Pregnancy and Weight Gain

So, I've been thinking a lot about weight since I found out I was pregnant. They say that you should gain anywhere from 25-35 pounds (if you're at a normal, healthy starting weight, which my doctor said I am). However, I am finding it hard to really control how much I gain…

Controlling my weight has always been a very deep personal struggle for me. In high school and college, I went through phases of not eating anything and losing lots of weight, to overeating and gaining lots of weight. After struggling for years, I finally ended the cycle somewhere around my final year in college. I've never gone back to starving myself to lose weight, but I've definitely been tempted to. There are times where I'll gain some water weight, and then skip a meal to get back to the weight I was at. I've also done lots of different exercise routines (such as P90X, running, 4 mile walks around the lake every day, etc).

During pregnancy, all of that nonsense to control your weight has to be put on hold. You literally cannot do the same things you did before. I am not allowed to do P90X, or even run (although I ran before I got pregnant, it wasn't consistent enough and therefore not the best idea to continue right now). I am allowed to walk, but my normal 4 mile treks around the lake are too exhausting and I find myself winded even after walking up the stairs. Thank God I didn't go try to climb Kilimanjaro. Whew!

I've found that even eating normal meals and normal portions does not lend itself to keeping weight gain consistent. I am trying to eat healthy, but that doesn't seem to matter! It's like my body is consumed by some rebel force that charges forward, adding pounds here and there whenever it pleases! I stepped on the scale this morning and I weighed 3 pounds more than the morning before…. And I had made a healthy, homemade chicken soup for dinner the night before!!! I am sure some of it is water weight, but still!! It is so discouraging.

In October, when I first got pregnant, I gained about 5 pounds. I didn't know I was pregnant at the time, and I was wondering what the heck was going on. I thought it was water weight, etc, but it wouldn’t come off! I felt bloated and yucky. Then I found out I was pregnant, and I understood. The first trimester, I literally did not gain any weight. I was sick and vomiting at least once a day, up to four times daily! It was horrifying. Although my weight fluctuated during that time, it never really exceeded that first five pounds.

During the second trimester, I have gained another five pounds so far. I step on the scale and my heart sinks, although I know this weight it only temporary. I am at 16 weeks pregnant now, which means that I am about 3 weeks into my second trimester. They say you are only supposed to gain one pound per week (PSHHHHH!!!) during the second trimester, so that means I am two pounds over! How in the world do you control your body gaining only one pound per week? Like, as if your body would perfectly, like clockwork, gain one single pound every Saturday during your pregnancy! It drives me crazy!

I downloaded a pregnancy weight gain app on my iphone that allows me to record my weight every day. I don't know how well it will really work, but I hope it at least keeps me motivated to keep in line with what my doctor has said I should gain. I know I shouldn't obsess, but I do want to try to only gain 25, rather than 35 pounds!!!