Weight Loss and Pregnancy?

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Kairalie
Kairalie Posts: 90 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Alright, so this isn't my first time coming to MFP, sadly it's more like 5th or 6th. I come in because I am super motivated.. last about a week (if that sometimes) and then bam fall off the wagon and it's such a hard fall that my weak emotional state just can't handle it and so that ends my time here. This time HAS to be different. Not only for me, but now for the tiny human I am growing.

Just really wanted some more information that my 20 something year old doctor from europe simply cannot provide. I've done a ton of research (also not my first pregnancy) and know that I need to be eating 200-300 more calories a day than what a woman my size would normally eat, however at the same time I'm overweight, by... A LOT, so continuing to eat the way I do would not work anyways because eating around 2000-3000 calories a day at my size is never a good idea. Based on my current weight and height and all that jazz I should be around 1550 a day. Not bad. Add the 200-300 extra for growing a human being and that should be sufficient yes? Won't cause any issues for me or baby? Shouldn't at least based on the research I've done. Just wanted more opinions on those that maybe have done this before?

I'm planning on doing the beginning just by food in right now because moving in general right now is hard. I'm not far along, about 2 1/2 months, so not far. However body goes through massive changes and my lungs are already being slightly squished and being asthmatic only makes that more fun! (sarcasm) So even walking is a chore considering whats going on inside and the fact I'm super overweight, so I figure if I can manage to drop a little just by changing the way I eat first the exercising will come in time. Mostly walking to start then adding small bits of weights? I dunno..

Help? Any advise will be greatly appreciated.
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Replies

  • chunky_pinup
    chunky_pinup Posts: 758 Member
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    Chef_Barbell wrote: »
    malibu927 wrote: »
    I would speak with a more experienced doctor about your intake. Weight loss is generally discouraged during pregnancy.

    ^^ This.

    I am pregnant and was overweight by the BMI chart when I got pregnant, but I never would consider trying to lose weight while pregnant. If you don't feel comfortable with your OB doctor I would get a new one. You need to be comfortable asking anything to them.

    I second this.
  • Mumu190672
    Mumu190672 Posts: 76 Member
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    You should ask your doctor to refer you to a dietetician specialised in pregnancy.
    It is not recommended to lose weight in pregnancy but depending on your bmi they would recommend you not to put on weight or limit the weight gain to a certain amount.
    Don't make the decision alone. You need to be followed closely by professionals.
    Make sure you get all the necessary nutrients you need.
  • Kairalie
    Kairalie Posts: 90 Member
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    Well the doctor I have been speaking with says that because of where my bmi is (very high btw) I shouldn't aim to gain any weight and due to morning sickness and whatnot I shouldn't be surprised to see some weight loss. However I shouldn't aim to be losing weight drastically either. Which I wouldn't do in any case because that is like crash dieting and from what I know that is one of the worst ways to go, pregnant or not... So.. kinda just going to be eating better. If weight loss happens then it happens I guess.. not trying to do anything drastic.
  • amgreenwell
    amgreenwell Posts: 1,268 Member
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    I would change doctors to someone who can direct you in this.
    Doctors with experience can get you in touch with nutritionists and other dieticians to help you either lose weight or maintain during pregnancy without harming your baby.
  • savithny
    savithny Posts: 1,200 Member
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    If you're very overweight, eating "what a woman of normal weight of your height needs" could actually be a significant deficit.

    Body fat stores environmental toxins. Not woo-woo "toxins" but actual toxins like dioxin, BPA, etc.

    Breaking down your fat to grow a baby flushes the developing baby with those toxins. Your baby is building bones and brain cells and organs out of either the food you eat or the fat you burn.

    Eat food. Real food. Not too much, but NOT too little, either. DO NOT GO LOW FAT. Growing fetuses need fat to build brains and cell membranes. Watch your carbs because you're probably at risk for gestational diabetes.
  • betterwhenimdancin
    betterwhenimdancin Posts: 31 Member
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    Prepregnancy BMI (kg/m2) Category Total Weight Gain Range
    <18.5 Underweight 28-40 lbs
    18.5-24.9 Normal Weight 25-35 lbs
    25.0-29.9 Overweight 15-25 lbs
    >30.0 Obese 11-20 lbs

    Got this from google. You still need to gain weight while pregnant, you just don't need to gain as much weight as someone who is a normal weight or underweight.

