Ugh - What Is My Problem?

Updated on December 31, 2011
L.D. asks from Manhattan Beach, CA
15 answers

First let me say that I've had a good year, health-wise. In February I started eating better, cutting down on my portions, and running. I lost 30 lbs this year and feel so much better than I did at the beginning of the year. But now I am 7 weeks pregnant and morning sickness has hit hard - I've been feeling like I'm carsick all day for the past week and a half. I don't feel like cooking and I really don't even feel like eating but I'm hungry all the time. The problem is that all I feel like eating is junk food. Food in general isn't really appetizing to me right now, so I'm turning to burgers and fries and chocolate. Ugh! I know that especially now I should be eating really healthy so why am I having such a hard time doing that?? On top of that I've been really tired and just have not had the energy to exercise. I'm afraid that by the time this pregnancy is over that I'll have found those 30 lbs again! What can I do??

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J.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

6-8 Linum B6 from Standard Process stopped the morning sickness for me and then I felt better to eat better. All of my friends have used this and it's worked for them.

3 moms found this helpful

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☆.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Eh. When I was pregnant meats and veggies gagged me. I was surprised my son wasn't born with a Snickers bar in O. hand and a Code Blue Slurpee in the other. You have to eat what appeals to you.
Congrats!

8 moms found this helpful
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R.M.

answers from San Francisco on

IMO it's fine to eat what you're craving when you're pregnant. Eat your burgers and fries and take your prenatal vitamins. The baby will be fine.

7 moms found this helpful
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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

Yes, you will find that 30 pounds again, but you are supposed to. Please don't try to keep from gaining weight. That will hurt the baby.

You don't feel like eating because your hormones are a wreck right now. It's normal - having morning sickness is hard stuff.

Try smoothies, L.. Healthy smoothies. Get some protein powder, because the baby needs protein for brain development. Add in your favorite fruits in to the milk and protein powder and enjoy! Add some spinach - you won't taste it and it's healthy.

And drink plenty of water. You need to stay hydrated to help quell the nausea. And it is SO important to take prenatal vitamins. You need the folic acid in them to prevent neural tube defects like spina bifida and some forms of cleft palates. The first trimester is SO important - with cleft palates, the fetus has a cleft that is supposed to close in the 8th week of gestation. When it doesnt close is when you have a child born with a cleft. That's why it is so helpful to take prenatal vitamins when you are trying to get pregnant, so that you have been getting enough folic acid from the beginning of the pregnancy. Of course, not everyone can do that, so the thing is to start as soon as you know you are pregnant.

As far as burgers are concerned, try turkey or chicken burgers. They have less fat. Use whole wheat buns, and lettuce and tomato. Try soup made with really good ingredients.

Dump the fries, L.. Honestly. Not good for either of you!

If you can just walk, that's enough. Walking will help tremendously.

Dawn

4 moms found this helpful
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A.H.

answers from Omaha on

I had a textbook perfect pregnancy with my son. No morning sickness unless I ate sweets or junk food! The thought of carbonated beverages made me queasy. So I ate relatively healthy with him and gained thirty pounds. My daughter, however, I had morning sickness for 5 months! Only meds could help keep that carsick feeling away. So I craved all the bad stuff with her. I ate it without regret and didn't really gain much more than what she weighed at birth. Don't worry too much about the weight you gain (unless it is extremely excessive). It drops off pretty quickly afterward especially if you breastfeed. Good luck!
A.

3 moms found this helpful
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M.P.

answers from Portland on

Start thinking in positive terms. When the negative ones arise, have a positive one to replace it. For example: I don't feel like eating healthy food. replace that with I will eat healthy food. Google nutrition while pregnant and make a list of the foods that are needed during the pregnancy. Keep only healthy foods in your house. Then exercise your will power to eat those foods. When you think you're too tired to exercise replace that thought with something simple such as walking up and down the stairs.

At the same time realize that this phase will not last forever. Cut yourself some slack. Don't expect everything to be the same as before. Make a plan that you can stick with.

And you should gain around 25 lbs. Not only will you have the weight of the baby but also of the placenta and amnio fluid and extra blood.

