One of the things I have been focused more intently this pregnancy is my weight gain. Both the good and the bad, really. It has been a somewhat frustrating battle, as many times I have really wanted to eat the worst possible foods. However, even when I was having a hard time gaining at the beginning, eating empty calories did no good! I was hungry 15 minutes later. :( And I really don't want to just eat whatever I want and gain 70 pounds because I KNOW I will have to lose it again. (Drawback of going through pregnancy once and getting huge everywhere and then taking 18 months of crazy daily workouts to lose it all).
The general rule for a twin pregnancy is a healthy gain of 35-50 pounds, depending on your weight pre-pregnancy. I can tell every day whether I have eaten enough. The true factor is the hunger. I either am satisfied and generally full or completely famished! The days I do best are when I have good snacks like fruit, yogurt, cheese & crackers and cereal to munch on about every 2 hours through the day. I'm downing milk by the gallons every week (yes, April, thanks for contributing to my milk obsession by keeping our fridge stocked with yummy skim). All in all, I am making sure I get my nearly 3,000 calories a day but in a sensible and pregnant-healthy way.
Of course I lose the occasional battle of will in the hospital cafeteria.....thank you rice krispy treats or homemade scones. And, yes, I do enjoy some cookies here and there. It has been harder with the extreme heat lately to resist when Ben suggests a quick ice cream run after dinner. For the most part though, I would rather have my sweets in the form of fruit and know it will actually fill me up for longer. At some point I just get tired of EATING itself. Takes the fun right out of it!
So, I am happy to report that I am maintaining a healthy weight gain this pregnancy so far. Slow to start but I caught up quickly after 14 weeks when I started feeling better. At 24 weeks I have gained right at 20 pounds. The ranges I've read suggest 19-22 pounds in the second trimester, so I'm right on target with that.
I have to say with mixed feelings that I have officially reached 150 pounds. It's good, really. The doctors are very happy! But sheesh. That's a milestone no one REALLY wants to hit. The Wii Fit cracks me up. In the mornings when I do my yoga it reminds me that I am officially obese and a healthy weight for me should be 109 pounds. Okay, seriously? I am a 29 year old "munchkin" height Italian-heritage curvy lady here. I will not ever be under 110 pounds again in my life, I bet! I will admit to starting this pregnancy at 130 (3 pounds lighter than I was when I got pregnant with Sam and roughly 15 pounds more than my wedding day eight years prior). Still, the doctor was happy with my weight at the beginning and generally, I'm a pretty healthy non-pregnant person. The non-pregnant me works out high intensity 5 days a week and has a love of sweets that I routinely and aggressively DENY, albiet sadly.
So pregnant Carrie before knowing the twins news started out with the intentions of gaining as little as possible. This included regular exercise and a firm commitment to only eating very healthy. Well...then surprise! Twins! Drastically reduced my exercise intensity plan and the weight gain ended up being more important and less of an avoidance. Sigh. Of course. So now here I am 24 weeks along and trying to be excited about gaining 20 pounds. I know it is good. I am not in ANY way limiting my calories or trying NOT to eat. I am consuming a lot, I mean a LOT, of food every day. I am, however, trying to make the most healthy choices I can so my weight gain is the right kind of weight and the best nutrients for these growing babies....with of course a splurge now and then.
The truly amazing thing to me is that I haven't really gained "bad" weight, despite the 20 pounds. Sure, a little here or there extra, but NOTHING like my pregnancy with Sam. THANKFULLY. Who knows what will happen in the next 11 weeks and 6 days :) but at least for now I'm healthy first and not too much of a fatty second.
Of course....that doesn't change the growing belly!!!! Yes, this is my belly and the steering wheel after work today. Ummmm....I can only move the seat back so far people!!! And this is ALL baby....or babIES I suppose.
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