Trimesters and Weight Gains/Losses - Page 12 « Back to Group Discussions

[ithappened]

DS1 in his jogging stroller ends up being about 50lbs I have to push as of right now, so if I think about adding a stroller 2x the size (and 4x the price!) then adding 2 more bodies to that I am guessing Id be pushing around or over 100lbs+ on each run! Horrible but at the same time, if it means running vs. not running at all, I will take whatever I can get.

There is actually one gym in town which offers childcare, I think its only in the mornings for 2-3 hours but I will take what I can get! Thanks for reminding me, I need to actually go over there and check it out, it would be an awesome option for me to drop the twins off there for an hour or so while I workout and shower I just need to figure out a way to afford it this year- with DH and I not working for a good 6-7 months our budget is really very tight.  ...

[LeAnn A Doula]

That jogging stroller run sounds like it should be in a Crossfit WOD! You'd definitely be working for it.

I completely understand the budget concerns. With all of our moving and this little surprise, we are working on one (quite reduced) income. I'm trying to be very positive about it because money stress is so hard for me. I grew up knowing money was a very stressful topic for my parents and I was always so worried about it. I'm trying to be creative and truly prioritize so that we can afford the things that matter (i.e. activities we love, local/org food) and keep the rest in perspective (i.e. the shoes I'm in love with and the $800 rocker I can't get over). It's a work in progress...

Just put it out in the universe and it'll work out. Baby-free shower time and an awesome deal on a double jogger...I'm sending good vibes! :)

[ithappened]

thanks LeAnn!! Im often surprised how often when I put something out there, I get it, more or less..

I think I officially hit that stage where I feel obese, grumpy and frumpy. I am at 22lb gain around now and just getting uncomfortable- everything is slower, harder to do and nothing I own seems to fit around my stomach.. . My only savor at the moment is the lap pool or my bike.. otherwise I pretty much just am b*^chy all day. . this is horrible
 

[Ninetales]

I want to thank everyone who said such helpful and reassuring things last week.  Looks like you were right and I was just having a random growth spurt.  I didn't have much time to work out or anything this past week and I had no gain.  So looks like the status quo is still working for me.  :)

[Lizbiz]

Ninetales - Glad you had a good week and that things seem to be balancing out.  The books always say to keep you weight gain perfectly steady - but mine has never quite gone that way - I go in fits and spurts too and I think what they mean is mostly steady, not perfectly steady.

ithappened and Leann - One thing I've learned is to have a long-term perspective when it comes to routines/health/fitness post-baby.  Especially as a first time mom, it took me probably the first 4-6 months just to get into a groove and transition into being a mother.  The baby was totally consuming and took a lot of my energy - day and night.  I did get to exercise sometimes - but I was also quite overtired, and that also made eating properly a challenge.  What I didn't know then, and what I knew going into the 'newborn phase' with my 2nd, is that it is a stage.  Having a newborn is NOT what it is like to have a child - it is but one part - and a very consuming one at that.  After my son settled in and I settled in to a good routine and we began sleeping more at night - my exercise and eating routines just picked back up and I was back in shape in no time.  

So when my second was born - I knew to just let it go and not stress for the first few months.  If I wanted chocolate cake at 2am - I was going to eat a piece - it's not a deal breaker.  I just stayed as active as possible and then voila - my daughter settled in at about 4 months old and 2 months later I was back in my jeans and exercising regularly.  

For me, I like to schedule exercise, if at all humanly possible (and it's not always possible) - by myself.  So my husband and I switch off for eachother.  He's a big-time runner - so he totally gets it and supports my desire to just grab my tunes and get out the door by myself.  It's not just a health thing - it's also a mental health thing.  But being active with your kids is also very fun... I find it's just a different kind of active.  

[ithappened]

 What I didn't know then, and what I knew going into the 'newborn phase' with my 2nd, is that it is a stage.  Having a newborn is NOT what it is like to have a child - it is but one part - and a very consuming one at that.  After my son settled in and I settled in to a good routine and we began sleeping more at night - my exercise and eating routines just picked back up and I was back in shape in no time.  

