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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is this unhealthy?

37 replies

Piggybuttons · 07/12/2020 14:03

I know IABU to post here but posting for traffic. I am 15 weeks pregnant and have gained 9lb which I know is too much. This is mostly because I could largely only stomach carbs and sweet food in the first trimester. I am really struggling to break some of these bad habits now.

I am trying to be healthier going forward so I don't gain too much but have lost sight of what is healthy. I am towards the upper end of my healthy bmi at 22.

I have posted a couple of days worth of meals below and would appreciate a critique/how I could make them better. On days I am working I don't have time to cook breakfast so its just a quick yoghurt or bowl of cereal normally.

I drink tea with skimmed milk, water or sugar free squash throughout the day

Breakfast: Porridge with skimmed milk, half a banana and teaspoon of peanut butter/ Shreddies with skimmed milk and half a banana

Lunch: Wholemeal bagel with small amount butter and low fat cream cheese, spinach and 2 poached eggs/ low fat tin of lentil soup with a fat free yoghurt and apple

Dinner: small portion low fat meatballs and spaghetti with lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes and pickled beetroot/ homemade chilli with brown rice and lettuce etc

OP posts:
shitinmyhandsandclap · 07/12/2020 14:05

I'd say it was pretty healthy but also doesn't seem much. I've lost quite a lot of weight over the last couple of years and eat much more than that

nanbread · 07/12/2020 14:12

Are you very small? That's the sort of thing I would eat if I were trying to watch my weight when not pregnant.

Original poster
Piggybuttons · 07/12/2020 14:19

I'm not particularly small. usually a size 10 but not fitting into my usual clothes anymore. I think part of the problem might be I dont seem to feel hungry alot of the time and just feel a bit sick so just stick to breakfast lunch and dinner. I was eating LOADS of chocolate, bread etc in my first trimester so maybe I've tried to pull it back a bit too much. I just feel like I've lost sight of what I should be eating and how much IYKWIM

OP posts:
LobsterRavioli · 07/12/2020 14:19

That all sounds super healthy to me, are you snacking?

Original poster
Piggybuttons · 07/12/2020 14:26

I have had the occasional mince pie over the last couple of daysBlush but they're gone now so shouldn't be having any more of those for a while (until I can be bothered to go to the shop at the weekend)

OP posts:
LividLoves · 07/12/2020 14:30

That seems like very little food for a pregnant woman.

JorisBonson · 07/12/2020 14:32

That's a small amount of food to eat in a day, pregnant or not. You also seem to be focusing on "low fat" foods.

RUOKHon · 07/12/2020 14:33

Do you have a history of eating disorder OP?

Original poster
Piggybuttons · 07/12/2020 14:43

No history of eating disorder i did lose alot of weight a few years ago so have always gravitated to low fat foods since then, although I think on some level I'm worried about gaining it all back.

As I say there have been a couple of snacks in there (mince pies) that I was planning on cutting out but will maybe swap for a piece of fruit or similar. It has largely been boredom snacks on an evening though which I know isn't great.

Also im feeling quite sick alot of the time so haven't felt an urge to eat more than I am. I did think maybe my diet was still to carb heavy but take on board that the general consensus seems to be that I'm not eating enough

OP posts:
Original poster
Piggybuttons · 07/12/2020 14:45

Please excuse the poor grammar!

OP posts:
Whererainfalls · 07/12/2020 14:47

What do you think is unhealthy about those meals?

Lazypuppy · 07/12/2020 14:49

That doesn't sound like an excessive weight gain, i thought average was about 25-30lbs over whole pregnancy, you're into 2nd trimester so seem to be on track

MostlyAmbridgeandcoffee · 07/12/2020 14:49

Please cut out the low fat - low fat does NOT equal more healthy . Full fat is best especially when pregnant.

Your list looks like someone who is trying to lose weight ... and your post sounds a bit like someone with an ED. Please don’t try to lose weight while you are pregnant and try to relax a bit and roll with the normal weight gain of pregnancy

teateateateateamoretea · 07/12/2020 14:51

Eat some cake and chill out.

MichelleBauble · 07/12/2020 14:52

but not fitting into my usual clothes anymore.

Being pregnant might have somethiing to do with that!

helloxhristmas · 07/12/2020 14:52

Ditch the low fat and eat less full fat, you'll be more saited.

Saying that I existed in strawberries, haribo and mash for 20 weeks so it way more healthy than I was.

Hayeahnobut · 07/12/2020 14:53

A BMI of 22 is not at the upper end of healthy, it's in the middle of the range, and that's when you're not pregnant.

Perhaps not an eating disorder, but it's not unusual to develop disordered eating habits whilst losing weight, and these tend to resurface when you're concerned about gaining weight. Have a chat with your midwife or GP.

CabinClose · 07/12/2020 14:54

22 is bang in the middle of a healthy BMI, not towards the upper end. If that’s a genuine list of what you’re eating, you are eating at a calorie level to lose weight. You probably know this, if you’ve lost a large amount of weight previously.

Haworthia · 07/12/2020 14:54

I used to get so hungry when pregnant. Can’t imagine spending pregnancy feeling embarrassed about eating a mince pie. Pregnancy was the only time I really stopped caring about what I ate. Yes, I rather piled the weight on (was also immobile due to crippling SPD) but I didn’t view that as a personal failure. I worked on losing the weight when I had the baby.

OzziePopPop · 07/12/2020 14:54

Low fat often equals very high in sugar, particularly yogurts so check labels, natural yogurt with fruit or a drizzle of honey can be better and tastier.

xmasnc2020 · 07/12/2020 14:56

Op, that isn't excessive weight gain. You're on track. Especially if you are now able to eat less of the sweet snacks you were relying on in the first trimester and can get more fresh veg in your diet.

Mrsjayy · 07/12/2020 14:59

You seem to be eating low fat calcium poor meals you are pregnant and you do need extra calories just. Eat food and stop blushing at a mince pie. A size 10 and 15. Weeks pregnant is usual.

Brian9600 · 07/12/2020 15:00

Your weight gain is fine. What you're eating is on the low side but again fine if you feel ok. I'd be guided by how hungry you feel and try to relax a bit.

Youngatheart00 · 07/12/2020 15:02

Your body tends to crave what it needs when you’re pregnant. If you want that mince pie - have it- absolutely zero guilt! Carbs and fats are important along with protein and vitamins - you are growing a whole new life! Be kind to yourself and your growing bump.

Nottherealslimshady · 07/12/2020 15:03

Do not diet while pregnant. Baby needs food. I'm 19 weeks. I'm in a group of women who mostly have put on at least or even more than you. It's not abnormal at all. You're a healthy weight. Alot will be water weight and bloat aswell.

You need to eat when you're pregnant, you will put on weight, its perfectly normal and healthy. Eat when you're hungry, eat what your body wants, make sure you're eating healthy food but there is not alot of food at all in what you've said. You're going to make yourself ill if you try and lose weight while you're pregnant.
Are you taking multivitamins for pregnancy? You need to make sure your iron is up.

Do not worry about your weight, you are healthy and gaining weight is healthy. Do not restrict your diet.