Exercise Accountability: March

[CookAMH]

Well, March is almost over but it's never too late to start . How are we doing with activity? I get a couple short walks in per day, maybe 3 times per week. I just took a 15 min walk outside here at work. I feel so weak and unfit. I'd like to do some arm weights to strengthen my arms some. After work, I have zero motivation or energy to go to the gym so that membership is wasting away. I love that it's nicer these days so I can get outside some.

[woodstar]

i think anything right now is good . walking is awesome for pregnancy, too.

i am slowing down my aerobics classes that i have been going to at the ymca. i am going up there 4-5 times a week just for sanity. now that the weather is nicer, i am starting my walking routine, hoping to get lil' one in a good position for birth. plus, kickboxing at 8 months pregnant just doesn't feel so great anymore....lol!

[lotus.blossom]

I took a walk yesterday (we're talking toddler walk, slow and rambly) and I was MESSED UP all evening. Fortunately I had a chiro appt scheduled this morning and I'm all fixed up. But that was enough to make me not want to set foot outside again. I know I should, and I will try again- especially since it is good for me and I have another chiro appt in 2 weeks. But geez. I am so ready to get back to my fitness freak status!

[j_p_i]

I'm trying to get out and walk, but the weather is just now getting nice. This weekend I think we are going to walk around a new trail near our house. I haven't been great about exercise, but I have been doing my Bradley exercises! And Kegels!

So that counts, right??

[Delight]

I've been doing yoga every day for the past 2 weeks (anywhere from 20-45 minutes)...before that it was much more scattered. I feel sooooo much looser and less achy now. I find that my body pretty much "requires" it now.

I'm so looking forward to getting out and being more active after babe is born...such a great perk to having a spring baby!

[CookAMH]

Originally Posted by Delight

I've been doing yoga every day for the past 2 weeks (anywhere from 20-45 minutes)...before that it was much more scattered. I feel sooooo much looser and less achy now. I find that my body pretty much "requires" it now.

I'm so looking forward to getting out and being more active after babe is born...such a great perk to having a spring baby!

What kind of yoga? Is it a DVD?

[Quate]

I went hiking on Saturday. I was with my grandparents, and apparently, despite their generation, they have no qualms about pregnant women "endangering" themselves. Which was kind of refreshing. My grandma was nice enough to slow down enough that my grandpa and me could keep up though I am trying to get back in the habit of doing squats 3x/week, but we'll see. Today. Must do them today.

[j_p_i]

Originally Posted by Quate

I went hiking on Saturday. I was with my grandparents, and apparently, despite their generation, they have no qualms about pregnant women "endangering" themselves. Which was kind of refreshing. My grandma was nice enough to slow down enough that my grandpa and me could keep up though I am trying to get back in the habit of doing squats 3x/week, but we'll see. Today. Must do them today.

Yes, squats... I've been neglecting those! I did some last week but I find that after I do them, my calves are killing me for the rest of the night! How do you do them? I usually just get in the position and try to balance there for 30 seconds or so, then stand up slowly, do another one... I'm not sure if that's the best way to do them or not?

[~Katie~]

I've been doing stretches and some yoga poses, but I have to admit that I am no where near as active as I was with DS. We've been playing outside when its nice and taking walks to the playground. I can't go down the slide anymore but he's getting good at doing it on his own

[~Katie~]

Originally Posted by j_p_i

Yes, squats... I've been neglecting those! I did some last week but I find that after I do them, my calves are killing me for the rest of the night! How do you do them? I usually just get in the position and try to balance there for 30 seconds or so, then stand up slowly, do another one... I'm not sure if that's the best way to do them or not?

If we're talking yoga squats, this is how I do them. A variation of that would be to place both hands flat on the floor and press your arms gently against your knees to spread your legs wider. You can also sit in a chair with hands on your knees and spread your legs wide, not as effective but its an easier variation for pregnant mamas.

[Auraji]

I go up and down the stairs a lot.

I walk a bit here and there, but my belly is starting to get so big. I walk super slow and I can feel this baby so low, I feel like she wont stay in there until May 13th, but I'm trying to keep those thoughts out of my head.

[veganfox]

I try to do some yoga at home, squats and pelvic rocks but I have to admit that for the past 2 weeks I haven't been very active when it comes to walking and it kills me with guilt.

