Dieting while pregnant

[NothingButTheBlood]

My doctor told me I am gaining too much, too fast so I have been put on the Atkins diet. This is the first time I am dieting since I was 16. I thought it would be hard but it's not too bad. I was kinda worried about a the diet until I read the book and I am starting in the last phase due to pregnancy and can eat lots of stuff. I just have to exchange the carbs for other things. Anyone else ever diet while pregnant or at least watch to not gain weight? Any other tips would be appreciated. I am also going to start swimming at least four times a week on Monday.

 

[Glenda]

I have never dieted when I was pregnant.. but I DO know Atkins..

Basically you're going to cut out the 'white' stuff.. the white flour.. the white rice.. the white sugar.. the highly processed stuff that is full of chemicals anyway.. and not good for you or the baby..

I've been on Atkins a long time.. have lost 52 pounds.. my cholestral is 160..
Sugar levels fine..

And you get to eat most veggies except white potatoes, corn.. berries are low carb.. cantaloupe, honey dew melon..

May God bless you.. your little one.. & your loved ones..

 

[NothingButTheBlood]

I have to say I feel great since I started just 2 weeks ago. I feel more full and snack less. I also feel like I have already lost some. Be nice to come out of pregnancy weighing less than I went in. Thanks for the comments, I appreciate it.

 

[RooMama]

I am 5 months pregnant and trying pretty hard not to gain much weight. So far I've only gained 3 lbs. I cut out the junk food almost entirely and that's pretty much it. My doctor wants me to keep my weight down in hopes of having a baby in the 8 lb range rather than 9 or 10.

 

[Emma!]

Have you discussed this diet with your doctor or better yet a dietitian/nutritionist?

I am at uni studying to be a dietitian and i must say im am concerned about you being on this diet esp while preg. Please try to go to a dietitian/nutritionist to discuss better ways of keeping your weight in the 'normal gaining pattern'. All the cells in your body need carbs to regenerate etc... and this is esp so while you are preg! It is very unwise to cut out any food group esp while preg. Please talk to a dietitian/nutritionist about this. Maybe a better way to go is eating lower GI foods so that you are not always hungry, this is also a good way of maintaing blood sugar and weight, while not cutting out any food group. But please talk to a dietitian/nutritionist about this, or at least your doctor (although they are not specialised in nutrition).

Bless you and your baby

 

[Athene]

There's no need to diet, just eat healthily, lots of fruit and veg, wholemeal bread instead of white, cut out frying and try grilling instead, and weather permitting take a 30 minute walk every day, longer if you're able.

 

[AbidingInHim]

I too would at least get another doctor's opinion on this, doctor's are only humans with educated opinions. I believe the idea of dieting while pregnant is not a good idea. Eating sensibly and excersicing should be much healthier.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=atkins+diet+pregnant&spell=1

Everything I've ever read says do not diet while pregnant and this search seems to concur with that. Pleas e study this more carefully.

God Bless you, Praying for you,
Roxanna

 

[CrystalBrooke]

the atkins diet isnt safe for anyone pregnant or not...go to a nutritionist or just start eating healthier and exercising (but not too much)

 

[dews]

What do you have to cut out? If it is just refined flours, sugars and baked goodies and stuff that we should eat anyways, you are not missing out anything. We shouldn't eat that sort of food anyways. Just make sure that you are eating all the food groups in balanced proportions.

 

[jazzbird]

What do you have to cut out? If it is just refined flours, sugars and baked goodies and stuff that we should eat anyways, you are not missing out anything. We shouldn't eat that sort of food anyways. Just make sure that you are eating all the food groups in balanced proportions.

I agree. If it's just the refined carbs and sugar, then I think that is a great move to make, especially while pregnant. But your baby really needs the whole grains and potatoes are also highly recommended during pregnancy because of the mineral content. Personally, I would get a second opinion.

 

[shainamsu]

for everyone who's saying that she needs to see a doctor, didn't she say in the OP that her doctor was the one who put her on the Atkins Diet, but just the last stage, b/c she's pregnant?

anyway, for me, i lost weight during my pregnancy and did it two ways: 1) i was so sick the first trimester that i lost about 15 pounds. i don't reccommend this method. 2) i tried to keep a balanced diet. as in, i cut out almost all junk food or baked goods, like brownies and ice cream. and when we made dinner, we tried to make sure that we had a balance of protein, yellow and green vegetables, fruits and so on, as opposed to a dinner made completely of carbohydrates, like potatoes, mac n cheese and cornbread. i also kept track of my serving sizes, and never went back for seconds. if i ever got hungry, i drank water or fruit juice. it helped quite a bit and overall, i was a lot healthier.

good luck.

 

[NothingButTheBlood]

Have you discussed this diet with your doctor or better yet a dietitian/nutritionist?

I am at uni studying to be a dietitian and i must say im am concerned about you being on this diet esp while preg. Please try to go to a dietitian/nutritionist to discuss better ways of keeping your weight in the 'normal gaining pattern'. All the cells in your body need carbs to regenerate etc... and this is esp so while you are preg! It is very unwise to cut out any food group esp while preg. Please talk to a dietitian/nutritionist about this. Maybe a better way to go is eating lower GI foods so that you are not always hungry, this is also a good way of maintaing blood sugar and weight, while not cutting out any food group. But please talk to a dietitian/nutritionist about this, or at least your doctor (although they are not specialised in nutrition).

Bless you and your baby

The first line in my posts says my doctor put me on the diet.

 

[lin1235]

I don't know much about Atkins but do know the South Beach Diet well and I think they're similar at least in the 3rd phases, and I don't think there's any problem with you doing that. If I'm right, you're allowed whole grains, fruit, veggies, lots of water, lean protein? I do know Atkins allow more fatty meats than South Beach, but I'm guessing you can just use your common sense to eat sensibly - and at least you don't have to weigh anything or count calories, right? Good luck!

 

[NothingButTheBlood]

Atkins has four phases and I am not allowed to do 1,2, or 3. About the only think I'm not eating is bread, pasta, potatoes, rice and anything with sugar in it. I have had to be creative to not eat potatoes and have add lots more vegies to my diet. I don't think it's hurting anything since I take a prenatal vitamin.

 

[snarfywarning]

Just be sure that you are getting at LEAST 2000-2300 calories a day, you and your baby need it. Food restiction is one thing, and caloric restriction is another.

 

[dews]

It sounds ok to me. Those foods listed are all starchy foods that are normally controlled by a pregnant woman with gestational diabetes and they have healthy babies. Eat lots of vegi and have a good balance of raw and cooked vegis.

Good luck.

Is it a boy or a girl or a suprise?

 

[NothingButTheBlood]

Boy, Jonah.

 

[chrislife]

Those who advise against dieting are absolutely right! It is one thing to try not to gain too much... but never, ever try to lose while pregnant. Your baby seriously needs all the food groups and nutrition. He or she is using the vitamins, calories, and carbs as building blocks and energy with which to grow! A diet that cuts out a food group is especially dangerous.

Every professional I've spoken to, and every book I've read (it's a lot, since I'm on pregnancy number 5) says if you gained too much at first, just worry about gaining the right amount in the future. By the middle of your pregnancy, you should be gaining a pound or two a week, regardless of what your weight gain was in the beginning. If you are seriously overweight, you might gain less, but it should not be due to dieting.

Your best bet is to "eat like a healthy person." Cut out junk foods, and eat healthy foods only when hungry. If you are still gaining too fast, get more exercise. That will help you with delivery and recovery, too.

---Christina

 

[Mary_Magdalene]

A good rule of thumb.....if it isnt the way God made it, dont eat it.

(no processed junk)