Uncontrollable cravings and weight gain

[Elly88]

Anyone else experiencing strong cravings for sweet things, especially chocolate? Didn't have anything when pregnant with ds but this time it's a girl. I've put on so much weight yet I can't seem to stop shovelling it into my mouth?! All my legs and arms and everywhere has blown up (did with ds too mind) which is making me feel rather low self esteem. Of course I'm thrilled to be pregnant but daunted at the fact of having to lose all this weight again. Ds wasn't huge, 8lb 3 but his shoulders did get stuck so if I start to measure big with dd then I will be put onto consultant care and I guess possibly looked at for c section which is the last thing i want, so I really should stop over eating! Why can't I help it? Anyone else? Oh I'm 31 weeks now. Thanks

[Sairafina]

Yes!! I've always had a bit of a sweet tooth but it's getting out of control 😂
I'm trying to replace chocolate with sweet fruit (strawberries, mango, melon) so I get the sweet kick without the crap. I also discovered Halo Top ice cream which, whilst full of crap, has fewer calories so not as bad for the flab.
I live in a country where the gyms opened 3 weeks ago so have been back there 4-5x per week which is helping both my physical and mental health.
I'm 25+5 and have gone from 60kgs to 68kgs

[Mc3209]

Yeah, my vice is anything bread. I am trying to limit the amount I eat, but sometimes I just can't help shovelling half a loaf into my mouth in one sitting. I stopped buying brioche buns (usually come as a pack of 8 where I tend to buy them) as I just eat the whole lot in one go. Yesterday I let myself buy one pack and it was demolished within 20 minutes. I am 25+6 and went from 52kg to 63kg. Before pregnancy was in the gym a lot, but to be honest now I'm slacking on exercise front as so out of breath and get Braxton Hicks everytime I do anything vaguely strenuous. Now it's just walks and housework for exercise. Don't even want to think about how I going to shift it after birth..

[Elly88]

Glad it's not just me, I don't usually have much of a sweet tooth. I've put on 2.5stone already!! Though my mum was the same and blew up with all her pregnancies too, so maybe it's just in the genes! Though I can't imagine all the cake and chocolate is helping... Yes I eat a lot of fruit too, I crave it after dinner. I try and walk the dog and do some zumba at home to keep moving bjt getting to the stage now where I just want to flop with my feet up! Still, running round after my 18 month old must burn Some calories?! I've always been very petite so to feel so big all over is very difficult :(

[Elly88]

@mc3209 Brioche is amazing, I could easily eat a whole pack, I feel your pain! It's like no amount satisfies the craving, and it comes back an hour later! Am also reliant on housework hopefully counting as some form of exercise. And also dreading having to lose the weight. The bump I have no issue with, but why the legs, arms and face 😒

[Sairafina]

I've found it to be such a difficult shift in mindset, this is my first pregnancy and never before has it been a good thing to put on weight!
I'm not immediately worried about getting it off again, getting him out is my main anxiety!

[AuntVictoria]

I'm the same! My chocolate consumption is out of control. I'm 36 weeks and don't dare weigh myself. I have a toddler so go out for a walk every day, but earlier in pregnancy my sciata would kick off if I did too much and now I start getting severe Braxton Hicks and feel very unwell, so haven't done any more strenuous exercise than walking and lifting (very heavy to be fair) DS in a long time. I found bf really helped me lose the weight last time to really hoping the same is true this time round!

[Elly88]

I only managed 2 weeks of breast feeding with ds as he wouldn't latch properly so had to join a gym, but I won't have time or money to gym with 2! So hoping I can bf longer this time to lose some calories among other benefits of course.

[Gerdticker]

Make sure you’re drinking TONS of water

Often easy to replace thirst with sugary stuff

Grab a glass of water before reaching for the cakes

[crazychemist]

If it bothers you, can you swap chocolate for something with plenty of fibre in (something I needed with DD1!)? Sometimes I hit the dried fruit - dried apple slices are nice, as aRe banana chips.

[Mc3209]

Banana chips, now that sounds good! Haven't had those for ages.
I am trying to drink as much water as I can, and the walks to the loo all add to daily step count 😆

[DJBebe]

I am 30 weeks and putin 8.5kg already. I'm avoiding buying anything which would cause a high calories increase to my daily diet. If it's not in the house and i don't see it it's easier not to crave it. 🙈

[DJBebe]

I've put on*

[GrumpyHoonMain]

I was craving potatoes / refined carbs / sugar when I was pregnant. No other way around it as I have PCOS and too many (plus too much weight gain) would probably have resulted in another miscarriage - so I just controlled them by restricting my calories (with my midwife’s support).

I did it by eating no more than 2k calories per day (with unlimited green veg), drinking very diluted squash as I couldn’t stomach water, and found eating a small handful of almonds / walnuts daily really helped ease the cravings.