How to slow down weight gain :-( ?

[TopazMortmain]

When I got pregnant I was seriously underweight - BMI of 16 or so. Am coming up to 3rd trimester and have made a MASSIVE effort to eat these last months and am always hungry so have not been as weird about food as usual. But, have put in over 13kg so far and now I've been told to slow that way down. How? Please share an example daily diet if you can. Here's what I typically eat:

Two slices wholemeal toast, orange juice
Coffee
Cereal bar
Pasta and salad, fruit
Slice of bread and butter
Hunk of cheese
Risotto
A chocolate

Help!

i find your post kind of strange?? I think you are wayy over thinking it, your weight gain so far is completely normal

My consultant told me this morning.I thought I was on track too

You are doing fine. Maybe bread pasta and rice is too much carb and you would have a better balance substituting lunch or dinner for a protein+veg?

It doesn't sound to me like you are eating excessively and gain seems normal. May i ask, why so underweight before? Sometimes the concern is getting the weight back off again but if you tend to thinness, that shouldn't be a problem.

There must be a reason your consultant said to slow down, maybe you are gaining too much too quick? (i'm not a health expert though). I would say what you have gained sounds normal. As a suggestion try changing the bread at lunch for yoghurt or fruit. Normally portion size is a problem but if your anything like i was you physically cant eat a lot in one go. Also, the small things like sauces in risotto & dressings on salads can be really high 'empty' calories, you could try changing or reducing these.

I was in a similar position with ds. Gained about 35lbs overall and was told I was going to have a giant baby/would tear horribly/the weight will never come off (he wasn't, I didn't and most did with almost no effort). You're doing fine. Your weight gain is good and as it should be and will come back off after the birth if you want it to. Ignore your consultant, s/he is scare mongering and applying guidelines to you that don't exist.

Try to focus on a different aspect of your pregnancy other than your weight. Eat what you fancy, all is fine.

If you are already 'weird' about food then you need to ignore your consultant. A bmi of 16 is incredibly low, I've had an eating disorder and mine never got that low. It is difficult getting out of the weight gain = bad mindset, but you really really must try. Your diet soun fine, and I disagree with the poster who said too many carbs. your body needs the food, and the fact you're gaining on so little food shows how undernourished you were before I shold imagine.
I've really struggled in this pregnancy with the weight gain. I'd just got my ED under control, was at a weight I was happy with, and got pregnant. My prevuious pregnancies saw me put on a LOT of excess weight, and the thought of that really unsettled me. I've been careful but sensible and realistic, and my weight gain at 21 weeks is now 8 pounds. I know that's the lower side of normal but I still struggle with it. If it's something you have a problem with then get referred to the midwife who deals with people with mental health issues. Are you under consultant care because of your BMI? If so, and even if not tbh, I'd report him. Your weight gain is absolutely fine, and tellign someone with food issues to stop gaining so much weight in pregnancy is shocking really.

Hi all,
How far along you are as this will have some something to do with how much you gain. I am like both you and fuckityfuckfuckfuck and was only just in recovery from anorexia when I becamae pregnant with this little one.

I am really suprised by the consultant no tact. We are under the care of the consultant the mental health MW as I am/was really strange about food but it does get easier I often have to remind myself that I am not really eating for me but my baby, which really helps as I know that baby can't look after it's self.

I am freaked out about how "big" I will get and have gained around 8lbs in 15 weeks. I know this is easier said then done try not to worry as it is not good for either you or the baby.

YM1xxx

Thank you for all your replies. I have never been diagnosed with an eating disorder but I know that I have big control issues with food.

I was SO proud of myself for eating like a 'normal' person and this morning was just horrible - burst into tears once I left the clinic.

I guess I will just look a little more closely at what and when I eat. Protein is a good idea but I already eat nuts and beans like they are going out of fashion. Cannot bear to get my teeth around the texture of meat right now.

Am off for a rummage through the cupboard!

Hello,

your diet sound pretty good to me, specially since you just mentioned you also eat nuts and beans.

Perhaps if you get too concerned, I would replace the cereal bar and the chocolate with a healthier choice. Not that these are unhealthy, but cereal bars have too much sugar sometimes, and you might as well be better with a bit of dried fruit with low fat yoghurt for example. Also, the chocolate depends on how much and what type of chocolate you eat. I'm totally into dark chocolate eaten in moderation. If you eat too much cheese, try some with lower fat content like mozzarella.

It's really a shame you were told to slow down your weight gain. Perhaps your midwife/doctor didn't realise how underweight you were and only looked at the total weight gain. I am also on the slim side, weighing 50 kg pre-pregnancies and put on around 5 kg on the first trimester and in total around 15 kg. Just like you my diet is also a bit carb rich, but I don't think that affects the weight gain at all. Just follow your hunger, your body needs to catch up and store some fat and nutrients for your baby to grow inside and after birth for breastfeeding.

I hope it all goes well.

I think what you are eating sounds completely ok. I would listen to the consultant too much.

Have you thought of trying quinoa? It looks like cous cous but it's full of protein, might be an alternative if you are tired of nuts and beans?

I had a BMI of 17 before getting pregnant, put on 15kg by 30weeks and was never told there was anything wrong with this. I wouldn't worry in the slightest if I was you.

God I used to eat five meals a day when pregnant. And the only times they weighed me were at the booking in appointment and the day before my CS. I typically ate...

