I have been snacking on dry roasted sunflower kernels all day.
    That's the part I have also slacked with, measuring the portions...I want to do everything right, so I will start measuring. Thanks again! If you can think of anything else, please do share.
  • wldrose75
    wldrose75 Posts: 128
    I agree with MUSTLOSE but also suggest lots of calcium rich foods (low fat/no fat dairy, brocoli, etc.). Also, talk to your doctor. He/she will have suggestions and might want you to take vitamins, maybe even prenatal vitamans, before getting pregnant. This would make sure baby is getting everything he/she needs from the very first.
  • this_time_nextyear
    this_time_nextyear Posts: 53
    I agree with the above post, plenty of calcium! Also plenty of folic acid rich foods, broccoli, brussel sprouts, spinach, asparagus, peas and brown rice are all sources :)
  • ihavehope2013
    ihavehope2013 Posts: 16
    I went for my follow up Wednesday (I had surgery on the 16th, left Fallopian tube removed), and I spoke to my doctor about foods and he only suggested I get on prenatal, which I started Thursday. I have an appointment with my primary doctor on the 14th and Im going to talk to him too. Oh yum, I love the foods y'all mentioned. Seems it's time for me to be getting my notebook out and start taking notes! Thanks y'all!
    My doctor told me, the only thing I have working against me with getting pregnant is my age....Im not concerned about my age, if it's meant to happen, it will. I informed him, my plan is to lose weight and stop smoking (I have 9 cigarettes left and once gone, I QUIT! ) , he was very pleased with hearing this, and he said both would help me.
  • NocturnalGirl
    NocturnalGirl Posts: 1,762
    Eat at a reasonable calorie deficit, hit your macros and get sufficient micronutrients. What you eat to do them is up to you!

    If you have health issues, I would follow the guidance of a doctor regarding what foods you can eat.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    A wide variety of mostly whole foods, combined in a way that lets you reach your calorie and macro targets. So in other words, pretty much anything you want as long as it's well planned.
  • glitteredgrave
    glitteredgrave Posts: 194 Member
    Eat healthy. Fruits, veggies, beans, nuts, brown rice, wheat, oats, etc. Lean meats if you eat meat. Lots of water. I've been taking a prenatal vitamin for months, although I'm not planning on getting pregnant til next year. My husband and I had tried last year with no luck, so I've decided to lose a bit of weight and take prenatals to "prepare myself" lol. And for some reason, regular daily multivitamins make me sick. I'm 23, and I have no children yet.
  • billsica
    billsica Posts: 4,741 Member
    oysters?
  • sleibo87
    sleibo87 Posts: 403 Member
    getting in shape before pregnancy is why I started, although I am a few years out. i read an article about a woman who was over weight and then gained 40 pounds in her first 5 months and miscarried. That was the click for me. I wouldn't gain weight on top of weight. I am also short, 4'11, so I know its not easy.
    They say the healthier you are and exercising, Ups the chances of pregnancy!
    I want to get in shape and keep it off at least a year before we try just so I know I can do it and then stay healthy and active while pregnant so I don't gain more then 20-30 pounds which is the recommended weight...
    Most my friends gained 60! I couldn't imagine if I gained 60 more on TOP of what I weighed! (Then again they ate crap and ice cream and sat on their bums. I will stay on this site through pregnancy and at least walk or do yoga!

    Try to stay away from white breads. I eat lots of lean proteins, eggs, beans, whole wheat, low fat dairy, nuts, veggies, fruits, sweet potatoes, and try not to drink my calories unless I have some fat free milk. No soda or juice (unless its fresh squeezed juice in a smoothie that IS my meal, but its a crap ton of carbs! lol)

    Good luck!
  • lambchristie
    lambchristie Posts: 552 Member
    You also need to start exercising now to build up strong muscles.

    For those who feel sick to tummy taking the multi vit. I use to also, but found if I take with food or 30 minutes or so after breakfast it helps stop this problem.
  • nicleed
    nicleed Posts: 247 Member
    (Then again they ate crap and ice cream and sat on their bums. I will stay on this site through pregnancy and at least walk or do yoga!


