Need Help for a Diet While Pregnant

Yes, eat a healthy diet. Don't worry about how much you gain but what you eat. Cut out bad fats and empty calories. Google "Brewer's Diet" which is geared toward gestational diabetes and over-weight women in pregnancy.

Hi D.. I have to chime in with the other moms, now is not the time to worry about weight.I've been overweight all of my adult life, after 6 pregnancies, I feel that the best thing to do is follow the Brewer Diet. It is the very best pregnancy diet, it will keep you and baby healthy. You can google it or their is a nutritonal list that is almost identical at the website home4birth. It would really be good to research this diet. Dr. Brewer came up with it to prevent pre-eclampsia. It really works, I know from experience! CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK!

Now is not the time to 'diet' but to eat healthy and exercise. As long as you eat sensibly and stay away from the junk then you will be making sure you're baby is getting what it needs and you will be healthier also. Walking is a wonderful exercise when pregnant and the weather is getting nice so get out there with your kids and walk or play. I'm quite overweight and 31 weeks pregnant and have only gained 9lb so far because I've eaten better (but NOT dieting) and walked more. I saw several ladies mention Weight Watchers but WW doesn't allow pregnant women to follow the program. You're best bet is to talk to your obgyn and see what they recommend. Make for sure you are getting your calcium in though!

Congratulations on your little miracle :)

I was very heavy when I became pregnant with my first. Talk to your OB/GYN and see if they will refer you to the nurses who take care of the diabetic patients. They have an eating plan for diabetics that allows you to eat 6-8 small meals a day. I lost weight up until I was 34 weeks, BUT was eating the healtiest and best I had ever eaten! I NEVER FELT HUNGRY! But by no means do you need to be on a diet-diet. You need meal modifications only. Best wishes for your boy.

Pregnancy is not the time to cut calories, but you can still control what you put in your mouth. With a proper diet of healthy foods and exercise (at least 20 minutes of getting your heart rate up per day), you will lose weight. Stay away from junk food, though pregnancy can cause you to crave it.

A great diet for pregnancy is the Brewer diet. Here is a website with info about the diet, www.blueribbonbaby.org .

Eat all you want of vegetables. Make sure you get skim milk, fruit and 3 portions of protein a day. Otherwise, cut out all junk, chocolate, sweets and limit carbs- breads and pastas. Take your prenatal vitamins.

I'm actually in the same boat as you. I'm 8 weeks along and am overweight. I find that I eat the healthiest when I write down my meals. babyfit.com is a really helpful website for pregnant women trying to eat healthy. If you spend some time inputting your foods you can track all the nutrients you need. I have done south beach diet in the past and it's pretty much guidelines to healthy eating. I remember reading that that was a safe diet (starting on phase 2) for pregnant women.
Good luck and hopefully we'll both be smart about what we eat for the next 32 weeks and beyond! :)

Hi D.,

Congratulations on your pregnancy! Please take note that pregnancy is not a time for trying to lose weight. It is a time to be as healthy as possible; eating healthy foods, exercise, hydration, and rest. As a Nutrition and Wellness Coach I would be happy to discuss with you the lifestyle I recommend to anyone wanting to be healthier.

Have a great day!
D.

Dear D.,

If you are really serious about keeping your weight down and being healthier then consider getting in to see Dr. Merkle. He does a custom diet and supplement plan based upon your blood work and other tests. It works remarkably well and it will be perfect while you are pregnant.

His web site is www.3000health.com and his phone is ###-###-#### He does everything by blood and other tests so there is no need to come to Dayton, Ohio as you can do the consult over the phone.

God Bless (and I hope you get your son)

S.

Honestly, it's as "simple" as counting calories. That is the best "diet". Now I know that isn't an easy thing to do but if you are really serious about making things better for your baby and yourself, you can do it!

Good luck!

C

I'm not sure "dieting" is a good idea when you're pregnant. Maybe just watching your foods? Stick to fruits/vegetables and meats.
With my first child I ate Subway almost daily and didn't have much weight gain. Maybe subs or sandwiches are a good route?

Dorthy,
I think at this point you should just concentrate on eating healthy food. If you stay away from high fat/calorie foods and get at least 30 min of excercize every day you should be fine. Don't be so focused on an actual diet when you are pregnant because you want to make sure the baby is getting the nutrients it needs. Also be aware of your portions. Don't over eat. I have heard of some women, who just started eating more healthy or they cut out soda pop and they began to loose weight while in their first trimester. Good luck,
T.

