• Home
  • Blog
  • CBD
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Balancing Today

Learning To Balance It All

  • Ashley’s Life
  • Around DC
  • Motherhood
  • Self Care
  • Work-Life Balance
  • Fitness and Workouts
  • Weight Loss

in Pregnancy, Weight Loss

Gaining Weight During Pregnancy

I’ve gone back in forth on not only writing this post, but also on how best to write this post. The topic of weight is something I often come back to as a blogger, as it has been a central part of my life, my entire life.  It’s not an easy topic, but I also feel like the topic of weight isn’t openly discussed the way it could be, despite how vast the diet industry is.  There are some aspects of weight that in my opinion deserve to be talked about, and one of those areas is around gaining weight during pregnancy.

Prior to my first pregnancy I worked really hard to lose some of my excess weight.  I wanted to reach my healthiest weight before having kids, but after months and months and months of putting off pregnancy for weight loss, I had the realization that I couldn’t keep putting off pregnancy for a weight that may take years for me to reach (or I may never reach).  At 234 pounds, I found out I was pregnant with my first and prayed that my body was strong enough to support a healthy pregnancy.

Pregnancy
Looking back, no matter what the scale had said before my first pregnancy, I was in really great shape!  I was so overly focused on the number on the scale because it had been ingrained in me that an obese pregnancy was an unhealthy pregnancy.  I truly believed that my weight would automatically put a child at risk and thus I continued to put off pregnancy in order to reach a magical number on a BMI chart that a doctor would deem as healthy.  What I had to learn quickly is that the body is amazing and capable of so much more than we can imagine.  Number on the scale aside, I quickly learned that many other variables impact pregnancy and the most important thing is to find a doctor who understands you, your health, and how best to coach/support you through your pregnancy.

Now, as an obese women, I have to say that gaining weight for pregnancy is hard.  It’s hard physically in some ways, but it’s really hard mentally.  Getting myself to stop obsessing over weight loss prior to pregnancy was a challenge, but shifting my mindset towards healthy weight gain was a completely different endeavor during my first pregnancy.  I’ve never, ever known healthy weight gain and had to really work through the notion of seeing the scale go up for a positive reason.

During my first pregnancy, I was really consumed with my weekly weight.  I weighed myself religiously, tracking my weight throughout my pregnancy, and living fearfully about gaining more than recommended.  Although my doctors recommended a weight gain of 30 pounds, 15 pounds more than what I had read in books, I was still scared of how my weight gain would be perceived by doctors and how it would impact my daughter’s health.  What I learned quickly is that at times, there is little you can control within your pregnancy – hello first trimester!  When you can control things, all you can do is your best!  During my first pregnancy I tried to manage what I ate and took spin classes until I was 40 weeks pregnant.  Regardless of my weight gain, I knew that I had done the best I could and that my weight gain was necessary for growing our daughter.

5 weeks vs 40 weeks pregnancy 2

As I move closer to our 32nd week of our second pregnancy, I have a completely different outlook on gaining weight during pregnancy the second time around.  Well, maybe not completely different, but ladies, we are too damn hard on ourselves.  In the first trimester, you’re going to feel horrible.  If a bagel helps you to feel better, eat the bagel.  If a jar of pickles helps you to feel better, eat the pickles! As you move into the second trimester, you’ll feel so much more like yourself, but just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean you need to eat for two.  This one is hard because guess what, you’re going to have weird and fun cravings.  You’re going to love food and you’re going to want to eat.  Don’t be crazy, don’t be restrictive, but also don’t go buckwild.  And if you do, move on.  For me, this pregnancy, veggies have been the furthest thing from my mind.  I’ve  had to work to eat veggies each day.  I’d be happy as a clam eating bread, eggs, ice cream, cookies, and any form of Mexican food each day and not touching veggies.  The second trimester is the perfect time to get back on track IF you’re feeling better.  I totally recognize that many women don’t feel great in the second trimester either.  Either way, be kind to yourself.

The third trimester is tough.  I’m not going to lie.  You’re going to be tired, uncomfortable, crazy emotional, irritable, incredibly hungry (especially at the end of your pregnancy), and you’re patience is going to go out the window.  You’re going to seek comfort and calories, all of which a brownie can provide you.  Trust me, be kind to yourself.  Find ways to care for yourself outside of food intake, but also be kind to yourself when you do eat a sweet treat or give into a craving.  You’ve been growing a BABY and trust me, you’re not going to sleep much, let alone remember to eat, once that baby arrives.

30 Weeks Pregnant
My second pregnancy has further confirmed my belief that the body is amazing, that we must focus on the things we can control, and that regardless of your starting weight, you can gain just what is necessary for your pregnancy.  It is REALLY easy to gain too much weight, so I won’t deny the need to be careful, to obviously follow your doctor’s instructions, and to watch your diet throughout pregnancy.  I am grateful for two healthy obese pregnancies, both of which I attribute to working out religiously when I’ve felt good, trying to limit sweets and treats, and just being kind to myself.

Gaining weight during pregnancy is difficult mentally, especially during a first pregnancy, but through a healthy focus, an understanding of what you can control and what you can’t, and a perspective towards how short pregnancy is big picture, I truly believe women can overcome the mental struggle with gaining weight during pregnancy.  Seeing the number on the scale go up each month is hard and I won’t deny the cringe I felt when I stepped on the scale last week, but I’m feeling great, I’m still rocking my 5 AM OrangeTheory workouts, and I’m eating as best I can.  Everything else, aside from sleep and my own stress management, is in someone else’s hands.

