Overweight and Pregnant!!!!

Wow, you should not be concerned with losing weight right now. I was and I still am overweight my baby is 5months old. I just started working out today to get back inshape. All you should be concerned about is eating healthy and maybe doing some walking or try pre-natal yoga dvd. My Dr advised me not to lose weight but to try not to gain more then 15 to 20 lbs, but that was based on my weight. So just relax and be pregnant you will have plenty of time to get back in shape after baby comes. I breast feed my baby and have lost some weight from that.

You can do water aerobics at the YMCA. Also weight watchers has a program for pregnant woman. Walking, when I was pregnant I would walk whenever I felt up to it.

If you are serious about it, babyfit.com can help they have all the safe exercises to do and a bunch of support groups.

I can relate.
I was 95 lbs over when I became pregnant w/ my daughter. I had gained 35 lbs my first pregnancy & was nervous about gaining too much the second time around. My secret was to make every bite count. Everything had nutritional value & I only ate when I was actually hungry. I ate small meals & ate frequently - like a snack every two to three hours. I stayed very active, walking & hiking with my 2 year old & two dogs. I managed to gain only 25 lbs (for a 9 lb baby!) It was a very healthy pregnancy in spite of the weight.

Now is not the time to try to reduce your weight! Please stay away from artificial sweeteners - they are bad for everyone!! If you crave sweet, try stevia - an all natural calorie free sweetener that won't mess with your glycemic index. The drops are better than powder.

I craved milkshakes with my first: here is my secret healthy version:

1/3 - 1/2 C. High Quality Vanilla Ice cream (Haagen Daas)(be conservative!)
1 C. Keifer or Yogurt (Keifer is better)
Handfuls of fresh strawberries (or frozen cherries etc)
Milk or Soy milk if thinning is needed

By using only a small amount of ice cream, you get the richness & flavor & some sweetness - but counter it with vit-C rich strawberries & calcium/probiotic rich keifer. And don't live off of them, but enjoy them.

I have a great fruitshake recipe too.
Feel free to respond to this if you want more ideas. I was there, I understand. I am still chunky, but ok!

P.

PS all 85 extra lbs of me goes to the gym & to yoga - no one is judging you but you. You are capable of far more than you think. Believe you will be fine & you will!

I've been there! Talk to your doctor about his/her recommendations before you do anything. There are a lot of pregnancy work-out videos on the market, but if you have not been exercising before now then your doctor needs to tell you what is safe at this point in your pregnancy. I doubt the doctor will want you to lose weight while pregnant, but you can definitely focus on eating healthy and not gaining more weight then is necessary. I gained weight during my second pregnancy (daughter was 15 months when my son was born) too, but lost all of it within two weeks because of breastfeeding - great for baby and for weight loss - a real win/win. Good luck!

First off I would discuss it with your OB/Midwife. They can give you the best idea of what they're comfortable with for your particular pregnancy.

Walking is an awesome exercise while you're pregnant. It is great for maintaining/losing weight and a lot of what I've read says that walking daily throughout your pregnancy makes delivery easier. It is also something that would be easy to do with your daughter.

You may also want to see a nutritionalist who could help you set up a good meal plan that would get you all the nutrition you and baby need.

Good luck!

I am right there with you. I have a 15 month old and I am 11 weeks. I am not happy about my weight and the thought of the post baby body again is just adding to my emotional roller coaster. I am just trying to walk more and eat more fruits and veggies. I only gained 19 lbs during my first pregnancy and hope to stay there this go around, but I didn't loose what I picked up last time before getting pregnant again. I wish you all the luck and know you aren't alone! Just remember you aren't alone!

C., it's great that you're concerned about your weight, but more importantly, you need to look at making lifestyle changes. It's not that hard. The weather's nice; why not take your little baby for a walk once a day and work up to twice/day? You need only 30 mins/day. Also, it's easy to cut fatty foods from your diet. It starts w/grocery shopping. Replace cookies and chips with fresh fruits and veggies. Use low-fat salad dressings, dairy products and lean meats. Whole grains are better than nasty white breads. The worst things are salty, sugary, processed foods (cheese, sandwich meat), 'already made' and fast food. They should be avoided at all cost! These small changes will help you get the results you want. Diet and exercise go hand in hand. I know women who jogged in the second trimester. Get out there, girl and like Nike says, 'Just do it'! Oh! Drink plenty of water--no sodas! You really should check with your dr. before starting any exercise programs. You don't want to put your baby or yourself at risk of injury. Good luck and congratulations!

Walking is safe and healthy for both of you. The baby loves the movement. Start out small. Walk around the block, then two blocks, etc. You don't have to be a marathon runner or a YMCA goer to get a little exercise. My kids and I love to just walk around and socialize with the neighbors or walk the dogs for a little bit.
Don't put too much pressure on yourself. You can talk to your doctor or get online and do some research on healthier eating habits as well. Carbs are such a big no no (i.e. white flour, sugar, breads, pastas, etc.) I am currently learning to cook healthier myself because my 9y0 daughter has suddenly gained a lot of weight.
Regardless, I wish you the very very best :-)

You say you are shy to try a yoga class... I did a prenatal yoga class at 12th South and loved it, and one thing I can say from my experience is that I did not feel judged by others in the class and made some really great friends from it.

Also, you could check out http://www.rawfoodtalk.com It's free and I know I have seen moms in the 'raising raw kids' section talking about safe weight loss thru good nutrition during pregnacy.

Good luck!

I would say don't focus on losing weight but maintaining a healthy lifestyle. If you can practice eating healthier now, when you have the baby it will be easier for you to maintain the habit. Also take walks. Walking is so helpful during pregnancy. One way I chose (if you have it available in your area) is water aerobics. You don't feel the weight in the water and it's great exercise. You sound like you have a great husband so ask him to support you through these light actvities then after you have the baby you can focus on a more targeted plan of weight loss. Right now just focus on having a healthy baby that you have been praying for and keeping yourself healthy for the sake of your family.

