We all know that pregnancy isn’t the best time to think about weight loss, but there are some cases when it can be useful. This is why you may wonder can I lose weight while pregnant. The answer is yes, if you happen to be overweight or obese. Otherwise it is better to wait until the baby is born.
Information about weight loss during pregnancy
For sure you know that the developing baby has certain nutritional needs. In case you reduce your calorie intake, the baby will also receive fewer calories and it is possible that he or she won’t get all the nutrients that they need. However in case of obesity there are safe ways to lose weight without affecting the baby.
Weight gain
When thinking about weight loss when being pregnant you should know that being overweight is just as bad as not gaining enough weight. In normal circumstances women are supposed to gain about 40 pounds during their pregnancy. However, overweight women shouldn’t gain this much weight.
When asking can I lose weight while pregnant you should know that women with a BMI of 25-30 are considered to be overweight and they should gain 15-25 pounds. On the other hand, the women with a BMI over 30 should gain only 11-20 pounds. Women with a higher BMI are encouraged to lose weight.
Frequent small meals
When it comes to weight loss while being pregnant you should know that there are a lot of benefits of having several small meals instead of three large meals. This way you can increase your metabolism and you can be sure that you will have enough energy to keep you going throughout the day.
In case you are asking can I lose weight while being pregnant it is also good to consider that the smaller meals can maintain the insulin levels of the blood. This way you won’t have low blood sugar and the baby will have enough energy to develop. Another benefit is that this way you can be sure that there is no excess fat or sugar at a given point of the day.
Cravings
Although you might have pregnancy cravings, in order to lose weight during pregnancy you have to make sure that you can manage and control them. These cravings are the main cause of weight gain because women usually crave sweet or fatty foods. Try to ignore the unhealthy cravings such as chocolate and ice cream and focus on the healthy snacks.
Exercise for pregnancy weight loss
Although there are some heavy exercises that you shouldn’t consider when asking can I lose weight during pregnancy, there are also some low impact exercises that could do wonders for you. Consider walking or swimming on a regular basis. Exercises of this kind can fill you with energy and they also help you burn calories.
As you can see the answer to the question can I lose weight while pregnant is yes, but this is something that you must discuss with your health care provider.
