Feeling discouraged

mahagonymoose
mahagonymoose Posts: 8 Member
edited November 14 in Motivation and Support
Please be kind with comments.

I'm back here after almost a year ago looking for support and motivation to remain healthy while pregnant and maintain my weight gain.

To be honest before getting pregnant I was here trying to lose the weight I gained while being on an antidepressant. My weight had skyrocketed from 206 to 240. I legitimately did not change the way I ate or how much I was moving and weight piled on. I was able to get down to 220 before getting the exciting news. However upon my first doctor visit, despite me telling my doctor I do high intensity kickboxing for an hour three times a week, and jog 2-3 times a week I was instructed by my doctor not to gain weight while pregnant.

I am still kickboxing and walking with some modifications (since I did it before I was pregnant and was given the green light to continue) and I keep to a strict 1600 calorie diet too. I have gotten back up to 240 at 20 weeks despite my efforts and just need some motivation or encouragement since I'm constantly fussed at by my doctor for every pound I gain, despite my efforts. I'm not eating loads of junk, or larger portions and up until now monitored my calories with my Samsung health app.

It's also discouraging to think about how I will have to start from square one with losing weight after having the baby. This should be an exciting time, and instead I feel lousy.

Replies

  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    You don't mention if you're using a digital food scale to weigh and measure all your food and drink. Seeing as how your doctor wants you to be precise, that's what I'd do. Best wishes.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    snowflake954 wrote: »
    You don't mention if you're using a digital food scale to weigh and measure all your food and drink. Seeing as how your doctor wants you to be precise, that's what I'd do. Best wishes.

    Me, too.
  • aford47
    aford47 Posts: 2 Member
    Look into the WheatBelly diet. There are a number of books. As for exercise, I've learned that no amount of cardio can run off a bad diet. 1600 calories a day are my maintenance calories. To lose I consume about 1200 along with clean eating and exercise. hope that is helpful...
  • aford47
    aford47 Posts: 2 Member
    Look into the WheatBelly diet. There are a number of books. As for exercise, I've learned that no amount of cardio can run off a bad diet. 1600 calories a day are my maintenance calories. To lose I consume about 1200 along with clean eating and exercise. hope that is helpful...
  • mahagonymoose
    mahagonymoose Posts: 8 Member
    I don't weigh my food, but I've stuck to looking at servings on packages to know portions and calories. Example for a sandwich I would calculate the calories for two pieces of wheat bread, then the calories for the meat, mustard and cheese. I would have to look up calories for tomato slices, lettuce, and onion. I eat mostly tomato sandwiches and boring salads (lettuce, tomato, onion, mushroom and cheese with balsamic vinaigrette ) breakfast I'm a little heavier with carbs either doing a bagel with a scrambled egg and avacodo or cereal.

    I won't lie and say I haven't indulged in some junk food (like salt and vinegar chips, or a cup of ice cream) but I'm reading the serving size and not allowing myself to "binge" when I do enjoy something.

    As far as drinks I drink water, milk and green tea with honey. Occasionally I have some orange juice. I haven't had soda or coffee for years, I just gave that stuff up.

    In my first trimester while I was nauseous I didn't get violently I'll and lose a ton of weight like some woman do, and I lived off crackers and bagels because that was all I could stomach. (Yes I know, bread is not a good thing to eat constantly).

    I guess I can cut back to 1200 calories. It shouldn't hurt the baby because they will take what they need from me first.
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    Then you don't know how much you're really eating--you're guessing. Your doctor wants you to be precise, what does it really cost you to weigh everything and be accurate? Portion sizes on the package are usually off. Prove me wrong--weigh them out. You say you eat the same things alot, then it's simple, you only have to weigh them out once and it's in your data base--easy peasy.
  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
    mahagonymoose wrote: »
    I don't weigh my food, but I've stuck to looking at servings on packages to know portions and calories. Example for a sandwich I would calculate the calories for two pieces of wheat bread, then the calories for the meat, mustard and cheese. I would have to look up calories for tomato slices, lettuce, and onion. I eat mostly tomato sandwiches and boring salads (lettuce, tomato, onion, mushroom and cheese with balsamic vinaigrette ) breakfast I'm a little heavier with carbs either doing a bagel with a scrambled egg and avacodo or cereal.

    I won't lie and say I haven't indulged in some junk food (like salt and vinegar chips, or a cup of ice cream) but I'm reading the serving size and not allowing myself to "binge" when I do enjoy something.

    As far as drinks I drink water, milk and green tea with honey. Occasionally I have some orange juice. I haven't had soda or coffee for years, I just gave that stuff up.

    In my first trimester while I was nauseous I didn't get violently I'll and lose a ton of weight like some woman do, and I lived off crackers and bagels because that was all I could stomach. (Yes I know, bread is not a good thing to eat constantly).

