Losing weight while pregnant is possible and there are two common causes: first is hyperemesis (pregnancy-induced nausea and vomiting) while the second is due to poor diet. The former typically disappears as the pregnancy progresses and eventually, the weight of the mother picks up. The latter, on the other hand, is a totally different story. The mother’s weight may eventually increase as the baby grows, but both she and the baby are definitely suffering.
Weight Loss During Pregnancy
Continous weight loss during pregnancy might be a sign of problem
One thing you have to understand is that continuously losing weight while pregnant is not healthy at all. It does not only deprive you of the nutrition you need but it deprives the baby too. As a result, you may give birth to a child with low-birth weight, if not one with birth defects.
Doctors often don’t recommend losing weight while pregnant unless the woman is extremely obese. If you are just figure conscious and you wish to learn more about managing your weight well during pregnancy, read on.
Burning Calories While Pregnant
Some pregnant women wonder whether they still burn calories because their weight just seems to increase by the day. Truth is, they still do. Every living being continuously burn calories whatever their situation is.
Now, there are some moms-to-be who have the tendency to eat less or wait too long to eat, thinking that this could help control their weight more. Actually, this is wrong. If any, they are doing their body and the baby harm! In reality, the more frequent you eat in a day, the more you will enhance your metabolism, thus, your calories get burned more efficiently too.
To make sure that you will not gain more than what’s healthy, the best thing to do is eat five small meals every day instead of two or three huge ones. By doing so, you will be able to steadily burning calories while pregnant, reduce unhealthy cravings, prevent indigestion, and speed up your metabolic rate. All good, right? It may not result in losing weight while pregnant, but it will surely help you lose unwanted pounds easily after delivery.
Pregnancy Food
You have to eat while you’re pregnant. In fact, you have to eat more. Remember, you are already eating for two. However, this should not give you the excuse to binge eat on a regular basis. By simply increasing your caloric intake by 300 every day, you can already sustain your body’s need.
Now, these extra calories should not only come from anything you fancy. As it’s for the baby, you have to find the right sources. Before putting anything into your mouth, recite 3 reasons why your baby needs it. If you start saying because it’s sweet, creamy, and yummy, then it’s definitely not your right calorie source. Make sure to only go for the good.
Pregnancy Workout
Pregnancy workout is very beneficial. If your pregnancy isn’t high risk and your OB-gynecologist approves of your working out, then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t. It can help enhance your mood, improve your sleep, and reduce all the aches and pains which naturally come with pregnancy. Working out also helps prepare your body for child birth. And most of all, it makes it a lot easier for you to get back in pre-pregnancy shape once the baby is born.
If you are not familiar with pregnancy workout, here is some of what you can do:
• Walking—Walking is a cardiovascular exercise. It’s easy but it keeps you fit and strong. It does not require any equipment and you can do it anywhere, anytime. Just make sure you got a good pair of comfy shoes so the routine would be a lot more pleasurable.
• Swimming—Swimming is a fantastic workout because it exercises almost the entire body. Besides, no matter how advanced the pregnancy is, you can still feel weightless in the water.
• Stretching—When you stretch regularly, you help in keeping your body relaxed and flexible. It prevents and heals muscle strain. Moreover, it also reduces swelling which is a very common problem as the pregnancy progresses.
• Yoga—If you have been doing yoga even before you got pregnant, then you can conveniently just continue the routine. All you have to do is go for the poses that are still convenient for you. It can keep you limber and toned.
• Weight training—Just like yoga, if you have been doing weight training before, you can carry it on. You can just reduce the weight and increase the number of repetitions. This pregnancy workout can tone and strengthen your muscles.
These are some of the exercises that moms-to-be should do. Although they will not aid in losing weight while pregnant, they can surely benefit both you and your child. Through them, you can have a healthier and easier pregnancy.