How Many Calories?

StefieLou

Good Morning!

Just wondered if anyone else is watching/counting calories, and how many you are trying to eat?
Prior to BFP I had been using MyFitnessPal to help me lose weight, and keep track of my food diary.  Now that I am pregnant, I plan to keep using MFP to help count and keep track of calories (so I don't gain too much . . . but also so that I get enough to eat).

I know dieting is not safe during pregnancy, and I am not dieting . . . just wondered what calorie ranges you are trying to stay around.

BTW, I am 32, around 132 pounds, I walk and do light workouts each week.  I enjoy being physically active.  =+) 

ASmallWonder

Does that site let you choose to maintain and give you a calorie target based on that? Right now you don't need more calories than normal. That starts in 2nd tri and it's only 300 additional calories.

Princess_Lily

Until the doctor says otherwise, I will be still following my regimen I had before, journaling for intake & eating only low fat foods, and exercise (cardio) 3x per week.

Example of my foods:  No granulated sugary foods ( cookies, cakes, etc.) Only Whole Grains, Salads, Fruits/Veggies, Low Fat Proteins,& measuring everything, drinking at least (8)8oz cups of water a day and of course a daily prenatal.  Depending on my hunger for the day I will have 3 large meals and two snack portions, or 6 small meals.

Frankly, I was on a diet to lose weight, but I was eating just very clean & healthy and seeing results at the time - no weight loss pills or protein shakes/bars.

I'm 33yo & on my 2nd pregnancy.  I am an emotional eating by nature, who has to keep in check everything I eat...when I'm stressed/emotional my go to was food.  So in my first pregnancy it really showed, I gained 12lbs before the first trimester was over - in total I had gained 55lbs.  I remember i would eat white bagels with a ton of cream cheese on it...and cookies, chips...it was bad!  Now that I am aware, and have learned a lot from losing 50lbs, I know what I need to do to keep that in check. 

Now if the doctor is concerned about weight gain, I will go over her what I've been doing and see where I will need to make changes...DH is very aware of what I am doing to. 

StefieLou

Thanks for the feedback so far ladies!  =+)

I tend to be an emotional eater to a degree as well; case and point, REALLY stressful week at work with a co-worker issue and then needing to go through my administrator.  That on top of the all the crazy stuff my hormones are doing, I've been a bit of a mess, and turned to a few bits of chocolate.  And then Cheerios have been my carb of choice.  

I was eating around 1300 calories a day in weight-loss mode.  

I am aiming for around 1500 right now.

My BMR calculates to be 1380 calories
My TDEE (to maintain curant weight) is 1881 calories

Ajoyd

My doc told me I should already be eating 300 extra calories per day.

ASmallWonder

Ajoyd:

My doc told me I should already be eating 300 extra calories per day.

It'll vary from person to person. Some people do need more calories right off the bat in order to maintain but if you're maintaining/gaining very slightly without the additional calories, there's no need to add them because it means your pregnancy isn't yet resulting in burning more calories.  It's ok if you end your first tri without any weight gain at all, though 3-5 pounds is the average and a lot of that has to do with blood volume.

StefieLou

I've heard the 300 calories more too.
But what is confusing is if what I WAS eating was 1200, is then 1500 enough?

Or if I was eating 1500, should I go to 1800? 

ASmallWonder

StefieLou:

I've heard the 300 calories more too.
But what is confusing is if what I WAS eating was 1200, is then 1500 enough?

Or if I was eating 1500, should I go to 1800? 

My guess is you were losing at 1200 because that's pretty low so you need to get up to maintaining, at a minimum so I'd jump to at least 1500 or more. 

jorkz821

StefieLou:

Thanks for the feedback so far ladies! nbsp;=I tend to be an emotional eater to a degree as well; case and point, REALLY stressful week at work with a coworker issue and then needing to go through my administrator. nbsp;That on top of the all the crazy stuff my hormones are doing, I've been a bit of a mess, and turned to a few bits of chocolate. nbsp;And then Cheerios have been my carb of choice. nbsp;I was eating around 1300 calories a day in weightloss mode. nbsp;I am aiming for around 1500 right now.My BMR calculates to be 1380 caloriesMy TDEE to maintain curant weight is 1881 calories

Shouldnt you be aiming for 1800 to 1900 then?

sooner1981

jorkz821:

StefieLou:

Thanks for the feedback so far ladies! nbsp;=I tend to be an emotional eater to a degree as well; case and point, REALLY stressful week at work with a coworker issue and then needing to go through my administrator. nbsp;That on top of the all the crazy stuff my hormones are doing, I've been a bit of a mess, and turned to a few bits of chocolate. nbsp;And then Cheerios have been my carb of choice. nbsp;I was eating around 1300 calories a day in weightloss mode. nbsp;I am aiming for around 1500 right now.My BMR calculates to be 1380 caloriesMy TDEE to maintain curant weight is 1881 calories

Shouldnt you be aiming for 1800 to 1900 then?

Yes. Unless you are morbidly obese, no doctor will advise you to intentionally take in fewer calories than you know you need to maintain your current weight. Think about the important growth that is happening with your baby even this early on. It just seems selfish to shortchange your baby in order to try to continue losing weight right at this moment. That said, it is great to try to stick as close to maintaining as possible during the first tri. Norm al weight gain is 0 to 5 pounds for first tri, so don't feel like you need to go crazy with extra food.

But intentionally maintaining a calorie deficit while pregnant makes me think that maybe there is something going on internally that you need to discuss with a counselor or your ob gyn.

mawarren

StefieLou:

I've heard the 300 calories more too.
But what is confusing is if what I WAS eating was 1200, is then 1500 enough?

Or if I was eating 1500, should I go to 1800? 

 

No, you will need to eat 300 more calories than what it takes to maintain your current weight. I've been eating 1720 to maintain and at the start of the 2nd trimester, I plan to increase it by 300 and a little more for the 3rd trimester. I may end up having to change it a little depending on how much I do or don't gain. My doctor said for a healthy weight person, it would be good to gain only 5 pounds by week 20, then after that you can gain a pound a week.  

StefieLou

Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and feedback!  Much appreciated  =+)

I've been sticking to around 1700-1900 calories a day for now.

Its hard when you are only a few weeks along, and a doctor won't see you until you are at least 8 weeks along.  You have so many questions in the beginning!