Is it possible and safe to lose weight when pregnant

[froggy45]

I am 11 weeks pregnant and have always been up and down with my weight. I've tried many diets and lifestyle changes and at my lowest have been 9 stone. Before pregnancy I was doing quite well but I had a few months of terrible sickness and fatigue and stopped all exercise. Since then I've fallen off the wagon a lot and have been eating whatever I want - usually takeaways and white carbs.

I can see the weight creeping back on again and really don't want to be bigger than I need to be in pregnancy. Has anyone got any tips for managing my weight? It's hard because I feel completely off certain foods (mostly veg!) and I've stopped meal planning because I just never know what I'm going to fancy from one day to the next. Any tips appreciated.

You just have to roll with the punches first trimester and eat what you can. Wait until you feel better to start focusing on healthy foods, and take your vitamins. It’s perfectly possible to limit weight gain by eating healthy food and cutting out junk, once you can make those kind of decisions. Look up a weight gain recommendation, they tend to recommend less gain in pregnancy for higher starting bmis so make sure you’re looking up the right one and that will give you an idea of what is needed for baby’s health. I would focus on healthy eating not any kind of calorie restriction or fasting at all, that isn’t good for baby.

I’d speak to your midwife and GP about it.

Yes it is possible and safe as long as you don't try any silly crash diets and you make sure you're eating in a balanced and healthy manner. This can be difficult in pregnancy due to hormones and cravings and sickness. Don't set unrealistic goals and be prepared to relax your rules when needed.

I'd speak to your midwife or doctor.

Yes and yes. I did both times.

I came out of each pregnancy a bit smaller than when I started, 10 lbs put on in each pregnancy of which 8lbs of that was baby, so once baby delivered I was lighter than started. However I didn’t attempt to diet in anyway, I just could only eat smaller portions and no wine (which is a big downfall of mine). I don’t think I could have put on large amounts of weight if I’d tried, I just didn’t have the appetite, I wish that was the case now!

I got gestational diabetes when I was pregnant. Dietician put me on a low carb diet and I lost a stone in the last 3 months I was pregnant.

I did with DD , in fact I was lighter than when I started at the end of my pregnancy and she was 10lb.
I didn't do it deliberately but I went off loads of goods ,mainly anything with a sauce so instead of a curry I'd have grilled chicken breast with boiled veg. I also went off sweet food and snacks.

So If you want to lose weight eat healthily and don't eat for two, you need to eat for one and a bit.

I have gestational diabetes and a low sugar, low carb diet certainly seems to do the trick! Can't wait til the baby is here though - I'd give anything for a big doorstep slice of toast and jam.

I lost 2 stone but I was 14 stone so it was ok.
It was down to HG and I really struggled to eat much at all.
With my 2nd baby I was less sick but still lost a bit of weight.
Both times babies were a decent weight and healthy

You really need professional advice, not opinions from largely unqualified people.

Are you actually overweight/obese? I think that makes a difference.

Could you think of it more in terms of eating healthily and exercising more?
If you eat a healthier and start some gentle walking, you’re bound to lose weight or tone up and both are going to benefit the baby. I wouldn’t have a restrictive diet but I don’t see any harm in making healthier choices.

Healthier food, not less food and some gentle exercise will be fine.

Slimming world can be done while pregnant as it’s healthy eating. Think you get more healthy extras. Speak to midwife.

I didn’t loose weight during pregnancy, but I didn’t gain much at all, and I wasn’t overweight to begin with.
I went for an hour walk every day (it was lockdown) and did yoga a few times a week.
After the first trimester my appetite didn’t increase so I just ate normally. You definitely don’t need to eat for two, but do make sure you are eating nutritious food and you are covering all the food groups and vitamins/minerals.

@Dixiechickonhols

Slimming world can be done while pregnant as it’s healthy eating. Think you get more healthy extras. Speak to midwife.

I was just going to say exactly the same thing. I haven't been a SW member for a while now, but I know, in the past, it was advocated as a safe way to watch your weight whilst pregnant. Might be worth contacting a local group leader and talking to them?

They don’t tend to recommend you losing weight in pregnancy. I have a high BMI and they haven’t recommended I lose weight and were actually still expecting weight gain. I have lost weight during pregnancy and they aren’t concerned because I have a higher BMI. However, I’ve had ketones in my urine 2 times (only 1 +) but if there had been more ketones I’d have been sent for tests. Ketones can happen when you lose weight, particularly if you do a low carb diet and they can be bad for baby. I had ketones due to my gestational diabetes, so I wasn’t actively trying to lose weight it was just a by-product of having to do low carb.

I lost about 3kg in the first trimester due to nausea and I’ve lost another 3-4kg since being diagnosed with gestational diabetes 7 weeks ago. However, the hospital are keeping a close eye on my weight loss to ensure I don’t lose too much and make sure baby is still growing. Speak to your midwife if you’re concerned but they’ll probably encourage you to not actively lose weight.

Please share how much you weigh and your height - because you’ve said at your lowest was 9 stone which makes me think you’re not actually overweight?

Your baby will always take nourishment from you before you get it, so it’s not ‘dangerous’ as such - but it would be if you’re actively dieting when you don’t have any stores to share.

It’s important to be fit and healthy whilst pregnant for you and your baby, but trying to loose weight just for the sake of your looks whilst pregnant is absolutely crazy. If you’re thinking like this I would speak to your midwife or GP.

The people encouraging weight loss during pregnancy on here need to give their heads a wobble. We know absolutely nothing about the OP’s current weight or relationship to food.

Ignore your weight.

Decide to eat healthier foods and move more.

Talk to your doctor about anything more extreme than that, I suspect they'll advise against it.

At my largest I was 14 stone, smallest 9 stone and I have fluctuated between those a lot over the years. I have a difficult relationship with food/weight and once I notice that weight creeping on around my face and belly it does affect my confidence and self esteem.

because you’ve said at your lowest was 9 stone which makes me think you’re not actually overweight?

Depends very much on her height. I'm 5'1" and 9 stones is near the top of my healthy range. Obviously that will not be the case if the OP is nearer 6'.

I lost weight when I was pregnant with DD1, not drinking was what did it, I was already eating a generally healthy diet but losing the alcohol calories plus the alcohol induced snacking calories made the difference. I lost even more weight once she was born and BFing.

OP don't try and have a lifestyle overhaul when pregnant. Just try and not drink and eat too much crap and do a bit of light exercise each day (not yoga without an experienced instructor though, it's too easy to overstretch and injure yourself while pregnant).

Sorry forgot to add I'm roughly 5'6-5'7

I lost fair bit of weight healthily.
I carried on with the gym and exercise classes. They were tweaked by the instructor to make them safe.
I didn't have any junk food, cut out all the snacks such as chocolate and crisps. I had no alcoholic as a default of being pregnant so that saved calories. I was able to carry on hill walking and cycling to near the end.
I struggled with doing walks for the last two weeks so had gentle swims instead.
I didn't get to obsessed with wanting to lose weight but I definitely got a new focus about being healthy. I was quite toned by the time I gave birth and found that I lost all the baby weight and a little more in 4 weeks.

I didn't put pressure on my self to get back in my jeans or anything but it was a nice suorice that it happened quick. ( for me)

@JaninaDuszejko so? It's still a healthy weight for you then.

@froggy45 so how much do you weigh now? The fact you are being evasive with that makes me think you shouldn't be trying to lose weight at all because you're showing signs of having disordered eating.

You need to focus on your impending baby and your own self esteem, not dieting to ensure you stay thin during pregnancy.