HONESTLY, how much weight have you gained? - Page 3

[kltroy]

Originally Posted by Cardinal

I never gained back my little body but I know now that being healthy is crucial and looking skinny isn't. I know you will do great. I bet you look gorgeous.

Just wanted to let you all know too... it *is* possible to get back to your pre-pregnancy body after you have your baby. Well, pre-pregnancy weight, anyway. I had no trouble getting back down to a size 6 within 6 months of having my son (and gaining 45 lbs) without dieting and hardly exercising at all (well, aside from my daily bicycle commute to work) But I *am* shaped a little differently than I was pre-baby. And my belly button's weird. But that's ok.

My husband, like many men, thinks pregnant women are incredibly sexy I'm sure you all look great. I know it's annoying at this "no waist" stage, but once you "pop" you'll feel cute and pregnant - I promise

[Oonah]

I'm down 8 pounds @ 13 weeks. The last few weeks have been weird...I gain and lose...gain and lose...the same 2-3lbs. I will be thrilled to get out of the 1st trimester with no gain...With my previous 2 pregnancies I think I had already gained 10lbs!
Just before I found out I was preg I had gotten down to my pre-1st baby weight (with more still to lose) ....so gaining is going to be emotionally tough for me. I try not to think about it too much...and just eat healthy when i am hungry and keep up the exercising.

[sunmamma]

Originally Posted by kltroy

Bah! As my mom keeps reminding me, you HAVE to have some chocolate every day while you're pregnant, or else your baby won't like chocolate! Works for me

Oooh, I like that theory. I have strangely been "off" choc(I usually LOVE chocolate!) but let's just say this baby will have a strong liking of the local bakery's scones!!!

After reading my previous post, I feel like I expressed my own body image issues.......yes, I honestly am taking joy in still wearing the jeans, but let me say that I definitely have body image issues. I was never more than 105 lbs until I was pregnant with a babe I miscarried back in 2001. When I was prego with this babe, I gained a bunch of weight right off the bat. I was definitely underweight at the time. I was a bit uncomfortable about the weight but in reality, I was actually normal for the first time ever. I was 200 lbs when I gave birth to my son, and was 160 for about the year following. I was totally depressed. I then realized how much I relied on being skinny to feel good about myself! This is a true confessions moment here, mamas! It was not about how people saw me, it was about how I saw myself. This realization was a good eye opener, but it made me sad. I had to admit to myself that I had definite issues with my body image. I think I had them from an early age(I was a gymnast from age 3 to 14) but was never conscious about it. I still have these tendencies.(back down to 115 this summer) Yoga actually helps me out a lot. It has taught me to honor my body.

Ok! Rambling and not trying to steal the thread, but I want to say:

WE ARE GROWING BABIES!!!!! It is ok to gain weight!! Maybe a few of us are feeling stressed or out of control about it, but our bodies are AMAZING!!!! They stretch, they birth babies, they feed babies, and they are constantly changing. The most important lesson I have learned from my boomerang body experiences is to love myself and honor the vast changes that women's bodies are able to endure. Sometimes I need reminding of this, and that's why I wanted to share!

[Kylahroo]

Originally Posted by sunmamma

I think I had them from an early age(I was a gymnast from age 3 to 14) but was never conscious about it.

Sunmamma, why did you quit gymnastics at age 14? Do you remember? When did you start feeling self-conscious about your body? My oldest dd is 11 1/2 and has been in gymnastics for 7 years. She took 16 months off about 2 years ago, but has been back in serious gymnastics for almost a year and a half. She's recently competed her first level 8 meet - missed the level 9 qualifying score by .275 points! She's hoping to qualify at her next meet so she can compete level 9 the rest of the season.

But, I worry. I worry about her body image. Right now, she's young enough that she eats and eats and doesn't think about it too much. But, it's starting to enter her consciousness. She's worried about food with "fat" in it, even though we constantly reassure her that she needs fat to grow her brain. I'm certain the older girls at the gym are thinking/talking about it as they get older, too, and I don't want her to become obsessed with being thin! Obviously, as much as she works out (20 hours/week), she couldn't be anything, but thin and in perfect shape, no matter what she eats!

I don't know. I'd love to hear from someone who's BTDT. Any advice?

[Halfasianmomma]

Originally Posted by Kylahroo

I'd love to hear from someone who's BTDT. Any advice?

I know I'm totall hijacking this thread, so if someone wants to move my response, feel free.

[/Begin Tangeant]
Kylahroo, I did gymnastics until I was 14, along with some heavy ballet training, and it was between 12 and 14 that I think the most damage was done. Our teacher would praise the girls who had lost weight (because they lost their baby fat and suddenly looked like young ladies instead of kids), and tell us that heavy girls can't jump as high or get partnered as easily. It was a mind trip...before I knew it, we were hiding in the bathroom to throw up before class, and discussing the best things to cut your appetite. It would REALLY have helped if someone had taken the time to instruct me in nutrition and fitness (you know, the proper balance of protein, simple and complex carb, fats, etc). Instead I was listening to all that crap about needing to skinny and thinking it made me a better athlete to weigh less. I later took it upon myself to find a nutritionist who put together a good meal plan for me, and I was stunned about how much I needed to eat in a day to achieve my caloric requirements. It was an eye-opened learned 10 years after I really should have learned it!
[/end Tangeant]

[*Karen*]

I'm 13 weeks and have gained about 6 pounds. That's about what I'd gained with DS too.