The weather has not been very nice which means I get really sleepy and bored, and then when I walk for more than 10 min. the baby gets really low and I either have to pee or get really uncomfortable.

Anyone else not feeling the motivation to exercise as much?
I feel like such a bad mama for not doing my exercises as I should. :

[j_p_i]

Originally Posted by Auraji

I go up and down the stairs a lot.

I walk a bit here and there, but my belly is starting to get so big. I walk super slow and I can feel this baby so low, I feel like she wont stay in there until May 13th, but I'm trying to keep those thoughts out of my head.

Me too! We live in a townhouse, so 3 stories - laundry & storage first floor/basement, living room & kitchen second floor, and bedrooms & BATHROOM on the third floor!!

Every time I have to pee I have to haul myself upstairs! It didn't seem so bad several weeks ago, but now I don't quite zip up them like I could before. So I'm bigger, and I'm peeing more.

And I do count it as exercise these days!

[Ldavis24]

Originally Posted by veganfox

I try to do some yoga at home, squats and pelvic rocks but I have to admit that for the past 2 weeks I haven't been very active when it comes to walking and it kills me with guilt.

The weather has not been very nice which means I get really sleepy and bored, and then when I walk for more than 10 min. the baby gets really low and I either have to pee or get really uncomfortable.

Anyone else not feeling the motivation to exercise as much?
I feel like such a bad mama for not doing my exercises as I should. :

I guess I would be in the same boat as far as feeling lazy and unmotivated. I am up and down stairs all day at work and while I do my squats every day, and every single time I need to bend over I find I am losing my motivation for the yoga that I liked so much a few weeks ago. As far as walking goes I find that if I walk more than 1/2 a mile my sciatica starts burning like mad. I then spend the rest of the day limping around and can barely sit in a chair because it hurts like mad....

This probably means I should exercise more but I am just sleepy a lot now, since I think I am getting about 5-6 hours of sleep a night at this point.

[j_p_i]

Originally Posted by KatieJD

If we're talking yoga squats, this is how I do them. A variation of that would be to place both hands flat on the floor and press your arms gently against your knees to spread your legs wider. You can also sit in a chair with hands on your knees and spread your legs wide, not as effective but its an easier variation for pregnant mamas.

I can't balance like that anymore, with my feet flat on the floor. I either have to hold myself steady on a chair or be on my toes more. I feel terribly off balance. Perhaps I'll try the other variations you mentioned.

[Delight]

Originally Posted by CookAMH

What kind of yoga? Is it a DVD?

I started out doing DVD's...but quickly got bored and annoyed with them and have been doing my own practice now. I liked Jennifer Wolfe's Prenatal Vinyasa (regular length and the short form), Shiva Rea's Prenatal, and a few others that I can't recall right now.

My sequence usually goes something like this:

• Sitting cross-legged/breathing
• Roll Head (continue until I feel loosened up)
• Roll forward to cat/cow
• Child's Pose
• Downward Dog
• Pigeon
• Downward Dog
• Squats
• Warrior 1 & 2
• Triangle
• Downward Dog
• Child's Pose

The reason I like doing it on my own without the DVD is because I tend to want to stay in a certain pose a lot longer than they do on the DVD. This allows me to go at my own pace. I sometimes throw in some preggo push ups (modified) or lunges.

Regarding the squat conversation, I went to a Kundalini prenatal class last night and they do squats with toes forward, heels elevated. It was very odd for me and didn't feel good, but apparently that is better for your hips and keeps them in alignment. I'm doing to be doing some more research on my own about it, but would be interested in hearing your opinions on it.

Overall, I've been feeling much more tight in my legs...hence the need for more and more yoga Pigeon and squats are my best friends right now. I haven't been doing anything super cardio based, and that will be my downfall, I'm sure. But perhaps I can pick it up a bit for the last 8 weeks ha.

[That Is Nice]

Originally Posted by Delight

Regarding the squat conversation, I went to a Kundalini prenatal class last night and they do squats with toes forward, heels elevated. It was very odd for me and didn't feel good, but apparently that is better for your hips and keeps them in alignment. I'm doing to be doing some more research on my own about it, but would be interested in hearing your opinions on it.

Overall, I've been feeling much more tight in my legs...

Is that true about opening up the hips and aligning the hips? Any yoga students or teachers out there who know?

I have been told by multiple sources that I need to work on that.