How Can I Lose Weight During Pregnancy

Distribution Of Weight During Pregnancy

How To Lose Weight During Pregnancy

If you are wondering where does all that pregnancy weight go, then you are not alone asking this question. The amount of weight gained is fairly distributed. Heres a breakdown of the weight you gain during pregnancy.

  • The baby weighs around 3 to 3.5 kg by the end of the pregnancy.
  • The placenta and amniotic fluid make up about 1.5 kg.
  • An enlarged uterus and engorged breasts can mean an additional 2 kg.
  • Bodily fluids and blood can weigh up to 4 kgs, while fat and other nutrients constitute nearly 3 kgs. So the total weight gained could be anywhere between 10 to 15 kilos.

Incorporate Movement Into Your Day

ACOG states that as long as you are experiencing an otherwise healthy pregnancy, exercising during pregnancy is safe. Maintaining a consistent exercise program will help the woman to recover faster after delivery and to lose weight quickly after pregnancy, says Kravat.

If you have never exercised before, you will want to take it slow, but for most birthing parents, incorporating moderate-intensity exercises is fine. ACOG contends that the safest exercises for pregnant people include walking, swimming, gardening, and stationary biking, along with yoga and Pilates .

What Should A Pregnant Mother Avoid To Lose Weight Safely

A pregnant mother can absolutely lose weight safely by eating the foods we listed and staying as active as possible.There are a few important points to keep in mind to lose the weight safely:

  • Do not restrict calories to the point of extreme hunger
  • Keep energy levels up with healthy carbs from fruits, veggies, sweet potatoes and oatmeal
  • Don’t fill up on crackers and chocolates
  • Skip the fad diets that often limit food groups an nutrients
  • Avoid deep fried foods, processed meats and breads
  • Take out dairy because of the affects on insulin
  • Take out white carbs like breads and potatoes
  • Avoid calorie-dense cheeses and butter

If you want to solve your milk supply problems for good by correcting your nutrition and nutrient deficiencies. Nutrient deficiencies are a major cause for low milk supply, and you can fix it through the right diet program. The right diet can help you effortlessly lose the baby weight, while actually boosting your supply. Grab this diet program to help you fix your low milk supply, eat the right foods, and completely transform your milk supply.

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Losing Weight In Your First Trimester Here’s Why

Short on time? Then the key things to know are:

  • It’s common for some women to lose weight during the first trimester due to morning sickness, nausea or through adopting a healthier lifestyle
  • Small unintentional weight loss in early pregnancy will not cause any harm to your baby
  • Significant weight loss after the first trimester needs to be assessed by your midwife or GP
  • Maintaining a sensible, balanced diet, drinking plenty of water and keeping active during pregnancy is the best way to stay healthy during this time of significant physical and psychological changes to your body

The first trimester of pregnancy can be both incredibly exciting and overwhelming, so when something unexpected occurs it can cause a lot of anxiety, especially when combined with first-trimester exhaustion!

It is common to think that once you are pregnant you will immediately start blossoming on your journey towards your final pregnant shape and bump. So, it seems reasonable to expect to see some weight gain from the beginning of your pregnancy journey, but how much weight gain in the first trimester is ânormalâ?

Well, by the end of the first trimester, most women will notice about 0.5 – 2kg weight gain. However, each pregnancy is a unique journey, and it can be normal for some women to actually lose weight during the first trimester of pregnancy and this is not necessarily a cause for alarm.

Tips For Healthy Eating

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“It is important to eat a balanced diet while pregnant,” says Rhee, who adds that watching portion control can be a healthy practice to continue in pregnancy if your weight is a concern.

She also stresses that if you are on medications or supplements to aid weight loss, you should speak to your health care provider to make sure that they are safe during pregnancy. Lastly, Dr. Rhee advises that diets in which one eliminates certain food groups should be avoided.

Deborah Malkoff-Cohen, MS, RD, CDN, CDE says that “eating for two” is an outdated recommendation, especially during the first trimester when the baby is very small. She suggests these tips to create nutritious, balanced meals during pregnancy:

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Address Weight Concerns Early

While youll certainly gain weight naturally from your pregnancy, the majority of this weight gain happens in the second and third trimesters. Your baby also grows rapidly during the last 2 months of pregnancy. You cant control weight gain attributed to the fetus and supporting elements like the placenta, so its best to address any weight issues earlier in pregnancy.