Scrambled egg and ketchup on multigrain toast at home
Fruit and yogurt once I got to work
Milkshake - I had a real thing for them!
Ryvita and avocado or houmous as a snack
Pasta with pine nuts, tomatoes, spinach and cheese for lunch
Nice big slice of homemade cake or some biccies with decaf tea in the afternoon
Dinner and pudding at home in the evening, something like chilli and rice/chicken fajitas with ice cream or fruit and cream afterwards

cut back on the carbs, have more lean protein and dairy. you will see a major diffference and your appetite will almost certainly recede too.
have they tested you for gestational diabetes? i hope so.

I have a friend who was a model before she got pg and she put on a fair bit despite eating normally (or even slightly less than most) - I think it's simply that she (and you) started from a lower base. I think you sound FINE.

I'm permanently hungry btw - 22 weeks and counting.

However if you have had eating issues in the past, you might want to get your thyroid checked as it might have gone a bit haywire?

They do it routinely in France and the US (I think) and an under-active one can mean you can put on lots of weight even if eating normally.

I am amazed that you have been told that you need to slow down your weight gain. If my conversion is correct then you have put on about 2 stone? Which with such a low BMI to start with sounds fine. I have put about that on and was quite pleased with myself for not putting on too much this time (i have a habit of ballooning in pregnancy).
Please try not to worry. What you are eating sounds fine, and to be honest, you need to be having a well rounded diet in pregnancy rather than a low carb, or low cal one.

I think I would ask for a second opinion or to see a dietician. You are definitely not eating too much, in fact in calorific value probably less than what would be recommended. If your eating habits weren't normal before conception and your BMI was as low as 16 then your weight gain may be accelerated by your new eating habits, but this is far better than to be eating too little and not gaining weight as you should. I have a diagnosis of severe anorexia nervosa. I was a BMI of 19 at conception where I had to be at to get infertility treatment (as a result of the anorexia!). I have been told by a specialist dietician to expect to gain more than a pregnant woman who was of a normal weight at conception and an average value of 3 stones was mentioned. This is essential for the baby to grow and for you to remain healthy also.

If you have had control issues with food I would recommend asking your GP for some support with it. They can refer you to someone who can help you work through these issues. I can only speak for myself but if my son or daughter picked up any bad eating habits from me due to my illness I would never forgive myself. I was once given days to live and was hospitalised for a year. It is not a trivial illness and you can get better so ask for help if this could become a problem and if you think you will become so rigid and so underweight again after the birth. It is by no means the only factor in diagnosing an eating disorder, but a BMI below 17 is seen as one of the diagnostic criteria and when I was in hospital was considered low enough to ensure total bedrest. Your little one will look to you to grasp what they should eat and how to eat, how their body should look and what weight is normal. How active they should be and how spontaneous their eating habits are. Don't let them suffer by following in your example. Do something about it whilst you have time.

It doesn't sound to me like you need to slow down your weight gain - can't believe they told you to try - you're eating a normal diet as far as I am concerned. I had a BMI of 18.5/19ish when I got pregnant, which is just my natural weight but obv on the lower side of normal. I gained about 2.5 or 2.75 stones. I ate similar amounts to you - my portions were normal/small and I usually had cereal or toast for breakfast, some fruit as a snack, salad and a packet of crisps for lunch, something mid afternoon and a normal dinner. I pretty much ate what I ate pre-preg and people often commented on whether I was eating enough!

But I gained about 2lbs a week in my 2nd/3rd trimester. I think my body obviously needed to put the weight on and just did what it had to do - I certainly wasn't over eating. It is pretty clever and your body will be conserving the calories it needs for you to grow a healthy baby. I worried about how much weight I gained as I just couldn't understand it - I wasn't eating that much! But it came off by itself pretty quickly (had half a stone to lose at 6 weeks post-birth and that came off by itself too). So I think try not to worry about it - you're eating exactly what you need for you and your baby.

Btw my daughter was 7lb 3oz so not a big baby either! Good luck

Thank you everyone - I am definitely reassured -it is a struggle to remember that eating is good and not BAD

Deep breath and onward, toast in hand.

Hi Topaz, it just so happened that I was talking to my ex model friend last night and she told me that if you have a very low BMI due to eating issues (as she also did, thanks to her lovely career ), over the years your body learns to become super-efficient at processing nutrients.

Thus when you do start eating normally, it seems like you gain more weight than other people as your body is processing so aggressively. Your body will settle as it becomes less frightened of being starved.

I was also going to pass on her warning about passing on good eating habits to little ones but I see that sharon has done it already, far better than I could.

Now, enjoy that slice of toast!

Hi Topaz - I join others in being horrified that your consultant should say such a thing. With such a low BMI starting point, your weigh gain sounds ideal and you should be really proud of yourself - I bet you look FAB!

I had eating issues when I was younger and a very low weight and BMI. The most useful thing I was ever told is that when your weight is that low, your body will do what it needs to get the nutrients it needs - that means when you eat "properly" it holds onto it, because it knows what it's missing, but the weight gain soon tails off and stops once you get to what would be your 'natural' weight for your height and metabolism. This ended up being totally true for me and after an initial spike my weight settled around a BMI of 19-20, which didn't change until I had difficulties conceiving and was actually advised to up my BMI to 22 to give me the best conception chance! When you are PG your body will do what's best for you and your baby and it sounds like yours is doing this perfectly

I have seen plenty of ladies with much higher BMIs on MN who have gained more than you at this stage (and rightly they and their practitioners have no issue with this). Your consultant is clearly misguided or was just referring to some 'average' rate of weight gain that has nothing to do with your personal situation.

My BMI is currently 23 (which midwives say is 'ideal', if there is such a thing) and I eat quite a lot more than you on a daily basis, so your diet sounds great to me, and I certainly wouldn't cut down.

Eat what you feel like, trust your body and don't worry about how fast/slow to gain weight. Your body will sort out what's best for you and your baby.