Coping with Weight Gain During Pregnancy
Whether you are pregnant or not, gaining weight can be hard and I hope some of these tips can help you get through this season so you can reap the rewards!
Sometimes, gaining weight is the healthiest road to take. We get inundated with the idea that weight loss and health go hand in hand. This simply isn’t always true. Whether you are gaining weight for hormone balance (women need body fat for healthy hormones), for increased muscle mass, for strength, for a more balanced lifesyle, or for pregnancy, you have to cope. It’s sometimes hard to watch the body gain muscle and get softer around the edges. It’s hard to shovel in food and eat past comfort if that’s what’s necessary. It’s also hard to gain weight when you feel like you aren’t trying at all and it just seems to be packing on your body right before your eyes.
I have gone through four-five different weight gain cycles and all of them left me in BETTER shape than before. It may not feel like it in the moment, but stay strong and keep taking this hard road and know that the results, the muscle, the improved health, (and maybe the healthy baby!) will be worth it.
I’ve gained about 4 pounds so far in this pregnancy (I’m currently on week 18), and the increased water weight has made me feel fluffy! All of this is normal and It’s all for the best, and I’m right now on track with a healthy 1 lb. a week gain now that I’m in the second trimester. I could even have gained more weight than this in the healthy range! My books say most women gain about 10lbs. by now. If you are reading this and you have gained more than me, know that we all gain it during different weeks and the important this is that we are gaining the healthy amount.
(Forgive the morning face). Right is pre-pregnancy. Right is 17 weeks pregnant. Sticking with bikini posing to keep consistency.
What is different for me this time is that I haven’t had to try as hard to gain weight. Usually I have to shovel in food past full and reduce my aerobic exercise. But this time, my body knows what to do! I know I have to do it, so here’s what’s helping me cope. If you are gaining weight for any other reason, I hope some of these tips might work for you too:
Consistent, moderate exercise.
I still like to get some cardio in while gaining weight. Sweating and get good blood flow does wonders for how I feel and I like keeping some of the cardiovascular strength I have worked so hard for.
Strength training! I can’t emphasis enough how empowering strength training can be and how much it helps me feel like I am gaining healthy weight.
Eating healthy food (most of the time).
(This only applies if you aren’t struggling with morning sickness). Eating nourishing whole foods helps me feel like I am giving my body the best building blocks I can. That being said, to cope with uncomfortable belly fullness, in one of my bulks, I at lots of builder bars. Denser foods like homemade banana muffins, peanut butter, rice, bread, etc. can also be nice during a weight gain phase if you are having trouble fitting in enough calories. It’s also nice to enjoy food and eat some of the foods you may not get to at other times. Just in balance. Healthy foods help me feel better mentally so I try to build my meals off of veggies, quality meat and dairy, and whole grains/homemade bread or granola.
This one is new to me and it is helping me so much during pregnancy!!!!!! I can’t emphasize that enough. If you are a fellow expeciting mama, this one is for you, especially if you are in the throws of morning sickness/fatigue and can’t eat as well as you would like to or get in your regular exercise routine.
Beauty care that’s truly helping me feel good in my skin:
Morning skin care routines and oral hygeine.
P.M. Skin care and full body moisturizing.
Professional massages (I plan to get at least 1 per month during this pregnancy),
Regular bikini waxes! It’s easy to forget that area when we can’t see it.
Weekly at home beauty routine: Face mask, exfoliating, shaving, moisturizing, and giving myself a mani-pedi. (If you can afford a pro mani-pedi - go for it!).
My Appearance
Capsule Wardrobe.
This is also helping me in pregnancy, though it changes almost daily! I am cultivating my wardrobe carefully and letting my changing body guide what I feel cute in. But I’m making an extra effort to narrow in my closet, buy quality fabric (I’m currently wearing a thrifted but new to me 100% cashmere sweater), and wear only clothes that feel good.
Hair and Make Up
I am also paying attention to putting on make up that makes me feel natural, but presentable, even if I’m having an off day. (First trimester was rough and I have been doing this as much as I can now that I’m not completely knocked down).
Getting a nice hair cut is next on my list, but I have been focusing on letting it be it’s healthiest with regular moisturizing and using natural products which are good for both my hair AND the baby.
The hardest part of weight gain for me is feeling like I am not taking care of myself. At the end of the day, if I feel like I am putting energy into being my best self, I feel better. All of these things, especially beauty care right now are helping me feel like I am pulled together, honoring my needs, and working towards being a better person, even if the scale is going up!