Can you really lose weight while pregnant?

It is not uncommon to want to lose weight and move towards a food rebalancing. However, losing weight during pregnancy could be harmful if not done properly. There are a few recommendations to follow in order to lose weight while pregnant and not endanger your health or that of your baby.

Which women can lose weight during pregnancy?

First of all, if you want to lose weight while pregnant, it is imperative to start by seeking the advice of a doctor and a gynecologist . It is also possible to consult a dietitian for additional help. Professionals can thus guide the person wishing to lose weight and give some advice.

In any case, it is recommended for a pregnant woman wishing to lose weight to undertake a gradual rather than sudden weight loss . More specifically, pregnant women who can lose weight are those who are overweight and have a BMI greater than 30 ( click hereto calculate your Body Mass Index). In addition, for some women, being overweight during pregnancy can have harmful consequences. Indeed, excess weight can lead to premature birth, cesarean delivery, or even gestational diabetes and sleep apnea. Be careful, this will not necessarily be the case for all women. Nevertheless, it is still important to take your BMI into consideration and consult a doctor when you want to lose weight while pregnant.

For a pregnant woman with a normal BMI, it is not necessary to lose weight . Moreover, too much weight loss for a person with a normal corpulence could be harmful not only for the health of the pregnant woman but also for that of the baby. 

What diet should a pregnant woman have?

You should know that being pregnant is not a reason to eat twice as much or beyond your appetite. If you want to lose weight during pregnancy, it is obviously important to allow yourself the right amount of food to receive the nutritional intake necessary for good health. It is therefore necessary not to abuse the portions and slightly reduce the quantity of food eaten . The fact of putting a little less portions on your plates, while agreeing the quantity necessary to satiate, effectively makes it possible to lose weight.

On the other hand, favoring foods with qualitative nutritional characteristics  is strongly recommended. Indeed, favor good fats, vegetables and fruits, Be careful however not to eat only vegetables or fruits! The ingestion of starches and those of proteins are particularly important during pregnancy. You should also not put aside a food that is difficult to do without at the table, such as bread. On the other hand, eliminating or reducing anything that is too fatty and too sweet, like everything in fast food in general, is unquestionably beneficial. These foods do not actually provide anything of interest from a nutritional point of view and are, on the contrary, very harmful to health. Finally, it is advisable to drink plenty of water . A dietitian can create a personalized program for you. 

Be careful not to be nutritionally deficient

The danger of weight loss when pregnant is based on the nutritional deficiencies it can generate for the pregnant woman and her baby. To avoid this, do not go on a strict diet but opt ​​for a balanced diet . More specifically, weight loss is based on rehabilitating your diet by following the recommendations while coordinating them with your desires. It is indeed important not to completely forbid yourself from the types of food that are difficult to do without at the moment so that the rehabilitation is gradual. A sudden change in diet can indeed generate deficiencies.

Furthermore, it seems important to note that the quantities required are not the same during pregnancy. Indeed, they must be more generous so as not to fall into nutritional deficiency . More specifically, during the first 6 months of pregnancy, a pregnant woman must consume 2000 calories per day on average. On the other hand, during the last 3 months, 2200 calories per day are necessary. Thus, by consuming the necessary amount of calories every day, through a varied diet, nutritional deficiencies are avoided.

Choose a suitable sport during your pregnancy

Playing sports during pregnancy is not forbidden, quite the contrary; unless the doctor objects. Indeed, practicing a physical activity is strongly recommended to stay in shape and lose weight. It is still important to adapt the sport to your situation and not to opt for sports that are too abrupt. In particular, there are specific sports for pregnant women . These physical activities are gentle and moderate in intensity.

Among these sports, we find, for example, walking . If you particularly like water, swimming or water aerobics may be perfect. Yoga is also very beneficial, especially if you want to combine physical activity and relaxation. In any case, not making intense efforts and going at your own pace is essential. To lose weight pregnant, ask for the advice of a sports coach. You can also sign up for sports classes for pregnant women near you. 

Stephen
Website |  + posts

Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.