When you’re pregnant, keeping your weight under control is of paramount importance. Excessive weight gain during pregnancy can cause a host of problems for both you and your baby. However, with careful planning and weight loss supplements, you’re certain to lose the weight and have a healthy baby
Make A Plan
To ensure that you’ll stay on track with your diet and weight loss goals, you need to make a plan. Decide what you’ll need to do and how you’ll need to do it. For example, you might decide that you’ll need to limit your calorie intake to less than 1500 per day, or that you’ll need to take a hike to work off some of that extra weight.
Stay Active
When you’re pregnant, it’s easy for the couch to become your new best friend. However, staying active is essential for your health and that of your baby. Get up from the couch and take a walk, go for a bike ride, or attend a prenatal yoga class. Your activity levels will increase your body’s sensitivity to insulin, which promotes fat burning. Additionally, engaging in regular physical activity can reduce your baby’s risk of being born overweight.
Eat Healthily
To help prevent disease in both yourself and your baby, eat a healthy diet. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, a healthy diet during pregnancy should follow the guidelines below.
- Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables
- Consume nuts as a snacks
- Avoid eating too much sugar
- Consume small amounts of red meat
- Consume low-fat or non-fat dairy products
If you want to lose weight during pregnancy, try eating the foods that you know your body needs but that might not normally be part of your diet. For example, eat more of your favorite vegetables such as zucchini and cucumber. These foods have the potential to add significant nutrients to your diet while also helping you shed some pounds. Even eating foods that you might normally consider to be “bad” for you can be beneficial in the right context. For instance, eggs are high in cholesterol and calories, but eating eggs can help control your baby’s cholesterol levels.
Eat What You Need
A healthy pregnancy diet plan should be based on what your body needs. If you’re not sure what your body needs, ask your healthcare provider. Your baby’s body needs are different from yours, so you might not know what their needs are. It’s also important to eat foods that provide your body with the nutrients it needs to sustain healthy development of your baby.
Monitor Your Weight
Keeping your weight under control is extremely important during pregnancy. A healthy diet coupled with regular exercise can help you achieve your pre-pregnancy weight. However, it’s important to remember that your body might undergo physical changes during pregnancy that affect how you need to eat. If you gain a significant amount of weight, you might need to increase your calorie intake or take additional supplements to lose the extra weight. Your healthcare provider can help guide you and keep you on track to have a healthy baby.
Manage Your Mental Health
It’s easy for the stresses of life to distract you from your goals. Make sure that you focus on the positive aspects of being pregnant and commit yourself to managing your mental health. Your mental health will help you stay relaxed and patient during this time, which makes following a diet more effective and easier. Positive thinking will also help you feel more connected to your baby as they grow inside you.
Make sure to speak with your healthcare provider about any concerns you have regarding your diet or whether or not you’re losing the weight you need. They can advise you on whether or not you need to make any changes and help you stay on track to meet your pre-pregnancy weight goal.