    I guess I can cut back to 1200 calories. It shouldn't hurt the baby because they will take what they need from me first.

    the servings on packaging can be off by up to 20% though. so those things arent accurate either. so your two pieces of wheat bread. say one slice is 45g and 100 calories, if you weigh the bread it can be as much as 50g per slice so that one slice would be 122.5 calories(if my math is correct).meat is the same, if you are eating say deli meat and it says 3 slices in 65g and 150 calories. 3 slices may be more than 65g so there are again extra calories. if you arent weighing food you dont know exactly how much is there.(oh and cups are not accurate for solids and semi solids-trust me been there done that and gained half the weight I lost back).

    tomato slices can vary by person. the one in the entry on mfp could say 1/2 inch slices and yours may be 3/4 of an inch. there are extra calories there too,not much when it comes to veggies,but it all adds up. if you cut back to 1200 calories and arent weighing you could still be eating more than you think if you are not weighing.a serving of ice cream say usually 1/2 cup-1 cup. if you were to weigh it its possible it would be more than that.trust me I learned the hard way by not weighing my food. once I did I started losing again. as for bread not being a good thing to eat constantly.

    Its not about what you eat its about how much,there are no bad foods. I still eat all the foods I like and still lose weight,but I make it fit into my calorie goal and I weigh everything, which once you get used to it takes no time at all to do. salads can be calorie bombs if you dont know how much of each ingredient is in there,and the dressing? if you are measuring/weighing that adds up really really fast. doesnt matter if its on the side or not.also make sure the MFP entries are correct too. cross reference it on the package. so for the bread that is 45g, make sure the entries match whats on the back of the label(the calories,fat,carbs,etc. so if you bread is 50g,then you would enter 1.11 servings(50 divided by 45). if you weigh 2 pieces and its say 95g you would enter 2.11(95 divided by 45).
  • rikkitomikodavis
    rikkitomikodavis Posts: 12 Member
    A couple of years ago I was working out and eating healthy and I was stuck for months at the same weight. I looked at what I was eating and realized that for the amount I was exercising, I was hardly eating any protein. I upped my protein (and calories along with it) and the weight came off. (Of course I'm here because I gained it all back, so I'm no expert) but since you work out a bunch, maybe you're not getting enough protein?

    Good luck and congratulations on your little one :)
  • mahagonymoose
    mahagonymoose Posts: 8 Member
    I'll go and pick up a food scale today. I can't lose what I have gained while pregnant but I guess I can cut back even more so I don't gain anymore weight.
  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
    mahagonymoose wrote: »
    I'll go and pick up a food scale today. I can't lose what I have gained while pregnant but I guess I can cut back even more so I don't gain anymore weight.

    if you are pregnant you dont want to lose any unless the dr says its ok. talk to your obgyn and maybe have them refer you to a dietitian if possible. while pregnant you want to make sure you get enough nutrients for the baby
  • mahagonymoose
    mahagonymoose Posts: 8 Member
    CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »
    mahagonymoose wrote: »
    I'll go and pick up a food scale today. I can't lose what I have gained while pregnant but I guess I can cut back even more so I don't gain anymore weight.

    if you are pregnant you dont want to lose any unless the dr says its ok. talk to your obgyn and maybe have them refer you to a dietitian if possible. while pregnant you want to make sure you get enough nutrients for the baby

    Don't worry I know I can't lose weight while pregnant. My doc just instructed me to gain ZERO weight while pregnant, and ive already put on 20 pounds at 20 weeks. At this rate I may end up gaining about 40 pounds if i dont get things under control. The other thing is, my vitals are great at every visit she's just wound up that more weight could lead to gestational diabetes.

    That's why I feel so discouraged. I'm trying so hard to prevent weight gain while I'm pregnant, but nothing seems to be working. I'm not even consuming more than I did before I got pregnant.

    I'm going to get a scale and start weighing my food to see if that helps. That seems to be my best bet :^)

    Also I have asked her about seeing a dietician and she said if I have gained more weight at my next visit she would refer me to someone.
  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
    mahagonymoose wrote: »
    CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »
    mahagonymoose wrote: »
    I'll go and pick up a food scale today. I can't lose what I have gained while pregnant but I guess I can cut back even more so I don't gain anymore weight.

    if you are pregnant you dont want to lose any unless the dr says its ok. talk to your obgyn and maybe have them refer you to a dietitian if possible. while pregnant you want to make sure you get enough nutrients for the baby

    Don't worry I know I can't lose weight while pregnant. My doc just instructed me to gain ZERO weight while pregnant, and ive already put on 20 pounds at 20 weeks. At this rate I may end up gaining about 40 pounds if i dont get things under control. The other thing is, my vitals are great at every visit she's just wound up that more weight could lead to gestational diabetes.

    That's why I feel so discouraged. I'm trying so hard to prevent weight gain while I'm pregnant, but nothing seems to be working. I'm not even consuming more than I did before I got pregnant.

    I'm going to get a scale and start weighing my food to see if that helps. That seems to be my best bet :^)

    Also I have asked her about seeing a dietician and she said if I have gained more weight at my next visit she would refer me to someone.

    yeah its hard not to gain when pregnant. you could plug in your stats as they are now and select maintain your weight and also get a scale and go from there. but a lot of the weight is still going to be the baby getting bigger.so I dont know how they think you arent going to gain weight. but yeah try the scale and maintenance for now and see if that helps. if you can stay in maintenance you should not gain anything except for baby weight.
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    I really think you can do this. If you use a food scale, and are constant, you can get things under control. This will be good for after the baby is born and you want to lose baby weight, so it's a good habit to learn now. Once you feel in control, you won't worry so much and that will only be good for the baby. Good luck.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories