Health & Exercise
Options
Am I eating enough calories?
Below is a list of the last two weeks. I'll admit...I HATE gaining weight and am very concientious of it. In fact, I am obsessed with it. I do not want to be gaining anymore than absolutely necessary. Before pregnancy, I was 97 lbs (5 ft, 2 in) with a BMI of 18. I know this is considered underweight, but I ran and exercised almost everyday and was very satisfied with the way I looked. So here is the list:
WEEK OF MARCH 15th (19 w, 3 days 107.6lbs) AVERAGE 1710 CALS
Monday: 1400 calories. Walked/jogged on mill for 30 minutes (2.3 miles), elliptical for 10, Lotte Berk total 65 minutes of exercise.
Tuesday:1900 cals OFF
Wednesday: 2100 cals, Tracey Anderson (40min)
Thursday: 1650, Jog (45 minutes at avg 4.5 speed, 3.7 miles)
Friday (108lbs): 1765 cals, cleaned house/OFF
Saturday (108 lbs): 1430 Cals, Biggest Loser Yoga
Sunday: 1700 OFF
WEEK OF MARCH 22nd (20w, 3 days)
Monday: 1625 (Bigghest Loser cardiomax-50min)
Tuesday: 1925 (Advanced Reach Yoga/pilates -60 min)
Wednesday: 1460 OFF
Thursday: 1468 (Taebo bootcamp (25 min), Walk 2.7 miles @ 12.2 min mile for 33 minutes, elliptical 7 min (65min total.)
Friday: 1624 (walk/jog 20 minutes, Squeeze lower body 35 min- total 55 min)--BTW, I LOVE Tracy Effinger.
Today- OFF (107.6 lbs--I haven't gained anything from the 15th).
So what do you think? I was 108.2 at the beginning of the week, but weighed 107.6 this morning...I think I actually may have lost weight...it felt that way anyway. I really pushed myself this week.
WEEK OF MARCH 15th (19 w, 3 days 107.6lbs) AVERAGE 1710 CALS
Monday: 1400 calories. Walked/jogged on mill for 30 minutes (2.3 miles), elliptical for 10, Lotte Berk total 65 minutes of exercise.
Tuesday:1900 cals OFF
Wednesday: 2100 cals, Tracey Anderson (40min)
Thursday: 1650, Jog (45 minutes at avg 4.5 speed, 3.7 miles)
Friday (108lbs): 1765 cals, cleaned house/OFF
Saturday (108 lbs): 1430 Cals, Biggest Loser Yoga
Sunday: 1700 OFF
WEEK OF MARCH 22nd (20w, 3 days)
Monday: 1625 (Bigghest Loser cardiomax-50min)
Tuesday: 1925 (Advanced Reach Yoga/pilates -60 min)
Wednesday: 1460 OFF
Thursday: 1468 (Taebo bootcamp (25 min), Walk 2.7 miles @ 12.2 min mile for 33 minutes, elliptical 7 min (65min total.)
Friday: 1624 (walk/jog 20 minutes, Squeeze lower body 35 min- total 55 min)--BTW, I LOVE Tracy Effinger.
Today- OFF (107.6 lbs--I haven't gained anything from the 15th).
So what do you think? I was 108.2 at the beginning of the week, but weighed 107.6 this morning...I think I actually may have lost weight...it felt that way anyway. I really pushed myself this week.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Am I eating enough calories?
I really, really think you need to talk to your OB or MW about this. Being obsessed with your weight, especially while pregnant, does not sound healthy. If you are struggling, you should stop weighing yourself at home and weigh in backward at your appointments so you aren't obsessing over the number. GL!
Wow you're pregnant and doing all of this?? You should be eating 2200 calories while pg....and if you are exercising you need to eat enough to make up for those burnt calories.
You will lose your baby weight easily after your baby is born. Take care of yourself and your baby until then though.
Agree with PP. This sounds extremely unhealthy. I was also 15% body fat before getting pregnant the first time. I gained 35#. I lost it all almost immediately. It's not a big deal to gain weight.
You need to stop obsessing about gaining weight and let your body gain the fat it needs to sustain a healthy pregnancy.
I think you need some help, counseling, etc. This obsession with your weight and body image could ultimately be harmful to your LO, who is counting on you--you are all he/she has to depend on right now. I do not say this to be rude at all, because I understand how consuming it is to be obsessed with your weight/body/physical fitness, but entertaining this kind of obsession while pregnant could be dangerous and selfish. Talk to your OB or MW and see if you can be referred to a mental health specialist that is familiar with EDs or EDNOS.
vegan mama, military wife
vegan mama, military wife
I think it's partly the motivation behind it (not wanting to gain weight), and also there's a big difference between working out a lot and not eating enough. I worked out probably 12 hours a week with my first pregnancy but I ate enough to make up for it! And more!
Best wishes. I know you will do the right thing for your LO. And like I said, it really does come back off if you diet and exercise, and it usually doesn't take that long.
Sara--do you have a general idea of what you are consuming? I would think if you are athletic enough to run a marathon while pregnant, you certainly would ensure you are eat enough calories for your baby, right?
I have seen a counselor in the past, and all I can say is...what a waste of time. If anyone knows how or where to find help, I am all ears. I think everyone on here has convinced me that I need to seek help. I did get rid of the scale...so that is a plus!! I had my husband hide it.
How did you get yourself "in control." Ironically, this IS the way I control myself--counting and keeping track. But you are right...this is consuming my life and it isn't healthy.
Sweetie, I am so sorry you are going through this. Like you said, your ED may have come back and that would not be unusual. I had a very hard time with this too, and I gained only 25 or so lbs with my first two pregnancies. I lost the weight. (WIth my third I was really really sick and couldn't gain weight, but this was different than the control thing; it was just sickness.) I hope that you do try to pamper yourself. Pregnancy is the one time you WANT to gain weight and enjoy your cute bump. Do it for baby.
At least you recongize you have a problem and are trying to help yourself here....i dont' want to scare you but in my experience- my cousin was pregnant and had very similar issues to you- being underweight, working out, counting calories and her doctor said baby was doing fine. After baby was born she started to show significant signs of autism which they now believe was due to the mother's lack of calories during pregnancy and her work out habits though her doctor at the time thought she was fine. I know for a fact that she took it around 1200-1800 calories per day and her stats match yours. So please eat more for your LO...you just never know.
I'm not a doctor, but wanted to say I think you're on the right track with "giving back what body has burned." Everyone's body and metabolism is different, especially during pregnancy, so what's right for one person may not be right for another. That being said, I'll tell you what's worked for me:
Pre-pg, I was consuming 1200-1500 cals a day, lots of fruits/veggies, lean protein, and low-fat diary. I worked out 4-6 days a week, usually 45-60 mins of cardio, plus rotated lifting, usually 6-8 exercises, 3-4 sets of 12 reps. This is what my body needed to stay around 22% BMI.
On average, my doc says you need at least 300 cals a day more during pregnancy, possibly as many as 500 if you're extremely active. I've upped my caloric intake to at least 1800 cals a day, and I try to hit at least 2000 if I'm going to the gym. I've done this by adding protein bars and additional low fat dairy since I know I also need more calcium right now. I've cut my cardio level so that my HR averages around 140-150 bpm, and try not to go over 160 at all. My length of workout hasn't changed. I've also dropped the weight on some of my resistance training, specifically abs, as I've started to become uncomfortable.
I've gained 8 pounds so far (15w6d), which my doctor is happy with, and she says that both my eating and exercise habits seem healthy and well-adjusted. I would suggest discussing your concerns with your OB. She can tell you whether your weight gain and overall growth are on target, and if not, give you specific guidelines to help you stay in shape without putting yourself or baby at risk.
im obsessed, too.
i workout 6x a week. running and doing p90x videos. i count calories, too. i eat around 1700-2000 calories a day. somedays i do weigh less than others, but i am gaining weight. im not trying to not gain, but i would like it to be a moderate, gradual gain. i would say if you feel hungry then eat! just make sure it's healthy, which im sure you do. talk to you dr about this and if the dr is concerned then you should need to change things based on his/her recommendations.
I'm not pregnant (yet) but I am a dietitian and I counsel pregnant women. It is recommended that pregnant women consume at least 1800 calories per day in order to consume the right amount of nutrients (from all food groups) needed for a healthy pregnancy. You would probably need more since you were underweight and are active. But, I would also suggest that you listen to your body. Do not deprive yourself of food if you are hungry...somedays we are hungrier than other days and vice versa...so you may need more food/less food depending on your hunger which can be affected by your activity level. If your weight is gaining steadily (around 1 # per week) you are probably doing alright. But, I think it is a good idea if you don't check your weight (only your doctor) since it's not healthy for your mind. I think it would also be good for you to speak with a dietitian or someone who specializes in eating disorders for more individual support. GL!