Taking Diet Pills During Pregnancy

Discovering that you are pregnant is for most women a happy and joyous occasion. One of the obvious byproducts of pregnancy is weight gain.

During pregnancy the average weight gain is 20lb to 30lbs – this is the combined effect of not only the growing child but the additional calories that are taken on (while eating for two) and the obvious lack of exercise.

It is highly advised to refrain from using any weight loss, slimming or diet aids during the course of your pregnancy, if in doubt visit your GP.

So the age old of question of should I take diet pills while pregnant can be answered with a very blunt and succinct – no.

This though, can raise another question – why!

New studies have showed that if you don’t gain at least 15 pounds during your pregnancy your child has a moderate risk of being intellectually stunted. The first 9 months of an unborn childs life are their most important.

Reasons Not To Take Diet Pills When Pregnant

Despite the warnings, some expectant mothers still cannot resist the urge and do not refrain from using diet pills – the worse type of diet pills to take during pregnancy is the prescription only type.

Most prescribed diet pills are chemically based and pharmaceutical drugs aimed at both causing a physical and mental reaction. You should not subject your unborn child to the risks associated with prescription diet pills. More about Prescription Diet Pills

Herbal or natural slimming pills will not harm your baby to the potential extent of the GP prescribed pills but diet products as a whole are aimed at reducing your calorie intake.

The 9 months of pregnancy is one of the only periods where calorie counting and weight watching should go out the window. Your unborn child relies on you for nutrients, don’t disappoint.

Taking Diet Pills After Pregnancy

So whatabout when the child is born – are diet pills OK to use? Unfortunately if you are breastfeeding all of the above still implies.

Breast feeding involves the transference of nutrients from mother to child.

Any kind of supplement, herbal or otherwise is also introduced into the child and should not be taken unless under strict supervision from a GP.

When And How To Lose The Baby Weight

Trying to lose baby weight or baby fat after pregnancy is not helped by the celebrity. Celebrity pregnancy give perception that getting rid of the baby weight can happen almost instantly after giving birth.

“it takes 9 months to gain baby fat it …should take 9 months to lose it”

If the truth were to be told a high proportion of celebrities new mothers who claim to have lost their baby fat in an extremely short period after childbirth , in a majority of  cases have had some form of surgical procedure.

Professional nutritionists agree that as it takes 9 months to gain baby fat it should take 9 months to lose it – that is if you choose the healthy option.

So, How To Lose Baby Fat When No Longer Breastfeeding

Now that the child is not longer dependent on your body for nutrients you are free to use whatever means you see fit to shift the additional baby weight.

Recently US lifestyle magazine Florida Style featured an article titled Losing The Baby Weight

The article featured the use of natural supplements for women who have limited time and energy to devote to getting back in shape after childbirth and more importantly how to shift the baby fat.

Read How To Lose The Baby Weight

Why Do I Put On Weight

Putting on weight to the extent that you become overweight or even obese is not only unhealthy, even dangerous – but also depressing.

A vicious circle can seem to materialise – I am fat – I am depressed – I comfort eat. This is just one of number of possible causes of weight gain

Why Does Weight Gain Occur

There are many factors that could contribute to your current physical condition.

The most common is that you have trouble controlling your over indulgence – or, if you are female – you could be pregnant.

Over indulgence (over eating or drinking) is the number cause of weight gain. Although obvious it is often overlooked and blame is apportioned elsewhere.

There are many other reasons that may not seem so obvious, you may gain weight even if you are exercising regularly and eating healthily.

An Underlying Medical Condition

Often, weight gain can be attributed to a medical issue that you may not be fully aware of.

There could be underlying problem that is not immediately identifiable such as diabetes or another serious illness.

Or possibly a newly administered prescribed medicine could be the possible cause.

The contraceptive pill is a well known example of such medication that often can be the cause of putting on a few extra and unwanted pounds. It could be argued that the benefits of the contraceptive pill outweigh the disadvantage of weight gain.

If you do think maybe medication is causing you to gain extra weight consult your doctor to find out if he or she can recommend an alternative.

In a similar vein, if you think that your weight gain is quite sudden and possibly an underlying medical condition is the probable cause, seek medical attention.

You Could Be Lacking Essential Fats

Strange as it may seem, you may not have enough fat, not all fats are bad for you.

In fact foods such as fish contain many of the fats needed to maintain a healthy body. If your body does not get an adequate supply of these fats it will crave them and you will almost certainly misinterpret this and substitute with the wrong kind of fat.

A diet doesn’t mean less it – get into the mindset that starving yourself can have the opposite desired effect.

Allergic Reaction Could Cause Weight Gain

You may suffer from a food allergy. The most common foodstuffs that can cause a reaction are dairy products and nuts. Your physician should be able to test you for allergic reaction to most foods that you normally come in to contact with or consume

In some cases food allergies can be deadly but for the most they can make us feel nauseous and cause a slight fluctuation to our weight.

A visit to your doctor is suggested – food allergy tests are fairly simple and common place nowadays.

The above are just a few reasons why you may be gaining weight. Your emotions could also play a big part in it as we tend to overeat or eat the wrong foods when we are upset or angry.

Also, your sleeping pattern may not be helping as tiredness also encourages you to eat the wrong things.

Overall if you are worried speaking to a doctor may help. They will be able to run full tests and see if there is an underlying cause of your weight gain.

You may even be overweight without realising it. We all have a rather unique view of ourselves. To check to see if you are the right weight for your height check yourBody Mass Index (BMI) Check your BMI here