Nutrition

The holidays and unemployment weren't kind to my waistline, and being pregnant doesn't help.
After the holidays I went to the doctor for my monthly check up and weigh in, and discovered that I'm up 23 pounds since getting pregnant. Not too shabby! I asked my doctor if I'm on track, and she said everything is good and she's not worried.

The next week I went in for my ultrasound and the doctor (who is not my OB/GYN) gave me "the look" and said we needed to discuss my weight. Ummm... first of all this was our first time meeting, and second, my doctor who's been with me since day one and will probably deliver my child said I was fine. She asked if I would be willing to see a nutritionist, and after finding out it was free, I agreed.

When I came in for my appointment with the nutritionist the next week, I was the only one who showed up. Turns out there were supposed to be two other women there with me, but they were smart and didn't show. As we got started, it clear right away that this woman had no idea what she was talking about. She gave me a list of food groups and suggested foods in each group that I should be eating. For protein, she suggested I eat deli meat and hot dogs, and any pregnant woman knows that those are big no no's. I asked her why she's suggesting those when every doctor has told me to stay away from them, and she had no answer for me.

I mentioned that I've been walking every morning and drinking spinach shakes that contain spinach, berries, and a banana, and she gave me a look of horror. She told me I shouldn't be drinking those more than twice a week, but couldn't give me a real reason why. I asked her what I should do if I'm still starving at the end of the day after my 2,000 calorie allotment, and she handed me a list of anytime foods I can eat. On that list was spinach and berries.... the exact thing she told me not to eat. When I brought this to her attention, she changed the subject.

Near the end of the appointment when she forbid me from drinking juice, but told me to enjoy all the diet soda I wanted, I decided that this whole thing was a waste of time. She told me I'm forbidden to eat cold cereal, but I can have it right before I got to bed, I asked her if I should be eating more since I'm exercising, she said no, and now soft cheeses are ok for me to eat. The whole thing was a big contradiction to everything I've been told, and everything I've researched, and I'm probably not going back. I'm supposed to be documenting everything I eat for the next two weeks, but I doubt I will. I weighed myself today and discovered that I've lost five pounds, but I'm supposed to be gaining a pound a week until I give birth.

I'm eating healthy for the most part, taking my prenatal vitamins, and exercising, and that's exactly what I should be doing. No diet for this girl!