Lizbiz- ah where were you 2 years ago! I completely feel this way now that hes almost 2.5, but 2 years ago I felt like whatever was happening then would only get harder/more complex and more consuming. I felt like I was drowning and I never foresaw getting any part of my 'old' life back. I think that is one thing I am more or less really thankful for this time I know at some point I will get those snippets back that I really need again - like sleep, showers and exercise. I know this sounds crazy but I remember thinking the newborn phase was really going to be forever and wondered why I had made such a huge mistake in my life by having kids..

So when my second was born - I knew to just let it go and not stress for the first few months.  If I wanted chocolate cake at 2am - I was going to eat a piece - it's not a deal breaker.  I just stayed as active as possible and then voila - my daughter settled in at about 4 months old and 2 months later I was back in my jeans and exercising regularly.  

In a way I feel like this is also how I feel my second pregnancy, I am much more relaxed about things eventually going back to what I remember and although I have my moments of panic (as well documented on MDC) mostly I feel much more at ease with the process.

For me, I like to schedule exercise, if at all humanly possible (and it's not always possible) - by myself.  So my husband and I switch off for eachother.  He's a big-time runner - so he totally gets it and supports my desire to just grab my tunes and get out the door by myself.

I am VERY much the same way but my DH is not. He really doesn't do a daily exercise routine. I do. He doesn't really understand my desire to go out alone for a run/bike/hike/ and doesn't understand why bringing an angry toddler or a hyperactive 95lb dog with me who hates all other dogs would change how I process or feel about my runs..

I think thats been one of the toughest parts of this for me- carving out space for myself to exercise and having DH honor that time because he does not need that- he needs time in front of his computer/youtube/whatever and his way of getting that is to take his computer into the bathroom and close the door for a few hours without even bringing up that he is going such. LeAnn suggested to look into gyms with daycare here and there is one gym in town which has childcare in the mornings starting at around 6 weeks of age which would be great and so I think I am going to join there the minute the twins are old enough. Getting 30-45mins of exercise in alone, even if it means going to a gym would be priceless for my sanity and happiness.

[NewMumJoy]

LizBiz - thanks for putting that into perspective and reminding us that these are phases that we're going through or that are ahead for us.... when things get tough or unappealing it's easy for me to sink into the situation and feel like it's a forever permanent thing.  If that were truly the case, then there would hardly be any happy moms in the world, right?

[ithappened]

I'm 26.5weeks and still sitting at a 22 lb gain.. People giggle at me when I go out in public right now and Im barely over half way there.. !

I basically weigh more now then I did at 41w pregnant with DS.. I know I'm having twins but for some reason in my head, I did not think it would affect my weight so much.. and here I am, a little freaked I still have 10-14w to go.

[nudnik]

This is ridiculous. I've gained 20 lb so far, at 24 weeks. But I haven't been eating anywhere near enough. When my appetite starts matching up with my desire to cook... Yikes! 

[ericaf]

nudnik: I've been hovering at 15 lbs for a week or so now, and I'm just about 23 weeks. I feel like most people who are at my week are always less than me whichhhh makes me feel like an oinker. I know I'm not pigging out, but I'm definitely eating more (and slightly different, i.e. more carbs, andddd maybe ice cream ) than I did pre pregnancy. I'm trying to consciously make myself eat more salads like I usedddd to do. Sooooo last night I made a delicious salad made of fresh spinach, orange bell peppers, cucumbers, beans, and avocado with white vinegar and olive oil dressing. It's like my favorite salad ever. Anddddddd then I had some french fries. Lord help me.

[LilyTiger]

Erica, I am in the same boat.  I cannot stop eating refined flour and sugar.  It's like a terrible addiction.  I ate really well all day yesterday and then came home and made chocolate chip pancakes with butter and maple syrup.  Probably around 1500 calories right there. 

I'm up 13 pounds now at 26 weeks, which I'm pretty happy with.  I'm thinking I'll end up at the higher end of my desirable range, but so far the massive carb-bombs I've been ingesting haven't seemed to budge the scale too much.  I'm hoping it stays this way, though I've heard horror stories of women gaining like 20 lbs in the last month.  I didn't think there would be room in there at that point.

[nudnik]

Erica, sounds like a great balanced diet! ;-) Wish I was ambitious enough to make some french fries. I'm on a major dairy kick, so that's a very big percentage of my calorie intake. I drink a good few cups of (not very) chocolate milk most days - hey, it's raw milk! When we're out of milk I just don't eat much.

