Losing weight before/after PG??

naughtoj

naughtoj

Cathlete
Posted this is Fit Mom forum too, but applies to you all as well....


Ok, just wondering here.....


If I have about ten pounds too much weight on me pre-pg, does it make more sense to try to lose it and get into really good shape before I get pregnant or just say the hell with it and get PG and worry about it after delivery??

Did anyone have the experience of getting PG while they were in really good shape AND getting PG when they were somewhat out of shape? I would like to know the differences in how you felt, how your body took pregnancy, etc... I know pregnancy is hard on your body but is it MUCH easier if you are in good shape?

Hubby and I are thinking about it but I have not worked out in a while and have gained about ten #'s. Any advice would be great!! Thanks everyone!!

Janice
 
Janice, I was just thinking about posting the same thing! I'm not pregnant, nor have I ever been, but we are going to try sometime next summer/fall. I'm about 15 lbs heavier than where I would feel comfortable usually. My goal right now is just to focus on getting into good physical shape BEFORE we even try so it will be less difficult after pregnancy and hopefully I will have more energy during. I am curious to hear what others have to say.

Jeanette
 
I've never been pregnant, and even though I'm a nurse, I've never worked OB/GYN. My understanding is that the developing fetus requires a LOT of energy and dieting when you're planning to conceive is probably NOT a good idea. Most likely, the best thing to do would be to eat clean and healthy. I suggest you talk to your GYN about the best way to manage your diet and vitamin/mineral supplements.

Michele
 
I don't know about dieting but if I were you I'd try to get my fitness level up before becoming pregnant, that way you can continue to be active throughout your pregnancy as your doctor give you the okay. This will cause you to gain less weight during your pregnancy and will also assist with getting back in shape afterwards.

It's my understanding you should not try to embark on improving your fitness level once you become pregnant...it's not good for you or the baby.

Good luck to you!!



~Marietta
FITXME
http://www.picturetrail.com/fitxme
 
I agree with the previous posters.

I gave birth to my first child 6 months ago. I was at a good weight and pretty fit prior to getting pregnant. My pregnancy was pretty easy and I was able to continue working out until the very last minute. I did a C&W premix the day before my son was born and would have worked out the very day he was born if I didn't go into labor first!!! I also was able to deliver my son with just 20 minutes of pushing! :)

It's not a bad idea to try to improve your fitness level and lose the extra pounds prior to getting pregnant...it should definately make things easier on you during your pregnancy, L&D and afterwards as well!

The better shape you are in, the easier the entire experience should be on your body! Like the other posters said though...just don't strive to improve your fitness level DURING your pregnancy! Work on that before and after!:+
 
IMO, I would start working out prior to getting pregnant. I, personally, felt better doing some light workouts when I was pregnant. As someone stated earlier, you aren't supposed to begin an exercise program if you are already pregnant.

As far as the weight loss. I think everyone is different. I gained over 50 lbs with both my pregnancies, but that's just what my body wanted to do. x( Now, granted, my eating habits weren't the best during pregnancy, but I did exercise up until the end. I am actually 15 lbs lighter than my prepregnancy weight and my son is only 9 months old. So it can be lost after the fact!! :)

I hope this helps! ;-)
 
I agree you should workout prior to becoming pregnant, get your abs prepared for what's ahead. haha
Besides from exercise, please make sure you take vitamins and minerals with a little extra folic acid.
Susan C.M.
 
Good feedback, thank you.

I don't understand why you cannot strive to make fitness gains when PG? I know they don't want you to push yourself to hard but can't you still make progress? Certainly if I have not been working out regularly and I start doing Cathe then I will improve cardiovascularly, right? Honestly, even if I did not "diet" but only at clean and healthy, well, I should lose weight anyway, right? Atleast while TTC. I love that TTC part...........wonder how long it will take??? HA!

Jeanette...GOOD LUCK!! I think I need to get a bit of the weight off to feel comfortable during my PG but I can't go off the pill for two more months anyway due to my getting an MMR shot recently.

Thanks!!
 
