Losing Weight Before Pregnancy

samschene · January 2015

Hi everyone!! I am new here and this is my first post. Please let me know if I'm doing anything wrong. I am so excited to communicate with you wonderful people and learn so much! Thanks guys!!

My husband and I have decided we are ready to start our family! This will be our first baby. According to BMI, I am currently obese. I carry my weight in my midsection. While we would love to start a family now, I want to make sure that I am in good physical shape to carry a baby and to avoid complications with delivery. I wanted to know if anyone had any good exercise programs, exercises, diet programs, books, etc. that would offer support on losing weight in order to get pregnant. Of course I know diet and exercise is important, but I'm wondering if any specifics worked for someone. Weight Watchers, certain exercise programs, eating all natural, etc. I'd like to try something that people have had lots of success with. I've already lost 10 pounds but still have about 40 to go (in a perfect world!). I would love your thoughts. Thank you so much!!

KingLED · January 2015

If there was some magical way to lose weight, or something that always worked, everyone would know about it. Also, BMI is 100% bullshit.

Check out the Becoming Better check in.

SpartanChick88 · January 2015

Good for you trying to get healthy and congrats on the 10 lbs to date.

I've used Weight Watchers in the past and found it very helpful to have accountability. You really need to find what works for you. My Fitness Pal is free and great but you need to hold yourself accountable.

Do you belong to a gym? Fitness classes are great to have someone push you when you just aren't feeling it. Do t worry about the whole 'I'm overweight and people will look/laugh/point" whatever... if you are trying to get healthy, gym goers respect that! If anyone is looking at you its because they are impressed you are taking the initiative!

I hope you find what works for you! Good luck

pugsandwine · January 2015

KingLED said:

If there was some magical way to lose weight, or something that always worked, everyone would know about it. Also, BMI is 100% bullshit.

Check out the Becoming Better check in.

I've never heard this before. I'd love more info on why you say so - simply because my BMI also catalogues me as Obese, but I've never thought I appear to be obese. (Curvy? Yes. Obese? No.)

pugsandwine · January 2015

I also want to say congrats to OP. It's a big step that I'm also going through as we prepare to try. My current argument with myself is "well you're just going to get heavier if you get knocked up, so, what's the point?"

WHICH I KNOW IS SO WRONG WRONG WRONG. And it's important for me to shed my excess weight. But every now and then when that beer or cookie is calling my name, that's what I think. Heh.

Winealittle · January 2015

I agree BMI is 100% bullshit. I am also "obese" by the BMI definition. I discussed this with both my PC and OBGYN before TTC. Both recommended getting a full blood work up (which you should anyways as part of TTC, you should know where you stand health wise) and all my numbers were better than average. Both my Dr's advised a healthy diet and moderate exercise but were not concerned with my BMI and any issues TTC or with pregnancy if it happens. Personally I've been eating better, doing yoga and walking/jogging with my pup. I've lost about 10lbs as well.

IMO, there's a difference between the number on the scale and your overall health. Obviously extra weight doesn't do your health any favors but if you eat a healthy diet and get the recommended amount of moderate exercise aka adopt a lifestyle change and not a diet you will see long term results.

Winealittle · January 2015

pugsandwine said:

I also want to say congrats to OP. It's a big step that I'm also going through as we prepare to try. My current argument with myself is "well you're just going to get heavier if you get knocked up, so, what's the point?"

WHICH I KNOW IS SO WRONG WRONG WRONG. And it's important for me to shed my excess weight. But every now and then when that beer or cookie is calling my name, that's what I think. Heh.

I have this argument with myself every.damn.day.

pugsandwine · January 2015

sheilathetank said:

@pugsandwine BMI doesn't take muscle mass into account. 10lbs of muscle is a lot different then 10lbs of fat.

OP congrats for taking your first steps. I personally know its really hard to get started and even harder to stay motivated but you have to start somewhere. Its the little victories that count.

Ah. Well that makes a lot of sense.