But when I say I'm huge, I'm not kidding! This isn't my first kid exactly, so I shouldn't be too surprised, but I don't remember being THIS big so soon! I've already grown out of some of my maternity clothes, and well on my way for much of the rest. My mother says I never lost all of the twin weight (which isn't EXACTLY true, I lost all the weight, but not the shape). But still, for goodness sakes, I'm going to have nothing to wear soon!

[ithappened]

If you decide to have more babies ericaf lilytiger its funny, you will start to see a pattern your body follows. Its interesting for me to see how I gain pretty much exactly in the same pattern in both my pregnancies (just a bit more weight in this one, but the pattern is the same). I gain almost nothing the first tri the second tri I really pork up quickly between 20-26/27 weeks then the last 10-13 weeks of birth I tend to totally stop or slow down again to just a few pounds gain (will be interesting to see if this sticks with twins however).

Right now I am at 22lbs at 27 weeks.. so I havent gained anything since my last jump.. but it also depends which scale I measure from- if I use the same scale in the mornings (at the pool) I am stable, if I use my OB scale which could be anytime of the day after any amount of meals/fluids etc I really have a fluxuation..

[ericaf]

Okayyyyyy. Now I'm 23 weeks and about 16.5 lbs up. I really FEEL good, and like I'm not inhaling only bad things (justttt bad things sometimesss). So I know I'm okay, but I just keep seeing other people only being like 10-12 lbs up and I'm like "Oh nooooooooooooooooo!" I try not to obsess, cause really... it's out of my hands. I'm not living off of banana splits and Big Macs, so I think I'm doing well enough. I TRY to balance things out (uhhh, like now I know to shove down lots of fiber. Yeahhh. Need that. Lol.) Last night I had a big bowl of my favorite salad again, deeeeelish... and then I had a small cup of rocky road ice cream. I think that's just dandy. I drink just water 98% of the time, so that's also good.

LilyTiger: Yeah, the gaining a zillion lbs at the end is what I'm afraid of too. I hear so many people tell me that. Which brings me to an annoying frustration especially being a FTM. WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY does everyone have to give you their horror stories? Like every single solitary thing. WHY? Not a good thing is ever said. I was at a friends bachelorette party 2 months ago with 2 new Mom's. It came up that I planned to have a natural unmedicated birth. All I got back was "You'll never do it. You don't know the pain. You'll be begging for an epidural." I seriously wanted to reach across the table and choke them. I actually envisioned it as I was tuning them out... ala Ally McBeal. Hah. I want to be prepared, I understand things don't go according to plan, but also... This is my body, our baby, and my life. I will choose what I want. I really don't want to hear about your tears "down there", your 700 hour labor, and your 7 zillion lb weight gain just because that's what YOU had. It's just so frustrating!! Off topic a bit, sorry... but they do go together!

nudnik: Umm, I was on a superrrr dairy kick for a good long stretch. I still eat my ice cream, but I was seriously obsessed with chocolate egg creams. I don't drink raw milk (actually, I've never tried it!), but I do drink reduced fat organic milk. Andddd let me tell you, the seltzer and chocolate syrup with it was like heaven. Okay, now I want one. Lol!

ithappened: Really, that is so interesting... the pattern thing? I probably could've recorded my weight gain to date a little better. I know around 16 weeks I was only up 8 lbs. So from 16-23 weeks, I've gained another 8.5 I know I'm only 2 lbs off from "average", so I guess I'm content enough... I definitely just need to do more exercising. I've been very lazy in that department. Oooofa.

[LilyTiger]

Erica, first, if I remember from your belly pics, you're not a big person to begin with, so a little more weight gain than "average" ain't gonna kill you.  I think smaller people often gain more weight and it just falls off.  I worry because my body is "stocky" and likes to hold onto weight a little more.  I'm still like a size 6 or 8, so I'm not big, but I'm short so that stuff sticks.  But ithappened, I think you're right about the pattern.  My mom said the same thing... she gained the same amount of weight with each pregnancy (and it seems to be roughly what I am heading for), though her weight at the start of each pregnancy was somewhat different. 