Thanks, you too! I think the eating clean and healthy is a good start. If you get into the routine now it will be easier to curb those cravings (I hope!). Just think if you get stronger now and maintain that through the PG how much easier carrying around (and running after) a baby will be! That's my motivation right now.

Take care,
Jeanette
 
Hi there,

I just wanted to pipe up here and answer your question about what kind of shape I was in when I conceived. I've had two pregnancies, and at the time of BOTH I was about 4 weeks into the Body for Life plan. I was doing HIIT (Imax and Pyramids workouts). I had lost about 10 pounds when I found out I was pg for the first time. I had pretty bad morning sickness for 2-3 weeks before I found out. After that, I really didn't get to work out alot until the end of my 2nd trimester. I just didn't feel up to it. I mainly did prenatal Yoga when I did workout. I had to have a c-section, so recovery was longer. But I pretty much lost all the weight from delivery. (At my follow up visit 1 week after delivery, I had lost 38 pounds.)

My second pregnancy was considered high risk because I had twins, and I had wicked nausea with them for the first trimester. But the second trimester was better, and I could do low impact workouts. (I actually worked out more with this pregnancy than my first.) I think that's what helped me carry my babies so well and into my 35th week. I didn't gain much for a twin pregnancy (40 lbs.) and once again, lost it by the 1st checkup. I also breastfed for 1 year with both my daughter and the twins. (Well, they're 11 months now-but we're still going strong.) Now my focus is trying to tone up from being away from exercise for so long. As you can imagine, it's been tough to make exercise a priority with two babies and a toddler in the house. But I'm working on it!

So that's my story - I would say that working out prior to conception is great for you and helps tremendously during pregnancy. As for not making major changes once you're pregnant - well, the first trimester is not a time that you want to be pushing your body beyond your limits. You'll be tired enough as it is. So I don't really think it will be an issue for you - listen to your body!!

Good Luck - I hope this helps some,

Tricia
 
Just wanted to add my $.02, too.

It is not advisable to try to lose weight while you TTC or while you are pregnant. To be fit and healthy is completely fine. However, if you aren't planning to conceive for a while, then go for it. It is MUCH easier to lose weight post pardum if you are fit and continue to exercise while you are pregnant then if you don't. Don't be discouraged if you end up gaining alot of weight while you are pregnant, though. I was a whale! I gained 40-50 pounds per pregnancy, and I was in stellar shape the last two times I conceived. Staying fit DURING pregnancy is the key to getting back in shape, I firmly believe that. This last pregancy I didn't do a thing workout wise and it took me almost 18 months to lose all my weight and fit into old jeans. The pregnancy before I worked out 5 days a week and it took me less than 6 months post pardum. That was just my experience, and everyone's is different, but being in shape has helped everyone I know. Recovery is faster, you get back on your feet faster, but labor sucks anyway. :p

HTH,
Missy
 
Janice, I don't mean to be disagreeable, but a lot of what you've stated is incorrect. It's only because I'm pregnant now that I've done A LOT of reading about pregnancy. Once you become pregnant, it is not the time to 'diet'. Actually fats are very good for the baby. It aids in their brain development.
When you said: Certainly if I have not been working out regularly and I start doing Cathe then I will improve cardiovasculary, right?
Actually, no. You have to be careful of your heartrate, and it's not a good idea to improve cardiovascularly OR in weights during pregnancy.
I'd suggest you talk to your doctor and do some research to get more information. Please don't get hung up about weight gain. The weight does come off. I'm in my seventh month and have gained nine pounds so far.
 
I wasn't stating anything.........I was saying I did not understand it.....But thanks for enlightening me. I have done 0 research as this whole idea has not become reality for me. I would never do anything to endanger a developing fetus, of course.

Thanks for the replies everyone! :)
 
Please don't get hung up about weight
>gain. The weight does come off. I'm in my seventh month and
>have gained nine pounds so far.

SCM,

You are my hero!!!

9 pounds and 7 months pregnant? HOLY WOW, woman! You are AWESOME! :+
 
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