2BeMrs.GB · January 2015

My husband did weight watchers for 6ish months and lost weight and also helped him get the mindset of no bad snacking and no seconds/thirds/fourths of meals. He also does spin and light weight lifting. Now he eats much healthier in general and exercises daily. It also helps he now has invisalign and for a "bored" snack it's not worth it to him to remove his braces and then have to brush for a cookie.

SpartanChick88 · January 2015

@Joy2611 I agree with all but the caloric formula. If you have access to a dietician talk to them. I was using MFP's formula, which put me at 1200 cals/day. I was put on a metabolic machine and learned I burn over 1700/day just existing. Once I bumped up my intake I started losing. I was basically starving myself before

3houlagirl · January 2015

@Joy2611‌ is right, as usual. It all comes down to calories in vs. calories out. I use an app called Lose It! to count calories and log exercise. It's free, and it's a great tool so you can see where you're "spending" your calories.

I have really cut down on the processed foods we buy, and that has helped both to cut calories and to keep eating from being too "convenient". It's way easier to dive into a bag of chips than it is to slice an apple, but if the chips aren't available and I really am hungry, I'll eat the apple. My basic rule is "if it's in a bag or a box, think twice before buying."

Good luck! It's difficult to make a lasting lifestyle change, but once you commit to it, tou'll feel so much better!

rbtrumpet · January 2015

sheilathetank said:
@pugsandwine BMI doesn't take muscle mass into account. 10lbs of muscle is a lot different then 10lbs of fat.

OP congrats for taking your first steps. I personally know its really hard to get started and even harder to stay motivated but you have to start somewhere. Its the little victories that count.

This (black shirt) is me at the finish line of my first triathlon. I was "obese" according to BMI (which doesn't count for muscle mass or curves). 100% BS!

Good luck OP! I have had success with weight watchers in the past. I am currently taking my calories on a phone app, doing Couch 2 5K running plan (stopped running due to knee injury and pregnancy) and Jillian Michaels 30-day shred. Only 1 week in, so I can't really say how is going, but I feel good so far!

ETA: it's good to get in a habit of working out before you get pregnant. I got pregnat after 3 months of knee surgery rehab, and was very limited in what I could do. After DD was born, I couldn't do anything due to milk supply issues. I'm working out now so I'll hopefully have a better chance with pregnancy #2.

danascullyx · January 2015

So your girlfriend rolls a Honda
Playin' workout tapes by Fonda
But Fonda ain't got a motor in the back of her Honda
My anaconda don't want none
Unless you got buns, hun

You can do side bends or sit-ups
But please don't lose that butt

JennyH81 · January 2015

I did weightwatchers online with my then-boyfriend when I realized that none of my clothes were fitting anymore and I didn't have $$ for a whole new wardrobe. I found it really helpful that we did it together because we both committed to eating healthier meals, going on long walks, etc. So if you can get your DH to join you in a commitment to eating healthier, lower-calorie meals, that will make it SO much easier.

As to BMI being BS, it really is, at least in terms of determining health. I was (back in my 20s - not anymore!) a BMI of 18-19. But I carried most of my weight in my stomach, which is the worst place to carry it, and I had these itty bitty arms and legs, which really don't make much difference on your health. And I had high-to-moderate high cholesterol. So on the outside I looked like I was some healthy, in-shape person, when really I ate like crap, had terrible cholesterol, and didn't exercise beyond living in a walking city without a car. So I would consider getting a physical with your PCP and get a lipid panel done - that can give you a lot more insight into your health than a BMI calculator, and it can also help you figure out what kind of dietary changes would be most beneficial.