And second, SERIOUSLY WITH THE HORROR STORIES!  It starts like right after you give birth...  it's like the hormones make you this pretentious know-it-all jacka**.  An acquaintance of mine gave birth recently and a few of us were talking about my birth plan and she was like, "You don't need a natural birth.  I had an epidural and it was great.  Also, you just never know what's going to happen... I was induced and strapped to a hospital bed for two days and so I couldn't have done it without the epidural".  I wanted to strangle her while gently pointing out that the freaking reason she needed an epidural in the first place was that she consented to a medically unnecessary induction.  Her daughter was tiny.  Oh and now, four months later they've put the baby on rice cereal because she's not gaining weight (probably because she was sleep trained when she was 4 weeks old).  AGH!  I just wanted to beat her over the head with the Dr. Sears Baby Book.  Whooo.... Sorry about that rant.  Good to get it off my chest.  :)

[ericaf]

LilyTiger: Haha!!! Okay, I don't know much of anything about sleep training, but erm... I think 4 months is supa early, no? I feel like a lot of Mom's (and for me, it tends to be all the type of Mom's you just described above with the overly medicated inductions/births/etc) just push their kids to grow up faster and do so much so quickly. I don't really understand that. Why can't they go at their own pace, and you just encourage them? I remember my cousin had her little girl out of the infant car seat and front facing so quickly. I said "Erm... She can definitely be rear facing for a longggggggg time." But she just wanted her to be at the next "step". I dunno. I guess we're all opinionated (hey, I'm a FTM... what do I REALLY know besides what my Mom tells me she did, and what I have read and believe to be the best option) As for my size, well... I think it's quite deceiving. Haha. I was 5'9", 160 lbs pre pregnancy. (about 15 lbs over what I like to be). I'm now 176.6 lbs... I guess my height helps me carry weight well. I got lot o' hips and arse. Haha. Maybe my body will let me not gain so much since I was already 15 lbs over my "happy weight". Doubtful, but I'll just wish that. Lol.

[ericaf]

P.S. And just to add one more thing... If ONE more person tells me "Oh, you won't stick with cloth diapering" I'm going to SMACK a b*tch. Someone at work JUST said this to me. I responded "Even if I didn't like it, the amount of money being invested... I'd STILL do it. It's better for my baby, the environment and our wallets in the end." And just cause I'm a stubborn rock... I will kill myself to continue CD'ing even if I hated it, just to prove my point. Especially to my MIL. HMPH. Stubbornnnnnnnnnnnn to the max.

[pennywhistle]

I'm also getting REALLY sick of the horror stories when people find out I'm doing the midwife/home/waterbirth thing.  I've been working really hard on visualizing the birth and focusing on it like a marathon - painful, sure, but more about the energy and the work and endurance.  Whenever I tell anyone that, all I hear is how much it's going to hurt and how naive I am to think this way.  Argh.

In thread-related news, I am enormous.

[ithappened]

WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY does everyone have to give you their horror stories? Like every single solitary thing. WHY? Not a good thing is ever said. I was at a friends bachelorette party 2 months ago with 2 new Mom's. It came up that I planned to have a natural unmedicated birth. All I got back was "You'll never do it. You don't know the pain. You'll be begging for an epidural."

ah that makes me nuts! Its the same once the babies come out, suddenly you get all these horror stories about X age, then at that age you get stories about Y age.. it never ends!!!

[LeAnn A Doula]

Lilytiger, Erica & Penny - You guys are awesome! I know what you mean about the horror stories. I just try to smile peacefully and say we'll see. That's a discussion I don't care to have. It's a huge pet peeve of mine. It's like these woman are wishing away your positive experience before you have a chance to experience it. I think it's a cultural conditioning thing. We're so used to seeing dramatic painful births (movies/tv) that its all we talk about and expect for ourselves. In reality, birth is intense and there is pain but its also peaceful and other-worldly so, so what?! The pain is there for a very good reason and it is accomplishing something miraculous, its not pain that is causing injury. Since when is all pain bad and to be avoided? Why are women expected to be huge wimps? It's really a question of perspective. I'm obviously in the trust your body, baby and intuition and be prepared for the journey camp. That said, every woman has the right to choose how she births, medicated or no. But be supportive of others choices! Especially among friends. How would she feel if you spoke as freely about her choices? (i.e. Maybe your kid would be a healthy weight if you fed her when she was hungry, instead of requiring her to eat on your schedule?) I don't think it would be well recieved.

Whew! Rant ended...I hope that wasn't too much... :)