My mother lost her appetite the last couple of years of her life. But she continued to eat. Since nothing tasted good she made a meal plan in which she ate pretty much the same thing every day. For example she had oatmeal, toast and an egg every day and a cheese/meat sandwich every day for lunch. My brother cooked dinner and she ate whatever he served. Often it took her an hour to eat a meal but she ate it. It's not easy but with perseverance you can eat healthy.

2 moms found this helpful
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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

You're craving those things because they are THE most easily digestible foods your body can think of. Esp when you can't eat well, your body craves nutritionally dense, easy to digest, foods. The part of your brain that controls cravings (not conscious) is SMART.

But it doesn't know the difference between spinach and steak when you need iron. Eat EITHER and you'll fix the craving. (but if you're craving proteins and fats... it won't even touch the itch... depends on what you're craving).

Since you aren't eating well right now... your body is sending you to the foods that are the highest in what it needs with the quickest turn around.

Option A : You can circumvent fast food with soup.

Nutritionally dense & easy to digest. Home made LONG cook soups (hours) with bones in them would be best, or things like Miso soup that are super quick because the Dashi and miso have been steeping for some time... but any soup will help feed the craving for a burger.

Option B... Ensure. Super easy to digest and nutritionally dense.

Option C... probably isn't a good idea if you're nauseaus, but dairy products (NOT NOT NOT 'low fat' ones... because most of the nutrition has been replaced with starch to make it "seem" creamy... but milk, alfredo sauce, icecream -the real stuff, look on the back for no more then 2-5 ingredients, like breyers; milk, cream, sugar, vanilla-, ricotta, etc. Dairy can upset an already upset stomach.

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J.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

Walking 20 minutes a day should keep you fit during pregnancy and on track so that when you can go back to your regular routine, you can do so with ease. Ginger root steeped in hot water and drank like a tea is excellent for nausea. Ginger gum and ginger ale as an alternative can be good too. Don't worry about the weight. Your body (baby) is going to pretty much be needing and using everything you crave and eat. If you're hungry, then you need to eat. Your body is telling you this so you can prepare for and feed the baby.

To be honest, non-fast food, home made hamburgers are not bad for you and are moderate to low in calories if you don't load them down with fattening things like bacon, mayo or heavy cheeses. Tomato, lettuce, swiss cheese, onion, salsa, even avocado are all healthy and make a mighty good burger. Turkey and beans are great low fat alternative if you want to avoid beef altogether. Organic, free range beef is a great way to avoid pesticides and other things that can be found in conventional meat. If you want a burger have one...just maybe stay away from the fast food stuff.

Home made baked fries are healthy. Waffle cut them or use sweet potato for a healthy alternative. To make them crispy yet low fat and grease-free, brush egg white on them before cooking them in the oven with about 2 tblspns of vegetable oil spread on a pan. See recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/oven-cr...

Chocolate is okay in small amounts. 100 percent cocao is better for you than the GMO name brand milk chocolate varieties you get at the check out in most stores. Organic brands like Dagoba for instance, are actually good for you because they're full of anti-oxidents that are good for you. As I said moderation...because chocolate has caffeine. Small amounts shouldn't be an issue. See:

http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/nutri/sweets/the-best-or...
http://www.dagobachocolate.com/
http://www.naturalcandystore.com/category/candy-brands

My big calorie splurge was Jamba Juice smoothies. Those things are extremely high in calories and though they are fruit are pretty unhealthy, so I've been told. I didn't care. I drank tons of them during my 1st trimester with my last. I just craved them. Couldn't get enough. 700 calories a cup for the one I liked...this on top of my regular meals for the day. After the baby was born, that weight fell off in a week or so's time. Breast feeding slimmed me out very fast. I exclusively fed on demand and found that I could barely eat enough to produce for the baby...so I guess my point is, things will work out.

There is a healthy alternative to just about any food. And unless guidelines have changed since my last baby, the only thing you really shouldn't eat are lunchmeats, sprouts, and soft cheeses because of bacteria/food poisoning risk and certain sea foods because of mercury risk. Certain drugs and medicines, alcohol and cigarettes for the obvious health reasons. And, coffee and sodas should be avoided too if they are high in caffeine as they apparently cause growth problems for the baby. But some doctors say one cup shouldn't be a problem. Ask your doctor if you are unsure.