ToryKate · January 2015

britterrss13 said:

I'm a dietitian. While I won't give you a full, in-depth lecture on weight loss, I will give you some basic pointers to get you started.
1. Cut back on processed foods, fried foods, and fast foods. They have tons of salt, sugar, and bad fats.
2. Choose fresh foods when possible. Think fruits/vegetables for snacks and sides.
3. Try the plate method to help with portion control. Portion control is VERY important. www.ChooseMyPlate.gov
4. For an average girl (not super athletic/muscular) wanting to lose weight, aim for 1300-1600 kcals/d, not to go below 1200/d. Try an app like Lose It! or My Fitness Pal to help you track calories. Research is showing that keeping track of calories alone helps people to lose weight as they become more aware of what they are consuming.
5. Cut out any sodas or sugar sweetened beverages. Do this because it's so easy to do and can save you 100s of calories per day. Drink lots of water. If you love soda, try flavored (sugar free) carbonated waters instead, like La Croix.
6. Exercise. Even walking for 30 minutes, 5 days per week is an excellent way to start exercising if it's more than you've been doing. Jogging, yoga, pilates, and bicycling are also great workouts that most people can do at home for little to no money.

Welcome to the board - hope that helps.

I totally agree with the bolded! IMO the best way for any person of any size, shape, or activity level to get healthier is to cut out processed foods. I recommend that before counting calories, not all calories are created equal. Focusing on consuming QUALITY foods will improve your overall health. You want to lose weight to be healthier, right? So go about it a healthy way.

rayschicky · January 2015

So Cosmo says you're fat. Well I ain't down with that!

seriously BMI is bullshit. When playing rugby at the peak of my physical fitness BMI said I was overweight. Really I was just a tank. Oh to be 18 again... HA!

rayschicky · January 2015

danascullyx said:

So your girlfriend rolls a Honda
Playin' workout tapes by Fonda
But Fonda ain't got a motor in the back of her Honda
My anaconda don't want none
Unless you got buns, hun
You can do side bends or sit-ups
But please don't lose that butt

Legitimately love you so much right now. This is my jam. My Jam.

Mill23 · January 2015

As some PPs have said, counting calories made a huge difference for me. I track my food every day with MyFitnessPal (free app) and it's awesome. I know about what my caloric range is, and that keeps me accountable.

Also second the PP who said don't drink you calories! When I started tracking calories I was shocked how much what I was drinking was increasing my daily intake. A French Vanilla latte can be like 300 calories! It was really eye opening. I lost about 25 lbs simply tracking (and then changing) my food intake. Exercise works if you love it but it has to be combined with knowing what you are taking in, IMO.

teenybenoit · January 2015

Congrats on the 10lbs!! I also am losing weight while on the bench because I am type 2 diabetic and my sugar seems to go out of whack when I was pregnant. I want to lose at least 20-25lbs before I start trying again.
I have lost 7lbs so far on a low carb diet and walking or stationary bike 3 times a week.
Good luck and welcome!

hochhippie · January 2015

Good for you trying to get healthy before TTC. I really like to do home workouts with DVD's, my favorite is Jillian Micheal's 30 Day Shred. You can get it on Amazon for really cheap. When I first started doing the DVD I would print out a monthly calendar and write down each day what I was going to do and then I would draw a line through each workout when I was done. Accountability and accomplishment

Also I am not sure about BMI being complete BS. For outliers, like extreme athletes and body builders it does not work. But for the general population BMI is easy to calculate and can determine if weight is an issue. As one of the other posters stated waist circumference is a much better indicator of health, which I agree, and also a visit to your GP for regular blood tests (cholesterol screenings etc.) Also BMI scales/ranges have been adjusted over the years so make sure you are using the most up to date information.

Do not let denial get the best of you. If you know you are overweight and out of shape do something about it now, but take manageable steps to not burn yourself out.

AMMR84 · January 2015

Good for you! PP have given you some great suggestions. Here are a two tools I use to stay on track with my health goals:

Meal planning is the key to making sure you eat healthy and balanced throughout your day and week. If I have a plan for my week on Sunday, my week is much healthier! Plan to Eat is a great website that allows you to enter your favorite recipes (with nutritional info) and plug them into your weekly calendar. Then it pre-populates a shopping list for you. There is a free trial available.

I belong to a gym I love that offers lots of classes. But when I don't feel like making the trek on the weekends or I need to fit a workout into my morning, I to go You Tube. There are many trainers with channels of workouts, but my favorite is Jessica Smith. She has hundreds of workouts of all lengths, varieties and levels for free! If you sign up for her mailing list, she also will do challenges throughout the year, and she has DVDs available as well.