[Cardinal]

Originally Posted by Kylahroo

Sunmamma, why did you quit gymnastics at age 14? Do you remember? When did you start feeling self-conscious about your body? My oldest dd is 11 1/2 and has been in gymnastics for 7 years. She took 16 months off about 2 years ago, but has been back in serious gymnastics for almost a year and a half. She's recently competed her first level 8 meet - missed the level 9 qualifying score by .275 points! She's hoping to qualify at her next meet so she can compete level 9 the rest of the season.

But, I worry. I worry about her body image. Right now, she's young enough that she eats and eats and doesn't think about it too much. But, it's starting to enter her consciousness. She's worried about food with "fat" in it, even though we constantly reassure her that she needs fat to grow her brain. I'm certain the older girls at the gym are thinking/talking about it as they get older, too, and I don't want her to become obsessed with being thin! Obviously, as much as she works out (20 hours/week), she couldn't be anything, but thin and in perfect shape, no matter what she eats!

I don't know. I'd love to hear from someone who's BTDT. Any advice?

Well not quite BTDT... just a little bit I guess. I struggled with anorexia in college and got down to 112 (size 0 on me) and it was crazy how I struggled to fit in with all the perfect southern girls at my Texas school. It started, for sure, with my father being an authoritarian parent who expected much and gave little praise. He was extremely controlling and gave little in the way of positive rewards or encouragement. I think I was always working to please him and also to have control over SOMETHING in my life, and eating is a form of control that nobody else can take from you.

As for your daughter, all I can say is constantly model healthy eating, tell her how beautiful she is all the time, and try to focus on things other than weight and body size. Have dad praise her often and ask her what she thinks of her body too. Talk about it with her. Nobody ever asked me if I had a problem or if I needed help or if I had low self esteem. It took me looking like a lolipop for friends to start an intervention. I think I wanted to be accepted, loved, and praised for who I was. My parents never discussed food or weight and my dad called bigger women "fat" regularly. That's all I remember from my parents. Okay, so I am rambling. Ignore this if it is no help at all.

[Cardinal]

Originally Posted by kltroy

Just wanted to let you all know too... it *is* possible to get back to your pre-pregnancy body after you have your baby. Well, pre-pregnancy weight, anyway. I had no trouble getting back down to a size 6 within 6 months of having my son (and gaining 45 lbs) without dieting and hardly exercising at all (well, aside from my daily bicycle commute to work) But I *am* shaped a little differently than I was pre-baby. And my belly button's weird. But that's ok.

My husband, like many men, thinks pregnant women are incredibly sexy I'm sure you all look great. I know it's annoying at this "no waist" stage, but once you "pop" you'll feel cute and pregnant - I promise

Agh. I worked out endlessly after DS and ate well and I STILL haven't lost those last 10 lbs. Can I just get lipo?! (kidding) I have accepted my new shape but secretly, I have a stash of size 2 jeans from 2001 just in case I somehow do lose those last 10 lbs.

[mamatosaskia]

I hear you about the weird belly button thing! I got back down to my pre-pregnancy weight after dd, but my stomach will never be the same again! Oh well...if it wasn't pregnancy, it would have been gravity, right?

j

[Kylahroo]

Originally Posted by Halfasianmomma

I know I'm totall hijacking this thread, so if someone wants to move my response, feel free.

[/Begin Tangeant]
Kylahroo, I did gymnastics until I was 14, along with some heavy ballet training, and it was between 12 and 14 that I think the most damage was done. Our teacher would praise the girls who had lost weight (because they lost their baby fat and suddenly looked like young ladies instead of kids), and tell us that heavy girls can't jump as high or get partnered as easily. It was a mind trip...before I knew it, we were hiding in the bathroom to throw up before class, and discussing the best things to cut your appetite. It would REALLY have helped if someone had taken the time to instruct me in nutrition and fitness (you know, the proper balance of protein, simple and complex carb, fats, etc). Instead I was listening to all that crap about needing to skinny and thinking it made me a better athlete to weigh less. I later took it upon myself to find a nutritionist who put together a good meal plan for me, and I was stunned about how much I needed to eat in a day to achieve my caloric requirements. It was an eye-opened learned 10 years after I really should have learned it!
[/end Tangeant]

Wow, that's unbelievable! I mean, I think it's awful that dance teachers would be like this! Thankfully, for gymnastics, it's quite a bit different. Muscles are in, thin is out. With all the technical skills today's gymnastics must acquire, they have to be extremely athletic to handle it. That athleticism comes hand in hand with eating well. My dd's coaches seem to be on the ball about this - they throw pizza parties often and pass out ice cream as rewards. Not that either of these model healthy eating, but at least they're not offering carrot sticks for rewards! LOL!

