Putting on weight in the first trimester - can I safely lose it?

[Starfish83]

Morning all. Unfortunately, I’ve piled on the weight around my hips, thighs and bottom over the last 12 weeks - all down to strong food aversions only being able to stomach beige food. 🙁

My priority, of course, is keeping my little bean safe, so I certainly am not planning on doing any extreme diets. I’m just wondering if it’s possible to gently lose a few pounds during pregnancy and, if so, what the best way to go about this would be? Any recommendations for exercises to do at home would be great? Life is very busy with work and a toddler so I don’t have time to leave the house alone solely to exercise at the moment.

Only looking for supportive/sensitive comments, please. Thank you x

I feel your pain! Do you have a bike with a toddler seat? I’m sure I’d have piled weight on if I wasn’t cycling to and from work every day! Appreciate not everyone else can do this but a half hour cycle in the evening now it’s lighter would make you feel good and help manage the weight gain! My 2yo DD sings as we cycle it’s lovely! Xx

I would suggest looking into slimming world, there not so much a diet, they more look at a balanced diet. Tbh tho I'd say you should aim at not putting on anymore, if you maintain/ slowly gain in the second half of the 2nd trimester that would be fine as well. Good luck!

I think the key is to eat healthy and balanced. So don't diet, but if the morning sickness is wearing off make better choices. You might find your weight doesn't drop as such, bit that you lose it as you gain it elsewhere.
You can do lsimming world pregnant but the focus is on a couple of pounds a week, calcium, protein, healthy food etc

Thank you for your lovely suggestion, Napqueen. I’m afraid I have a few barriers re. cycling at the moment: I’m working at home; my little one is only 1 and, although we were planning on waiting until she was slightly older before using the bike seat we have for her; time-wise, when we get home in the evening it’s already 6pm and I need to feed her; and, bring nearly 12 weeks pregnant, I thought cycling wasn’t recommended (due to balance shifting and risk of falling off). Thanks so much for the idea though! x

Thank you 1990 and Sleeping, that’s really helpful. x

You could aim to maintain in 2nd trimester rather than lose, that's what I aimed for as had exactly the same problem as you with only being able to stomach beige food in first. I was managing it at first but then gave into cravings and went back to gaining, then at 30 weeks suddenly gained a lot more and my bump got huge, but I think that's more the weight and size of the baby :) I've made my peace with the fact it might take a while to get the weight off after birth, but if you're more disciplined than me you may manage to stay maintaining for a while and then just gain what baby needs to later on.

Weight gain may start to taper off. Everybody is different. Speak to your midwife about weight targetsrather than weight loss if it is bothering you.

Thank you Tris and Fucked. 👍🏼 x

I think it depends on your body type on whether you will lose it or not. My first two pregnancies I gained over 23 kgs. However, my body type is tall and thin. Lost all the weight and now pregnant with my third. People make comments how I don't look pregnant and they can't believe its my third (I'm 16 weeks but you can't really tell)....and they are always shocked when I say I will probably pile on the lbs soon enough as I gained a lot with first two. It took a year to lose the weight each time, but I didn't do anything to try to lose the weight, it just came off slowly and naturally. Although, within the first week, 13 kgs came right off....I think maybe water weight?

@StarlightIntheNight I'm hoping I'll be the same as you. Was fairly tall and thin (bmi on the higher end of normal but decent percentage of muscle) but have now gained at least 20kg. But I genuinely don't think I look that big except my boobs and bump so I'm hoping a lot of it is baby and water!

Yea, I think a lot of it can be water weight, depending what you are eating. I did not change my eating habits much when pregnant, other then to add some more fruits and veggies. I normally can just eat whatever I want and stay slim. But when pregnant, I get big everywhere (except my bump stays on the small side!!). But my face, boobs, thighs etc get bigger. The main thing is after baby arrives eat like you did pre baby or a little less if you want to speed up the weight loss. Some friends didn't lose the weight for a while bc they would eat a candy bar a day etc in addition to their normal foods.

@StarlightIntheNight I was on a low calorie high protein diet before I got pregnant but had aversions to meat, eggs and a lot of the veg I usually relied on in the first trimester. Now I'm eating at my normal, but my normal usually results in a gradual weight gain! I'm going to try and start on 1800 calories after birth and then gradually reduce because I don't want to affect my milk supply. Hopefully my parents and in laws don't bring loads of treats when they visit because they tend to do that

Weight loss in pregnancy is not recommended because fat cells can store toxins and if released can harm your baby. Please speak to a doctor who will confirm that guidelines say it is strongly discouraged.