    When I was pregnant I was too sick to exercise or walk around much so I probably could have gained the proper amount of weight just eating as I normally did because my calorie burn was lower. I would suggest eating about what you normally do if you've become less active (eating slightly more if your activity level is the same) and tracking your weight, you should be gaining 0.25-0.5 pounds a week. If you're not gaining enough in the first couple weeks, eat more. Water retention can easily mask those gains so maybe download an app like Happy Scale and log your weight everyday.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,464 Member
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    I wish MFP tours bcn questions about weight loss during pregnancy and nursing, just as they ban posts promoting VLC and other unhealthy approaches to dieting , etc.
  • Cbestinme
    Cbestinme Posts: 397 Member
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    Sara1791 wrote: »
    If that's what he said, then it's your maintenance calories plus about 100 calories extra per trimester. So yes, if your maintenance calories are 2500, then you should be eating 2600, 2700, and 2800 calories according to trimester. But seriously, this is too big a deal to trust me or any other stranger on the Internet.

    Nice!
  • ashliedelgado
    ashliedelgado Posts: 814 Member
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    Change your attitude from weight loss to weight management. That's what I did when I started this pregnancy (Due Sunday). I was 190 at 5'4" and had lost 70lbs before getting pregnant. After talking to my doctor and agreeing that 15lbs was a good goal, I set my calorie goal to maintenance at the recommendation of a dietitian I work with. For me, this means that for pretty much my entire pregnancy I have been eating around 2000 calories a day. I try and move 3+ times a week. I don't deny myself a treat. I'm sitting at +17 right now. My baby has stayed happily in the 45% the entire pregnancy. I'm just fine with an average sized baby!

    Ask for a referral for someone who specializes in pregnancy nutrition and have them help you build a plan.
  • ronjsteele1
    ronjsteele1 Posts: 1,064 Member
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    I did not read through all of these responses. My doctor had no issue with me losing weight while pregnant. He told me that no matter what, the baby would take what it needed from me first before my body took what it needed. He had no issue with me losing 25-30lbs. When someone is way overweight pregnancy can be an easier time to lose so long as you don't increase your calories just because your pregnant. But the reality is that as many doctors as there are, there will be that many medical opinions on this subject. Ultimately you and your doctor have to be happy with your plan.
  • SusanMFindlay
    SusanMFindlay Posts: 1,804 Member
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    Kairalie wrote: »
    I've done a ton of research (also not my first pregnancy) and know that I need to be eating 200-300 more calories a day than what a woman my size would normally eat, however at the same time I'm overweight, by... A LOT, so continuing to eat the way I do would not work anyways because eating around 2000-3000 calories a day at my size is never a good idea. Based on my current weight and height and all that jazz I should be around 1550 a day. Not bad. Add the 200-300 extra for growing a human being and that should be sufficient yes? Won't cause any issues for me or baby? Shouldn't at least based on the research I've done. Just wanted more opinions on those that maybe have done this before?

    Sufficient? No!

    I'm curious where you're getting the idea that 2000 calories/day is "too much". You say that you're very overweight, but don't provide statistics. So, I plugged some arbitrary numbers into a good online calculator (scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/). If you were a 5'4 200 pound 30 year old who was sedentary (desk job; minimal exercise), your body would need 2000 calories/day to maintain that weight. How many calories a thin person of your age and height would need is irrelevant when you're pregnant.
    Kairalie wrote: »
    Well the doctor I have been speaking with says that because of where my bmi is (very high btw) I shouldn't aim to gain any weight and due to morning sickness and whatnot I shouldn't be surprised to see some weight loss. However I shouldn't aim to be losing weight drastically either. Which I wouldn't do in any case because that is like crash dieting and from what I know that is one of the worst ways to go, pregnant or not... So.. kinda just going to be eating better. If weight loss happens then it happens I guess.. not trying to do anything drastic.

    What your doctor says is exactly right. He's saying that you don't need to freak out if you lose a bit of weight from morning sickness but that you should not actively try to lose weight. So, you want to eat the calories you need to maintain *your current weight* plus extra for baby. Consult an expert to work out what those extra calories for baby should be.

    Also, try to focus on nutrient rich foods - lots of veggies (and fruit if you have no blood sugar issues), protein, healthy fats, fibre, etc.

  • Chef_Barbell
    Chef_Barbell Posts: 6,644 Member
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    ronjsteele1 wrote: »
    I did not read through all of these responses. My doctor had no issue with me losing weight while pregnant. He told me that no matter what, the baby would take what it needed from me first before my body took what it needed. He had no issue with me losing 25-30lbs. When someone is way overweight pregnancy can be an easier time to lose so long as you don't increase your calories just because your pregnant. But the reality is that as many doctors as there are, there will be that many medical opinions on this subject. Ultimately you and your doctor have to be happy with your plan.