You've gotten a LOT of advice so I'll try to be brief.

When it comes to a pregnancy "diet" I have to strongly recommend what's called the Brewer's diet. It has a website http://www.blueribbonbaby.org/ but I like the breakdown at http://home.mindspring.com/~djsnjones/id9.html a little better. My personal endorsement is based on my own pregnancies. I gained less overall the second time (all in my belly, like I was shoplifting a basketball) and felt so much better and was healthier.

Don't forget to sit Indian style when you're on the floor with your daughter and squat when you need to get something from down low. Those little excersizes will strengthen your legs for the coming labor.

And, like some others have said already, nurse the baby when she comes. That's why your body put on the extra weight and how it's designed to burn off.

Good luck!

No worries! I had to respond, I am in the same boat as you. I don't know your history but I have struggled with my weight my entire life and had years where I maintained a healthy weight (after losing 70 pounds) but have also, since my first child, had 4 years of battling the same extra 70 pounds that i need to lose again!! I wanted a second child so badly but was terrified to get pregnant because of the weight. But I've tried and tried for 4 years and not gotten far. I finally realized that I couldn't keep putting off my dream of having a second baby. Now that I am pregnant (15 weeks) it is amazing because I'm not stressing over it as much. My dr told me to gain 25-30 pounds for this pregnancy (the normal amount) and I said, "WHAT?!" I expected the old 15 lbs because you are already overweight answer. She amended it to I can try to only gain 15 if I want to and it will be perfectly healthy. That said, I realized from her answer that she isn't nearly as concerned about it as I am. Good news, I am 15 weeks as I said and I have not gained a pound. Unfortunately, that is due to my misery of tons of morning sickness AND a nasty bout of the flu on top of it. Now that I am feeling better, I plan to eat very healthy, minimize processed foods and eating out, and walk every day for 30 minutes. Once I am doing those simple things, I will add some strength training in. These are things that I do not have to go to the gym for. Also, we are lucky because the weather is about to turn beautiful to go outside and walk! If you live anywhere near Spring Hill, TN and want to get together, I'd be happy to - you can reach me at ____@____.com

I am overweight too. When I was pregnant I only ate foods that were healthy foods for the baby--no junk food, no sweets. I walked 30 minutes a day with each of my four pregancies. My neighbors used to say that they watched for me every day to make sure I didn't go into labor walking around the block every day. I never gained any weight with any of my pregnancies. My OB said that he thought that my metabolism was normally really low and being pregnant increased my metabolism so much that I didn't gain weight. He said that he sees that some times with overweight women when they get pregnant. Eat healthy and walk that worked for me!

Well, you absolutely can not diet while you're pregnant, but you don't have to "eat for two" this time, either. I think you only need something like an extra 300 calories a day, which is less than you imagine, like 2 glasses of milk or so. As far as exercising, walking is almost always a safe option. Walking is the best exercise, truly. Strap your 17 month old into her stroller and take her out twice a day around the neighborhood- she'll love it, and you'll feel great. When the baby is born, try breastfeeding- you can lose a lot of weight that way. Then, the only thing to do is eat less and move more.

I would not worry about trying to "lose" weight while you are pregnant unless it is something your doctor advises and supervises. I also did not lose all the weight from my first child before I got pregnant again. I found, though, that with my second pregnancy, I didn't gain as much weight. I focused on eating small amounts several times per day (like every two or three hours), I drank lots of water, and chasing after my first was plenty of exercise (as was continuing to teach). Like I said, I gained less weight with the second and lost it a lot faster. My daughter is 1 year old now and I am back to where I was before I got pregnant the first time (which is still overweight, but at least I can't blame it on the kids!). :)

I think that what you need to focus on is not gaining too much weight with this pregnancy and to start a regular exercise program-such as walking. I am also a larger woman and was when I got pregnant with my son. I did not let myself go crazy during my pregancny and ended up gaining less than 25 pounds which came off pretty quick after my son was born.

I do know of woman who started the Curves program during her second pregnancy and after the birth of her second child weighed less than the day she found out she was pregnant.

Hope that helps.

I too was over weight when I got "pregnant" with my first son. The word here is "pregnant" not "dead." I got very little exercise during my pregnancy and was just way too big by the time he was born, gaining about 45 pounds more. I had not gotten enough exercise for the baby to even position himself correctly for birth. After a 52 hour labor period, he had to be turned with forceps and delivered...FINALLY!
Don't do what I did. The key is exercise. You CAN exercise while pregnant...walking is the best exercise you can get. I found this out during my second pregnancy and had an easy 12 hour delivery with him. I know some women who even jog while pregnant. Even some floor stretches would be good for your body to help keep it in shape. Although you do not want to do any "reaching over your head" exercises or otherwise, such as reaching into high cabinets. Being pregnant does not mean that you cannot or should not move. Just so you do these exercise within reason and don't push your body to exhaustion, you should deliver a perfectly healthy baby with a short labor period. And remember that after the first one, the rest come faster.
Good luck! Now get out there and exercise for you and for your baby.
God bless,
R.

No it is not horrible to be overweight. Do not beat yourself up because you are overweight. When children come into your life sometimes finding the time and energy to exercise can be hard. First of all have you asked your doctor about your weight. I know that doctors do not want you to lose weight while pregnant. I know walking was helpful for me. One thing I have learned is to love your body no matter what it looks like. If you do not love your body than why would you want to do anything to improve it. Since you prayed so hard for children be thankful you are pregnant and don't worry too much about the weight. Pregnancy only last 9 months so let this time be a time you can enjoy the blessing of a new life growing inside you. Don't worry you will get through this.

