Is anyone else watching what they eat and exercising while pregnant?

[exexe]

I've just joined slimming world as I really can't afford to put on too much weight.
I've also been walking a lot most days and am getting a pre natal exercise dvd.
It would be nice to have some support along the way.

RockChick - I have a very similar story to you! Was perfectly slim before DC and now pregnancy ruined it!

Bettybat, it's interesting that you aren't into this low fat thing. Me neither. I also don't buy the 'low carb' thing ether though! That might sound like I'm not restricting what I eat at all, but I think that problems are caused mainly by eating too much of these things. So I cut down to at least recommended portion sizes (much smaller than I ate pre-weightloss).

So I have whole millk on my cereal, and I do eat carbs (though try to have lower GI wholemeal ones) but instead of beans on toast consisting of 4-6 slices of white toast with a whole can of beans, I might have 1-2 slices of wholemeal toast with 1/3-1/2 of a can of beans. I have tried to cut down on heavily processed foods (except for cereal and tinned beans because I love it too much) especially those high in sugar like biscuits, cakes etc.

I think we have to be careful to eat a balanced diet, because we are giving our little ones all kinds of information about what food is available in the world, which can alter the way their bodies work. A study done on epigenetics linked malnutrition in pregnancy with obesity in children, the theory is that the genes can be turned on which make the child's hunger/satisfied cues less effective (which would be useful if they lived in a world of scarce food because they'd eat more, but in our abundant society it leads to overeating). So I'm trying to make sure I include all the major food groups.

Had a massive 'luxury hot chocolate' (think cream & marshmallows) and a scone whilst out today though... I did turn down other offers of food though and did more walking (by far) than I do on an average day so I'd say it was a neutral day so far rather than a bad one...

For me, it tends to be about watching portion size, eating low GI versions of high GI carbs, and eating more fruit and veg generally whilst cutting down on the amount of chocolate/sweets/pastries I used to eat. But I still enjoy whole milk (and did so all the time that I was losing 6 stone) and some 'treats'.

Hey everyone. I have just found out that I am pregnant and I have lost about 2 stone. I need to lose about 3 stone more to get to a reasonable BMI but that might have to go onto hold. I don't want to put on loads of weight though.

Hello all. I'm trying to keep an eye on my weight this time round. Last pregnancy I gained 21kg - which was about a third of my body weight. Lost it all eventually, but it looks like I'm set for a repeat performance, I think I gained around 10kg already (I'm at 20wks).

I have the Davina DVD, it's very good though a bit sedate. I've been exercising to Erin O'Brien's one for the past few weeks and it's great.

I forgot to say - I live in France where they are very strict about weight gain in general, and particularly in pregnancy. A friend just got told off for putting on 10kg: she is full term!

I support you ladies trying to keep the weight down in pregnancy! I am not overweight but i am finding it very hard to shake the eating for two myth.

Cakes will most likely lead me to gestational diabetes...

That said, apparently fat is important in baby brain development. So great to count the carbs but do not eliminate fat completely... i guess all things in moderation for the precious bumps...

sooty glad I'm not the only one Have you tried NHS change for life website for recipe ideas? I've made a few, they are cook from scratch but pretty simple, and very cost effective. I've also used the tesco frozen fish pie fish, just add white sauce cheese and mash and throw in some peas. Dead healthy and feels like 'real' home cooking without all the effort!

I also like my own variation of slimming world theory of eating 1/3 of each meal fruit or veg, means that you are always getting a decent amount of them, and if you fill up on them (or have a bowl of veg soup for appetiser) you just won't have room for as much rubbish food!

I'm not dieting (had normal BMI pre-pregnancy) but am still exercising (although prob not enough) and trying to maintain a reasonable weight- last pregnancy I started at 65kg, ended up at 75kg and lost it all in a couple of weeks. This time I think it'll be more as I dont have the time for exercise that I had last time when I practically managed to turn pregnancy into a full time occupation.

The thing is, I know many people are of the opinion that you should just let it go and deal with it afterwards, but I just dont want to end up with loads of excess weight as it's so bloody hard to lose when you've got a baby (plus a toddler- I'll have 2 under 2) and the extra weight just seems to make me tireder. I know I'll prob lose some bf'ing but that assumes this one will take to it like the last one, and it might not.

I agree Richmanpoorman - the extra weight (along with eating junk) does make me more tired.

This weekend is a bit of a social one for me. I have a birthday party today and one tomorrow. Both are family, involve travel and include proper lunches so I won't be watching what I eat. I'll just have whatever offered.

