Are there any other runners? Or anyone into other fitness activities? « Back to Group Discussions

[maple_mama]

Do you plan to continue during your pregnancy?

I'm a runner and I hope to keep going as long as I can this pregnancy. With my first my doctor made me stop half way through (growth issues in utero), and with my second I was able to run for a few months, but then had to walk the rest of my pregnancy. The weight of my uterus when running with him was really uncomfortable. I'm always in awe when I hear of pregnant women running up until birth! I've already cut back of my distance and am going much slower (not really by choice, my body just doesn't want to GO anymore!), so we'll see how it goes. I feel so much better being able to stay active, and it really helps lessen a lot of my pregnancy woes later on.

What about you?

[MadTown16]

I've been doing yoga 3-4 times a week and I'd like to keep doing that through the whole pregnancy. The only time it really works with my schedule is early morning classes. I'm not sure how that will go if/when nausea hits, but I plan to try my best.

I'll start going to a pregnancy specific class in a couple months as well. I also really like taking long walks.

Have you tried regular or pregnancy yoga for a low impact workout?

I saw an article a couple years ago about two professional runners who were pregnant. They had a special low impact treadmill that looked very high tech--I don't remember how it worked though. I'm always impressed by pregnant women who run. I already feel too tired to attempt it.

[babycatcher12]

I just started running a couple months ago, I plan on continuing as long as it's comfortable. :) 

[Krystal1220]

I run 3-4 times a week and walk or do a mommy workout the other couple of days. I plan to continue as long as I can (I should at least be able to walk until the very end, like last time). It is exhausting to push my son in the stroller while running lately, though!

[mama_y_sol]

I did my second marathon in December...and struggled with ITBS throughout training.  So, after the marathon I decided I would take a decent amount of time off to recover.  I bought a spin bike and have been doing that 50 min 3x a week.  I also lift weight, and do pilates a couple of times a week.  

After my son was born I joined weight watchers, and ended up loosing 60lbs, which I've kept off for 2 years now.  I'm in the best shape I have been in for quite a while.  I have every intention of keeping up my exercise. 

With my daughter, I gained 50lbs, with my son 41lbs.  I'd really like to keep it in the 25-35 range this time.

Just got off the spin bike after a 40 min. ride.  I tried to tone down my intensity a little.  

[maple_mama]

Sounds like we have some fit mamas! :) Hopefully we can support and keep each other going throughout these 9 months.

madtown--no, I've never tried yoga, but I've always liked the thought of it. I'm rather tight and am sure yoga would help tremendously with my flexibility, Maybe one day I'll get around to trying it!

mama_y_sol--congrats on your 2nd marathon! I ran one years ago and also struggled with ITBS in both knees, so I know how painful that can be! Hopefully you are healing well. :)

[chrissy]

I had been running and doing Insanity videos when I got pregnant.  I wanted to continue running, but almost immediately it was too much for me.  I do want to keep exercising but every time I try, I have to decrease the intensity, and that is frustrating. 

I'm going to try to keep it up though, at least keep moving somehow.

[Hijynx]

My husband and I did the couch-to-5k program in 2010. I was really wanting to start again this spring, but I get home 6:30/7 pm and it's dark. If this had just happened a month later, I may have been able to start :P But I gather that I can't now. I plan on walking and yoga at least. I am way too sedentary but just can't get out of the house in the winter.

[sycsibert]

I am a running coach, and was training for a marathon, but decided to cut down to a half marathon.  I am taking it easy and only running 3 days a week and would like to be doing yoga on some other days.  I am trying to keep my HR below 160.   After the half marathon, I will continue listening to my body, but probably not further than 6 miles or so as I already feel the pressure from pounding the pavement at 6 weeks!  Look forward to really fast walking though...

[CityMama2Q]

In the 2 months before getting pregnant I lost 19lbs through healthy eating, lots of walking, Zumba and 30 day shred. I'd like to keep going with Zumba, and definitely a lot of walking! My 20 month loves to go for long walks!

My goal is a 25-35lb gain as well but I'm going to try not to focus on the numbers. I want to do a med free delivery this time around so I want to be strong and healthy!

[abouttobe5]

I do CrossFit.  First time ever during pregnancy so I'll just see how it goes throughout.  I love that CF still recognizes that pregnant mamas can be modified during pregnancy to still allow for lifting heavy.  Such a tremendous workout, if done properly! I also do long walks (about 5 km) two times a week plus some sprinting work.  So, I'll just keep going while feeling comfortable and modify as needed in later months.  :)

My nausea actually goes away when I'm at the gym or walking...it's great!

[Momto2Annie]

I started teacher training for Vinyasa Yoga over a month ago before I found out I was pregnant... Vinyasa is a heated power yoga (90 degress) and the classes are an hour and a half.  I'm going to try to keep up with my practice as long as I can... I'll of course have to modify poses, but yoga is my therapy!

