Can I Diet While Pregnant?
For women who are losing weight, the question may come up “can I lose weight while pregnant?” or “is it safe to lose weight while pregnant?” There are women who want to continue on their diet while carrying a baby but the general rule is not to do it. This is a special time and your body will need all of the nutrients that it can get.
How Much Weight Should I Put On During Pregnancy?
In fact, when it comes to pregnancy, you should be putting on weight. Your body will get larger – especially around the stomach and chest area – but this is normal. Nobody will judge you for putting a few pounds on while you are expecting a baby. Those in their normal BMI range should put on between 25 and 35 pounds during their pregnancy – and that is just for those carrying one baby.
However, that doesn’t mean that you can eat whatever you want. Sticking to a healthy diet and exercising regularly will help to limit the amount that you are putting on. Yes, exercise is safe while pregnant, depending on the type that you do. Since I am expecting my first child, I will be putting up a blog in due course relating to pregnancy and answering some of the common questions that women have while expecting a baby – based on the questions that I have been asking my midwife and searching online for.
There are some diets that allow you to continue while you are expecting. Slimming World offers a pregnancy plan, which is designed to watch the amount of weight that you are putting on and not designed to help you lose weight while pregnant.
Putting the Weight On
You may be one of the few who suffer from morning sickness so much that you are losing weight. I hardly put any weight on in my first 10 weeks because the morning sickness was that bad – I just couldn’t stomach the thought of eating anything. This may be worth talking to your midwife or doctor about, especially if you are struggling to keep liquids down as well as food.
There are others who will constantly want to eat during their pregnancy. I know I have now gotten to the stage where I have to have a big lunch because I get so hungry during the day. However, I make sure it is a healthy lunch with plenty of salads. There is nothing wrong with sticking to a healthy eating plan but dieting shouldn’t be your main concern.
Getting Rid of the Weight Afterwards
Of course, every pregnant woman wants to avoid piling on too much weight and wants to know how soon they will lose weight after pregnancy. The 25 to 35 pounds that you should put on (for a normal BMI; this is higher for those underweight and lower for those overweight) will be a mixture of the baby, the placenta and the amniotic fluid, along with water retention. This weight will usually disappear relatively quickly.
Losing excess weight after your pregnancy should be done carefully and slowly, especially if you are breastfeeding. Your baby will run you down quickly – she will wake you up in the middle of the night; need your attention 24 hours a day, seven days a week; and you will need to get everything else done around the house – and by losing weight quickly, you will find yourself with very little energy to do anything.
Again, a healthy diet and exercise is the best option for you and it will help you get over your baby blues and avoid post natal depression. There are a number of diet plans that have a breastfeeding plan for mums, including Slimming World and Weight Watchers.
Congratulations on your pregnancy and don’t worry too much about the weight that you are gaining. Eating a healthy balanced diet will help you get the nutrients that you need and this should be more important than trying to lose weight and keep it off!
How Much Weight Should I Put On During Pregnancy?
In fact, when it comes to pregnancy, you should be putting on weight. Your body will get larger – especially around the stomach and chest area – but this is normal. Nobody will judge you for putting a few pounds on while you are expecting a baby. Those in their normal BMI range should put on between 25 and 35 pounds during their pregnancy – and that is just for those carrying one baby.
However, that doesn’t mean that you can eat whatever you want. Sticking to a healthy diet and exercising regularly will help to limit the amount that you are putting on. Yes, exercise is safe while pregnant, depending on the type that you do. Since I am expecting my first child, I will be putting up a blog in due course relating to pregnancy and answering some of the common questions that women have while expecting a baby – based on the questions that I have been asking my midwife and searching online for.
There are some diets that allow you to continue while you are expecting. Slimming World offers a pregnancy plan, which is designed to watch the amount of weight that you are putting on and not designed to help you lose weight while pregnant.
Putting the Weight On
You may be one of the few who suffer from morning sickness so much that you are losing weight. I hardly put any weight on in my first 10 weeks because the morning sickness was that bad – I just couldn’t stomach the thought of eating anything. This may be worth talking to your midwife or doctor about, especially if you are struggling to keep liquids down as well as food.
There are others who will constantly want to eat during their pregnancy. I know I have now gotten to the stage where I have to have a big lunch because I get so hungry during the day. However, I make sure it is a healthy lunch with plenty of salads. There is nothing wrong with sticking to a healthy eating plan but dieting shouldn’t be your main concern.
Getting Rid of the Weight Afterwards
Of course, every pregnant woman wants to avoid piling on too much weight and wants to know how soon they will lose weight after pregnancy. The 25 to 35 pounds that you should put on (for a normal BMI; this is higher for those underweight and lower for those overweight) will be a mixture of the baby, the placenta and the amniotic fluid, along with water retention. This weight will usually disappear relatively quickly.
Losing excess weight after your pregnancy should be done carefully and slowly, especially if you are breastfeeding. Your baby will run you down quickly – she will wake you up in the middle of the night; need your attention 24 hours a day, seven days a week; and you will need to get everything else done around the house – and by losing weight quickly, you will find yourself with very little energy to do anything.
Again, a healthy diet and exercise is the best option for you and it will help you get over your baby blues and avoid post natal depression. There are a number of diet plans that have a breastfeeding plan for mums, including Slimming World and Weight Watchers.
Congratulations on your pregnancy and don’t worry too much about the weight that you are gaining. Eating a healthy balanced diet will help you get the nutrients that you need and this should be more important than trying to lose weight and keep it off!
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