Please Provide Insight - Weight Gain Question

I am 13 weeks 4 days pregnant and have already gained 11 pounds. I always watched my weight closely by eating properly and worked out like a mad woman since I was 22. I'm wondering why I gained so much so quickly; does anyone have any insight into why and how to keep my weight gain to a healthy minimum?

Re: Please Provide Insight - Weight Gain Question

To be honest, if you are eating healthy food and staying active (if you can/are allow to), then I'm not sure you can do too much. It seems that everyone's body is different in terms of weight gain and how you carry. I know I weighed less when I conceived DD1 than DD2 and I definitely gained more with her (27 lbs. total vs. 15 lbs. at 33w). It can depend on your pre-preg. weight too. Just know that you have to eat and eat right for the baby.

I've always tried to not let pregnancy be an excuse to eat too much or just junk. That being said, you eat what you have to to get through the first trimester and cravings happen (luckily they are far less for me this time).

Also know that your body is going to do what it is going to do after birth too. I watched what I ate and worked out 3-4 times per week for 10 months after having DD1. I never got all the way back to my old weight and my hips were in a new place. When I stopped working out, it didn't change my weight at all. For others, it seems to melt off of them.

Re: Please Provide Insight - Weight Gain Question

I have definitely been trying to eat healthy but I think what may have contributed to the gain is the first trimester and how I felt okay as long as I kept eating and kept eating carbs which I wasn't eating nearly as many carbs prior to learning I was pregnant.

It probably sounds very vain, but because I watched so closely to what I ate and worked so hard at staying thin and well toned before becoming pregnant, I'm still concerned because of how hard I worked before. I always worked out at least 5 days a week and still am working out at least 5 days a week as best I can but didn't realize I could have put on 11 pounds already or that quickly.

But thanks for your insight and advice! I appreciate it...

Re: Please Provide Insight - Weight Gain Question

I also heard that if you are a woman who is on the thinner side pre-pregnancy- your overall weight gain will be higher.

I think it has to do with building up maternal fat stores for the baby! So don't worry too much- especially if you are eating healthy

Re: Please Provide Insight - Weight Gain Question

I'm definitely trying to eat healthy, but its not as easy as it used to be... LOL Any suggestions on easy healthy snacking ideas? That seems to be my downfall, the snacking!

Re: Please Provide Insight - Weight Gain Question

I'm an official chunker and can't offer any advice lol I can say that it would be detrimental to the baby to cut out calories to try to keep weight down. They say you need an additional 300 calories a day for the baby, so keep that in mind and you'll be fine.

Re: Please Provide Insight - Weight Gain Question

I wouldn't stress too much about it. I think your body knows what to do for itself to stay healthy. If you are concerned about your gain talk to your doctor. I wouldn't push yourself too hard w/ exercise now that you are pregnant. It is still great to exercise but you might have to scale it back a bit to be safe. Some woman gain more in the beginning, and then less as the pregnancy goes on. Some gain steadily the entire time, and others don't gain much at all until the end. Everyone is different. Trust your body as long as you are being healthy don't worry about it so much.

Healthy Snack Ideas:
Apples & Reduced Fat Peanut Butter
Raw Almonds
Fruit- strawberries, oranges, blueberries
Hummus w/ carrots or pretzel chips
Yogurt- I buy the kids organic in the tubes and freeze
Red Fat Cheese

Re: Please Provide Insight - Weight Gain Question

You're going to gain what your body needs to for the pregnancy. If you're underweight or on the thinner side, you're likely to gain more though that isn't always true. If you're eating healthy foods and exercising, I wouldn't worry about it. Some women eat right and exercise throughout the pregnancy and still gain 50 lbs. Others gain much less while indulging in less healthy choices and not exercising. Everyone's body reacts differently to pregnancy.

Re: Please Provide Insight - Weight Gain Question

If you were underweight to begin with you may gain more regardless of wht you do.
Your body has to start holding onto more fat for the baby.
Just keep up the good eating and it will level out as you go on...
I was gaining steadily every month and then this past visit I gained NOTHING at all in 4 weeks.

It will even out eventually

Plus a lot of it is water/fluid retention

Message edited 3/31/2010 11:34:27 AM.

Re: Please Provide Insight - Weight Gain Question

Thank you all for the insight; I guess because I was always so conscious of my weight, it's hard to see so much come on at one time. I'm ecstatic to be pregnant but all I read are articles that say you should gain only up to 5 pounds in your 1st trimester, so that's why I was so concerned when I gained 11. Please anymore suggestions, I'm all ears! LOL

Re: Please Provide Insight - Weight Gain Question

I gained 30 lbs by the time I was twenty weeks. Before I was preggo I had very unhealthy eating habits, nothing but coffee all day until 1 pm, then a large lunch, but no dinner. So, when I started eating three square meals a day, I went kinda overboard.
I did the same thing with DD, and I was able to lose it. I really wouldnt beat yourself up, but its hard when some women dont gain a lot.

Re: Please Provide Insight - Weight Gain Question

I wouldn't obcess about it too much unless your OB starts complaining.

Re: Please Provide Insight - Weight Gain Question

I think a lot of the problem is all the "standards" you read about all over the web and in books. I should probably just start listening to my body and not one author's opinion. My OB hasn't started complaining yet; its just my own neurocies that are causing the trouble!