If you don't have a scale and want one (not necessary to make improvements). try to find one that also measures your muscle mass and body fat. I found one on Amazon that works with an app (called Weight Guru) so I can track more than just pounds. I only weigh myself once a week - more frequent weighing is not productive, in my experience. Then again, some people never touch a scale! It is a personal choice, but I like to be able to check-in.

longhornwino0907 · January 2015

I agree with PPs who've mentioned MyFitnessPal and FitBit. I got a FitBit back in October and wear it every single day. It's synced with MyFitnessPal, and I log my food and exercise daily. It really keeps me accountable. I was shocked to see not only how many calories I naturally burn, but also how hard it is to reach the normal 10,000 steps goal that FitBit sets. I do a LOT more walking these days.

Between 2011 and 2013, I lost about 120lbs (I've gained back about 20 since my wedding in 2013). I started small and worked my way up to doing more:
-Cut out all sodas. Completely.
-Started walking around the block. Started with once a day, then twice a day, then two laps twice a day. You get the idea.
-Joined Curves with my best friend, and we made each other go 5 days a week.
-Bought a food scale and started weighing out portions.
-Started tracking calories with MyFitnessPal
-DH and I started going on long evening walks - about an hour, 3ish miles
-Bought a FitBit; 10,000 steps daily goal, 5 miles, 2400 calories burned - DH can attest to the fact that I get upset with myself when I don't hit these goals
-Now looking into changing gyms and going to boot camp each Saturday (my body is so used to Curves now that I can't lose anything doing that for my exercise, so it's time to change it up drastically)
-Aiming to do a Couch to 5K one of these days, but running isn't a great idea for me (bad knees)

But enough about me. I think the most important thing to do is to find a routine that works for you and stick to it. And log your food. Counting calories works.

Good luck and congratulations on the 10lbs so far!

AshleyCalta · January 2015

Calculate your resting metabolic rate (there are many calculators online), and eat no less than that number. Check out the blog 100 days of real food. Weight training will also raise the number of calories you burn at rest, but discuss that with your provider since you are ttc. Good luck and go you!

samschene · January 2015

Wow! Thank you all for the wonderful responses! I am loving being on the forums and being part of a group. The support it amazing! I wanted to share ea couple details about myself to help give you a better idea.

I do home daycare and work 11 hours a day, 7:00am-6:00pm. I do eat a healthy (in my definition) lunch (fruit, spinach salad with feta cheese, carrots, celery, etc.). I snack on those things while the kids are sleeping. I know one of my main problems is not eating breakfast but there is always so much going on that I don't want to eat the waffles or bagels that they are eating, but don't have time to even think of something for myself. I'd LOVE any quick easy prepare ahead or quick morning prep breakfast ideas.

My other problem is that I am completely exhausted by the time 6:00 rolls around. I was actually doing Jillian Michael's 30 day shred for a week and then got sick with the flu and fell off the wagon. I could definitely see a change even in that week! I do lose weight quickly but it is hard for me to stick to it. I am trying to eat better during the day to give myself the energy to do treadmill or workout DVD at night. I'm just so tired from eating sporadically during the day and my long work day that I don't have the energy to exercise. It's a viscous cycle =(

If anyone has any recipe ideas to share, I would really appreciate it! I am looking for crockpot items or things that take a short time to prepare. I don't have a lot of time to make an elaborate meal so I would love nay quick ideas that are good for you that I can throw together.

Thank you so much for all of the support! You all are wonderful!

renbee · January 2015

I've been doing weight watchers since end of October and have lost 10 lbs. I highly recommend it! The support at meetings really helps me.

As for quick healthy breakfast ideas - There's so many! I usually eat one or two things from this list, and kind of mix and match: Fruit, Greek yogurt, whole wheat toast, oatmeal, hard boiled egg, turkey bacon. I have instant oatmeal packets in my desk so that I always have something for breakfast. It's the most important meal of the day! I think if you make sure you are eating breakfast it will help your energy issue a lot.

