Feeling guilty eating TF

[chattyprincess]

(sorry kinda long) I just found out I am a few weeks pregnant and we have recently started eating tf. (slowly...) I gained 70lbs last pregnancy however I had quit smoking and had only known dh then for 3mths (we are now married been together 4 years). So it was pretty stressful time.
I still am holding onto about 30lbs from that pregnancy. I excersise regularly (3-5x a week). and am hoping to just be healthy this time around. Last time we ate tons of junk blah blah blah...
So this am for breakfast I was frying dd and I some eggs in butter and just felt bad...like is eating this way going to cause more weight gain? is it going to make me unhealthy?
I will give you an example of our meals yesterday...
breakfast
A serving of oatmeal with dried fruit, a bit of butter, cinnnamon, almond milk and almonds.

lunch
large salad (romaine and spinach) with cucumbers, apples, a bit of mozzarella cheese, almonds and italian dressing. (not drowning in dressing just a bit)

dinner (leftover roast)
2 carrots, a cup or more of fresh cooked green beans in butter and sea salt, a half a small red potato with butter and homemade mushroom gravy, a serving size of roast.

plus a daily prenatal multi vitamin (rainbowlife) and nn fish oil (until its all gone) oh and a calcium supplment (rainbow life). I drank

what do you think? if I wasn't doing tf I would have had NONE of that butter, I would not have put the almonds or cheese in the salad either. I am really starting to get panicky that all the extra fat is gonna be really bad for us!

Please help me understand and calm down...

OH and also another question...I am going to buy from radiantlife the norweigian cod liver oil and was wondering since pregnant should Itake a seperate fish oil for the dha/epa?

~Kate

[cristeen]

I can tell you that simply eating TF will not cause excessive weight gain in pregnancy. I was eating mostly TF during my pregnancy, and only gained 20 pounds... which was all gone by 1 week pp (plus some). I lost 15 pounds the day he was born, and dropped another 10 of water weight over the next few days, and wound up below my pre-pg weight.

Eating crap will cause excessive weight gain, but eating a healthy WF/TF diet by itself will not cause it.

[dachshundqueen]

Originally Posted by cristeen

I can tell you that simply eating TF will not cause excessive weight gain in pregnancy. I was eating mostly TF during my pregnancy, and only gained 20 pounds... which was all gone by 1 week pp (plus some). I lost 15 pounds the day he was born, and dropped another 10 of water weight over the next few days, and wound up below my pre-pg weight.

Eating crap will cause excessive weight gain, but eating a healthy WF/TF diet by itself will not cause it.

Bolding mine. It's all about portion size. Eating way too much "healthy" food versus eating normal portions of healthy food is entirely different. Too many calories is too many calories.

Liz

[crunchy_mama]

I think the excess carbs, grains and sugar are more likely to cause excessive weight gain than anything else. I try to eat pretty TF and high fat. I do NOT count calories at all- I think as long as you eat to satisfaction and eat healthy whole foods that your body will regulate itself. I am about at 38 weeks pregnant and have put on about 35 lbs- last I checked. I am generally a small person, so this amount of weight gain is perfect for me. I have good size babies- very healthy pregnancies(low bp throughout-90-100/60- no swelling- etc) and feel generally pretty darn good- well I am not running marathons The fats/good ones are crucial for babies development. I purposely try to eat a higher fat diet myself.

[FairyRae]

Originally Posted by crunchy_mama

I think the excess carbs, grains and sugar are more likely to cause excessive weight gain than anything else..

Eating more fat (butter/ghee, coconut oil and milk, eggs, avocados, olive oil, nuts and seeds) along w/ animal protein and veggies, and lowering my grain intake is my personal recipe for weight loss. When I feel a little bloated, cutting out grains always does the trick. (I've been keeping them out for some time now and feel amazing.)

