Is it ever safe or recommended to diet during pregnancy?

[macksmom]

I am really becoming unhappy with the amount of weight I have gained so far this pregnancy. I am finding myself so physically uncomfortable and I think it has more to do with weight gain than being uncomfortable because of being pregnant. I am already up 22lbs and I am 23 weeks along. It is only recommended to gain about 25lbs so I have almost hit that and have almost halfway to go still :ohno:

I was already about 10lbs over the high range of what is normal for my height which is high for me. A good 15lbs over what I am comfortable with.

I plan to talk to my doctor about this but I obviously have plenty of weight on and don't need any more. In fact I don't think it would hurt to lose some.....

Has anyone done this?

[dunegirl]

I wouldn't "diet" but I would eat right and exercise if you can. I also wouldn't worry too much about how much you gain and worry about it afterwards.

:hugs:

[MamaMisty]

Just plan on breastfeeding. I breastfed my DD for 14 months, had gained 40 pounds, lost 30 (I was under weight.) With DS I breastfed for 10 months and had to quit as I couldn't eat enough to keep up, I gained 30 in that pregnancy and lost 40.

[CoffeeCat]

They really don't want you to burn fat because when fat is metabolized, it causes yucky junk to be released in your bloodstream, and it's not good for the baby. You can safely slow the rate of gain after this point by watching your balance of good carbs, protein & fats, and cutting out extras like sugary drinks completely. I have always gained quite a bit with each pregnancy, from 30 which was 10 lbs more than I was recommended to because I started out at 10 lbs over my ideal weight, to FIFTY when I was at my ideal weight. Breastfeeding has always worked very well for my body postpartum, personally, whether I gained a lot or a little. I know that's not everyone's experience, but it was mine. It's actually one of the only times my hips and thighs have EVER slimmed down-I was working out 5 days a week an hour at a time, high intensity aerobics with weights and it still wasn't touching those saddlebags as much as bfing. I gained 50 with my son and lost it all by 9 months postpartum without exercising or dieting. Being a busy mom so I never sit and not bringing junk into the house or having the money to eat out probably helped.

[HisWifeHerMom]

Counting some calories would be okay, maybe some extra walks if the weather is fine, I'd talk to your doctor every pregnancy is so different I'd hate to give advice and something bad happen

[macksmom]

I completely plan to BF. I BF two children past a year and plan to do the same with this one. I have had different experiences with both. With my first I felt like BF caused me to hold on to extra weight and I didn't lose it until I stopped (at 18M). With my 2nd I decided I was tired of the weight and started to diet but didn't cut calories dramatically. I DID lose the baby weight by her 1st bday. And get this - after I weaned her at 15M I started to GAIN IT BACK! I spent the whole next year trying to diet and failing and slowly gaining until I got pg I was 15lbs over what I was when she turned 1 :ohno: So with that and my recent 22lb pregnancy weight gain I am just HUGE (for me) and totally uncomfortable - physically and emotionally. I am about 6lbs away from the weight I was when I delivered both girls (I ended up weighing the same for both. Gained 45 with #1 and 35 with #2).

I never heard the thing about burning fat while pg but I suppose it's a possibility. I bet if I just stuck to whatever the recommended calories for pg are and added some walking in I would not gain as much and maybe things would even out. IDK. It's the last thing I feel like doing while pg! This is my last and I want to just enjoy it which is how I gained 22lbs so far :eyeroll:

I just realized yesterday HOW physically uncomfortable I am. :ohno: And how I could probably feel so much better if I hadn't gained so much weight. Not to mention look better - which isn't as much of a concern but of course it matters a little. I can barely fit into my maternity pants and I REFUSE to buy more at 23 weeks on my last baby! Also my MIL made an innocent comment about how she thinks it's a girl because I gained "all over". Honestly my belly is basketball-ish and I don't think I gained all over because of the baby it's because of the fact that I have been eating like a hog....I just wish I didn't look like this right now. This being my last I wanted to be cute pregnant not fat pregnant :laugh: But most of all I want a healthy baby so whatever. I was just wondering if I had cut back and lost a little if it would be harmful. I will ask my doc when I see her next week. I don't even know if I could handle cutting back right now anyway. I got too used to stuffing my face! :lol:

[HisWifeHerMom]

We'll support you either way but it would be interesting to know what the doctor has to be say about this *stuffing face with bagel w/ cream cheese and a spoonful of peanut butter* :bellyrubs:

[macksmom]

We'll support you either way but it would be interesting to know what the doctor has to be say about this *stuffing face with bagel w/ cream cheese and a spoonful of peanut butter* :bellyrubs:

:lol:

Thanks :) I have an appt next Thurs. I will report back! Mmmm bagel....not a bad idea :chinscratch: :laugh:

[froggie83]

lol.. i just ate a bagel with cream cheese too!!! lol..
like pp have said.... you can eat healthier choices but i wouldn't diet.... maybe only eat when your hungry and only eat til lyour satisfied not over stuffed full?

[Suzanne10502]

I would say it's not ok to purposely lose weight BUT I definitely feel it is absolutely fine to really watch your food intake and exercise. I was so much more careful this pregnancy and I've been exercising/watching my food intake the entire time. I've only gained 7 lbs so far and the baby is growing perfectly. I would definitely talk to your dr and see what they say. I think sometimes we get caught up in eating more when pregnant that we don't realize how many calories we are actually eating. I really think it depends on your habits prior to pregnancy as well - like they say to eat somewhere around 1800-2000 calories when pregnant but if I ate that much I would be a house. My body is just not used to that many calories and I would have packed on the pounds really quickly.

If you are up to it, I'd try keeping a food log to see approximately what you are taking in and try to balance that with extra water and some exercise. I never heard of the fat burning causing harm either. The only thing that comes to mind with that is a high protein/low carb diet in which you may start producing ketones.

Try not to stress too much! I know it's easier said than done. HUGS.

[Suja]

I know that it's okay to lose weight during a pregnancy, but the people I've know that have done it were all pretty severely overweight to begin with. I'm not sure it's a good idea otherwise. Eating right and exercising is always a good idea however, and perhaps you should focus on that and not so much on the weight gain. Remember that there are fit people who are not skinny and lots of not fit people that are skinny. Weight is not necessarily an indicator of overall health.

[courtneyandry]

Just before I was pregnant with Brock (so, 3 yrs ago?), there was a national news story about overweight and obese women during pregnancy, the weight gain guidelines changing, and what some women were doing with the guidance of their doctors and nutritionists...These women were obese before they became pregnant, and were concerned about gaining any more weight putting more stress on their bodies, risking them for GD, Pre-E, and other complications. With the assistance of a nutritionist and their doctor/midwife, as well as regular moderate exercise, they actually LOST weight throughout their pregnancy. They were closely monitored for adequate growth of the baby throughout their pregnancy to make sure the baby wasn't missing out on proper growth and nourishment.

Now - from personal experience, whenever I've lost a significant amount of weight, my body goes through a detox. Your hormones and toxins store easily in fat - think things cortisol - the hormone released under stress. Whatever was going on in your life at the time you gained the weight, that stuff releases when the fat burns - depending on if it was particularly stressful or other things going on like medications being taken or something, you could wind up feeling pretty gross as that stuff works through your system. Mainstream medicine generally doesn't recognize this as a side effect of weightloss, but I've experienced it, as have a few of my friends, one of whom pointed out to me what was happening.

I'd say definitely discuss with your doctor and request a meeting or referral to a nutritionist or dietician. They'll be best able to discuss what your goals are and how to best achieve them to maintain a healthy pregnancy. The fact that you feel so uncomfortable just halfway through, I'd consider doing the diet recommended for GD. In general, it's just a very healthy diet and helps balance your blood sugar and limits unneccessary weightgain. And force yourself to get up and moving for even just 15 minutes a day. Moving your joints and getting your blood pumping every day will do wonders for your energy levels as your pregnancy progresses, and I often found once I got going, I could keep going, and I could go longer and longer stretches.

Good luck, and I hope you feel more like yourself and cuter soon :)

[Jakkars]

very well my friend

[thedearhubs]

My sister worked out consistently - she didn't change her routine when she was pregnant. Her doctor told her to continue whatever she was doing before, but not to increase it. I use the same advice with my wife. Everything turned out perfectly fine with my sister and I'm anticipating the same. Hope this helps.