Since I found out I was pregnant I have made a number of lifestyle changes.
I gave up sodas and I started eating healthy.
I have not made any specific attempts to lose weight because I know the baby needs me to increase my calories (slightly) not decrease them. However, as heavy as I am (366 when I started, 359 now) I have a very high basal metabolism. Even though I eat ALL the time (healthy stuff) I am losing weight. I am not sure I can eat enough of the good stuff to increase my calories.
What should I do? Is this a concern?
Average day for me:
Breakfast: FF Fruit Yogurt, 12oz Skim Milk, Fruit (usually a banana)
Obviously you should check with your doctor first. When I got pregnant I weighed 253. I lost weight at first because I was sick, sick, sick. At that weight, the doctor was not the least bit concerned. I was encouraged to maintain after that. I ended up gaining 60 pounds, which came off fairly easily-- yeah breastfeeding and water weight! Congratulations on your pregnancy!! Babies are a beautiful thing!
oooh, the bold made that sound snotty.... not my intent. I just wanted to make sure you knew I was not a doctor, that was just my personal experience!! Good luck!
I agree, talk to your doctor first. I used to work for a doctor, not an OB but family practice and general medicine and I was pregnant at the time and was really worried about gaining weight. He said you can still eat healthy, you aren't taking any nutrients away. You may have to increase the amount you take in alittle but you aren't gonna hurt the baby, it's still getting the nurtients it needs. Good luck and congratulations!!!
A third voice to check in with your doctor, but a friend of mine was pregnant and, due to morning sickness, lost weight during the beginning of her pregnancy (she was significantly overweight when she got pregnant). Her doctor said it was fine and that minimizing her weight gain would help prevent complications (like gestational diabetes, etc) at time of delivery. Talk to your doctor to see if he/she is worried about you losing a bit of weight at the beginning.
I have read that losing weight during the first trimester is ok. It's the 2nd trimester that I am worried about.
I AM going to check in with my doctor but I was wondering if any other women had been through this and how they handled it. I like to get information from multiple sources to make the best decisions I can for my health. I talk to my doctor, research online, and try to talk to people with personal experience.
Everything I have read so far says that losing weight in the 2nd trimester is bad bad bad. I am not there yet. I have 4 more weeks. Once I am there will the weight loss stop on it's own? Will I need to eat more, or change the types of foods I am eating to things that are more calorie dense?
I know it's only 7lbs so far, but it's been steady...only halted by the random rampant craving (and subsequent indulgence) for cheeseburgers.
Have you calculated how many calories that you are eating per day, on average?
The reason that I am saying this, is because the guidelines for most women and their calorie intake during pregnancy, as well as average weight gain, is for women of normal weights.
Calculate your average calorie intake for the past few days. If you are losing weight because you are eating under 2000 calories a day-then you would need to increase that.
However, if you are eating over 2300 calories a day, and losing weight-it isn't because you are malrourishing yourself. It is because your body burns more calories per day because of your current size.
Definitely talk with your doctor about the weight loss...but check your calorie intake over the past few days-and let me know. I had to watch my calories for all of my pregnancies...and I have a lot of experience with this.
Also, it is common for some weight loss in the first trimester-many lose a few pounds due to morning sickness, etc. The weight gain shouldn't really start much until the second trimester. Also, because you are overweight, you might not gain 25-35 pounds like a woman who starts at 150 pounds might. Your weight gain might only be 10-15 pounds total, and that is still considered normal.
I tried to calculate your calories myself, and even using small portion sizes to be on the safe side-I had you well over 2200 calories a day-which is fine.
I know that most books say no weight loss, but these books are not really considering women who are over 300 pounds. It does make a difference!
Think about it. Someone who starts out pregnant at 120 pounds is probably maintaining that weight on an average of 1500-2000 calories a day in their normal diet. During pregnancy, to gain the recommended amount, she might be eating 2200-2300 a day.
It takes a lot more calroies for a person to maintain a weight over 300 pounds. Since you are eating more healthfully now, for your baby-you are going to see some weight loss. What you might find, in the second trimester, is that you start to maintain, whereas a small woman might gain. It doesn't mean the baby isn't growing-it means that it is growing, and your body is losing weight-basically cancelling each other out. It isn't as uncommon as you might think-but many pregnancy books don't address the issues of women who are over 250 pounds.
As I said, speak to your doctor, and bring them a copy of what you eat per day on average. They will be able to tell you for sure.