Just do your homework and you'll find plenty of good foods to meet those cravings. Just keep things in moderation (don't over eat- just what you and baby both need) and you'll be fine and still have fun eating too.

As others have said if you do gain any weight, it will be gone soon after delivery. Especially if you plan to breastfeed exclusively. So don't worry.

2 moms found this helpful
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A.P.

answers from Janesville-Beloit on

You will lose the weight quickly after you have the baby-I would not worry about it if I were you, and just concentrate on being excited about the baby. I would be especially gentle with yourself during the 1st trimester-eat what sounds good to you and try to squeeze in a few healthy things now and then. Then, likely during the 2nd trimester your energy will come back and the morning sickness will get better and you'll be back on track. Congrats!

2 moms found this helpful
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M.Z.

answers from Los Angeles on

Don't beat yourself up...it's your body going through major changes right now. I was the same way with all 3 of my pregnancies. It was tough my 3rd pregnancy b/c I didn't feel like cooking so my poor 2 kids got fast food drive thru more than I'd like. That first trimester when you aren't feeling good is really tough and you just have to get through it. I was sick with all 3 until 18 weeks or so. Hopefully you get it easier. Once you get into your 2nd trimester you start to feel better, really start showing and have more energy to exercise and eat right again. Feel better soon!

2 moms found this helpful
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M.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

congrats on your pregnancy and losing all that weight!! Just keep exercising (walking) and eat fast food in moderation, but you know that already. If you are worried about getting enough nutrition, then drink the Ensure and take your prenatal vitamins.
Don't worry, whatever weight you gain during the pregnancy, you"ll lose again.
Sorry about your morning sickness, hopefully it won't last very long. You will have a healthy baby regardless of the food you eat or how much weight you'll gain. Just try to replace one of those fast food meals with something nutritious.
Good luck to you!

2 moms found this helpful
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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I would say that if you are at least eating something then I would just eat those things in moderation. Besides once you eat them do they come right back up..lol. That is what I did, I puked for 8 1/2 months about 3-4 times per day. I starved for Braums Chocolate Malts and anything rich. But they didn't stay long enough to really do any damage.

I think being h*** o* your self is not so much the important thing her, still keep up with what you can and eat stuff that is healthy as much as possible but eating a meal, even if it is McDonalds, is not horrible. I think you can make better choices even there if you think about it and see if the lighter version of stuff appeals. Like a mac wrap instead of a Big Mac, a McDouble instead of a quarter pounder, a southern style chicken sandwich with some shredded lettuce and mayo added instead of a box of 40 nuggets, each item can be a bit better depending on how it is cooked, what is on it, and how much of it you eat.

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P.K.

answers from New York on

Heck my fourth was raised on C2 combo. Italian wedge and Milky Ways.
When she was born she had shredded lettuce as hair LOL and a Milky Way in her hand. Eat what you can and do not worry about the weight now.
Congratulations.

2 moms found this helpful

C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

L.:

CONGRATS on the newest addition to be!!!

Truth here? Okay - you will gain this weight back...however, you have proven you can lose it and YOU WILL. DO NOT be afraid to gain weight with this pregnancy - it can damage not only you but the baby.

Give yourself a PORTION of what you want/crave - while I don't think hamburger and fries are the best - it is what you are craving right? Do it in moderation - once you give yourself the "taste" you should be quenched. Do the food in moderation!!!

You CAN eat healthy. You are having a hard time because your body is craving things that it hasn't had in a while. My sister craved dirt when she was pregnant....from what I understand, it's not an odd craving.

YOU WILL get the energy to exercise back. You will get through this hump.
Your doctor can give you a script for safe medication to take to help with the nausea..

YOU CAN DO THIS!!!

2 moms found this helpful
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K.S.

answers from Miami on

I couldnt eat seafood while I was pregnant. And you knwo what it still bothers me. Don't be so h*** o* your self. You should be thankful and feel proud you lost the weight you did.

2 moms found this helpful
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