QuestionHi, I am married and planning toget concieve now.I am very active i work out on tread mill and do cycling in jim for least 1 hour 5 days a week and have lost most of my extra fat.However i am not over weight and my weight is 110pounds and height is 5 feet.I believe i carry ideal weight currently according to my height.I would like to ask you if i need to loose more weight before getting pregnent as during pregency women gains weight or i am perfect.And also i will highly appreciate if you will let me know ways to maintain ideal body weight during pregnency , i don't want to gain extra fat other than required during my would be pregnency?? thanks a lot in advance"
AnswerCongratulations on your high fitness level, both you and your baby will gain tremendous benefits. You are correct, you are at an ideal body weight now, and I certainly would not recommend that you try to loose any more in anticipation of becoming pregnant.
Remember that the vast majority of weight that a woman gains during pregnancy is not fat. Ideally, you will gain about 25 pounds, however only three or four pounds will be additional fat storage. This small amount of fat storage is primarily laid down in the last trimester. Not something to panic over.
And since you are very fit, I've got more good news. Women who continue to exercise through the last trimester gain less fat than sedentary women.
The best way to gain the right amount of weight is to maintain caloric balance on a daily basis. Since you are at an ideal weight, you are already taking in the right amount of calories for your metabolism. When you are pregnant, you'll need to add about 100 calories in the first trimester, and up to about 300 in the second the third trimesters. Not a lot, is it?
Maintain your aerobic program through the 20th week. Then begin to slowly taper down the intensity of your workouts. You'll find that as your baby grows and demands more oxygen, that your rate of perceived exertion will rise accordingly. Always stay in a range that you perceive as "somewhat difficult."
Aerobic exercise provides many maternal and fetal benefits. Babies born to fit moms have stronger cardiovascular systems from birth, are leaner, and even have larger frontal cortexes. So yes, fit moms have smarter babies!
For mom, regular exercise keeps her lean, strong, and supple and helps to avoid many common discomforts such as back pain. Fit moms also have stronger immune systems, which provide substantial benefits for both mom and baby, during and after childbirth. Fit moms also have fewer complication during pregnancy and labor and have quicker deliveries.
