"Weighty" Thoughts

Today I stepped on the scale.  I didn't like what I saw.  I went from not being in the least bit worried (as early as last week), to sighing in disbelief.  Granted, I weighed myself after I ate a sizable protein-packed breakfast of two scrambled eggs (scrambled with cream), tomatoes, sausage and a large cup of Teeccino "coffee" with cream. Oh, and two large glasses of water.  But, still...

My plan for this pregnancy was to gain no more than 20-25 lbs. I'm half-way there already. Not that I gained much more with the girls - but, I was heavier then (I gained 37 with Liv and 27 with Lila-again, I was borderline overweight to begin with).  I worked my butt off to lose that weight and I don't want a huge challenge ahead of me after the baby is born.  You're thinking, "What? 20-25 pounds? Heck, 40 pounds. Whatever. Don't worry about it!"

Well, aside from feeling weak in the legs and arms and lacking energy that I know I would have more of if I were exercising and controlling weight better, here in Europe the recommended weight gain for pregnancy is 20-25 pounds.  In the US it's 25-35 for people starting out at normal weight. Starting out pregnant underweight, it's a bit more. Starting overweight, it can be a lot less. I'm sure the weight ranges are variable in Europe too. However, for women of normal weight, 20-25 pounds is it.  In Portugal, I had friends get their butts' chewed for gaining any amount over that. As in, reduced to tears.  I don't know if German OB's care so much. My midwife isn't even going to weigh me.

Since I was in the normal weight range, and just now reached the weight I was when I got pregnant with Lila, I shouldn't worry too much - but, I want to go by European standards. Vanity has something to do with it. Family history more.  I have an immediate family history of gestational diabetes and adult onset diabetes. The older I get, the higher risk I have. I'm not in my 20's anymore.  I'm in my mid-thirties. Not "old" but, I definitely don't feel as energetic as I did when I was pregnant and in my twenties with my girls.

So, anyway, I've gained the "normal" amount for someone who is five-months-pregnant. However, I've been over-eating and just barely exercising.  In early pregnancy, as I've written about, I ate a ton. I had to. I was starving All.The.Time.  If I didn't eat, I felt so so sick.  Therefore, I was constantly eating.  Even when I started to feel better, I carried on eating that way - it's so easy to get in that pattern.  I knew I didn't need to eat that much anymore - but started making excuses. Stepping on the scale today was a reminder that I need to start watching the amount of food that goes into my mouth. I don't need very many extra calories daily to support a growing fetus. I need to up my protein, back down on the carbs, and portions and, of course, enjoy food. I'm enjoying cooking again and the grill is up and running...

Now that I've finished with college classes and am feeling better, I'm starting up an exercise routine. I now have a German bike, equipped with a removable basket for getting groceries. I will now bike to the grocery store instead of drive (though, I do like to walk from time to time).  Every morning, when I drop the girls off at school, I will walk on the bike path by their school for 30-minutes.  Twice a week, I plan on hitting the gym for some very light weight-training. 

There is absolutely no reason my weight needs to go out of the recommended limits (fluid retention towards end of pregnancy aside - that happens sometimes, there is very little you can do about it and it goes away very quickly after birth - no effort needed). In fact, even now, I could lose a few pounds.  Yes, if you notice your weight is getting out of control when you're pregnant, you are, by gosh, allowed to lose some of it!

So, here goes...I can do it (repeats 50 times)!