I will however be able to focus on things properly from Monday when it's back to the school and work routine.

I've also ordered both those dvds I linked to earlier so will start on those when I get them and carry on with the walking.

Hope ypu're all having good weekends and are doing well.

I'm marking my place hear to keep an eye out for tips!

I'm just desperate to not put on too much weight - I know very much how hard it is to lose. And, having lost some weight over the last year, I really want to not get huge in pregnancy.

I know I'm not really supposed to, but I've been tracking with weight watchers. Not to try to lose weight, and I'm not too concerned about going over the points (particularly as I've been trying hard to up my dairy intake) but making a note of what I eat is helpful to avoid me over eating.

Finally, I posted last week asking for some advice on exercise during pregnancy and got lots of helpful advice!

exexe I'm 9 weeks-ish. I've generally been pretty good, it is just the preparation of food that's really putting me off! It's so odd. I'll eat it if it's cooked for me though I think I might get one of the DVDs people have mentioned on here to help keep motivated. I've got a couple of the Ministry of Sound dance ones, but they're a bit too energetic for me at the moment!

So I had a bit of a mad weekend and ate stuff that definitely wasn't very healthy but I've started back on the healthy eating from monday so so far so good. I don't have many occasions coming up so should be able to keep going quite easily.

TheRetroOwl I was exactly like that. I couldn't bear to cook anything with onions or garlic in either but could eat it.

Hope everyone else is doing well.

This is a good article why carbs - refined - are not good for morning sickness. It's the whole converting to sugar thing.

theprimalparent.com/2012/04/12/high-carb-diet-cause-morning-sickness/

Bettybat that's weird; on Sunday I decided to start a low sugar / low insulin forming eating plan. On Tuesday I got my BFP. I was a bit worried that my diet would not be varied enough (I'm also vegetarian) so I feel a bit more reassured by that. I will have to read the article.

Thanks for that Betty. Its hard though when thats all you fancy!

Congrats Ivanapoo. Is your eating plan similar to a low gi one then?

I had my weigh in today and was pleased with a stayed the same as last week considering the weekend I had!
I'm hoping to start losing from next week.
I got my dvds too so will have a go at them later.

I gave it a go in that - I don't each much bread or pasta and on the days I had say - some bread with soup for lunch, I was dying of sickness and heartburn that evening. I also felt horrendous after having (white potato) chips so have switched to sweet potato - heaven!

I think maybe it's difficult to get out of the head space that bread and stuff helps "line your stomach" but refined carbs are known to play havoc with the digestive system, and turn into sugars, so now I just equate them with bloat, gas, sickness and heartburn.

This thread has been very inspiring - I really want to minimise my weight gain this time round (dc2). I haven't quite lost all the baby weight from last time - I certainly don't want to be having to lose that plus loads more! I have ordered the pilates and Davina dvds as they sound do-able, and certainly better than nothing. I like the idea of swimming, too. I guess I have to take it easy as my poor old body isn't really used to exercise.

How much weight are you expected to gain by the end of pregnancy? (obviously minus baby, placenta, plus other bits!)

I got down to my smallest size and best weight for my height just before I found out I was pregnant, the lowest I'd been since my last child 5 years ago. I was 8st6 and a slim 8. now I'm upto 8st11 and a fat 8/slim 10.

I'm trying to be good as I hate how hard weight loss is afterwards. I'm doing the 10 min solutions DVD, and stocking up on fresh grub.

Nasara I'm hoping to lose weight! On slimming world, they say that although you'll be gaining baby weight, you'll be losing you're own fat weight.
Even if I'm half a stone lighter after the baby is born than when I got pregnant, I'll be ecstatic.

Hi exexe - yes pretty much exactly that. Eating some fruit like raspberries, typically having some porridge, granary sandwich for lunch w cheese, and stuff like falafel or veg curry in the eve. Snacking on nuts etc. I did break last night as had a bit of ice cream with the hubby... but I'm happy doing it 80% of the time.

The reason I'm doing it is because I'm currently what you'd call skinny fat - a size 10 but with loads of flab. I used to be a size 14-16 too (but strangely a lot less flabby then!) so quite keen not to put on excessive weight as not sure how i lost it last time! Also apparently avoiding refined sugar makes you look younger!

That sounds like a good diet. I'm aiming for 80% too. I think its fine to have a treat every now and then - just no constant cakes and chocolate like I've done before!
As for looking younger - yes any help there will be welcome.

Weekends are difficult but I'm determined.

