I was in the best shape of my life before trying to get pregnant 3 years ago. But 3 years of fertility meds/IVF/loss made me gain 20 pounds and now with pregnancy up at least another 25. I am trying to minimize gaining more weight as I’m already at the top of my recommended gain and only in my second trimester.
I just don’t even recognize myself in the mirror anymore (even at pre-pregnancy weight). I always imagined I’d be the type of person who runs and does yoga while pregnant and is super fit the whole time but starting at a higher weight and having to put exercise on hold (doctor restricted during ttc) really put me behind. Not only do I really dislike my body right now (though I respect it for creating a whole human), I’m physically tired and know I’d feel better mentally/physically if I was working out/eating well. This is such a weird place for me to be as I’ve always been labeled “the health nut” by friends/family. Infertility really threw me for a loop.
So…how do I start again? Do I need to tough love myself and force myself to do things I don’t feel like doing? Is there a gentle approach to easing in?
I’ve never been overweight but when I started working on my health back in college and was at the high end of a healthy bmi I just jumped in and started eating well and exercising hardcore. It was easy for me and I learned to love nutrition/exercise. So, I’m nervous to go hardcore while pregnant but know I need to make a change for my health and for my baby’s health. I don’t want a hard labor or to struggle more postpartum.
With food I’ve noticed I’ll eat healthfully/track protein for a few days but then if my routine gets thrown or I’m feeling sick one day and eat poorly it takes me about a week to get back on track with tracking protein and limiting sugar/too many carbs. I also used to rarely eat processed carbs but now that’s mostly what I’ve been wanting. I’ve tried cutting out processed food completely and focusing on whole food carbs and that’ll work for about a week before I snap and start overeating processed carbs (pizza, Mac and cheese, dessert, etc…all things I never used to care for much).
I’m also struggling to drink the bare minimum amount of water. I used to drink around 120oz pre-pregnancy.
With exercise…I’m really struggling. I normally love and crave walking and running (was doing hour long runs before ttc) and yoga. I’ve never enjoyed lifting weights/strength training but do want to be strong. But now, basic things like walking the dog daily are taking me out and all I want to do is lay down. My energy level is at an all time low. I know pregnancy is hard but I feel like it shouldn’t be *this* hard and it’s probably due to not taking care of myself as well as I could be.
Anyway…any help I could get would be greatly appreciated. Workout routines, eating plans, tips on finding balance with food (I’m struggling to want healthy things at all, aside from fruit which is my biggest craving). Or even just affirmations/words of motivation. I’m really trying to limit the damage to my body and want to be in a place where postpartum I can work on getting my body and health back to where I was at 3 years ago. Feeling a little helpless and out of control with this.