Pregnancy and losing weight . . .

C

Chrissysu

Cathlete
Hi, ladies,

I have a question about weight loss after pregnancy.

Currently, DH and I are TTC. I WAS trying to lose about 15lbs before conception, however I really wanted a baby, so I thought it would be worth it to put that on hold. So here are my questions:

1. Do doctors STILL recommend a weight gain of about 25lbs even if I'm a little overweight? Or would they recommend less weight gain?

2. How intensly can you exercise each trimester?

3. How hard is it to get the weight off AFTER pregnancy?

4. Is it possible to lose my baby weight PLUS those 15 lbs that I wanted to get off before pregnancy?

Thanks all!

Chrissy
 
Hi Chrissy!

I don't know if I have all of the answers for you but I will try.

I had my first child when I was 17, I gained 32 lbs and she was 8 lbs. I was back into my size 26 jeans in no time. Im sure it helped that I was only a kid though. With this one, I am only 22 weeks and have gained 17 lbs so far. I am really hoping that the weight gain will slow down some soon b/c I really don't want to gain more then 40 lbs.
If you are overweight I think the Dr recommands that you gain 10-15 lbs but if you are only a little overweight then the 25 lbs weight gain may apply to you.
I think its possible to lose the weight plus some after b/c you will be into the swing of things. Im not sure how you go about dieting but when I was on a roll...I would just keep going. It was easier to say no to things you wanted to eat b/c you were determined to get to your goal weight.I also think it is going to be easier to say no to certain foods after I give birth b/c I have been eating whatever I feel like in the past few monthes.Also, breastfeeding burns an extra 500 cals a day so I think that helps alot.
Getting the weight off is always different for different people. I think if you control what you eat and exercise, the weight should melt off.

When I first found out I was preggo, I eaised back on exercise and now I barely do anything at all. I had been trying for so long and I was afraid of miscarriage so I cut back to lighter exercise, till eventually I just walked and somedays I don't even do that. The Doc told me that I could do what I had always did before b/c your body was use to it. He did tell me not to add anything new and he perferred low impact.If I had my time back, I would have continued with my exercise. I would have cut back some but I should have still been working out 4-5 x's a week. When I try to workout now I get really winded and hot and thats not good for the baby.
When you workout, you are also suppose to be able to carry on a conversation while working out.Any harder then this may cut off circulation to the baby.

Hope I answered everything. Have fun trying!!!

Lori:)
 
Hi Chrissy,

TTC can be such a great time in your life. I hope it all goes well for you and DH! The moment you get that first positive pregnancy test....ah, good times :)

Regarding weight gain, people will probably vary in their opinions on this, but I wanted to chime in and say that IT IS OUT OF YOUR CONTROL :) :) Too often the pregnancy books and medical profession talk about a pregnant women's weight gain as though it's a simple matter of eating or not eating enough. This is very misleading. You will gain what you will gain - not a pound more, not a pound less. I sat on my duff my first pregnancy, and gained 40 pounds. I exercised daily with my second pregnancy and gained 35 pounds. I wasn't over or underweight at the start of either pregnancy.

Your hormones will also surprise you in how they alter your taste buds. Your best intentions to eat healthy, balanced meals will go out the window, as you suddenly realize that you can't look at a carrot (for example) without wanting to throw up. It's as though some one hi-jacks your taste buds, and again, there's nothing you can do about it. Just eat what you can, and do your best.

The pace of the weight gain also varies from person to person. Some people pack it all on at the end, others do it at the start, some do it is spurts, and others see a more steady progression.

Overall, though, what you gain, you will lose, especially if you take care to eat healthy and get a measured dose of exercise. Some people say that nursing helps lose the weight, but personally I find it increases my appetite too much to help me. I lose the weight better after I wean the baby.

Speaking of babies, mine just woke up. Good luck to you!!
Sandra
 
Sandra: That is the best advice I have ever read about weight gain - and I am only 2/3 through my pregnancy. My taste buds went out the window. I've been a vegetarian for years and I couldn't stand the look or thought of vegetables. I literally couldn't eat them. So, I survived by just doing the best that I could do.

Chrissy: I would recommend reading Dr. James Clapp's book on exercising through pregnancy. I couldn't exercise from weeks 8-19, but it has helped me immesely during the second trimester. It has kept me motivated knowing what benefits I am bringing to the pregnancy (to me and the little one) by continuing to exercise and keeping active. Have fun trying! and good luck!:)
 
Chrissy,

Sandra is totally right about the weight gain. (She was a great support to me during my pregnancy and VERY knowledgeable) (Hope all is going well with you Sandra:))

The first trimester I felt "icky" (for lack of a better word) and I still worked out 3-5 days a week. This is when Cathe's premixes came in SOOO handy and the Timesaver DVD. After the first trimester was over I worked out 5-6 days a week until the night my water broke. I just took it down a notch and made sure I didn't get winded and my heart rate stayed down. I definitely had to stay away from circuit workouts and take breaks often but it worked well and it definitely made my delivery and recovery much easier.