Our bodies NEED fat--'GOOD' fat. I'd slather that dressing (if it is made of a good fat like EVOO) on your salad--it will make the nutrients in the veggies more digestible. If I were you, I would eat to hunger, and try to let go of the rest...It can be hard to let go of guilt around food but for me, dropping most factory processed foods along w/ those my son is sensitive to (and I was majorly hooked on!--gluten, soy, corn being some) was a huge part in my own re-connecting w/ what my body actually needs. Now I feel comfortable following my own cues in choosing what my body needs...but it has been a journey and I've neede to let go of a lot of misinformed beliefs about food and fat...

Good luck figuring out the best diet for you!!! And here is a link on fats from WAPF. HTH!

ETA: Cutting out all store-bought processed foods (out of necessity--it's hard to find anything in a box w/out gluten, dairy, soy or corn in it!) I immedietly lost 50 excess pounds (all gained post baby). I've maintained a very healthy weight, esp since going TF. Just thought I'd add that if weight is an issue you're concerned w/!

[fruitfulmomma]

A Life Unburdened is a really good TF book on weight loss - http://breadandmoney.com/

I am not totally TF just because I can't get there yet... taking small steps, but I've never been one to stomach low-fat foods. I tried to eat less fat because that was what I was "supposed" to do. But two years ago I started reading books like this and NT and Real Food and such and gave up on feeling guilty about my fat intake and just went with it (ETA: also stopped eating so many processed, high sugar foods). I stayed at a pretty constant weight, though I could tell I was losing weight from my face and other areas on my body and I also had more energy and started taking my kids hiking.

I gained my normal 50+ lbs. during my last pregnancy. I am GF now and also on a pretty restricted diet because my youngest has several food issues, so my main sources of calories are meat, dairy, and eggs, with all the fat and extra butter. I don't know how much I've lost, but at 11 months pp, I am below my pre-pregnancy weight and my husband keeps making comments about it. I don't exercise and am not naturally thin at all.

Something to ponder... Our country has been on a "low-fat" kick for at least the last 20 years and where has that gotten us?

[cristeen]

Originally Posted by dachshundqueen

Too many calories is too many calories.

I don't agree. I can eat as much whole foods as I like and not gain, but as soon as I add sugar or grains, I start gaining. If I steak to animal products and fruit/veg, I can eat as much as I want.

[crunchy_mama]

Originally Posted by cristeen

I don't agree. I can eat as much whole foods as I like and not gain, but as soon as I add sugar or grains, I start gaining. If I steak to animal products and fruit/veg, I can eat as much as I want.

Freudian slip?

Anyway, I totally agree. I am not big on the calorie in/calorie out explanation for weight- I think it ignores too many factors.

[eastkygal]

Originally Posted by cristeen

I don't agree. I can eat as much whole foods as I like and not gain, but as soon as I add sugar or grains, I start gaining. If I steak to animal products and fruit/veg, I can eat as much as I want.

I agree with cristeen here. I have lost 100 pounds eating TF/WF. I couldn't believe it at first either! I never dreamed that I could eat how I do and lose and now maintain weight. I don't count fat grams or calories, and many days you'll find me eating butter by the spoonfuls.

Don't worry. Eggs and butter are great things in pregnancy. I would focus on the fat and protein foods. Make sure you get at the very least 63 grams of protein a day. Look at carbs next and take in only the good carbs and avoid the more starchy foods (though I haven't in my diet, but I know some people find it helps with weight loss). Eat when hungry. Listen to your body and eat until you are satisfied. I think you will be fine. Keep up your activity and don't worry.

[sisteeesmama]

I cannot comment directly about doing TF in pregnancy because I was just learning about when I was preg, but I can say that I never ever feel bad about eating fat. I would most definately not feel at all bad about eating fat in pregnancy because fat is essential to babies development.

I am low carb and almost grain free with the exception of corn and I have ben consistently losing weight, the more meat/fat the better for me.

I say eat those eggs, eat some meat in the AM instead of the oatmeal and fruit and drink some bone broth maybe a little fermented something.
Then for lunch instead of relying on nuts to keep you full and satisfied I'd have eaten some of that roast with a side of salad and some cheese maybe a little fermented something here, too.

Then for Dinner some more meat, some potatoes maybe, lots of green veg. and maybe some more cheese and broth and a ferment or some kombucha?