I also decided to do "baby steps" with exercise, because adjusting to eating less is hard. I concentrated on getting my eating under control for the first few weeks, then slowly added in walks several times a week. Don't feel like you have to start some crazy workout plan right off the bat. Plus , it really is 80% food intake, like pp said.

Good luck!

teeveemom · January 2015

To all those claiming fat but fit...
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/diet-fitness/fat-fit-theory-mainly-flops-long-term-study-n278836

teeveemom · January 2015

And OP- It's really great you want to get healthy and lower your BMI. I heard weight watchers is great ... Most important thing is to not get caught up in a fad diet. It needs to be a lifestyle that's sustainable

lfinkenbine · January 2015

Also, make sure you're staying hydrated! I'm terrible at drinking enough water, and a lot of times our body mistakes thirst for hunger. It also helps so much with your energy level without having to put yourself on a caffeine IV. It may help you feel more energized at the end of the day and make it easier to work out.

agar0525 · January 2015

Hi! and welcome!!

I live a super busy life, and that makes it hard to regularly workout. BUT: 1) I have a pretty active job, and 2) I've still lost 13lbs in a month just watching food.

I also highly highly recommend Myfitnesspal.com (online or app). It's easier to set up on line, but after that, the app makes it super simple to track calories. You'd be surprised at how many calories are in that "healthy" snack/soup/salad.

Just do your best to eat healthy, take a vitamin, and workout when you can!

bringbabeh · January 2015

My mother in law lost 215 pounds with take shape for life. It's her success story and so many others I've seen that made me decide to become a health coach with them.
One of her clients even was trying for awhile to get pregnant and was finally able to conceive after being on plan with tsfl.

Totally recommend it! It's not a diet....it teaches lifestyle chsnges.

mrsh82414 · January 2015

Hi There! It seems like everybody has already given you some great advice. I would say mine is similar:

Tracking calories using my fitness pal
Not drinking calories
eating 5-6 small meals instead of 3 large, this helps me keep from snacking
finding an exercise that works for you! I was anti gym until I tried Zumba I fell in love with it and made so many amazing friends that keep me accountable. I also tried bodypump which is a weight lifting class and it has seriously changed my body composition and I love it! I also do yoga
The easiest 'diet' to follow is clean eating! Clean eating basically means no processed food, added sugar, or salt. Only buy food that's on the outside perimeter of the store (fruits, veggies, meats, dairy).
Eat most of your meals at home so you know how many calories you are really eating

@samschene the easiest morning meal is a fruit smoothie with greek yogurt! The greek yogurt is high in protein which will keep you full longer and it is something you can eat/drink while multitasking. I have to say my favorite breakfast though is plain Fage 0% with fresh strawberries and granola

@ladynymeria I don't know how much money you are looking to spend on protein powder, but My friend is an Arbonne consultant and Arbonne makes their powder from Pea Protein. It comes in chocolate and vanilla and it tastes great even when you're just mixing it with water.

hochhippie · January 2015

ladynymeria have you tried "Raw" brand protein powder? I get mine from whole foods when its on sale, but you can order it online. I specifically use the "Raw Fit" type which is vegan, gluten free, dairy free, and soy free. I am mostly vegetarian and dairy sensitive so this brand works the best to get some additional protein

amac25 · January 2015

Way to go making this decision early! I needed to do it for three years after we started TTC, but I was stubborn and thought I could overcome PCOS with meds. At the three year mark, after our second failed IUI attempt, I made the tough call to take a break for a year and take Qsymia to help jump start my weight loss. My good friend, a doctor, recommended it. It worked great! I felt full really fast, and some bad-for-me drinks like beer and soda just tasted bad. I lost 60 lbs from March-Dec! I still have 30 more to lose, but I decided to get back on the baby train in 2015 and lose the rest with WW and exercise. The best part is that I ovulated on my own this month! So basically, keep it up! Get that weight off now so you don't waste time like I did. And for those of you who need to lose a whole lot, like I did, go talk to your doctor and see what your options are.

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