Feeling really fat and massive - would it be bad to sort of diet-ish?

[BettyButterknife]

I'm 26 weeks and utterly gigantic. I have been eating like a horse so I'm not surprised, but I was thinking of cutting down a bit, maybe following the Slimming World guidelines (which I know you can do during pregnancy).

I just don't want to have 3 stone to lose post-partum, I'm developing varicose veins and piles and I'm sure it's because I'm carrying so much weight - both baby and fat.

Unless you have been medically advised to do so, dieting during pregnancy is never advised. Is this your first?

How much have you put on so far? Are you eating a lot of rubbish? If you are, why not just cut that out and take more exercise?

I am nearly 16 weeks myself and have only put on about a third of a kilogram (ie perhaps a pound at most) but I tell you that not to be smug, but as a cautionary tale - I put on about 22 or 23kg last time and still had 12 to lose (ie a couple of stone) when I got pregnant again. So I am being supercareful about what I eat. Good luck.

I wouldn't diet at least not without getting permission from your dr or midwife first.

However that doesn't stop you from making an effort to eat more heathily and get more exercise.

Don't restrict your calorie intact without medical advice.

Not my first, didn't put much weight on during my first pregnancy but in the year of maternity afterwards I was about 2 stone heavier than before I fell pregnant. Made a slight effort to shed a bit this time last year - probably half a stone.

Haven't weighed myself this time (too scared) but I can see it in my face, arms and legs - reckon I'll have loads to lose this time and I'm terrified of how I'll do it.

I walk 2 miles three times a week and do an antenatal yoga class. That's it for exercise. But I've been eating whatever I fancy and that's often a bit rubbishy food - cakes, crisps, lots of cheese, sweets, squash etc. I feel like I'm coming out of that phase a bit and actually craving vegetables and good stuff. I suppose I'm just terrified of getting used to eating trash and finding it really tough after the birth.

LadyThompson when you say you're being supercareful, what exactly do you mean?

I think you know in your own mind what acceptable - fair enough your pregnant and deserve a few treats but thats 1 chocolate eclair not 5 .....being pregnant isnt a ticket to not excercise and to just stuff your face.

If you are hungry-eat

but eat healthy wholesome food.

When I say careful - I mean no sweets, puddings, cakes. Only sugar free squash. No fruit juice (think this is what stacked on the weight last time - I mainlined orange juice throughout my pregnancy). I have eaten a fair amount of cheese I guess but that's my one vice. I think your exercise sounds adequate. You don't have to diet, just knock the junk on the head. But you know that already. However, you may be on those people who can get rid of the weight quite easily afterwards. I thought I'd be like that. Er...but I sure wasn't, and even losing a stone was agony. Hence my resolve this time.

depends on your defination of a diet.

no nutritional value in sweets cakes crisps biscuits, chocolate - can safely cut it all out and no need to eat hard cheese at all either.

no need to eat for 2 .. but don't go mad restricting calories either. and diet tips like eating homemade veggie soup or a big salad before your main course would be a great idea in pregnancy as you'd be eating lots of veggies. and what better to snack on that apples /carrots/cherry tomatoes (which i eat like sweets!)?

i don't think any need to consult dr or midwife if its a case of cutting out rubbish although if its a really strict diet you might want to discuss.

i have found as pregnancy progresses i am eating less because i find i feel much better with small meals. it means i need a piece of fruit between each meal and i generally go to bed with a banana on my bedside table as am often hungry in the night. but i'd rather have that than indigestion or heartburn.

You probably shouldn't diet as such, i.e. go hungry. But you could stop eating crap. Stick to fruit and vegies, protein, good fats, whole grains, lots of water. That might help keep the weight gain to a minimum.

(says the enormous baby whale with a bad chocolate habit!)

I also think a diet per se probably not a good idea, but if you can cut down the empty calories while not counting calories or whatever, that's probably the way forward.

I have felt similarly in my current pregnancy, - craved rubbish from the onset, had to indulge to stave off sickness, just hungry all the time and not satisfied by the fairly healthy things I know I should be eating, so gained more weight than last time and much quicker...

I'm now 34 weeks though and this has died down, weight gain has slowed a lot, and not feeling as ravenous thankfully. But the way I see it is that pregnancy is fairly hard work on the whole, and you should go with what your body is telling you, within reason. It's not the time to make life harder for yourself. Worry about it later on!