This should keep you satified, happy, healthy and there is no way you would gain to much weight if you ate like this, I can almost guarantee it!

[Brown Lioness]

Sounds like you would be well served by watching this movie, it breaks down the "fat makes you fat" thing pretty well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgBLQIJEcbE
www.fathead-movie.com/

Congrats on the pregnancy!

[dachshundqueen]

I didn't have gluten, dairy, soy, corn, or eggs during my second pregnancy due to my nursling's food intolerance. I couldn't maintain my weight let alone gain. So I think you'll have to be careful.

We eat from a whole foods perspective, aside from my coca cola addiction. Not a big fan of fermented foods. They give DH heinous diarrhea and give me nausea.

Liz

[chattyprincess]

Wow...thank you so much ladies for your support. I feel alot better now. The whole fat is good doesn't make you fat thing makes logical sense to me but the reality of standing there frying eggs in butter when normally I fry them without anything just really shocked my system!!
Since January I have been on a reduce our processed foods kick, only recently did I learn that what I was wanting to do has a name...tf/wf/nt! the day I found out I was pregnent I emptied my cupboards of all remaining junk and swore that I was done with it all. I eat barely any carbs and barely any sugar (thank god I kicked that addiction). I only really have the honey in my tea and fruit and the occasional chocolate.
I will concentrate on more protein, thats a great idea!

[Junegoddess]

Originally Posted by dachshundqueen

I didn't have gluten, dairy, soy, corn, or eggs during my second pregnancy due to my nursling's food intolerance. I couldn't maintain my weight let alone gain. So I think you'll have to be careful.

No kidding! I have the same list, except I can have corn and eggs from soy-free chickens (which means not many, they're hard to get) and I've gained a whole 5 pounds so far, at 30 weeks. I can't be bothered to count calories, but I eat a LOT and before I got pregnant I did count it up, roughly, a few times... it was often over 3000 calories a day. I do NOT exercise. And I was NOT gaining weight. I wasn't losing any, either, which I could definitely benefit from... but I have thoroughly disproven the calorie theory for myself.

[FairyRae]

Originally Posted by dachshundqueen

I didn't have gluten, dairy, soy, corn, or eggs during my second pregnancy due to my nursling's food intolerance. I couldn't maintain my weight let alone gain. So I think you'll have to be careful.

Just want to clarify--I wasn't recommending dropping those specific foods (gluten/dairy/soy/corn--what we dropped due to sensitivities)--esp. not to this pregnant mama. I just wanted to share that for me cutting out foods my ds (and I) was sensitive to helped me lose excess weight (when I wasn't pregnant), but following a TF diet w/ healthy fats and lots of good meat and veggies has helped me maintain a very good weight for me (and I feel wonderful and satisfied and like I'm always getting *enough*).

Sorry for the confusion. I *do* think gluten and dairy can be very common problems for some folks in terms of sensitivities, (and soy is something many TFers avoid anyway,) and many folks seem to feel healthier w/out them, but that is talk for another thead. On the whole though, I believe my weight loss was largely related to switching from a factory/store processed foods diet to a whole foods, make it from scratch at home diet.

[chattyprincess]

Originally Posted by FairyRae

Just want to clarify--I wasn't recommending dropping those specific foods (gluten/dairy/soy/corn--what we dropped due to sensitivities)--esp. not to this pregnant mama. I just wanted to share that for me cutting out foods my ds (and I) was sensitive to helped me lose excess weight (when I wasn't pregnant), but following a TF diet w/ healthy fats and lots of good meat and veggies has helped me maintain a very good weight for me (and I feel wonderful and satisfied and like I'm always getting *enough*).

Sorry for the confusion. I *do* think gluten and dairy can be very common problems for some folks in terms of sensitivities, (and soy is something many TFers avoid anyway,) and many folks seem to feel healthier w/out them, but that is talk for another thead. On the whole though, I believe my weight loss was largely related to switching from a factory/store processed foods diet to a whole foods, make it from scratch at home diet.

