I haven't been successful so far.....have gained 14 pounds in 12 weeks. But now I've decided to track every morsel I eat, even if I know I've gone over. I'm determined to gain only 1/2 a pound a week from here on out, for a total of 28 pounds, but I also know that I can only control so much. I was too tired and sick for most of these 12 weeks to give a flying flip about tracking or weight gain. I ate starches to curb nausea, though I never actually threw up except once. I'm hoping that things will ease up as I head into the 2nd trimester, but my nausea has been actually extra bad the past few days, so we'll see.....

Anyway, that's the only advice I can really offer. Track. And try to keep up your physical activity, although that hasn't really worked for me either. I can't manage more than a simple walk or I feel exhausted and winded.

I gained about 27 total (and really, it was 25 up until the last day or two of my pregnancy) so yes, it can be done. Though I think a lot of it was by no massive effort of my own. I stayed relatively active throughout my pregnancy: walking often, running when I felt like it, and teaching 8 hrs a day so therefore standing/walking at work. I tested as a borderline fail for Gestational Diabetes so I followed a GD plan the entire 3rd trimester. It was when I did that, that my weight gain virtually stopped. So I would suggest talking to a nutritionist if you have that resource available to you. Really, the GD plan is simply "the way everyone should eat anyway".

That being said, I think it's a lot of the luck of the draw. I have plenty of super-healthy friends that gained 60 lbs while eating clean and exercising. I know it's contradictory to what OB's say, but I'd suggest focusing more on what you put into your body than how many pounds you gain. If it's healthy baby weight, it'll come off easier. If it's ice cream and candy, it'll be harder.

Congrats on your pregnancy!! I hope it's a healthy and happy one!

Nikkitapolk - I got a Fitbit like a month ago, and I am loving it! It has gotten me to move so much more. Although I only set my goal to 5,000 steps/2 miles, which isn't much, but it's still more than I was doing before.


As for the keeping weight under control I was "lucky" in that I lost 6 lbs from morning sickness, and then was at prepregnancy weight at 20 weeks. Then I gained 8 lbs, found out I had Gestational Diabetes, then was put on a diet for the rest of the pregnancy. Total I only gained 23 lbs (6lbs of that was weeks 39-41 - he went 13 days overdue). I didn't follow the diet last pregnancy (no GD) and ate everything, gained 46 lbs. This time around I didn't follow the diet either but have been counting calories instead and at 34 weeks I'm up 19/20 lbs. Hoping to only gain 25-30 total (I tend to put on a lot the last few weeks - probably water weight, but still).

The GD diet I found to be the easiest/best way if you are really serious and already count things like that. They didn't tell me how many calories to eat. Told me I could eat as much fat as I wanted and as many veggies as I wanted. It was just Carb counting:

Breakfast: 15-30 grams of carbs
Snack: 15-30 grams
Lunch: 30-45 g
Snack: 15-30 g
Dinner 30-45 g
Snack 15-30 g

Nothing special, but it worked very well. The first week I ended up losing 3 lbs from changing my eating habits then gained from them on out.

Edited to add: I was 5'2" @ 157 prepregnancy with my first (147 with 2nd and apparently 5'3" and 135 with this one). I was told to gain 15-25 lbs - but really to stay closer to 15 lbs, so 23 was in the range.

I gained 15lbs during my last pregnancy (Just 6lbs overall). I ate at maintenance the whole way through and carried on exercising as much as I could - I stopped Zumba at about 25 weeks, stopped swimming about 34 weeks, kept walking all the way. I always ate back at least half of my exercise calories and took a good pregnancy multi-vitamin. I was told I was only allowed to gain 7 to 14lbs as I too was overweight already (about 50lbs). I lost small amounts up to week 20, which totalled 9lbs over that time. From week 20 onward I gained 15lbs, which was all baby weight and water. I was soooo much healthier and fitter at the end of my pregnancy than the beginning, it was near perfect.

Sounds like you're doing the right things already. Never eat below maintenance for two consecutive days and not at all if you're exercising aswell. And do keep exercising, but know your limits. Carrying on doing what your body is used to, don't try increasing your goals or setting new personal records. Remember your joints are looser and you're more prone to injury, so just be more careful. Adjust your exercise as necessary and you'll be just fine. And Congratulations!

I gained about 35 pounds with my last pregnancy, however, i think it was kind of luck. I didn't work out and all I craved was fruit. For this pregnancy I started out heavier so I really don't want to gain too much either. Finally into my second trimester and am starting to feel comfortable with walking and getting some excersize in. I felt awful my first trimester and gained 10 pounds right off the bat. BUT since then I've done really well. Simply tracking my food (which isn't always healthy) has helped me a lot. I love knowing which snacks I really should be keeping around the house and what will help me stay full for longer. Fruit and hummus have been huge staples for me.

Unfortunately, not me! I have gained 24 lbs so far and I am only 27 weeks+. I have been eating very well and exercising 5-6 times a week. I guess it's just how my body works and there is only a little I can do. I have started off at a healthy weight but I really doubt that I won't pass the recommended 35 lbs.

Thank you !That's what I am counting on (well, what i am hoping for at least lol!)
The thing is, at the rate I am gaining these past few weeks, 1 pound a week is very optimistic. I am gaining around 6.5-7 lbs per month. Also from my past pregnancy, which i know doesn't necessarily mean it will happen again this time; I have gained 2-4 lbs per week in the last month alone.

But whatever it is, my baby's health and growth is more important than the weight. I have lost the weight before and I am sure I can do it again.

@hiba_84 Look at it the other way around - 13 weeks left and if you can limit your gain to a pound a week you'll get to maybe 37lbs, which is a realistic gain for someone of a healthy BMI. Don't stop eating healthily or exercising just because you don't feel you're getting anywhere. You will reap the rewards by being fit for labour and by the weight falling off post partum.

Thank you !That's what I am counting on (well, what i am hoping for at least lol!)
The thing is, at the rate I am gaining these past few weeks, 1 pound a week is very optimistic. I am gaining around 6.5-7 lbs per month. Also from my past pregnancy, which i know doesn't necessarily mean it will happen again this time; I have gained 2-4 lbs per week in the last month alone.

But whatever it is, my baby's health and growth is more important than the weight. I have lost the weight before and I am sure I can do it again.

A lot of people gain in spurts, especially between weeks 20 to 28. But if you gain 3lb one week, you might only gain half a pound the next. If you've gained loads this last few weeks it should calm down temporarily before the final climb. I think your attitude is great and you're quite right, that no matter what you gain, it WILL all come off again after.

With my first pregnancy I started at 210. I was up to 216 at my last prenatal visit and 212 the day I gave birth. I lost about 10lbs first trimester. I logged everything and kept mega active. I was told to only gain 8-10lbs.

This pregnancy is another story, though I am not being as stringent about not allowing myself those treats that I want.

My daughter was mega tiny (5lbs9oz, 18.5" full term) and I am not sure if this is due to my super minimal weight gain or what.

Be reasonable about what you eat. Keep as active as you possibly can. Don't stress if you do or don't gain weight. Just concentrate on being healthy for the two of you.