Some research has reported success in weight intervention during pregnancy. Findings showed that people who received advice between weeks 7 and 21 of pregnancy were less likely to gain excess weight during the third trimester. The same participants studied also benefited from weekly support group meetings.

This is just one example of when early planning helps stave off excess weight gain. If you want to lose weight or control the amount of weight you gain overall during your pregnancy, be sure to have your doctor help you come up with a plan early on. Your doctor can also refer you to a dietitian for more advice and meal planning.

Losing Weight Due To Morning Sickness

Firstly, many women experience morning sickness around weeks 6-12 of pregnancy. Even if you are not actually vomiting, the experience of nausea can result in you consuming fewer calories each day due to feeling so unwell and being unable to face eating or drinking much.

Losing a small amount of weight due to morning sickness and the associated vomiting or nausea is common and will not cause your baby any harm. Remember, by 12 weeks your baby is only about 5cm in length, so the number of calories and nutritional elements needed are very small at this stage .

However, if you lose more than 5-10% of your body weight, this is significant and more serious causes, such as Hyperemesis gravidarum , may need further assessment and treatment. If you notice this level of weight loss, it is important to consult your doctor or midwife for assessment.

To work out what percentage of weight you have lost you can use the following simple calculation: simply divide the amount of weight you have lost by your starting weight and multiply the answer by 100. Find out more about morning sickness in pregnancy.

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The Importance Of Protein For Weight Management During Pregnancy:

Protein is one of the most important nutrients during pregnancy, and it is really helpful for weight management. During pregnancy, you should get a minimum of 60 grams of protein a day, which will account for approximately 20 percent to 25 percent of your calorie intake. This is a general number, and may be different depending on your weight and height. Protein is crucial for the growth of your baby during pregnancy, and Bump Dust offers 16 grams per serving, which helps tremendously to get to the goal of 60 grams. “Pregnancy complicates the already complex metabolism of amino acids. Expansion of blood volume and growth of the maternal tissues require substantial amounts of protein . Growth of the fetus and placenta also places protein demands on the pregnant woman. Thus, additional protein is essential for the maintenance of a successful pregnancy,” as shown in this study.

Check Those Iron Levels

HOW I LOST WEIGHT DURING PREGNANCY || Pregnancy Weight Loss Tips

Its time to start pumping iron. The supplement kind, that is. Consuming iron supplements and non-heme iron, which comes from plant-based foods, may decrease the risk of ovulatory infertility.

A recent 2019 study concluded that heme iron had no effect on fertility and non-heme only had some benefit for women who already had iron deficiency.

More evidence is needed to confirm whether iron supplements should be recommended to all women, especially if iron levels are already healthy. But making sure your iron levels are solid with your doctor is a good step.

Non-heme iron sources are more difficult for your body to absorb, so try taking them with foods or drinks high in vitamin C to increase absorption.

Alcohol consumption can negatively affect fertility. However, its unclear how much alcohol is needed to cause this effect.

One 2016 study found that having more than

involving 7,393 women found that a high alcohol intake was associated with more infertility examinations.

However, the evidence on moderate alcohol consumption is mixed. One older study found no link between moderate consumption and infertility, while other studies report that moderate intake can affect fertility.

Ultimately, avoiding excessive consumption of alcohol is recommended. Talk to you doctor about your own intake to ensure the best outcome for you.

Examples include:

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Accept Inevitable Pregnancy Body Changes

For most women, managing body weight is safer than losing a significant amount of it. While there are many benefits of reducing BMI during pregnancy, weight loss may not be appropriate for all pregnant women. The problem with weight loss when pregnant is that it involves exercise and cutting calories. When done incorrectly, some women can go to extremes and possibly harm the unborn baby. Healthcare professionals usually do not recommend losing weight while pregnant unless the woman is obese. Discuss any concerns or questions you may have with a professional.

When Your Doctor Might Recommend Losing Weight During Pregnancy

For most women who are pregnant, weight management is a safer option than any type of substantial weight loss. Even though there are some benefits of a lower BMI while you’re pregnant, weight loss isn’t always appropriate for all women.

This concern comes partly from certain traditional methods of weight loss exercise and calorie cutting. It’s essential to exercise and watch the number of calories you’re consuming while you’re pregnant, but overdoing it can possibly harm your baby. This is why many doctors don’t recommend losing weight while pregnant unless you have a significantly high BMI. You should discuss your concerns with your doctor.

Your doctor will work with you to make the absolute safest choices for you and your baby. After your baby is born, you can always sit down with your doctor and come up with a healthy plan for weight loss.