Dd and I do not drink cow milk because of sensitivites to it. I have taken her off soy as well and we drink almond milk and fortified calcium oj. We do eat corn and gluten but honestly like today I did not eat any grains of any type or yesterday ( I think) and most days are like that I probably eat 4 servings a week and its mainly home baked goods! We do eat cheese and butter but I don't feel we get reactions to it maybe because whatever amount of oz in a glass of milk is a ton more dairy then the amount of cheese or butter we could consume in a day!

eta...once I completely cut dairy out (no drinking it, or eating ice cream) a month later I had lost a random 10/15 lbs!

[Laniemama]

Go for the good fats! I actually like eating the fats that standard american's think are bad, its like I'm being bad and getting away with it! You need lots of good fats and cholesterol to grow that baby's brain!

[FairyRae]

Originally Posted by chattyprincess

We do eat cheese and butter but I don't feel we get reactions to it maybe because whatever amount of oz in a glass of milk is a ton more dairy then the amount of cheese or butter we could consume in a day!

Some folks have an issue w/ just the lactose in milk but are fine w/ lower lactose containing foods like butter and some cheeses and yogurt...maybe this is the case w/ you...?

[Magelet]

Not too much to say that hasn't been said.

Your day's meal plan looks pretty good to me, except being slightly low protein. Being pregnant, your looking for 60-100 grams of protein a day, depending on who you ask. (Anne Frye says in holistic midwifery, which is a well regarded midwifery reference book that almost all women need 80-100 grams of protein a day.) Now admittedly if you have a whole grain and a legume in the same day, that constitutes a protein (not sure how much off the top of my head), and plant foods have tiny amounts of protein, but that is quite a lot of protein.

I lost 40-60 lbs (essentially all my excess weight and am maintaining a good healthy weight) cutting out processed food, and eating TF (including crazy upping my good fat intake. Me personally (not household wide), I eat around 1/2 lb of butter (or more), 4 oz coconut oil, 250 mL olive oil, plus a minimum of probably 1-2 T of chicken or beef fat a week. And that doesn't count egg yolks, almost 1/2 a jar natural peanut butter a week, fatty meat, 1/2 pint of cream a week, whole milk, or countless other fat sources.)

Good fats have more densely packed nutrition than any other food. They also fill you up faster. when I eat a lot of fat, I eat less total food, and have less tendancy to overeat. However, despite regularly overeating (I have issues with "gee this tastes amazing I want more" vs. the size of my stomach) my weight is just fine. I haven't looked at how many calories are in something in... at least a year. (when I started eating TF). there's no need. It is very very clear that my body is doing well. Even people who don't know I made lifestyle changes, even people who have seen me throughout my journey with TF, still a year later comment that I look SO much healthier (and TF started 6 months after cutting out processed foods).

and if it helps, as I was writing this (apparently I write out loud, since this is the third thing I've written tonight that had DP's comments on what I said about what I was writing inserted into it lol), DP was saying that its hard to believe that I've only been eating more TF for 11 months, because it feels like forever. As in, it gets easier. good for you for working to improve your diet for yourself and your little ones. (and cooking those eggs up in butter. yum!)

[chattyprincess]

Originally Posted by FairyRae

Some folks have an issue w/ just the lactose in milk but are fine w/ lower lactose containing foods like butter and some cheeses and yogurt...maybe this is the case w/ you...?

This would make sense. I wonder if we could drink something like lactaid milk??

[QUOTE=Magelet;14617131]Not too much to say that hasn't been said.......
QUOTE]

I would agree I do need more protein. I cannot believe the amount of fat you go through in a week...that is amazing!!!! I looked at that list and my mouth fell open and I was wondering how on earth could I do that...


For protein what is the best kind of seafood? ( we do eat meat but I need to eat more seafood!) are shrimp and scallops good? what about canned smoked oysters? (I am thinking about these a ton and really wanting to eat a bunch but no idea the health factor!) I think I will add some seafood a few times a week to my lunches and try to add more protein to my breakfast...not sure how I do love oatmeal...maybe some almond butter mixed in??