Question: I am eight-weeks pregnant and overweight. I have not always been overweight, but never dropped the pounds after my first child and now am entering into my second pregnancy much higher than I would like to be. What guidelines or ideas can you give me so that I do not end up obese by the end of this pregnancy?
Answer: Pregnancy is an important time of life. Not only is it filled with special moments, but it is also a time to ensure adequate and good nutrition. Weight loss is not recommended during pregnancy, but depending on your pre-pregnancy weight, your doctor may recommend that you maintain your weight throughout your pregnancy.
To find recommendations for weight gain during pregnancy as well as other helpful pregnancy nutrition information, check out the USDA’s Choose My Plate website.
Tracking your food intake is probably the best way to keep a handle on your weight throughout the pregnancy. Visit the SuperTracker function at the website above to figure out recommended calories for your pregnancy. You can also use this function to track your daily food intake and ensure that you are staying on track.
Regular exercise is also recommended to help maintain your weight throughout the pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about what kinds of exercise are okay for you. Walking is great exercise and is usually tolerated well by most pregnant women. If approved by your doctor, shoot for 30 minutes of walking daily throughout your pregnancy.
This question was submitted by one of our blog readers. If you have a nutrition question that you would like to submit, email me at kate.olson@advocatehealth.com.