C.,
I was overweight too, try not to lose pounds because that's not good for the baby, but you can lose inches, if you make sure you are eating enough for you and the baby, good food, then you should be able to walk off inches or swim it off. Is there a YMCA where you are? Good luck, V.

Hi C.,
Congrats on #2. I have a 17 month old son and am pregnant with #2 and due in Feb. I teach Stroller Strides classes and would love to have you try a FREE week of classes. It is a great way to get in shape, meet new moms and instill a heathly lifestye in our children. We combine power walking, cardio and strength training in our workouts. In addition to classes we also offer free playgroups and monthly Mom's Night Outs. Hope you will join us when you feel up to it. We will be having 2 FREE Grand Opening Classes and Celebrations!

When: Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Where: Baileywick Rd. Park
(Picnic Shelter)
9501 Baileywick Rd. Raleigh, NC 27615
Time:10:00am
(Classes will be every Monday-Friday)

When: Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Where: Bedford @ Falls River
(Picnic tables in the pool parking lot)
10630 Bedford Town Dr.
Raleigh, NC 27614
Time: 9:30 a.m.
(Classes will be every Monday,Wednesday,Friday)

**Please R.S.V.P by phone or email**
***Please see web site for further information***

Fitness For Mom, Fun for Baby!

Stroller Strides is the country's largest fitness program for new moms. Classes offer a stroller workout that combines Power Walking and intervals of body toning using the stroller, the environment and exercise tubing. It's a great way to get in shape, meet other new moms and have fun with your baby. In addition to the classes, Stroller Strides offers Luna Mom Clubs with fun playgroup activities and community offerings.

FREE Grand Opening Class!

Join us for one or both of our Grand Opening Celebrations! There will be a FREE class, FREE raffle prizes, FREE goodie bags, FREE refreshments and more! Bring your friends and little ones. Hope to see you there!

Special Offer!

Be one of the first 10 moms to pre-register for a monthly membership before the Grand Opening and become a FOUNDING MOTHER! With this special offer you will receive $25 off the registration fee & are guaranteed the $50/month pricing for as long as you are a member even if the prices ever increase. This one time offer is first come, first serve and includes a Stroller Strides member T-shirt, your own set of resistance tubes, and other goodies. Please call or email to inquire.

With health,
T. Henrikson
Owner & Instructor
===============================
phone | fax | vm: 800.959.2620
email: ____@____.com
===============================
Helping Moms Make Strides In Fitness, Motherhood, and Life
http://www.strollerstrides.com
http://www.strollerstrides.net/northraleigh

Walk, walk and walk some more. There are so many great nature trails around Charlotte and I'm sure your daughter would love the walks as well. My husband, daughter and dog always go to McAlpine Greenway off of Sardis Road, but there are plenty of entrances and other parks as well- Reedy Creek, Crowder's Mountain..wherever you may be located. Good luck!

C.:
Let me first advise you to avoid dieting when you are pregnant. I am a registered nurse and can recommend a program that is safe for pregnancy, that builds lean muscle mass and helps you loose body fat. We have a gal who used the products throughout pregnancy and when she gave birth to her first born, nobody in the delivery room was ooing and gooing over the baby - they were looking at her placenta. The doctor and delivery team had never seen a healthy placenta before!!! So the products help you get healthy, strong and lean while loosing body fat as a side effect, so to speak! I will be happy to connect you with her if you desire.

A good 8 minute movie to watch that will help explain some of the reasons it is so easy for us to gain/keep extra pounds and inches is www.DrSpeaksOut.com.

The products are 100% guaranteed and backed by a scientific advisory board of doctors, nutritionists, scientists and more. Should you decide to try them you will get your own personal coach to help you through the process for as long as you want - for no charge! Feel free to contact me if you would like more info.

Best of luck!
And contrulations on your pregnancy!!!!!
E., RN

P.S. I'm not pregnant, but have lost 25 pounds and 14 inches so far with these incredible products!!!

Dear C. D.,
Don't try to stress over this right now. If you're healthy enough to walk, then, by all means do so. Stroll your little one when weather permits. If you want to lose the right kind of weight without harming the fetus, eat often. As soon as you get up eat some cereal (1/4 cup) then some fruit, more fruit and perhaps some grained bread toasted. An hour after that have some 1/2 cup of skim milk as a snack....a couple whole wheat crackers, or as much fruit as you would like until noon. Eat a healthy lunch, then snack again twice before dinner, eating more protein with lunch than usual. Your snacks can be a couple wheat crackers, a spoon of peanut butter on celery, or a veggie you love. At dinner you can enjoy every bit of it. The trick here is to eat many small healthy snacks between your daily meals, incorporating vegitables and fruit. Saving yourself the carbs you want at dinner, ie: wheat bun with your burger. Remember, if your food is white it may be laced with sugers. I couldn't believe I could lose weight by eating several healthy little snacks between meals for a healthier way of life. But, I did! Go for grains,wheat,even pumpernickel breads, or a sweet potato instead of mashed or white baked potato or noodles. Loads of veggies and salads during your day and I know you'll feel better about this issue. Diets don't work C....have a positive attitude and know that if it's possible to walk and eat healthier many times a day it all adds up to a healthy way of life. The more you focus on making sure you eat several times a day just makes it easier not to eat at night.
I'm happy for you, and now that the weather will be breaking I'm sure you'll make use of the stroller and be a happier person looking forward to your new baby. Good luck C., please don't sweat this extra weight. Eating better now will also lift your spirits and make you stronger in the coming months.
Congratulations!
D.