    This is unhealthy in so many ways... OP please get a doctor you can trust and don't take advice for you baby over the internet.
  • Chef_Barbell
    Chef_Barbell Posts: 6,644 Member
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    lorrpb wrote: »
    I wish MFP tours bcn questions about weight loss during pregnancy and nursing, just as they ban posts promoting VLC and other unhealthy approaches to dieting , etc.

    tours bcn? :huh:

    UTl9LkQ.gif
  • ronjsteele1
    ronjsteele1 Posts: 1,064 Member
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    Chef_Barbell wrote: »
    ronjsteele1 wrote: »
    I did not read through all of these responses. My doctor had no issue with me losing weight while pregnant. He told me that no matter what, the baby would take what it needed from me first before my body took what it needed. He had no issue with me losing 25-30lbs. When someone is way overweight pregnancy can be an easier time to lose so long as you don't increase your calories just because your pregnant. But the reality is that as many doctors as there are, there will be that many medical opinions on this subject. Ultimately you and your doctor have to be happy with your plan.

    This is unhealthy in so many ways... OP please get a doctor you can trust and don't take advice for you baby over the internet.

    Not if it's what doctor and patient have determined is best. That's why I said her and her doctor need to be on the same page. And weight loss did not seem to affect me birthing a very healthy 9lb 12oz boy. A very good friend just birthed a 10lb 7oz girl after losing 25#'s while pregnant (and she wasn't obese by any means but definitely overweight). So your opinion that it's unhealthy is just that - your opinion. Both of our babies were very healthy but we didn't eat like crap either. And we were both supported by a doctor and midwife in losing weight while pregnant.
  • Chef_Barbell
    Chef_Barbell Posts: 6,644 Member
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    ronjsteele1 wrote: »
    Chef_Barbell wrote: »
    ronjsteele1 wrote: »
    I did not read through all of these responses. My doctor had no issue with me losing weight while pregnant. He told me that no matter what, the baby would take what it needed from me first before my body took what it needed. He had no issue with me losing 25-30lbs. When someone is way overweight pregnancy can be an easier time to lose so long as you don't increase your calories just because your pregnant. But the reality is that as many doctors as there are, there will be that many medical opinions on this subject. Ultimately you and your doctor have to be happy with your plan.

    This is unhealthy in so many ways... OP please get a doctor you can trust and don't take advice for you baby over the internet.

    Not if it's what doctor and patient have determined is best. That's why I said her and her doctor need to be on the same page. And weight loss did not seem to affect me birthing a very healthy 9lb 12oz boy. A very good friend just birthed a 10lb 7oz girl after losing 25#'s while pregnant (and she wasn't obese by any means but definitely overweight). So your opinion that it's unhealthy is just that - your opinion. Both of our babies were very healthy but we didn't eat like crap either. And we were both supported by a doctor and midwife in losing weight while pregnant.

    Which is why I said go to an OB you trust. People will take what you say as truth and ignore the part about working with your doctor. That's dangerous to give advice that was specific for you to someone else, period.
  • ronjsteele1
    ronjsteele1 Posts: 1,064 Member
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    Chef_Barbell wrote: »
    ronjsteele1 wrote: »
    Chef_Barbell wrote: »
    ronjsteele1 wrote: »
    I did not read through all of these responses. My doctor had no issue with me losing weight while pregnant. He told me that no matter what, the baby would take what it needed from me first before my body took what it needed. He had no issue with me losing 25-30lbs. When someone is way overweight pregnancy can be an easier time to lose so long as you don't increase your calories just because your pregnant. But the reality is that as many doctors as there are, there will be that many medical opinions on this subject. Ultimately you and your doctor have to be happy with your plan.

    This is unhealthy in so many ways... OP please get a doctor you can trust and don't take advice for you baby over the internet.

    Not if it's what doctor and patient have determined is best. That's why I said her and her doctor need to be on the same page. And weight loss did not seem to affect me birthing a very healthy 9lb 12oz boy. A very good friend just birthed a 10lb 7oz girl after losing 25#'s while pregnant (and she wasn't obese by any means but definitely overweight). So your opinion that it's unhealthy is just that - your opinion. Both of our babies were very healthy but we didn't eat like crap either. And we were both supported by a doctor and midwife in losing weight while pregnant.

    Which is why I said go to an OB you trust. People will take what you say as truth and ignore the part about working with your doctor. That's dangerous to give advice that was specific for you to someone else, period.

    Did you miss the part in her original post where she asked for advice? Can people around here please give adults the benefit of the doubt that they aren't stupid, they will take what people say and either run it past their doctor or the source they trust the most for their medical care, etc.? Really? Give people some credit for having half a brain. I trust the OP to check what people are telling her with what her doctor says and come to the plan that works best for her. What if it happens that something mentioned here her doctor decides is a good idea but wouldn't have necessarily thought of it because it's not her normal protocol? Let her gather advice and sift through it and take it to her doctor. She DID, afterall, ask for advice and that's what people have been giving her. Sheesh.

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