I've gotta say - not this particular thread so much - but in Pregnancy, there seems to be a lot of threads about weight gain in pregnancy. So many people on here seem to know exactly how much they're gaining and it's kind of freaking me out!

I don't subscribe to BMI measurements, I don't weigh myself, pre-pregnancy I was very happy with my body - it might not be anyone else's ideal but I liked it. I have meat on me but a size ten...but what does that even mean? Compared to some of the weights in these thread, people on here would be horrified because I weigh a lot. Except everyone who knows my weight says I'm like some kind of tardis because I look "tiny". It's obvious what it is - muscle from years of martial arts and gymnastics. Yet if I went by weight/ height, I'd be thinking I was some kind of whale!

We're meant to - as women - have fatty bits to us. That's what our hips, bums and breasts are for. There's research to say a skinny man with a big belly is at more risk than a woman weighing the same with it spread around her body on her hips, bum, thighs and breasts. Because carrying all that fat around your middle is the worst place for it.

I don't believe in the old adage "eating for two" while pregnant. I'm not really eating anymore now I'm nearly 15 weeks than I was pre-pregnancy, except for an obsession with fruit! But, I fully expect to gain weight in my hips, breasts and legs. I'm OK with that - it's not great for my ego, but as long as I know I'm not going overboard, and still gaining weight - that's OK. Our bodies need fat to run off - it's like oil in a car. My baby needs me fit and healthy - as long as I'm moving around a lot still, it should all be fine.

Except all these threads about knowing down to the pound how has been gained is making me feel like I'm burying my head in the sand or something. I'm lucky in that DH is a personal trainer and nutritionist. He reassures me it's all OK - that's it not about calorie counting, pound watching, and arbitrary measurements like BMI or clothing size. But still...

I'm sorry ladies, for the thread hijack - I just had an attack this morning of feeling 15 again, worrying I'm not counting these things like everyone else and it really got to me

Bettybat you seem fine with your weight so please don't worry about anything. Most people expect to and are happy to gain weight in pregnancy.
I was too with my first and second.
However I'm expecting my third and never got rid of all my baby weight previously which is why I want to keep a check on it this time.
Don't let these threads worry you and believe me, most people are not worrying.

Saturdays are usually the day where I can really overdo it. I'm pleased to say I didn't though I did feel like I ate a lot. It was mostly fruit and other slimming world 'free' food though so I'm hoping this will work!
I'll find out on Thursday.

How is everyone doing?

Bettybat, just keep doing what you are doing. :) Much of weight gain in pregnancy is entirely healthy and is attributable to the baby or its support systems, including some stores of fat to ensure that there is sufficent nutrion available to baby during later pregnancy and nursing.

I always feel a bit conflicted when I talk about my weight and trying to lose it because I don't want to add to the enormous pressure women feel to be a particular shape, size or weight. Its something that women can feel particuarly self-concious about as their bodies change for pregnancy and breastfeeding - evidenced by the media obsession with how celebrities look the first time they dare to step outside their doors after childbirth.

For me, keeping track of my weight/BMI is a fairly recent development (started last year) and I use it as a metric to see how changes to my diet and lifestyle are affecting my body. I agree that it isn't a universal indicator of health - its quite possible to be slim but unfit or heavy and extremely fit. BMI in particular isn't a good measure for those with more muscle (not a problem in my case ).

As weight/BMI is a crude measure it's one I always intended to use less and less as I got closer to my rough goal. The idea was that I'd see where healthy eating and moderate exercise would take me - that I would find a body size and shape that was comfortable for me.

Of course, now I'm pregnant, weight loss is less important to me, but keeping up my new healthy habits is. I think it was changing my eating habits that allowed me to concieve after years of trying - a huge marker of the improvement in my health - so I don't want to lose it. So far, my weight has maintained about the same level whilst growing baby well, I probably will gain weight by the end of pregnancy and I'm not concerned about that as long as I still feel I'm being healthy in other ways.

I do want to keep up those healthy habits so I can continue to get healthier for future pregnancies (maybe ) and be an active role model for this little one. I was genuinely someone who overate due to depression and struggled with my weight partically due to thyroid issues, and who had minimal levels of activity (agrophobic..). My general goal was to head in the direction of losing 12 stone - which would take me to the upper edge of the 'normal' BMI zone - it is not a weight I have ever been with an adult body, so I have always been prepared to be flexible about when I'd find a size that suits me.

I don't endorse the idea that everyone should or could be stick thin, but for me I was too big for what I wanted to be able to do. It's hard to say that without sounding judgemental about other people's sizes, I honestly am not.