    Unfortunately, for some of us, all we can keep down in pregnancy is icecream! And morning sickness means we can barely move off the couch. I actually lost 7kgs in my first trimester with my son :)
  • sleibo87
    sleibo87 Posts: 403 Member
    (Then again they ate crap and ice cream and sat on their bums. I will stay on this site through pregnancy and at least walk or do yoga!


    Unfortunately, for some of us, all we can keep down in pregnancy is icecream! And morning sickness means we can barely move off the couch. I actually lost 7kgs in my first trimester with my son :)




    I totally get that, wasn't wanting to offend I know when I get pregnant I will splurge and crave weird or unhealthy foods! But like I have a friend who didn't have morning sickness at all really with her pregnancy but she would say 'oh I'm eating for two its ok'..Yes you are but really its only a few hundred more calories not 1000. That's the misconception. I read in the first few months you only need 100-400 extra calories. I know it wont be easy trying to stay committed while pregnant, thats why I really wanted to lose the weight now and have some wiggle room instead of think I would magically get will power once I got pregnant....


    Oh congrats on quitting smoking OP!
  • ihavehope2013
    ihavehope2013 Posts: 16
    NocturnalGirl, I dont have any health issues or my doctor would not have given me the OK to get pregnant.

    billsica, arent oysters to help a man?!! I do love them tho!

    taso42, my weight issue is mainly from not exercising enough, and I actually dont know what foods are the best for me to eat. I do not eat fried, drink coffee, cold drinks or alcohol.

    glitteredgrav, I wish you all of the luck with your weight loss and with getting pregnant.
  • ihavehope2013
    ihavehope2013 Posts: 16
    sleibo87, I already wanted to lose weight, but after finding out I had a chance of getting pregnant, I now want to lose it even more so. It's very overwhelming to go 26 years to not be able to get pregnant and then in a matter of hours, I find out, I now have a chance. I want/need to get myself healthy, regardless of getting pregnant or not, but this is an incentive for losing the weight. I have always had a fear of being over 200 lbs and Im knocking on it's door and it scares me. I dont want to have to depend on a handful of pills to stay a live everyday and I know if I dont change things, that is where im headed. I guess I will just have to fight those cravings..lol Yes, the not smoking, I know that is a huge thing! Thank you. Now I just have to get my husband to stop!

    lambchristie, my plan is to start off with walking and build myself up to be able to do a certain workout. Even though my doctor released me Wednesday with no restrictions, I still dont want to jump into this full speed ahead. By the look of things, I will probably end up losing most if not all of my goal, before I become pregnant. My husband works offshore, so....

    BTW, Congratulations to everyone on their weight loss!!
  • sleibo87
    sleibo87 Posts: 403 Member
    Yes stopping smoking is awesome for you. My old roommate was like 39 and stopped smoking and got pregnant right away! Having a kid is a great motivator for you and your husband. My mom didn't know she was pregnant with me for about 2 months and smoked, and continued after I was born till I was about 4....and I have bad asthma. I have learned to control it this past year since I started doing more cardio but I would never wish that kinda pain on any child. (most people don't take it seriously but it does kill. I remember my husband thought I was just being a pansy..until he saw me have a real attack and my face turned purple.)


    As far as exercise. THE BEST THING I RECOMMEND TO EVERYONE I KNOW! is Jillian Michael's Body revolution. Its a 90 day program and it starts off slow and works your way into being harder. It is amazing and a great way for beginners not to be thrown to the wolves like insanity or p90x.
    You can see my progress pics on my page. I started at 162 BMI of 32 and then you can see i lost about 20 pounds the first round and 17 pounds the second round and then i did insanity and lost about 5. Body revolution is ONLY 30 mins a day! which is awesome for moms or people who don't have hours to spend. Its a little pricey but so worth it. Also comes with a diet plan, I didn't follow but I used a few recipes here and there and logged everything here. I'm in a JMBR graduate group on FB and there are women/men my age up to 60 doing it and a few were even on her new infomercial. I am currently on round 3 of JMBR after doing insanity (which was great for cardio but doing the strength moves is what really got me trim) and with the more advanced moves she shows you (she also so modifiers if its too hard) and heavier weights its still a challenge.
    Feel free to add me.
    Good luck!

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