[booskibabe]

I've been using Fitday o calculate my activities and food, and until Thursday, when I found out I'm PG, I was losing steadily. Here's my question. Fitday says I'm burning about 2500 calories a day, including exercise. Does this mean I actually have to eat that many? At the end of the day, do my calories out and calories in need to be the same? I just don't want to screw this up, I waited to long for it for that to happen.
TIA!

[aphil]

The calories burned according to FitDay, and any other site, are simply guestimates. This goes for weight loss as well. Rather than going by what the estimator says, go by your body. How many calories are you eating per day, and how far along are you?

You should probably be aiming for about 2000 calories a day in the first trimester, and about 2300 in the second and third. Check your weight once a week or so, and see how you are doing.

It is common for many women not to gain much in the first trimester, or even lose a pound or two. The gain starts more in the second, with the third happening the quickest.

[booskibabe]

Well, it's been a week since I found out I'm PG, and I'm up 4 pounds without changing my calorie intake. I guess it's safe to say I don't need any more calories right now. I will definately keep those levels in mind as I progress.

[Shuggs]

I read that they recomend 200 calories extra in your first trimester! Im 5 months pregnant and im not even keeping count! If im hungry i eat. There is nothing worse (in my book) then being hungry and having a baby kick the crap out of you, it makes you want to throw up! I still excersize and my doctor told me as long as i dont over do it or start anything new that my body isnt use to i should be fine. I run 2 miles a day sometimes a little less or some days i skip depending on how tired i am (i have a 2 year old that i chase around too) Most important thing is to listen to your body.

[aphil]

No, almost every book on pregnancy that I have ever read (and all three doctors that I had) say that the extra calories are not needed until the second trimester. In the first trimester, all of the growth is mainly structural-such as all of the organs developing, etc. and not the baby's size too much. The second trimester is when the baby really starts increasing a lot in size, so that is when the calories are needed.

In the first trimester, my only weight gain really, was my boobs. (They always go up a cup size in the first trimester.)

Of course, if you are hungry, you should eat. But, there is no reason to eat for two, calorie wise. In the second and third trimesters-it's more like eating for one and 1/4.