Avoiding Excess Weight Gain during Pregnancy

It is inevitable that you will experience bodily changes during pregnancy such as putting on weight. However, it is not recommended to over exceed your recommended BMI weight as this could risk the health of you and your baby. Precautions can be made to ensure that you maintain a healthy balanced diet and do not gain excess weight during pregnancy, as described below:

Try to eat a good breakfast

Many women think that skipping meals is a good method to lose weight; however, you will find that skipping meals can actually make you put on more weight. It is not advised to skip meals when you are pregnant as you should be following a healthy balanced diet. Try to ensure that you eat a good breakfast in the morning, such as a healthy bowl of cereal with fruit. Your baby will need all the nutrients it can get. As the first meal of the day breakfast is essential to starting a new day.

Planning your meals for the day

It may be helpful to devise a meal plan for the week. By putting particular meals on your planner which you are able to have for lunch or dinner, you can prepare yourself and not over indulge. Devising a meal plan also enables you to monitor what you are eating and ensures that you do not overeat. Try to eat healthy snacks such as fruit or carrot sticks during the day to keep those annoying hunger pangs at bay.

Choosing healthy meals

Try to eat healthy meals instead of eating full fat meals. Pregnancy often makes you want to over indulge in cravings; however, there is no harm having the occasional treat but make sure that it is not an everyday occurrence. If you do choose to eat something which is high in fat or of high sugar content, then try to compensate by having a healthy alternative like a glass of milk. Sugar can often leave you feeling hungrier.

Eat before you go shopping

People are more susceptible to eating fatty foods when they are out and about shopping. The array of restaurants and fast food stores are a great temptation. If you make sure to eat before going out shopping then you are more likely to be able curb your hunger pangs.

Drink eight glasses of water a day

Water can significantly fill you up and leave you less hungry. It is also important in providing assistance for circulation and digestion. If you drink water often you can protect yourself from becoming dehydrated.

Eat slowly and mindfully

We often don’t realise how much we eat and sometimes we think we are hungrier than we actually are. If you try to eat slowly and take in how much you are eating, it can benefit your digestion and also aid in monitoring your intake of food. You should eat properly when you are expecting, and make sure that you feel full from your main meal. Pregnant women should never deprive themselves of food, but you should nonetheless be cautious about the types of food you eat.

Developing Body:

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• A Pregnant Mother’s Developing Body
• Weight gain in the trimesters of Pregnancy
• Nutrition in Pregnancy
• Avoiding Excess Weight Gain during Pregnancy
• Breasts Changes during Pregnancy
• Back pain during pregnancy
• Dental health during pregnancy
• Fluid retention during pregnancy

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