D., my Dr. sent me to a nutritionist at Akron City Hospital. I am overweight but only gained 15 lbs. for my pregnancy. I developed gestational diabetes, and the nutritionist had me checking my blood sugar all the time and keeping food diaries (which I HATE to do!). I was healthy, had good blood work all the time, and delivered a perfect 7 lb. 12 oz. princess (even though the ultrasounds had me freaked out because they said she was measuring 10+ lbs!). Good luck - DON'T diet without Dr and nutritionist.

You should not be dieting while pregnant. Focas on eating several small meals and eating healthy. If you are overweight to begin with and gestational diabetes is a concern ask your doctor for a referal to a nutritionist. You can still exercize some. I walked at least 30 min a day throughout both of my pregnancies. But no matter what you are going to gain some and you are expected too.

hey D.. i don't think that you should ever diet to lose weight while pregnant. but if you are trying to eat healthier, now is the perfect time to start! i would suggest eating lots of fruits and veggies. and watching the amount of calories you are taking in. talk to your doctor about how many is right for you. light exercise is always good too. walking around the block or at the mall, and doing some arm curls with no more than 5 to 10 pounds. i hope some of this helps. but make sure that you talk to your doctor first, just in case you have some medical reasons why you shouldn't be doing these things.

Try to eat whole foods and whole grains, avoid processed foods and anything with high fructose corn syrup or partially hydrogenated oils. Keep a diary of everything you eat, and ask your self what value each of those foods gives your body. If there is no health value, don't eat it. This will make you and your baby healthier and will carry over the rest of your life, as it is a life style change, not a diet. It takes time to cut out all of the junk, but you will feel better and have more energy. It will also teach your kids how to eat healthy. Soon you will not miss all of the sugar, however it is ok to splurge everyonce in a while, just don't make a habit out of it. I don't even like sweets anymore, you can really taste the sugar.

Weight watchers it is not a diet but a healthy lifestyle change which will help you lose weight if you are overweight. It will keep you healthy during your preganancy and is really easy to follow now :)

Diets are NOT healthy for anyone esp. pregnant women-- but DO change your lifestyle to only organic, whole, natural foods--lots of vegeys, whole grains, beans and fruits with some nuts and small amounts of fish and free range chicken and eggs. This kind of food is nutrient and fiber dense thus you won't be filling up on empty calories and you will be healthier and won't gain weight that you don't need. Cut out all HFCS and white sugar and flour products. But do NOT ever cut your calories of healthy foods while pregnant. Also add some gentle exercise--walking, prenatal yoga, swim class etc.

I'm sorry pregnant women should not be on diets. Now that said you can change the way you eat emphasizing vegetables and lean meats and of course fruits. Maybe walking half a hour a day with the kids. Ask your doctor what foods to NOT take out of your diet for the development of your baby. I have a few kids who have special needs and I still go back and wonder if I should have done things differently while they were in the womb. Make sure whatever you do it gets your ob/gyn's approval or ask him if he knows a nutritionist you can talk to. Good luck and have a healthy pregnancy.

My doctor had me following the Atkin's diet (Phase 3) - not to lose weight but to help keep me from gaining too much weight while pregnant due to insulin resistance, which is sort of similar to diabetes.

He had me start with about 50 grams of carbs a day and I could eat as much protein and veggies as I wanted. Really anytime you cut out sugar and bad carbs, it's good for your body anyway and I found that just being aware of how many carbs/sugars were in things was very englightening. I've always eaten rather healthy anyway, but things like milk and yogurt and certain fruits have tons more carbs than I was aware of. I'm a huge milk drinker, so I had to just switch over to eating more cheese to get the calcium but less carbs. And of course any processed foods are loaded with unncessary carbs and sugars.

I only followed the 50g of carbs a day for about a month before I realized that I was still always starving and losing weight, which isn't good when pregnant. I now still watch how many carbs I'm eating but am doing more like 200g a day and have only gained 12 pounds so far. (I'm 27 weeks along so I'm still actually a little "under" what I should have gained by this point.)

I was very pleased and pleasantly surprised with the Atkin's shakes (especially the strawberry one - tastes just like strawberry Quik) and their bars. My favorite is the Caramel Nut Chew... reminds me of a Whatchamacalit candy bar. The shakes have about 15g of protein and 1g of carbs... same with the bars. So both are great when you are feeling snacky or just need a quick pick-me-up.

Anyway, I started off in Phase 3 of the Atkins plan, which really lets you eat just about anything, as long as you are cutting out bad carbs and sugars. Here's a link to their recipe page - tons of yummy stuff that's healthy! http://www.atkins.com/Recipes.aspx

And of course, try to get some exercise in. Even if it's just walking for half an hour a few times a week, parking farther from stores, using stairs, etc.