I have been there. I was overweight and pregnant. I had 6 years between my pregnancy and gained more weight. Keep walking and stretching. Increase your meals to keep your metabolism up, by eating small healthy snacks. I use to have six small meals to keep me going. Once the baby is here, then concentrate on getting into shape. One step at a time. I had two C-Sections and have finally lost all the weight. My body has not recovered from all the stretch marks and changes a woman goes through, but walking and using the stairmaster and eliptical can work off that baby weight. Keep your head up! A woman glows when she is pregnant.

Weight watchers has a wonderful program for expectant and nursing mothers who want to watch the baby weight poundage. i would check into that first and foremost. moderate exercise, a daily walk, will help tremendously. remember that water is good for you and baby and helps with maintaining weight. try the Weight Watchers, you can do it online or go to weekly meetings for more support.

good luck and congratulations!
Julie H.
Adams, TN

Unless the yoga is geared for pregnant women, I wouldn't go to yoga at the gym. However, there are a number of pregnancy yoga dvds out that you can even do with your daughter and later with your baby as well. The most important thing to remember is to take it slow...don't start a rigorous exercise program if your body is not used to it.

Also, start changing your eating habits (notice I didn't say diet). Changing the way you eat now for both you and your family will do wonders for you and you'll start noticing that you AND your family will feel better. Then, it will also be easier to lose the baby weight once the baby is born.
Don't let "pregancy cravings" get thebetter of you. If you have healthy snacks available to you throughout the day, you won't have as many crazy cravings.

Just get out and walk everyday. Try to make a mile a day, do it in intervals with the other child in a stroller and maybe your husband if he would. Don't stroll, walk quickly. I am a personal trainer and I would not suggest trying to lose wt. while pregnant but walking never hurt anyone and you will lose some from walking and you can walk right up until the baby comes.

I am currently pregnant and at the time I became pregnant was working out trying to get back to my pre-preggo body. I was actually overweight for my historical weight when I got pregnant the first time. Regardless, my doctor says that working out is fine while pregnant and if you don't go to the gym you can at least walk at a fast pace 20 to 30 minutes per day. That will start you on conditioning and you can continue your walking after the 2nd one is born and then graduate to more strenuous exercise. My trainer says that losing weight is 70 to 80 percent diet so exercise will help collaterally but doing that alone will not get the weight off. You have to have so many calories per day while pregnant so dieting may not be a good option for now. You could start eating healthier to set the pace for dieting once the baby comes. Also, I breast fed my first one and it helped me to get back in shape quicker. However, I seemed to be more hungry when I was breastfeeding than when I was pregnant! Good luck and don't feel bad about yourself for being overweight.

Try Zumba classes at A Time To Dance in Murfreesboro. The instructor lost a lot of weight doign these classes and you could lose also. Denise, the instructor, could give you advice on what to do on top of the class to lose. she really looks great and lost almost 80 pounds. There are women of all sizes in these classes and all ages. They are great nd a lot of fun. They are $5 per class or you can get a 3 class card for $12. let me know if you would like more information.

Hi. I've always struggled with my weight. My parents put me on diet pills when I was 15 to lose 20 pounds. Its always been a battle. I finally found a solution that was healthy and effective. Weight Watchers and walking. I was about 15-20.lbs overweight when I got pregnant and then proceeded to gain almost 80-90lbs. I now have lost over half the weight. The doctors told me I couldn't diet while pregnant, but by the end of my pregnancy and 90lbs later they weren't saying that any longer. I started losing weight in the last 2 months of my pregnancy, not much, but I wasn't gaining. I've learned as long as your being healthy its ok. The best thing to do is walk. It helped me to keep from gaining. Weight watchers won't let you join while you pregnant,however you could attend the weight watchers meeting a few times and follow the breast-feeding trac. Its very safe and healthy. I think its just a matter of liability that they don't allow pregnant womwen, scared someone might over do it. Weight watchers helped me stop dieting and start eating healthy. I hope this was of some help. Good luck and congrats on your second child.

Hi C.!

I when my son was 9 months old I became pregnant again. I know where you are coming from. As long as you are eating healthily you should be ok. Remember that you are not eating for two. On my third pregnancy, I was never hungry and I had to make myself eat healtihy. I didn't gain much weight, but my baby did. Ask your doctor for a good calorie intake for your situation and see what they suggest. Also, you can walk and it does wonders. I know the weather isn't great, but you can take the stroller out to the mall and do laps around the inside, out of the weather. For your arms, lay on your back and bench press your 17 month old. You'll both enjoy it. You can also do modified pushups over your baby and use it as play. I was in the army during my first pregnancy and the mid wife I had said that as long as I didn't feel uncomfortable doing regular PT, I could do it up to my second trimester, so ask your doctor for some advice and suggestions. If all else fails and you like Yoga, get some Yoga DVD's and do them in the privacy of your home, or find a friend that can motivate you. The pounds can come off. The most important thing is that you take care of the baby inside you. Maintain a healthy weight and don't gain too much this time and you can take the extra weight off later. Also, PRAY. Ask God to help you keep your health and your babys' health in mind when you go grocery shopping. Ask him for energy to get up and move when you don't feel like it (not when you're tired, just when you don't FEEL like it). Your body is His temple and you are made in His image. He will help you be who He intends you to be and will help you see you as HE sees you. God Bless you!
Ginny

Like others have said, chat with your doc about diet and exercise.
But my story is - I was slightly overweight when I found out I was pregnant. I didn't really do much about diet and exercise until I found out I had gestational diabetes. From that moment on, I changed my whole outlook on health and pregnancy. It just came priority for my child for me to eat healthy and exercise. I ended up losing a little weight (about 8-10 lbs) while I was pregnant, but it was so worth it!
I only gained 13 lbs total with the pregnancy and my baby was a healthy 8 lbs 12 ozs! The true motivation is the beautiful gift growing inside you. With that in mind - you will be beautiful whether doing yoga at the gym or walking around the neighborhood (my choice).
As for the exercise - my husband and I would walk for 10 minutes after breakfast, lunch & dinner. I ate 6 small meals (includes snacks) during the day - really watching, measuring, & weighing my portions. I was never hungry and had all sorts of energy.
So, yeah for the gestational diabetes diet!!! :-)
God bless!