As far as losing the baby weight, it is definitely possible to lose that plus the extra 15 pounds. Brooke is now 10 months old and I actually weigh less now than I did in high school. I lost the 40 pounds I gained plus the extra 15 pounds that I wanted to lose anyway. So, yes it is totally possible. I work out most everyday and don't starve myself at all. In fact, I eat plenty of food, just the right foods (natural, unprocessed).

Good luck with everything and I hope this helps.
 
Thanks Wendy! From your recent posts, it sounds like you're doing really well. We're doing fine here, too. Kate started walking a week ago, and is now tearing up the house. Only one month until the girls turn 1!! How's Brooke? Does she like watching Mommy work out to Cathe?

Sandra
 
OH my, ladies! Thank you so much for your advice and stories. I'm so excited to have a baby, but I hear a lot of the "nightmare" stories, that it gets me wondering. Some say that the little extra weight will be really bad for the baby, so say you will never lose the extra weight after having a baby, some say you can't exercise during pregnancy. It's good to know that those are not necessarily true.

You're all so inspiring to me! Fit-mommies are the best. I hope to be a Fit-mommie too!

Chrissy
 
Chrissy, good luck. First of all, remember ttc can take quite a few cycles. A great book is taking charge of your fertility. In terms of dieting, you can diet while ttc, but don't be so restrictive that your cycles stop. Once you become pregnant, you will gain weight. Some gain weight early, others out on the bulk the last trimester. eat fairly healthy and exercise and your body will gain what it needs. Exercise as soon as you are cleared by the doctor postpartum. If you follow these guidelines, you will get off most of the preggo weight fairly quickly. My body holds onto fat nursing, but once my first dd was weaned I lost the remainder of pregnancy weight plus an extra 6 pounds. Don't baby yourself when pregnant, but do listen to what your body is ok with. Most of us were even able to do cathe when pregnant with some modifications.

DD#1 born 9/12/03
DD#2 born 5/19/06
 
Chrissy,
I had several women I work with who told me they are still carrying pregnancy weight and their kids are ages 15-25! I was nervous too but then I realized that they didn't and still don't workout. So, of course it's not just going to fall off. Most women who do workout will lose the weight and it won't be a problem. I'm actually in better shape now than before pregnancy.
Most importantly, listen to your doctor and your body. Like I said before, I worked out my entire pregnancy and felt great - it's a great boost for your self-esteem too when you're just feeling large:)
Good luck.

Sandra,
I can't believe how fast it's going by! We're starting to think about her 1st birthday party now and I'm so excited. Brooke is doing really well. She's not walking yet but she's a climber and is constantly on our coffee table or racing across the couch. Usually, I workout before she gets up in the morning but sometimes she'll wake up before I finish so she'll watch Cathe, not me (and who can blame her:))
 
I'll just echo what everyone else here has said - weight gain during pregnancy is probably out of your control, but the weight loss after delivery is entirely *in* your control. Don't focus on your weight during pregnancy, but do make sure you're eating healthy - both for yourself and your baby. If you make it a point to try to avoid excess sugar and processed foods, you'll do fine.

I gained 25 pounds during my pregnancy, and lost it all by about three weeks - without any effort on my part except maintaining my pre-pregnancy healthy diet. My stomach is a bit "floppy", but I do believe it takes at least 9 months for your body to "reset", so I'm not stressing about it. Keep in mind, though, that I come from a family of women who don't gain much pregnancy weight and don't get stretch marks - so my 25 pounds was probably as much genetics as it is anything I did.

I also worked out my entire pregnancy. Use your body as a guide for how much effort to put forth. I naturally slowed down my cardio during the last couple of weeks due to the excess weight, and I decreased my weightlifting dramatically in my second trimester just because it felt iffy on my joints. I recommend "Exercising Through Your Pregnancy" by James Clapp as the best resource for exercise during pregnancy.
 
"but I hear a lot of the "nightmare" stories"


I have three kids 4 yo and under, so I've heard the stories, too. Don't let them scare you! :) I think you're right in the fact that most people, especially moms of young ones/kids, don't work out regularly, so it's not really that surprising that they might hang onto a few baby-pounds... It's not easy to find the time, and getting used to the new routine of motherhood can easily derail good intentions! Just stay consistent - you don't have to kill yourself or be a workout fiend }( - a little bit of 'something' every day is a good plan while TTC/pregnant. And, yes, you CAN workout while pregnant :) :) My OB/GYN was pretty laid back - she said that whatever I felt good doing was fine - of course, she also cut me off from kickboxing at 8 months :) (I think she was afraid of the image of me in lycra shorts doing a side-kick...okay, so it wasn't pretty, but it WAS a good workout!!)

Personally, I have to cut back a little on the workouts to get pregnant. It's not a body fat issue for me, but I think it might have been the stress of trying to keep up with everything, so, whatever you do, DON'T STRESS about it :) :) (Caps added for emphasis, I'm not yelling at you :) ) Try to enjoy the process, whether you're TTC or pregnant - you will only be TTC/pregnant with that baby once in your lifetime, so cherish the time. You will have the rest of your life to work on the weight/working out/diet :) Wishing you good health, good luck and hope to see you posting here soon with good news!
 
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