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Break Up The Exercise

Exercising at least one hour a day is an ideal plan for weight loss. However, most people dont have this much time, and breaking up the workout is just fine. Working out for 30 minutes on weight training exercises in the morning and then walking with your partner for 30 minutes after dinner works just as well.

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What About Unintentional Weight Loss During Pregnancy

How To Lose Weight While Pregnant

Weight loss during pregnancy is not always a reason for concern.

Many moms experience morning sickness, nausea and food aversions in the first trimester which can cause some early weight loss.

This is not usually a reason for concern but it should still be monitored by your doctor.

Luckily, morning sickness usually resolves in most women by second trimester.

If you are concerned about losing weight during pregnancy, make sure to speak to your health care provider.

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What Can I Do To Slow Weight Gain

If youre gaining more weight than recommended, talk to your health care provider or WIC nutritionist. You should never try to lose weight during pregnancy. But slowing weight gain can help you have a healthier pregnancy and delivery, and an easier time getting back to your pre-pregnancy weight.

To slow weight gain

  • Enjoy your food, but eat less
  • Avoid oversized portions
  • Make half your plate fruits and vegetables
  • Switch to fat-free or low-fat milk. Calcium- fortified soy milk is a good choice for those that choose not to drink milk.
  • Make at least half your grains whole grains
  • Drink water instead of sugary drinks
  • Find your balance between food and physical activity

Did You Know? Pregnancy only requires around 300 extra calories a day.

Exercise 30 Minutes Daily

Some people are afraid to exercise during pregnancy for fear of it harming their babies. But this definitely isnt true. While some exercises, such as situps, can possibly be harmful, exercise overall is extremely beneficial.

It can help you maintain your weight, reduce birth defects, and even ease some of the aches and pains you experience during pregnancy.

The current recommendation is the same as for those who are not pregnant: 30 minutes of activity per day. If this is too much for you to start, consider breaking up the 30 minutes into shorter blocks of time throughout the day.

Some of the best exercises during pregnancy are:

On the flip side, you should avoid any activities that:

  • rely on balance, such as bike riding or skiing
  • are performed in the heat
  • are done on your back

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Can Obese Pregnant Women Safely Shed Pounds

By Amy Norton, Reuters Health

4 Min Read

NEW YORK – Women who are very obese may be able to safely lose some weight during pregnancy — and possibly reduce their risk of needing a cesarean section, a new study suggests.

The findings, reported in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, add to evidence that at least some obese women may be able to shed pounds during pregnancy without harming themselves or their baby.

But researchers still caution that women should not start a weight-loss diet during pregnancy, and should instead talk with their doctor about any healthy diet and lifestyle changes.

The general recommendations from the Institute of Medicine , an advisory panel to the U.S. government, say that obese women should gain 11 to 20 pounds during pregnancy.

Thats less than the 25 to 35 pounds recommended for normal-weight women. But some researchers have criticized the IOM guidelines for not considering different levels of obesity.

A few studies have suggested that women who are severely obese can gain fewer pregnancy pounds, or even lose weight, without harming their baby or their own health.

In the new study, Dr. Marie Blomberg, of the University of Linkoping in Sweden, examined medical records for more than 46,000 obese pregnant women who gave birth between 1993 and 2008.

She separated the women into three categories of obesity: class 1 obesity, which means a body mass index of between 30 and 35 class 2 and class 3 .

Understand Your Calorie Requirement

Weight loss during pregnancy- why I lost 26 pounds

Image: Shutterstock

As mentioned in the above table, all pregnant women dont need to gain the same amount of weight. So, you need to know your calorie requirements. Your calorie requirement increases in the second and third trimester.

For women with normal weight, the average caloric intake should increase by around 300kcal/ day during pregnancy. However, it varies depending on your BMI among other things. Therefore, talk to your doctor to understand your specific needs .

Dont follow low-calorie diets or rigorous weight loss regimes like intermittent fasting.

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If You Are Able Consider Breastfeeding

While more research is needed to truly determine whether or not breastfeeding has a huge impact on weight loss, because it burns calories, it can often be a solid starting point. Even if you are unable to exclusively breastfeed, pumping may also provide a boost in calorie burning, as the two mechanisms are very similar.

When working to lose weight postpartum, remember to go easy on yourself. The first year with a baby can present a whole host of new challenges, so consider stepping into the weight loss process gradually, and with patience.

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