Pregnant, now what

So, I just found out that I am expecting... and am on "medical leave" from LA. I was told they don't have any plans for a pregnant person and then after the baby is here, I can start up the program again. I realize that I do not need to loose weight while pregnant, but I also don't want to go crazy and put on more pounds than needed! Any suggestions as to how to eat?

Congrats! (i hope)
eat plenty of fruits and veg
at least 3 servings of milk a day (my dr had me drinking about 36 oz milk a day in addition to cheese and other dairy)
whole grains (lots of fiber)
protein 2-3 servings of about 3 oz
plus add in healthy snacks of nuts, fruits, veg, etc

basically just how we are supposed to eat all of the time, but with a little extra milk and maybe protein, plus whatever your dr says

the key is not to use this as an excuse to eat whatever you want (fried, sweets, etc) since you are eating for two.

good luck and any weight you gain can be lost again
(with twins, i gained 45 lbs including their weight and had lost all of it within 1 month, but i put some back on when they were little)

Lovely news!
After 3 pregnancies I would say just relax and enjoy it! Eat little and often, that way you should avoid some of the nausea and the heartburn(that comes later!) Get plenty of rest, plenty of fruit and veg.
The baby will take what it needs from your body!

Enjoy

From what I've read just make sure you don't go overboard. The goal is not gaining more than 20-30 lbs and not until the second or third trimester. I have read that women only need about 300 extra calories per day when they are pregnant. Your OB doctor or midwife can recommend a good eating program for you. Make sure to take your prenatals and like busymom said, just enjoy it!

Well Congradulations on the pregnacy!!! I also had to take a leave from LA weightloss the first time I started because I was pregnant. Its almost good to have started it first A) becuase your starting out at a healthier weight and b) it really helped me take off the baby weight after!!! Its totally motivating to keep going.


Dont follow the diet but follow healthy eating that you've learned while on the diet. Eat fruits and veggies, lean meats, whole grains. Use low fat diary and healthy oils in your coooking. You will of course put on weight but your also providing very nutritious food to yourself and your baby.

I treated my body like a garbage compacter when I was pregnant and put on 50lbs. I dont recommend doing that. Im really sad I didnt realize how the food I ate during pregnacy would effect my child as well. I was sorta selfish and ate allot of junk food and whatever else I could get my dirty mits on.

I think everything that LA weight loss has taught me will really help me next time when Im pregant. I will ask myself would I feed my 9 month old pop? slurpees? potatoe chips? Probably not. You probably wouldnt either. So dont give them those poor nutrients before there born.

I hope this helps Congrats on the pregnacy again!!!!

Actually, in terms of extra calories, someone who is overweight might not need any at all. I have a friend who was about 100lb overweight when she got pregnant, and following the doctor supervised diet (google "pregnant diet" - it was the standard 3 servings of spinach a week, 2 potatoes a week, 2 servings dairy "minimum things you have to eat" diet) and she lost 10lb during the pregnancy, and delivered a healthy and bigger-than-average baby, cause her body used her fat for extra energy.

So get a diet with the nutrients you need from your doctor, follow that, and obviously eat more of the good food if you are hungry, but I wouldn't necessarily worry you will have to gain all the weight or any weight at all depending on how overweight you are. Your doctor will probably say the same too.

Similarly, if you were underweight, you'd probably need to eat a lot more than just 300 extra calories a day and gain more than the 18lb an average weight woman should gain.

Oh and you don't need any extra calories until the second trimester, from what I've read, but do more research.

Yes, if you are normal weight, you don't need extra calories in the beginning, as sararay said. And if you are overweight, you may not need them at all or need less than a regular weight person would.

THANKS EVERYONE!!! I was so happy to see so many responses! I am currently weighing in at 153 (not overweight, probably a good weight, I am 5'7)but am really hoping I can control my urges (GOOD LORD the urges!)
Anyway - I really appreciate the tips... My 1st appt is 4/15 so I will discuss w/ my Dr a good diet to follow then. I guess I am just worried about trying to eat well for myself and the baby, after being on such a planned out menu for so long, am nervous about doing it on my own.... Wish me lucK!!!!

You'll do fine. The doctor can give you a strict diet too, if you ask him to, and you can follow that. Like lunch: 1 4oz steak with 2 cups spinach and a 4oz potato, and so on.

Also, the full-fat dairy should greatly help control appetite. A glass of regular milk is great for calcium absorption (the fat-free one won't have as much calcium absorbed) and it is so filling.

I agree... eat little and often! However, that being said, I really concentrated on eating my veggie and fruits, and I had it in my head that "every bite is creating my child", and I wouldn't hardly eat ANY junk or anything that wasn't going to be GREAT for creating a healthy child. Of coarse, once the 3rd trimester hit, I would give in more than the norm of the previous months, but I still made sure that I had my V8 and fruits, even if I indulged. The GOOD news is that I lost 16 lbs, 6 weeks post birth... that is I was actually 16 lbs lighter than the day I found out I was pregnant!!! Yep, the metabolism of being pregnant is PRICELESS! I wished we could bottle that, as it was what made being pregnant and eating a great thing for me, on BOTH pregnancies, I lost the same.

Enjoy this special time... try to eat well and keep up with whatever exercise routine you had going on. Before you know it, you'll have a sweet lil baby to tend to.... being pregnant doesn't last long. God Bless!