Right now, I think my dd is much more proud of her amazing 6-pack and the fact that she can beat all the boys in her class at both running and arm wrestling than she is at being one of the smallest in her class. We, dh especially, are always focusing on how beautiful she is and how happy we are that she's an athlete (neither of us were). She seems to genuinely love the sport so that helps a lot!

[anarchamama]

I' 11 weeks and I've gained about 3 lbs. I gained 50 with both of my previous pregnancies, and I pack it on in the middle and never really gain in the first trimester. I'm hoping I gain a little less or at least a little healthier this time as I have the junk food mini-cops following me aorund all day I can't eat nearly as much crap as I did the other times .

I've lost pretty much all my pp weight both times though I have to say I'm looking forward to doing it this time (last baby) without the thought in the back of my head that I'm just going to have to start all over in a year. KWIM?

[keeganjacksmom]

Originally Posted by Cardinal

Well not quite BTDT... just a little bit I guess. I struggled with anorexia in college and got down to 112 (size 0 on me) and it was crazy how I struggled to fit in with all the perfect southern girls at my Texas school. It started, for sure, with my father being an authoritarian parent who expected much and gave little praise. He was extremely controlling and gave little in the way of positive rewards or encouragement. I think I was always working to please him and also to have control over SOMETHING in my life, and eating is a form of control that nobody else can take from you.

As for your daughter, all I can say is constantly model healthy eating, tell her how beautiful she is all the time, and try to focus on things other than weight and body size. Have dad praise her often and ask her what she thinks of her body too. Talk about it with her. Nobody ever asked me if I had a problem or if I needed help or if I had low self esteem. It took me looking like a lolipop for friends to start an intervention. I think I wanted to be accepted, loved, and praised for who I was. My parents never discussed food or weight and my dad called bigger women "fat" regularly. That's all I remember from my parents. Okay, so I am rambling. Ignore this if it is no help at all.

Totally feel the same way as Cardinal...I had issues and nobody ever discussed mt body image with me. I always wondered why I grew up with eating problems, but I do believe my parents lack of involvement/understanding was the backbone. They STILL don't get it....my mom still comments about my weight :

Anyway the fact that you are concerned about it shows that you are proactive and aware and hopefully you can hold off and/or prevent any problems

[R8chel]

I am 13 weeks and have gained about 6 pounds so far. I don't weigh myself often, maybe once every other week or something. I am pretty sure around the time I figured out I was pregnant I weighed in the low 180s and either last week or the week before I weighed myself and it said 188. So I'm being generous and saying 6 pounds so far.

I'm really not concerned about weight gain during pregnancy as long as I'm eating fairly healthy and getting up off my butt during the day.

[happyhippiemama]

I'm 11+ weeks and have gained about 3 lbs. I really don't know what I weighed before, but I tend to flucuate between 125 and 130, and I'm now 131. So I'm just runnin' with the average.

[tonia_jo]

Originally Posted by happyhippiemama

I'm 11+ weeks and have gained about 3 lbs. I really don't know what I weighed before, but I tend to flucuate between 125 and 130, and I'm now 131. So I'm just runnin' with the average.

I'm about 12+ (13 according to LMP) weeks and have gained about 4 or maybe 5 lbs. - I could have written the rest of your post exactly! Started out somewhere inbetween 125 and 130!

[Kendra_]

i gained 10 pounds right before i got pregnant... lost 8 pounds by 9 weeks gained that back plus 2 by 11 and a half weeks

[nfpmom]

At 12 weeks I have lost 4 lbs.

[skg_7]

I'm 12.5 weeks and have gained about 3 pounds. It sure feels like more than that, somehow, and I wonder if it's possible that my hips are widening (?). Major bloating, too.

[JustVanessa]

Originally Posted by youngmama'08

i gained 10 pounds right before i got pregnant... lost 8 pounds by 9 weeks gained that back plus 2 by 11 and a half weeks

But you are supposed to put on lots....you got 2 in there! Eat away mama! The pounds will come off like butter nursing 2 babes.

[BlueMoonBean]

Originally Posted by JustVanessa

But you are supposed to put on lots....you got 2 in there! Eat away mama! The pounds will come off like butter nursing 2 babes.

Yuppers! My mom loves to tell us how she was never so svelte in her whole life as she was when she was nursing my baby sisters. She gained a TON during her pregnancy with them... she's about 5'3" and her belly got so big she could walk around the house balancing a dinner plate AND a glass on top. I think I have a photo somewhere, I'll have to see if I can dig it out....

She was WAY below pre-preg weight by about 2 months pp. She had a harder time eating enough to keep up with the caloric requirements. I remember her eating tons and tons of butter and dairy products on everything!