C., Pregnancy is not the time to loose weight! But you can limit the amount you gain, without hurting your baby if you consentrate on having a healthy diet. Many "diet" drinks and foods are not really that effective, it is better to drink water, milk and herbal teas, eat soups, lean meats and plenty of green leafy vegetables and other fresh whole foods rather than processed "junk". Rice, Barley & potatoes all have more nutrition per calorie than pasta's. Moderarate exercise is good, as the weather warms, take advantage of nice days to take your 17 month old out in the stroller, to get some fresh air exercise. Hanging out clothes on the line not only saves energy, but lets you sneak in those bend and stretch exercises. gardening is also a good minimal exertion exercise, that has the bonus of giving you fresh nutritios garden produce.
I don't know why, butI have noticed that it seems the women who have C/S 's have a harder time getting the weight off after baby, so try to avoid a C/S, if at all possible. Breastfeeding burns up many calories too, don't forget.

I would focus on eating a HEALTHY diet!!! Not too much sugar, no fried foods, no fast food, not too much pasta, lots of lean meats(chicken, fish-only the allowed amount, etc.) See if your insurance will cover a nutritionist and go talk with her. I focused on healthy eating with my second and not just eating what was around like with my first and i gained 10 less punds and had a baby that was 2 pounds heavier!! Also make sure you are doing some kind of excercise. Walk around your neighborhood with your husband or a girlfriend, swim laps, or if you are too uncomfortable for both of those, buy a treadmill or a recumbant bike and watch tv and workout at home.

I wouldn't limit your calories but I would focus on making the calories you eat be good healthy calories. Make sure you talk with your doc and he can give you the best advice!!

Congrats

The best advice I got from my nurse practioner was that as long as the amount of pounds I gained was less than the amount of weeks along I was in my pregnancy, I was doing fine. She also suggested I walk, but then my blood pressure started being troublesome, so that had to stop.

Hello C., I know exactly how you feel. I am a mother of a 3 yr old and a 8 month old. I did not gain any weight with my first child( mostly because of genetics my mother was the same way), and I was on bed rest so I actually lost a lot of weight. I retruned back to a job where I was required to travel and gained 20 pounds after the birth of my first child. Then as he turned two I found out that I was preganant again.Also like you I had not lost the weight or flab from my first child. My first suggestion is to not be so h*** o* yourself about the weight. Having a small child and trying to take any time for yourself is hard. Secondly, it is not safe to lose weight while you are preganant. Just try to eat a healthy diet and stay as active as you can. Walking is the best way to stay strong and make sure you are gaining only the weight you need to keep you and the baby healthy. I have read that when you are overweight and preganant, it is safe to gain no more than 15 pounds so be weary of that and you should be fine.
Lastly, just know that you will have a lot of activity when that second child gets here. Some woman lose weight just by trying to keep up with the children. I did. My three yr old keeps me running.
Also, just plan on taking charge of your weight when you have recovered from the birth of the second child.
I am still struggling with my weight as well, but I take it one day at a time!

HEY C.! Congratulation on the pregnancy! My best advice is to walk. The weather is getting warmer, just grab the stroller and a jacket for the two of you, your toddler and go outside. Walking my not help loose the weight, but it will help keep the new weight at bay.

Good luck and congratulations!
D.

talk to your ob about it before you start any kind of excersise regiment. just to be on the safe side. she can give you recommendations on what is safe to do, how much weight is acceptable to lose, etc. but i know that walking is good for you, low impact areobics, yoga/pilates, and swimming are all good choices. i've seen pregnancy safe work out videos at walmart before. maybe you could try of those, since you are too shy to go to the gym. also, drink lots of water. it helps to flush your system. and just try eating a more healthy well balanced diet(i know, easier said than done). but losing weight is about changing your entire lifestyle, not jsut about adding excercise.

Good morning C.!

well, to start with I would definately be asking your doc these questions because losing weight while pregnant can actually cause more issues than just staying the same weight and then gaining a little. You can always lose it after the baby is born. I can't remember the for sure correct words, but your body releases something called licopeins or something like that when you lose weight. These molecules hurt the baby, or can hurt it in some way. I have had four children, the last being eleven years apart from the first three. I had the same situation and my doctor advised me to not worry and just lose the weight afterwards. I am now still after 10 months since having little Bella overweight, by about 35 pounds. I am now going to work on losing it....ie was breastfeeding. I think that the safety of little Bella was more important. My doctor told me that she could have become a dwarf or had other problems if I had dieted and been pregnant.
I hope that helps you and remember, that it is your heart and love that define you.
kimberly at The Bear Creek Gallery

C.,

Congrats on your impending arrival! My advice would be to discuss this with your doctor. While you really shouldn't be 'dieting' per se, you can eat healthy balanced calorie controlled meals that takes your current personal condition into consideration, with the help of your doctor and a good nutritionist. Obviously you are going to need to be really careful here to protect your unborn baby. I had a friend/coworker who was in your situation years ago. She discussed her needs with her OB doctor who was more than willing to help her with meal planning and a referral to a registered dietician. The end result? She delivered a very healthy full term bouncing baby boy and after delivery weighed quite a bit less than she did when she got pregnant (to the tune of about 20 pounds less) and continued her weight loss/management program afterwards by continuing to see the dietician. Her transformation was really amazing. This friend lived in Southeast Missouri at the time (1997)so unfortunately, a referral to her doctors wouldn't be of much help to you here.

