Many of you know that I had lap band surgery in 2008 and lost approximately 175 lbs, keeping it off more or less ever since. Many people think that since I had surgery to help me lose weight that it was "easy". Well, it wasn't. It was do-able, something I couldn't manage prior to surgery, but it wasn't easy. I still had to make choices every day as to what I ate and whether or not I exercised. These choices continue today. Every day I have to work at maintaining my weight loss. It certainly is worth it, but it isn't easy.
So, I'm a bit concerned with gaining weight during my pregnancy. I know I'm going to and that it's healthy to gain some weight. I worry about gaining too much weight. Losing weight is hard and I don't want to have to lose any more than necessary after I give birth. I looked online and talked to my doctor about how much is a healthy weight gain during pregnancy. My doctor said that at my pre-pregnancy weight, a healthy weight gain would be about 25 lbs. Part of me can't imagine gaining that much weight but then another part of me can't imagine only gaining that much weight during pregnancy. I know women that have gained much more than that (and others who didn't), so I know it's possible to do.
Especially since I had my lap band loosened a few weeks ago. It's the loosest it's been in years and I can tell the difference. I can actually eat a whole, small gala apple, a feat I haven't accomplished in ages. It also means I can eat larger slices of cake, more cookies in one setting, a whole slice of pizza, etc. It means I need to be extra careful of what I eat since I can now eat more than I used to. I try to eat very healthy all day while at work; drink 2 16-oz bottles of water, eat 2 servings of fruits/veggies, snack on nuts or Saltines, and limit the number of mini candy bars from my boss's desk that I consume. Then, I let myself go a little wild at night at home. This is when I allow myself to give into cravings - a bowl of ice cream, 3 popsicles, a small stack of Pringles, home-baked cookies, popcorn, cheese and crackers, whatever makes my tummy/mind/spirit/heart happy.
To make me feel better about giving in to my cravings, I'm making sure I get in regular exercise. I love to walk and tend to do it daily, sometimes more than once a day. Fortunately, my doctor thinks it's great that I walk and urged me to keep it up while pregnant. She said I can even ride my bike and swim when the weather improves! Yay! She warned me not to overheat and to take it easy if I start to feel tired, but otherwise I have full permission to keep exercising. She said it will help me keep off excess weight gain, build muscles and strength that she says will help me as my belly grows and while giving birth (tiny freak out!), and will help me lose the weight post-birth. Yay!
My job grants me three hours of "wellness time" every week, so I've broken it up into 4 45-minute sessions. I walk to the gym and then walk for 35 minutes (it takes 5 minutes to get there and another 5 to get back). I also walk the dog every other morning for 15 minutes. And, now that I have a lighter homework load and the weather has improved so much, I also walk Sadie with Steve in the evenings. It feels great! I need to make sure not to overdo things, of course, but luckily none of my walks are very long or strenuous, mostly casual strolls.
So far, I've gained about 4 lbs and feel pretty okay about it. I haven't had to switch to maternity clothes yet, although I sure do love wearing my loose, comfy summer dresses! My pants are feeling a little more snug, but I can button them with ease and they don't kill me throughout the day. Afterall, I barely have a baby bump at this point. My pre-tummy tuck tummy was bigger than my baby bI weigh about 180 lbs at this point, so I figure another 20 lbs will put me at about 200. I sure would love to not get too far over 200lbs. That's my goal. Hopefully, by eating right most of the time and exercising regularly, I'll accomplish my goal and have a happy, healthy pregnancy and give birth to a happy, healthy baby!
So, I'm a bit concerned with gaining weight during my pregnancy. I know I'm going to and that it's healthy to gain some weight. I worry about gaining too much weight. Losing weight is hard and I don't want to have to lose any more than necessary after I give birth. I looked online and talked to my doctor about how much is a healthy weight gain during pregnancy. My doctor said that at my pre-pregnancy weight, a healthy weight gain would be about 25 lbs. Part of me can't imagine gaining that much weight but then another part of me can't imagine only gaining that much weight during pregnancy. I know women that have gained much more than that (and others who didn't), so I know it's possible to do.
Especially since I had my lap band loosened a few weeks ago. It's the loosest it's been in years and I can tell the difference. I can actually eat a whole, small gala apple, a feat I haven't accomplished in ages. It also means I can eat larger slices of cake, more cookies in one setting, a whole slice of pizza, etc. It means I need to be extra careful of what I eat since I can now eat more than I used to. I try to eat very healthy all day while at work; drink 2 16-oz bottles of water, eat 2 servings of fruits/veggies, snack on nuts or Saltines, and limit the number of mini candy bars from my boss's desk that I consume. Then, I let myself go a little wild at night at home. This is when I allow myself to give into cravings - a bowl of ice cream, 3 popsicles, a small stack of Pringles, home-baked cookies, popcorn, cheese and crackers, whatever makes my tummy/mind/spirit/heart happy.
To make me feel better about giving in to my cravings, I'm making sure I get in regular exercise. I love to walk and tend to do it daily, sometimes more than once a day. Fortunately, my doctor thinks it's great that I walk and urged me to keep it up while pregnant. She said I can even ride my bike and swim when the weather improves! Yay! She warned me not to overheat and to take it easy if I start to feel tired, but otherwise I have full permission to keep exercising. She said it will help me keep off excess weight gain, build muscles and strength that she says will help me as my belly grows and while giving birth (tiny freak out!), and will help me lose the weight post-birth. Yay!
My job grants me three hours of "wellness time" every week, so I've broken it up into 4 45-minute sessions. I walk to the gym and then walk for 35 minutes (it takes 5 minutes to get there and another 5 to get back). I also walk the dog every other morning for 15 minutes. And, now that I have a lighter homework load and the weather has improved so much, I also walk Sadie with Steve in the evenings. It feels great! I need to make sure not to overdo things, of course, but luckily none of my walks are very long or strenuous, mostly casual strolls.
So far, I've gained about 4 lbs and feel pretty okay about it. I haven't had to switch to maternity clothes yet, although I sure do love wearing my loose, comfy summer dresses! My pants are feeling a little more snug, but I can button them with ease and they don't kill me throughout the day. Afterall, I barely have a baby bump at this point. My pre-tummy tuck tummy was bigger than my baby bI weigh about 180 lbs at this point, so I figure another 20 lbs will put me at about 200. I sure would love to not get too far over 200lbs. That's my goal. Hopefully, by eating right most of the time and exercising regularly, I'll accomplish my goal and have a happy, healthy pregnancy and give birth to a happy, healthy baby!