calorie counting

[nervoussam]

Did anyone calorie count during pregnancy, either to make sure they were getting enough or not too much. I don't want to obsess but want to make sure I'm as healthy as possible for my baby.
Interested in hearing how others dealt with their diet.
Been just trying to make sure I get the right sorts of foods so far but other tactics welcome!

I did, after I piled on vast amounts of weight in the first half. Not with the aim of restricting calories, but more to make sure I was thinking about what I was eating and not eating too much of the wrong sort of thing. I think it made a huge difference and as well as slowing down the ridiculous weight gain, I felt heaps better. After a while eating better came naturally anyway - think feeling really sick in the first trimester just threw me and for a while all I could eat was crap.

I used myfitnesspal, fwiw. And my Fitbit to make sure I was active enough.

Thanks, I sporadically use MFP too but didn't want to become obsessive (which I can do) but like you say, first trimester (which I'm in) nausea means toast is calling to me!

I'm also using MFP to track calorie intake. It makes me more aware of not having a 500 calorie pre pack sandwich and instead having 500 calories of home made food. Just from an awareness point of view I found this really helpful but it also makes you think twice about that 4th biscuit because you have to log it and instead I found myself thinking "no I'll have an apple as that would look better on the log" haha. Means I am eating a lot more healthy than I was in the first trimester.

I wanted to in the first trimester but mornign sickness made it impossible. I just wanted to eat bland food at times and it was all I could stomach so it was better than not eating.
Now i'm in 2nd trimester i'm doing a much better job :) Dont stress about it most people think your body carves what it needs so as long as you aren't binging I wouldnt stress too much.

Thanks all: I think balance in the key. As the nausea goes I'm hoping I can find the right balance (and eat less bread!)
Although reading What to Expect.. If I ate the full portions of everything they say to I'd be eating enough food for 3!

I'm 13 weeks and have been using MFP. It's an interesting log as you can see my food intake getting more beige as the nausea gets worse and then starting to improve last week! I find it very useful.

Do you set yourself a calorie limit at all or just make sure it's not overly excessive?!

Yes, I've got my calorie limit set at 1900. But that's after discussion with the midwife and lots of reading about weight loss in pregnancy!

I've set mine at 2000 as a rough guide. Some days I eat more, some less. But as long as I am eating when hungry and drinking lots of water I'm not too worried. As others have said, I was beige all the way for 1st trimester so I am using it more to check I don't overdo the carbs now the nausea has gone (MFP warns you when you have too much of one food group) and up to check I am eating a variety of veg/fruit/protein in the day.

Shit am I supposed to be taking in 1900cal???

I'm not managing anything near that. 900 today. Currently 10 weeks. I'm just not interested in food.

900?! Blimey, try and have some calorie dense foods (rice, avocado etc) to try and up that as its not enough. It's hard when feeling nauseous I know. Or at least try and make up for it when the sickness passes.

Other ladies sound very sensible! I will try and follow your good example!

900 calories! I think it's not uncommon for people not to take in many calories in the first trimester though. As long as it's due to sickness and food versions rather than you trying to restrict yourself, it will pass soon and you shouldn't worry.

I'm not sick
I'm not nauseated by anything
Feel a little queezy but nothing bad.

I just have no appetite.

Booking in appt today.
The BMI they calculated means that I'm technically "overweight" I think I got 28
I have massive boobs, I'm tall I didn't think I was fat but I clearly am according to the NHS.
I fucking hate the bullshit BMI calculator. It's utter shite but it's what the NHS use so I'm overweight. Great. Forget that I dance and have muscle. Ignore my 34Gs. If the numbers say I'm overweight then so be it.

I worry that I'm going to be paranoid about my weight during pregnancy.
Which means that now I'm planning on eggs and rice and veg and feeling bad about it too.

900 is very little... But I guess everyone just does what they can!

I eat a LOT more than this but I have turned into a pregnant heifer :)

Agree that bmi is completely flawed so don't take any notice! I also wonder what my massive boobs weigh as I weigh a lot more than people think, I read somewhere that it can be a good 10lb which makes a massive difference !
Just try and stay healthy X

If your BMI is 28 and you're very muscular then you were obviously eating a lot more than 900 calories before you got pregnant, so it does sound like first trimester food aversions. For the few weeks of the first trimester it's not worth worrying about, as long as you are not feeling light headed!

I would definitely recommend trying a protein shake or making a home made smoothy of fruit and spinach if you are only taking in 900 calories for more than a couple of weeks. I had no appetite either but your body needs nutrients to build all the amazing things you are building. I found drinks much easier to stomach as I could sip on them as the day went along rather than sticking to a big meal.

A normal woman should have approx 1900 calories a day when she's not pregnant. I personally don't find the BMI thing at all helpful as pregnancy is not the time to start cutting out good food. My sister is very athletic and "overweight" by BMI standards, but heck, she is a load healthier than I am normally and I have a low BMI. I think it's ridiculous.