20 Weeks = 20 Pounds!

Today was my 20 week appointment and the first time I asked to see the scale. When I looked down I saw a number I haven't seen in almost 10 years ... 152 pounds! I literally gasped out loud.

Now I know 152 is not a huge number by any means, (the CDC reported that the average weight for non-pregnant women ages 20 and older is 164.7) but for me it's 20 pounds above where I started this pregnancy.

Which means, if you can do the simple math I've gained an average of a pound per week since the moment this little (or not so little) nugget was conceived.

My doctor said I'm "a little ahead of the curve" at this point and for the next month she wants me to really pay attention to what I'm eating. She said for the most part she isn't worried since I started off this process at 12% body fat so it was expected that I would gain a bit more than someone else might. She also reminded me that some women gain most of their weight in the beginning while others tend to gain it in the end.

Ironically, I have been maintaining a largely healthy existence thus far, hence my shock when I saw the number, I am still working out and eating a balanced diet. I do admit my intake of "simple" carbs has definitely increased and I've allowed myself more than one "sweet tooth" item a week. However, I've been trying not too be too hard on myself about these things.

I've decided that I need to revisit my competition food days - no, not in the amount of what I was eating but how I was eating. Back then I was eating 6 small meals a day and I would prepare them all on Sunday for the upcoming week. And that's what I need to do from here on out. Back to the basics - egg whites, brown rice, chicken, quinoa, lean red meat and hopefully that will help me to level off a bit and not gain so quickly.

I go back in one month for my glucose test so this is a perfect opportunity to start paying much closer attention to what goes in my mouth!

The appointment ended on a happy note - I got to hear the little one's heartbeat, and it's just as fast today as it was the last time. While I have yet to feel any solid movement (my placenta is in the front) we were able to hear movement happening today through the Doppler! Every time I hear the heartbeat it makes my own heart burst with joy! It's just such an amazing sound. To know there is a child growing inside me is an incredible feeling and one I wouldn't change for the world.

Now it's time for this momma to hit the pavement for my lunch time walk! Thank goodness for the sunshine in the city today!