What's your stance on weight gain?

[laurata]

With dd1, I didn't really worry much about weight gain, though I know my mama worried for me. I guess I gained about 30 lbs? But I lost the first 10 weeks, so I don't know if that makes a difference. With dd2, I ended up weighing about the same when she was born as when I got pregnant. Maybe 5-10 lbs more. I just ate what I wanted and didn't worry about it. This time I'm finding it more of an issue on my mind. Last pregnancy, I was told that because I was obese, I should only gain up to 15 lbs! I'm not obese anymore, but weight gain is really on my mind. I wouldn't mind gaining tons of weight if I knew that it was all from nourishing foods, but I know it's not realistic to expect I'll ONLY eat healthy foods. So how do you find a balance between eating right and allowing yourself some indulgences (without going overboard)? How do you find a balance with regards to gaining weight without worrying about it being too much? Where is the line between a little indulgence and "too much?" Whether it be sugary stuff, fatty foods, take out, whatever?

[lauren]

With both my previous babies I gained 40-47 lbs. I didn't eat much junk food, and ate a really healthy diet. No one ever told me it was a problem, and the excess weight went away gradually through nursing within a couple months. I did eat a little too much dairy I think, especially for the first, and he was kind of mucousy when he was born, as well as large (almost 10 lbs, and I'm not a very big woman!) I plan to ask my provider this time if there is anything I should do differently or if this is fine. My midwives felt it was fine. I do think it's wise to minimize the junk food and fatty foods, because what we eat goes directly to the baby, and it doesn't seem too good to feed this stuff to a baby, you know?

[Jessviola]

i need to really watch myself this time because in my first pregnancy i gained 65lbs. it took well over a year to lose it all and that was with hard work, diet and exercise, on top of the nursing. i'm hoping to keep close to 30lbs this time. i'm going to try to eat healthier this time. i ate a ton of ice cream last time too because i hadn't been able to stomach it for years before, but somehow discovered i could eat it while pregnant and, well, made up for lost time

[Larissa]

My first pregnancy, I gained 27 pounds. I lost it all by two weeks after the birth. This time I will be even more careful because I won't be going to aerobics class 4 times a week like I did with the first one. Any exercize that I do this time will be with my tv and a tape.

[Graceoc]

I believe that as long as you are eating realitivily healthy (we can't always pass on those ice creams - espically in the summer: ) then your body will gain the weight that it needs to......I gaine the exact same with both of my pgcys....and was under my pre-pgcy weight (nursing sucks the life out of me LOL!) by the time they were 9 months old - with the majoity coming off in the first 3 months....

[Changed]

I'm wandering the same thing

[StillForest]

Glad to see this discussion! I started this pregnancy about 30 pounds over my "usual" pre-pregnancy weight (in quotes since I wonder whether I'll ever be that again weight ). I seem to be one of those women who can't lose much of anything while BFing. I've eaten very well and exercised (not enough though....tough as a WOHM with a toddler) and can't seem to lose much of anything.

I gained 60 pounds while pg with DD1! Hoping to gain less this time. I did the Brewer diet and plan to do that again this time. I think all of the yogurt/smoothies/potatoes piled up....
I'm hoping to exercise more this pg.

[Kaliki]

I'm very interested in this discussion too. I've been doing Weight Watchers and have lost a fair amount of weight, but I'm still about 10 pounds from my goal and newly pg! I don't know how to balance the need to eat well and healthily with my own fears about gaining too much. I know they recommend that you eat an extra 300 cals, but I don't know what my baseline caloric intake should be, since I've been dieting.

[laurata]

Kalikj, I've also been doing Weight Watchers. I've seen quite a few different "takes" on this. One is to add a few fruits and a milk to your current points. Another is just to listen to your body and see what you need to eat, kind of instinctually wating. So far this week, I've just been eating whatever the heck I want because the nausea and hunger pangs are just killing me.

I think that the key here is staying active. I was thinking I'd commit to making my base points (22) only good, healthy foods, and add points as needed if I am hungry (for good, nutritious foods). But I'm going to try and limit my take out and sweets, and other treats so that my gain is "good" weight (vrs no bake cookies, ice cream, and Chinese takeout).

I used all 35 of my flex points for Chinese takeout on Saturday. I felt SO ICKY afterwards. Ugh.

[cinnamonamon]

Originally posted by laurata
(vrs no bake cookies, ice cream, and Chinese takeout).

Chinese food is bad?! uh oh.....


:LOL



I lost 15 lbs between my 2nd & 5th month, then gained about 28lbs before ds was born, so my body did a pretty good job self regulating last time. I'm hoping it will do the same again. Right now I'm always hungry and if I only eat 3 times a day I put away LARGE amounts (think restaurant portions...with the occasional dessert! ).

That said I better go make lunch...lentil soup & generously buttered brown bread....mmmmmmmm

[laurata]

Hehe. I think Chinese takeout is only bad if you eat very large servings of sweet and sour chicken, AND beef and broccoli, AND Kung Pao chicken, AND two eggrolls, AND chicken fried rice.

[cinnamonamon]

Oooooppp...I ate too much :Puke ... I remember THIS feeling...*note to self: do NOT overeat!!!***


laurata, whew! So it's okay if I only had sweet & sour chicken, a mountain of rice, one eggroll & a little cup of wonton soup, right? :LOL Oh, and two fortune cookies (Ian didn't like his ).