Good luck and congrats!

You should never diet while pregnant. I had gestational diabetes and was on a special food plan while pregnant and gain very little weight. i think I would loose weight, but the baby would gain. You need to talk to your dr. about any sudden change in eating. If you eat healthy and have a nice portion control (which i dont) that would be great and may reduce your risk for diabetes, but you should not be on a drastic diet. This could be very bad for the baby if your body thinks it is starving. Worry about your diet after the baby is born.

D.,
My advice to you is to eat healthy and do gentle or moderate exercise. There is a possibility that you may NOT gain any weight during this pregnancy. I have known several people who have had enough "padding" before a pregnancy that they did not gain any weight and then when the baby was born, they actually weighed less than before they started! Just take care of yourself, you know by now after already having three kidlets what you need to do. Good luck on #4 and let us know what happened!

Weight Watchers is about as common sense as it gets! You can still have some of the things you WANT, yet keeping track and holding yourself accountable. DO NOT GET INTO THE THOUGHT pattern of "eating for two". It will only create MORE weight problems!

You need to have a plan of DAILY eating 8-10 fruits and vegetables as well as adequate protein....eggs, fish, lean meat, legumes. IF you work at eating 5-6 X a day, small meals, eating protein and/or fruit & vegetable EACH of those 5-6 times, you'll have NO problem w/ maintaining your weight, your energy level, and should help keep down your risks for things like diabetic issues, blood pressure, etc. Make SURE you're getting some kind of mild to moderate exercise DAILY -MINIMUM 4 x a week. If you don't like it....too bad. Think of the baby FIRST. You can't be the best mom if you're not taking care of yourself properly NOR will you end up w/ an optimally healthy baby. The effort will be MORE than worth the trade off!

(I'm a personal trainer & nutritional consultant) You'll ALSO want to buy a copy of PAIN FREE WOMEN by Pete Egoscue. This will take you thru EVERY stage and help keep you pain free and have a much more enjoyable pregnancy.

It's all about what you eat, not dieting. If you cook with vegetable oil, switch to olive, if you drink a lot of pop, switch to diet, if you eat late night snacks, pick up a hobby to keep you busy during those times like reading or scrapbooking, if you cook a lot, serve yourself a smaller plate, and drink lots of water while you're eating. It's about making different choices. I manage my weight by just making good choices. I have weeks when I have a serious sweet tooth for ice cream, but if I have some, I just make sure it's not on a day where I've had a lot of extra calories, or I pay attention the following day to limiting my calories. The best way to do that is just make something low fat that day, like I may choose to make grilled chicken, a baked potato, and veggies instead of something heavy like meatloaf or pasta.

I completley understand where you're coming from, but will tell you that even Weight Watchers won't let pregnant people join any more. Most doctors will advise not going on a diet while pregnant.

I would call your OB/GYN before doing anything even remotely related to a "diet" - they may have some programs/guidelines to follow.

Good luck!

D.,
I would not advise any diet to lose weight, while you are pregnant. A regular "healthy" diet while you are pregnant is advised. I wouldn't do any of this without consulting your OB first and throughout the entire pregnancy.

I am sure that your OB has guidelines as to how many calories that you need per day and can give you some advice on what you should eat.

After you deliver, I know that Weight Watchers has a specific program for nursing mothers and all mothers for that matter, that are trying to get back in shape.

Good luck!

You shouldn't diet while you are pregnant. Just eat healthy and exercise, worry about losing the weight postpartum. Good luck!!

I can send you information on a wonderful diet that my Integrative m.D. suggests for everyone ~ including pregnant women. It's not a weight loss diet per se, but it encourages your body to find its ideal weight, and allows you to eat plenty and receive all the nutrients you and yoru baby need now. it is a fantastic Diet for Life kind of plan. If you're interested in reading about the plan, sned me a private message, and I'll send you the text for a web site we're hoping to make about it.

My doctor began her career as a Pediatric M.D. who specialized in treating children with moderate to severe behavioral and developmental disabilities. She became concerned with the traditional medical community's recommendation for so many chemical medications, so she began to research alternative methods of treating these children. The parents saw such improvement in their children that they began making appointments with her too. She now has a family practice, and approaches each patient from a more natural approach before trying medication, but she still also follows traditional medicine when the case calls for it. She really is a marvelous doctor, and I know (from personal experience) that her plan not only works, but improves the health and energy of everyone who follows it. Her 101 & 3/4 year old father is a great testimony to her good work!