Related Posts

  • Kinnick’s Birth StoryKinnick’s Birth Story
  • 39 Weeks Pregnant39 Weeks Pregnant
  • Things I Haven’t Done to Prepare For Our Second BabyThings I Haven’t Done to Prepare For Our Second Baby
  • 37 Weeks Pregnant37 Weeks Pregnant
  • Obesity, Pregnancy, and DoctorsObesity, Pregnancy, and Doctors
« Easy Tofu Rice Bowls
31 Weeks Pregnant »

let’s connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Categories

Archives

More about Ashley

I'm Ashley, a full-time working mom who lives in the Washington, DC area. Balancing Today is all about learning to balance family, work, wellness, and most of all, life's simple joys! Read More!

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Looking for something?

Some of my goals for this year included saving mon Some of my goals for this year included saving money, planning out dinners for the week ahead, and getting back to the simple things that spark joy. Tonight’s dinner was the perfect culmination of all 3 goals.  I loved BLTs growing up, they’re easy on our budget, and my family loved them! What’s a dinner from your childhood you remember fondly?
Has my life changed since I started using CBD??? 1 Has my life changed since I started using CBD??? 10000%! CBD gave me the head space, freedom from anxiety, and control back to be able to focus on ME!! Did taking CBD cause weight loss, no!, but with the absence of stress, anxiety, and pain from using CBD I could focus on my body, health, wellness, and fitness. CBD has been a big piece of my puzzle these past 10 months. This time last year I was miserable and now, I’m thriving!
The past month has been one of the most fulfilling The past month has been one of the most fulfilling months for me personally in who knows how long! On December 1, I took a leap and decided to start a business selling Green Compass CBD after 9 months of using CBD to reduce my anxiety, lessen feelings of panic, and to manage my stress and body aches/pain (and boy has it changed my days!!). 

Over the past 46 days I have made incredible new friends, have helped men and women start using an organic CBD they can trust, made enough money to pay for an Airbnb getaway for my family, and have seen first hand how many people out there just need help! 

Help with anxiety. Help with the burnout they’re experiencing. Help with being overwhelmed from this pandemic. Help with managing the feelings of stress from virtual learning and work. Help finding a way to make an extra income. Help with joint and muscle pain. And help with needing a community. 

If you’re wanting to know how CBD can help you, take a leap and send me a note! 

If you’re needing to make extra money and don’t know where to start, let’s talk! 

I hope that all of my friends and followers here on IG know I’m an open book and love helping people reach their goals! If you’re even just a little curious about CBD or Green Compass, I’m here for you!
Start a side business for YOU! Start a side busin Start a side business for YOU! Start a side  business to invest in YOURSELF! Start a side business to make YOUR own money! Start a side business because YOU want the joy that comes from helping others! 

Investing in yourself and joining Green Compass could truly be the best decision you ever make for yourself. Is it normal to be scared, nervous, and even insecure before starting a side business? 100%! What I can reassure you is that I’m going to help you every step of the way! You will have a mentor, a friend, a business partner, and a cheerleader from the moment you message me! 

If additional income would help you, let’s talk. If a community of friends would help you, let’s talk. 

Take a leap! I’m here for YOU!!
One thing on my heart is to start each week with a One thing on my heart is to start each week with a reading. To take a few moments to sit, to take weight off my shoulders, and to focus on my root, heart, and crown. 

Crown Card (top) represents the part of me that wants to reach beyond myself. It can give you an idea of how to serve others✨The Stone - “The stone tethers us to Earth, helping to ground and connect us to stillness, quiet, and peace. 

Heart Card (middle) represents what is currently residing in my heart and tells of deep longing, calling, or conflict✨The Prayer - “Prayer leads us beyond our ego. We are in a state of prayer any time we are not the center of our own thoughts.”

Root Card (bottom) represents my grounding and current state✨The Shaman - “This card reminds us that the force of healing is ultimately not our own. We must shape it and share it with the world.”
Starting the week off with some fresh flowers. The Starting the week off with some fresh flowers. They bring me joy, make me happy, and bring life to my desk. Is there something you do for your work space/home environment that brings you joy each week?
Today I created a vision board!! More on Balancing Today I created a vision board!! More on BalancingToday.com
Woof, what a weird, sad, depressing, and confusing Woof, what a weird, sad, depressing, and confusing first week of the year. 

To focus on the good, I took care of myself this week. I did multiple meditations, took time to be outside, made realistic to do lists, established boundaries to give myself space, celebrated my daughter’s thriving in their first week back to virtual learning post break, and focused on the things I love. 

One moment I treasure each work day are those first 15 minutes. I look out the window, drink my coffee, and make a list of everything on my mind (Brain Dump). It gives me clarity, focus, and just a moment for ME. Before meetings, before projects, before serving others, I take a moment for ME! 

What did you do for YOU this week?
A quick walk between meetings on this “winter/no A quick walk between meetings on this “winter/not winter” day. Who else is ready for snow!?!
One thing on my heart is to start each week with a One thing on my heart is to start each week with a reading. To take a few moments to sit, to take weight off my shoulders, and to focus on my root, heart, and crown. 

Crown Card (top) represents the part of me that wants to reach beyond myself. It can give you an idea of how to serve others✨The Desert - embrace discomfort to tap into potential energy. 

Heart Card (middle) represents what is currently residing in my heart and tells of deep longing, calling, or conflict✨The Flame - A desire to reignite a fire inside no matter how harshly the winds blow.

Root Card (bottom) represents my grounding and current state✨The Hunter - Focused and energized. On a mission!

Copyright © 2017 · Balancing Today is running the Genesis Framework using the Market theme and is powered by Accelerated WP.