I am also pregnant (8 weeks) and had a prenatal visit with my doctor today and my weight was the first topic I wanted to talk about. She is not really concerned about me losing weight as long as the baby is growing properly, she is concerned that I am getting the proper nutrients and taking my prenatal multivitamin. She doesn't want me to gain any weight, we agreed that at the most I shouldn't gain more than about 5-10 lbs. I have posted this topic on a pregnancy board and talked to other moms who lost weight while pregnant and gave birth to healthy babies. I am quite dedicated now to eating healthy and exercising appropriately and if I happen to drop a few lbs in the process it will be all the better for me and the baby.
Solus, I am about the same exact weight as you, kinda weird because I have never talked to someone so close to my size that was pregnant!!
Anyway, I talked to my doctor about this and here is what he told me.....
He said that as long as your baby is healthy and growing, then everything is fine. Scince we are so heavy we don't need to put on any weight during pregnancy. and if we do, he said at the most 10lbs. I will be exactly 20 weeks tomorrow and I haven't gained a single pound, I've actually lost. But the baby is doing GREAT!!! My doctor was actually proud of me for losing weight, even if it was only a few lbs here and there. So keep eating healthy... listen to your body. If your hungry eat, and if your not...then don't. Just make sure you are getting a sufficent number of calories a day.
Good luck. and If you ever need to talk to someone, Im here!!
As everyone said, definitely talk to your doctor. But, due to extreme morning sickness, I lost 40 lbs during my second pregnancy -- and still had a healthy 10 lb, 13 oz baby boy -- Also, at least for me, going from basically junk food to trying to eat well couldn't help but drop some pounds, my doctor told me as long as you are eating well, the baby gets what it needs, if you are low on any vitamins, etc., the baby will take what they need first -- you are the one who will lose out
Congratulations -- you are in for a wonderful experience -- enjoy it!!
As everyone else said, this is just experience. You may have special needs that may limit you, and only your doc can tell you that.
When I was expecting my second daughter, I started at 235 pounds. By the end of my 6th month, I was down to 210. I gained back 15 pounds between then and delivery. My OB said basically the same thing as Lost_here's. She said that as long as the baby was health and growing, and that all my blood work came back OK, she was all for me losing weight. Although she didn't put a limit on it. She said to let my body do its thing, and lose as much as it was willing to part with and stay healthy.
The important thing is to not actively diet while pregnant. Eat what you need to feel satisfied, and eat the right things. Most overweight pregnant women are encouraged to not gain weight until the last trimester, which really does mean that you'll be losing weight when it's all said and done.
It was strange, for me, after being such a slug during my first pregnancy, to have this huge store of energy every day. I was one of those "tons of energy" pregnant women! I started exercising at night just so I could sleep. At 5 months pregnant, I'd often be found playing 30 minutes of DDR just to tire myself out, lol.
My personal experience: When I got pregnant with my first, I weighed about 175. After I delivered her, I weighed about 170. She was a healthy 6 lbs 6.5 oz. I lost weight because of excessive morning sickness in the first trimester, and didn't gain that much in the second or third because I worked two jobs - one of them as a waitress - and my bike was my only means of transportation during most of that time. My doctor was fine with it, as long as I ate enough and my daughter was growing properly.
Good luck! Pregnancy is a wonderful, incredible, and frequently challenging time.
Agreed! I have no babies. But I have LOTS of friends with babies! I have a friend who lost 60 lbs during her pregnancy (not healthy) but her daughter was still healthy, a little small though. The diet you are doing sounds like it it what you and your baby need. Be careful not to eat too little as your baby will suffer from you being exhausted by not getting anough calories. I would say, think of baby first and after your little one is born really buckle down and lose that weight. Just concentrate on being as healthy as possible for now.
your food intact sounds great! as long as you are eatting until you are no longer hungry, and you have plenty of energy, then i dont see anything wrong with what you are doing at all. If you lose a little weight in the process, then thats totally normal. Starting off at a heavier weight, doctors only reccomend gaining 10-15lbs anyway. Its actually healthier for you to be eatting the way you are and losing a little, then to be eatting a ton of junk and gaining too much. Just check in with your doc and make sure the baby is measuring on time and everything is healthy with you. Eatting healthy is the very best thing you can do for your baby while you are pregnant :-)
What if I can't stop losing weight?
-- Also, at least for me, going from basically junk food to trying to eat well couldn't help but drop some pounds, my doctor told me as long as you are eating well, the baby gets what it needs, if you are low on any vitamins, etc., the baby will take what they need first -- you are the one who will lose out