Do not diet while pregnant unless you are under the care of a nutritionist or dietitian who is working with both you and your obstetrician! The first trimester is a crucial time for being healthy and adopting good nutrition habits because the baby's 'blueprint' is being formulated. Lots of genetic groundwork going on that you seriously do not want to screw with.

You can make better choices when it comes to food selection and preparation, portion size, and caloric intake. At the very minimum you should be eating your weight in calories times 10 (example: 160x10 = 1600) PLUS an additional 350 calories for the baby.

Avoid processed foods and refined sugars - shopping the perimeter of the grocery store and selecting fresh fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy, lean cuts of meat, and whole grains. Watch your sodium intake - no more than 2300 mg per day. Try to eat fat, protein, and carbs at every meal as it will help you feel fuller.

Here are my tips for not overeating/indulging:
-Eat 5 smaller meals a day.
-Stop drinking soda (that includes diet too), juices that are not 100% fruit juices, or other 'filler beverages'. Drink any Starbucks or Jamba Juices? Go to their website and take a look at how many calories are in their drinks. It will blow your mind.
-Have protein at every meal and snack. This does not have to be meat. You can have peanut butter, yogurt, beans, eggs, etc.
-Carry a water bottle with you and drink water all day long. If you think you're hungry, drink an 8 oz glass of water first to see if that satisfies your urge to eat.
-Avoid refined or simple sugars completely. They enter the bloodstream quickly and violently. If they're not used immediately they get converted into fat. Also, the body experiences a 'sugar rush' followed by a 'crash', which makes you feel sluggish and craving food again.
-Since you're pregnant, you may wish to include more foods with folic acid (i.e. spinach). Eat a spinach salad topped with mandarin oranges, strawberries, walnuts, and a low-fat olive oil based salad dressing. (If you weren't pregnant, I'd recommend you throw on some blue cheese crumbles - makes the salad very tasty - but when pregnant you want to avoid soft and veiny cheeses).
-Exercise! You don't have to become a fitness model, but get out and walk 30 minutes a day. Do a little research and learn how to strength train on your own at home with little to no equipment. Of course, get your doctor's permission first and definitely don't overdo it. By getting your body in shape now, it is likely that you will recover more quickly after delivery AND you'll be well on your way to dropping the weight after pregnancy.

Like others said don't diet, but have a healthy diet (eating habits). You really do have to think of it in a different way and it could help in the future with healthy eating habits. I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes while pregnant and it is a different way of thinking than I was used to towards my eating. But I still ate quite a bit, but I ate different things and several small healthy snacks throughout the day. The one thing that the nutrionist said was one of the "free" foods because it didn't affect my sugar much was vegetables. So get lots of those, good for you and really good for your growing baby. Look up information about gestational diabetes since lots of other women have gone through the same and have stayed healthy and have had healthy babies.
Good luck.

When I was pregnant, my doctor had me on a controlled diet. It wasn't so much a diet as it was changing the way I eated. I was minimizing my salt intake, counting calories and eating less more frequently. I was overweight to begin with and I ended up losing weight during most of my pregnancy and what I ended up gaining back was all in baby...I can honestly say that I didn't weigh more at the end of my pregnancy. If you really would like to lose a few pounds...just cut out 200-300 calories a day...and if you're eating 5-6 small meals a day you'll never be hungry.

Also - I did end up getting diagnosed with gestational diabetes while pregnant. I was on insulin injections and all. The change in diet didn't impact me too much at this point because I already had done so much...I just needed to adjust it for carb monitoring and counting instead.

I wish I could do that now...just not as easy to do when you're not doing it for that baby inside of you.

This may sound weird, but I just had my son 10 weeks ago and I had the gestational diabetes during my pregnancy so I had to follow the diabetic diet. I lost and maintained my weight while I was pregnant just by eating the gestational diabetes diet. You can search online for different recipes, etc. It takes a few weeks to get used to it, but it worked for me, so well I'm continuing it I've lost a total of 44lbs since I have had my son and I had only gained 24lbs.

Hello D.,
Losing weight can be done, but you must be cautious that you are eating nutritiously to feed yourself and your baby and not taking anything that raises your heart rate dramatically.

I coach people on weight loss. I believe in the Herbalife nutritional products to give the body what it needs. If you want further information, send a message to me and I will customize a program for you. You can also visit www.shopherbalife.com/lpalmer to view the product catalog. ahead of time if you wish. We conduct Weight Loss Challenges in the Akron area if you live close by if having weekly meetings holding you accountable would help. You can be on any weight loss program of your choice to join.

Let me know if you have an interest! L.