Because any misinformation could be detrimental to your baby, please seek the professional assistance of your OB and those that he or she can refer you to.

Good luck!

Hi C.,
It's not a good idea to go on a weight loss diet when you're pregnant. I think you should discuss your concerns with your doctor. Ask her/him how much weight you should gain during this pregnancy. I think your main goal during your pregnancy should be to not gain more than what your doctor recommends. Start eating a healthy/well balanced diet now so that you can establish healthy eating habits that can help you loose weight after you have the baby. Try not to focus on your weight and focus on being healthy. Eat lots of fruits and veggies and limit junk food intake.
I've also struggled with loosing weight after I had my son who is now 1 year old. What has helped me is to have the mind set that I want to feel healthy/energetic and be a good example for my son so that he will develope healthy eating habits. I also walk a lot!!! It makes me feel so much better (mentally and physically).
Don't be h*** o* your self for being overweight. There are worse things!!! I know it's hard but try to be happy with the way you look right now. Focus on your health and the health of your baby!!!
Congratulations on your pregnancy.
Good luck!!!

Hi C.!

When I was pregnant the doctor said I could exercise as usual with no harm to the baby. If you haven't been exercising, start off slow by doing a heart walk, that's not a stroll but a little faster pace to get your heart working. After a couple of weeks you can start to do other things like low-impact aerobics and others. I wouldn't do any weight lifting as you might strain the muscles around the baby (just a thought). You should also talk to you doctor for more specifics. Hope this helps
Pamo

Do not attempt to loose weight while pg. There will be plenty of time later. Just stay active as you were before and no more. I had four live births and one miscarriage. I wish you the best.
your friend
sue

Water aerobics is great--especially when you get really big and off-balance at the end of pregnancy. Look for pre-natal water aerobics in your area, or find a regular class, and ask your doctor if you need to make any modifications. I've done both pre-natal and regular while pregnant, and the only thing my doctor advised was not twisting my torso for movements in the regular class (I was pretty far along by then too). If you're in the Durham area, let me know, and I can suggest a class. And don't be too embarassed--just throw on a t-shirt and some swim shorts over your bathingsuit, and keep in mind that your body is neither the best nor the worst one in the class. Besides, getting out there and exercising is the best thing you can do for your health and your baby's--THAT should get you moving! :) (And I am NOT an exercise fanatic. I had to drag my chubby butt off the couch, but it was worth it.)

I totally empathize with you! After I had my daughter three years ago, I gained weight and was trying to lose it when I got pregnant with my son (he's 15-months-old now). So not only did I NOT lose weight before my second pregnancy, but I packed on extra pounds!

I was worried for a while but then I decided to stay positive, realizing that my primary concern was the health and well-being of the baby growing inside of me. I tried to eat right (but didn't deprive myself if I wanted a burger now and then) and worked out when I could.

I loved water aerobics! It was a great low-impact workout that was done in shallow water (about 3 feet), and I think you'd like it, too. If you're too nervous or shy to go to a gym or the YWCA, go walking outside or on a treadmill. If the weather's too cold, you can buy or rent the Walk Away the Pounds videos and DVDs. They're low-impact, too, but you get a good workout!

Good luck and remember: your first priority is to your child. Try not to worry too much about weight loss right now, just focus on staying healthy. Once the baby is born, you can focus on kickin' butt and getting in shape! :)

Hi C.
Ask your doctor for a referral to a nutritionist to learn about the best way to feed your body while you're pregnant, and don't be shy to tell both your doctor and the nutritionist that you are concerned about your current weight. Then what I'd recommend is that you start walking. Your little girl is at a great age to put her in her stroller and you go together for a walk. Just get out and move! You don't have to move fast, you just have to walk. The benefits will be terrific for you and for her, as you'll improve your health, it will be great for the baby you're pregnant with, and you will be setting an example for your little girl! I walked every day while I was pregnant with my now-three-year old, and it made me feel better and made post-pregnancy recovery faster.

Good luck, and God bless you and your family!

okay you have a ton of advice here, but let me tell you my experience. i was very overweight when i had my son. if you do not exercise before you get pregnant, you should not start a new routine now. light walking is the only thing easy enough to begin. watch the quality of the food you are eating. lots of fruits and veggies and low fat meats like chicken and turkey. i only gained 17 lbs with my son, so that was good. if you feel like you need to start some exercise, make sure that your ob-gyn is okay with your activity.

Eating healthy is the first thing...cut out all white stuff from your diet..no white breads..no white rice..no potatoes, eat lots of vegetables and fruits and cut out the sugar as well..cut out prepared foods, they have a great deal of sodium..use sea salt if you need salt..drink lots of water...you can use the flavors to add to your water...WalMart has good ones and much less expensive than Crystal Lite..try to keep you calories around 1,800 per day..put the baby in the stroller and walk...exercise is a good thing for you and your unborn baby, the fresh air will be good for the 18 month old...here's wishing you good luck !!!

Talk to your doctor. I had gestational diabetes with both children and had a specific diet. I didn't gain a lot of weight with either children but I needed monitoring to make sure that they were getting enough nutrition.

You should not take any generic advise from this forum. You need a doctor's guidance for the sake of your new baby and old baby.

BTW, if you're healthy I would take it easy and accept that you are overweight. After the baby is born, take on a regiment that will work for you.

One of my good friends was in the same situation you are now and because it was the second pregnancy and because she didn't give in to her cravings like during the first pregnancy, she didn't gain nearly as much weight the second time around, thus losing it faster post pardum. My advice is pretty simple - tons of water and lots of walking and swimming during the summer. Playing with your little one is also a great way to get active without the organized structure from a class. The weather is getting warmer, so get out and enjoy it with your family!

