Calorie intake ??

  • My husband & I are thinking about babies next year after our 2 year anniversary & my best friend was telling me that when you are pregnant you only need an additional 300 calories per day. Does anyone know if that's true or not? She wasn't the one who did that - it was a girl from our church, but I was just wondering so I know when I get this weight off now, I won't go crazy when I'm pregs.

    Thanks!!

    =)
  • I took a parenting class. I was told that adding about 300 calories to your diet is quite enough.
  • Sweet! Thanks!
  • It is going to be 300 calories a day added to MAINTENANCE calories.

    If you are eating, say, 1400 calories a day to LOSE weight...adding 300 calories a day to that isn't enough. You have to remember that 1200-1800 calories a day are weight loss calorie levels.


    What my doctor recommended to me was a 2000 calorie diet during my FIRST trimester, and then adding the 300 calories a day to that during the second and third trimesters-when the baby starts packing on the weight/size.
  • I was also wondering what the calorie requirements were...my doctor said 300 calories was all i needed to add as well,,, i was eating 1500 calories per day before pregnancy and so i added the 300 to get 1800 per day, but i still feel hungry throughout the day..

    I weigh 387 horrible pounds, maybe i am not eating enough; i have no idea what would be considered normal!

    I havent gained any weight and i am 27 weeks pregnant but doctor says because of my size i can safely lose weight and baby is perfectly healthy
  • You are feeling hungry...because you are HUNGRY. Your doctor most likely didn't realize that you were eating at a WEIGHT LOSS level, and actually, a weight loss level that was WAY too low for your weight at the time!!!!


    1500 calories a day is a weight loss level for someone that would be UNDER 200 pounds...not someone who is over 300 pounds!!!! A person who is over 300 pounds can easily LOSE WEIGHT, while NOT PREGNANT eating 1800-2000 calories a day.

    Please, you need to be eating more!!!! With your current weight, I would really suggest the 2300-2500 calorie a day range!!!
  • You are feeling hungry...because you are HUNGRY. Your doctor most likely didn't realize that you were eating at a WEIGHT LOSS level, and actually, a weight loss level that was WAY too low for your weight at the time!!!!


    1500 calories a day is a weight loss level for someone that would be UNDER 200 pounds...not someone who is over 300 pounds!!!! A person who is over 300 pounds can easily LOSE WEIGHT, while NOT PREGNANT eating 1800-2000 calories a day.

    Please, you need to be eating more!!!! With your current weight, I would really suggest the 2300-2500 calorie a day range!!!
  • Thanks for replying to me,,, I plan on asking my doctor at my next appt...

    My doctor has told me to Not gain any weight,,, however i do believe this is unrealistic..

    At my last appt, i was up 3.5 for that month,, overall still down from the weight i had started my pregnancy at...and she was giving me a lot of grief over it She told me she wants me to lose weight.


    i`m confused over how many calories i need to take in versus my excercise, in order to lose something,, the last two weeks i have maintained my current weight, which i think is great,, but to her, i need to lose.

    I will definately clear this up with her at my next appt.

    Thanks for your advice, i really do appreciate it
  • I can understand her wanting you not to gain weight, because you are over 300 pounds...but eating 2300 calories a day should not make someone of your weight GAIN weight-especially if you are active. 1500 calories a day is too little for someone of a normal weight to eat per day during pregnancy. It is simply way too low of a calorie level for your size.

    It would be normal for you to lose a few pounds during your pregnancy if you started eating healthier and exercising-because of your starting weight. However, you don't want to undernourish your body (and the baby) just because she is pressuring you to lose weight. You have to find the happy medium between the extremes of too low (1500 a day) and eating whatever you want and gaining.

    I recommend trying the 2300 calorie level....and some mild exercise, like regular walking.
  • Thanks again,, i have been doing the walk away the pounds videos and love them

    I am going to boost up my calories and see what happens...I weigh in tommorrow and i will see what happens with the scale for this week.