Be kind to your self...toss out the trashy food that will make you iritalble and tired. Go to the store and think healthy and get only healthy food...and the weight will fall off your delivery will be easier and you will enjoy the road getting ready to meet this new treasure in your life.
I have 4 and 9 living Grands..one on the way and two in heaven.
love
Betty

You have a ton of advice here and I haven't had a chance to read any of it, but I have to tell you of my own experience nontheless.....I was 180lbs brefore getting pregnant with my first child. at just shy of 5 feet tall that put me 70+ pounds overweight. I gained 65 more throughout the pregnancy. (yikes) over the next few years I took only a little of it off. I was 219 when I got pregnant the second time. Only instead of gaining 65 pound this time I gained 15. I left the hospital when he was 2 days old weighing 217 - less than when I got pregnant. The difference was CURVES. I had joined Curves and exercised 2-3 a week until about a week before I delivered. Prior to this I hated exercise, but Curves was just short enough (30 minutes) that I had to try it. I figured I could do anything for that length of time. After a few days I was hooked. My OB actually said it was the best thing I could do for exercise. The women there were so supportive of everyone, most were just happy to see others trying to improve their health. anyway, that was what helped me. oh yeah once my son was 10 months old I joined Weight Watchers and have now gotten down to 155 (it's taken 3 years, but it is well worth it) As always there are the leslie sansone walking videos for at home use. easy enough to do as your cordination changes. Good luck to you throughout your pregnancy.

I would suggest taking to your OBGYN. Share your concerns and see what he/she suggests. Walking is low impact and good for you, there is a lot of exercise that you can do. I put my little one in the stroller and walk at least 3 times a week. Do an exercise video in your home. There are some made FOR people who are pregnant. Good luck.

I would do almost just what I'd do if I weren't pregnant - eat right and exercise. Your baby AND body will benefit from walking or swimming and eating the right things (whole grains, fruit, veggies, protein) are ALL needed during pregnancy. I am actually 27 weeks pregnant and am starting to get active again (I have been tired and was sick through much of the first part) and walking is great!

Of course, you won't be able to do running, heavy cardio, heavy worksouts until you're unpreggo:), but you can do lower impact things that will make a difference. I would start with walking 3 or 4 times a weeks and preparaing fresh (minimal processed) foods to eat.

Ask your doctor what level of activity you can do. If it is walking, walk around your neighborhood. You will not loose any weight right now, and you shouldn't. It is about the baby not you. If you are trying to loose weight you will end up in the hospital. Right now your focus should be bringing in that new life in the healthiest possible way. Suffer now or suffer later, and later will be a lot longer, i.e. birth defects that you will have to take care of for the rest of that child's life. Do the yoga, do the walking get your body conditioned for the hard labor, if you do it right the weight should come off easier shortly after pregnancy. You will have to continue the regiment after you deliver. That is until your doctor says it is safe for you to pick up the intensity. The best way to get over your shyness is to know that:

"These people's opinion of me does not matter, it is my opinion of me that does. I am beautiful, I'm just improving on perfection."

Good Luck, and God bless.
P.S. Just so you know I am not a skinny girl writing to you. I am over weight as well. The doctor would not let me do anything while I was pregnant. I had to start after I got my mobility back from the cesarean. I started of walking and it helped me knock off some pounds. I’m still working on it. At least you can get a head start and if the doctor says "No." Its will be fine, you will be fine. Just do not eat ice cream unless you are craving it and if you are, not too much.

You should not try to lose weight while you are pregnant. But walking swimming and other "non-jostling" exercises are good for you. Stay committed to eating all the healthy foods you want, but no junk (sweets,chips,snacks that are just fillers with no nutritional content). That is saving you from gaining weight that you'll struggle with later, and it doesn't help your baby either. Enjoy your healthy pregnancy, and lose weight later!

OH sweety, If you are lucky enough your Yoga instructor is trained to help during pregnancy.. I was blessed to have a yoga instructor as a friend during mine..it helps alot. There are several ways to work out during pregnancy. Walking is great and just changing your diet would benefit.. lots of fruit and veggies, nuts and seeds. cut out any junk fast food items and you will begin feel better and shed the pounds.. Don't be shy to go to the gym.. pregnant women are beautiful feel it believe it and you can achieve your goal..
I also researched online for at home exercises during pregnancy. like with anything though only do what feels comfortable and right for you.

First of all, Congratulations! And second of all, don't beat yourself up so much. I know that is hard because I do it too about everything. There are a lot of really good exercises for pregnant women, (I'm 13 weeks, so I've been researching a lot). If you are worried about going to the gym, or the pool, then the best place to start is walking. You can do this throughout your entire pregnancy. Some really good pregnancy websites are babyfit.com, and babycenter.com. They have a lot of information on safely getting into a workout routine while pregnant for both people who aren't currently doing a routine, and those that are at the top of their game. You can also order some prenatal workouts and do them at home, but keep in mind that that means you have to be self disciplined (which is always something good to learn anyway). Babyfit also has a lot of healthy recipes, and you can sign up to get a new one every day! (Yummy ones too!) The book, What to Expect while Your Expecting has a pregnancy diet as well that isn't real strick, but it will keep you healthy. Right now, don't worry about the extra weight. Just make sure you're eating the right things and excercising at your ability. Trying to lose weight could actually put our baby in danger. Don't compare yourself to others. (That too is hard for me, as I have close due dates to some of the most perfectly shaped people I know).
Again, congratulations!!!!
J.

Hi C.,

My suggestion is to get the work-out videos for pregnant women. I used them all through my pregnancy. I struggled with being extremely tired for my entire pregnancy and these type videos gave me more energy.

Also, do you have a YMCA or a gym that offers water aerobics? I loved the water exercises when I was pregnant! It is very easy on your joints, but gives you resistance to gain muscle.

Your main defense against weight isn't "dieting" but building muscle that naturally raises your metabolism! This will also help you to have a easier delivery!

Yoga and walking! You can buy yoga videos for your home, so no embarrassing classes to take, and walking is very healthy, and the fresh air will do your body good. and while you can't "go on a diet", you CAN watch your portions, eat more healthily, and snack RIGHT. Here's a few pointers, instead of red meats, go for fish, white meats, or beans. Cut your portions down by 1/3, only eating 2/3 of what you were before. Snacking, instead of grabbing that bag of chips, grab a bag of baby carrots, or some celery. Instead of ice cream, grab some yogurt, when you want cheese sticks, grab 2 slices of cheese and an apple (they are REALLY good together NUMMMY). Simple changes to your lifestyle will help so much. Also do a junk-food purge, clean out your fridge, your cabinets, your freezer for all junk foods, and start fresh. Best of luck!

Congrats on your new baby!! The easiest, cheapest, and healthiest thing in the world is walking. Talk with your doctor before beginning any new excercise, of course, but as long as you are in otherwise healthy shape, walking is probably the best thing for you and your baby. There are maternity yoga videos, however, please do not try a "regular" yoga video, as many poses are not recommended or are even dangerous for pregnant women. There are also maternity fitness classes offered thru the hospitals; just ask. Best of luck for a happy, healthy pregnancy!
P.s. Since I was already a runner, I continued (with my doctor's blessing) to run thru my last pregnancy. Remember, this is a time to be healthy, not lose weight! God Bless!

I completely understand about being too shy to go to the gym - I feel the same way. I ordered a pregnancy yoga dvd and (Gaiam Prenatal Yoga) on someone's advice and I like it. It's very easy and they show you modified poses for different stages of the pregnancy. Just doing that won't make you lose weight but it will make you feel better about yourself! I also think walking is a great idea - especially this spring while it's still cool out! This is my first pregnancy and I was not happy with my weight before I got pregnant, so it's been hard for me to see myself sort of expanding every month, but I think everyone's advice here is very helpful. I hope you have a healthy pregnancy! :-)

I know what it is like to be overweight and pregnant. I went through it with my daughter. I was lucky I had a doctor that never once said anything about how much I weighed or how much I gained. Anyway, I would talk to your doctor about wanting to lose weight while you are pregnant. My doctor would say no but I know not all doctors are alike. I know that there are some videos you can by to workout with or you can go on walks. Walking is always could plus it shouldn't hurt the baby any. Be sure to drink water and just eat right and everything should go ok. Congrats on the new baby on the way!! Good Luck.

You need to talk to your dr about how much weight is safe to lose during a pregnancy. She'll probably tell you that it is better to maintain your weight and work cardio, that's what they told me. Walking is great for cardio but as the pregnancy progresses, it gets h*** o* your legs and your ankles. There is a gym out in town, it's about 45 a month for a two year membership. they have a pool and aquatic areobic instructors that were great with me during my pregnancy. Not only was there no impact by doinbg exercise in the water, at the end of the pregnancy when I felt like an elephant, the water took the weight off my back. For that one hour, I felt human again. Most of the class was senior citizens but once they got to know me after a couple of classes, they always asked about the baby and my other kids. IT was kinda like having grandparents again and they made me feel really comfortable. The name of the gym is Onslow Spa and fitness. They are in the Kmart plaza on gumbranch road, if you're interested

Hi, First, congratulations on your pregnancy!
I would not concentrate on losing weight at this point. My best advice is to just not gain more than you need to because, as you know, it will be hard to get it off. During my pregnancy, I walked a lot. I also did a spinning class at the gym. I know you said you were shy about going, but I really believe no one cares what you look like. You need to take care of yourself. It will be even harder to lose weight with two little ones. Watch what you eat, make sure you eat good and healthy. And take your 17 month old out for nice long walks, all the way to the end.
Good luck!

I too was overweight when I got pregnant the first time. But while you are pregnant is not the time to try to lose any weight. However, it is never too late to eat healthier and exercise, and it will aide in losing the weight after the new baby is born. I used a preggo exersice tape I rented from my local library but you can get on ebay or amazon, etc. It is called Leisa Hart's Fit Mama. It has salsa dance, fat burning yoga, stretches and delievery exercises: all for pregnant women. Be sure and get the okay from your doc though. Good luck:)

Honestly...Now is not the time to lose weight. I was overweight when I got pregnant with my son. I was actually on NutriSystem for about 3 weeks (lost like 6 pounds) when I found out. You just have to put things on hold for 9 months and start weightloss after the baby is born. My suggestion is to really analyze how hungry you really are-Are you eating because you think you should be eating because you are pregnant or are you really hungry? Try to exercise portion control-get some measuring cups and measure your cereal or spaghetti. Go for walks-that's super easy to do-you don't need a treadmill, just go outside and around the neighborhood or a city park. I started NutriSystem after my son was born and lost 30 pounds-which was great for that first year...I didn't have to think about what I was going to eat. Plus, I didn't have to find time to cook myself anything. I'm now doing Weight Watchers(for the flexibility-plus now I have more time to think about what to fix and I can cook meals for the whole family). I've lost about 4 pounds in 4 weeks. My suggestion is to talk to your doctor. All in all, just enjoy your pregnancy and try to eat as healthy as possible. You'll lose that weight-you'll just start in 9 months(that's not really to far from now). Good Luck!

Dearest C., do NOT loose weight when you are pregnant. You can loose after the baby comes, not right now. The baby will take from your body, but you have to supply your body so it stays healthy enough to carry that baby and care for the little one you already have. Don't try to loose weight while pregnant, that can be most dangerous!