[mama_y_sol]

Originally Posted by sycsibert 

I am a running coach, and was training for a marathon, but decided to cut down to a half marathon.  I am taking it easy and only running 3 days a week and would like to be doing yoga on some other days.  I am trying to keep my HR below 160.   After the half marathon, I will continue listening to my body, but probably not further than 6 miles or so as I already feel the pressure from pounding the pavement at 6 weeks!  Look forward to really fast walking though...

Is anyone else besides sycsibert keeping track of heartrate?  I haven't been able to find good information, most places say keep it below 140. I'm not exactly sure why.  Anyone have any good info about it?

[Dahlea]

I'm more into strength training and had just started doing a couple of boot camp type cardio/toning classes. Those really killed me pre pregnancy so I think I'm going to stop doing those, but continue my lifting and weekly yoga class and try to incorporate some other kind of cardio.
This is my first "fit" pregnancy. I was skinny pp the other two but not in any kind of shape and I gained 55 and 60 lbs. hoping to keep that much lower this time!

If anyone has any good sites or program recommendations I'd love to hear about them.

[anjsmama]

 Runner here! I actually just ran my second half marathon 2 weeks ago, unaware I was/am carrying this baby! I've been training for the Cleveland Marathon in May and only just found out I'm pregnant; so I'm not sure how much I will have to adjust my running plans. I'd still love to do the marathon, and won't be that far along, but I guess I'll have to talk that over with my doc.

Pregnancy #1 was a disaster and I stopped running early on. Pregnancy #2 went very smoothly, and though I gradually decreased mileage,  I ran consistently until 30 weeks. I ran a 5k race on Thanksgiving weekend (DD was born Jan 28).I walked through the rest of the pregnancy after I stopped running. It could just be because it was my second child, but labor/delivery and recovery was so much easier second time around!

I definitely won't be giving up running this time either unless medically necessary, it's my thing. Keeps me healthy, keeps me sane, and it's fun! 

[poema304]

I definitely plan on continuing to exercise throughout my pregnancy! I do aqua aerobics 3 times a week and also jog, ride a stationary bike, and weight lift. If I need to, I figure I will switch to an elliptical if the running thing proves to be difficult once I'm further along.

It's hard for me to transition from "get in better shape" mode to "stay healthy" mode. I'm already pretty lean, but my last 2 pregnancies I gained 45-60 pounds and I would certainly like to keep it within the normal range this time. I've already noticed I've gained an inch around my waist and added about 2.5# since 2 weeks ago when I did my weigh in for the month before I found out I was preggers. 

I am kinda bummed that I will have to skip the mud run in August and that I'll no longer be able to snowboard this season, but definitely worth it ;)

[mama_y_sol]

So, poema, are you planning on toning down your intensity?  monitoring heartrate?  I'm used to pushing myself pretty hard during workouts in an effort to lose weight/tone up/get fitter.  And it worked. But now, obviously I need to transition to taking it a little easier.  Just not sure exactly how, and would love to hear what other are doing to make sure they are exercising safely.  

[anjsmama]

I use a watch/wristband that tracks distance and also monitors heart rate among other things. My doc recommended heart rate typically below 140 and not exceeding 160 during my last pregnancy. I will double check that with her again this time. I too was/am very accustomed to pushing myself, for time, for exhaustion, etc. During pregnancy, I always remind myself the accomplishment is doing it, not how amazingly it gets done. Most especially, I typically push myself to hardest heart rate, fast as I can run during the last 1.5 miles (about 12 minutes or so) of any run, which is as long as I can sustain it. During pregnancy, I make it my goal to maintain the same pace or very close to from beginning to end. 

Originally Posted by mama_y_sol 

So, poema, are you planning on toning down your intensity?  monitoring heartrate?  I'm used to pushing myself pretty hard during workouts in an effort to lose weight/tone up/get fitter.  And it worked. But now, obviously I need to transition to taking it a little easier.  Just not sure exactly how, and would love to hear what other are doing to make sure they are exercising safely.  

[poema304]

I'm not monitoring my heart rate, just keeping myself at my current exertion levels (lol, if that makes sense) and I'm keeping my weights the same. I plan on going what feels right with my body. If I feel like it's too much then I'll take it down a notch.

[maple_mama]

With every run I'm humbled by how slow I'm getting! I used to do 4-8 miles moderately fast, but these past 2 weeks my miles times have slowed by 45 sec to over a minute. I'm running at what feels like a comfortable pace for me now, so I know I'm not overdoing it, but really I don't think I could go any faster if I had to! I've been keeping up with resistance exercises as well, most of the time I feel fine with these, some days I'm tired and feel weaker, I guess it just depends. I'm hitting the morning sickness time and extreme fatigue time now so I'll just keep up doing what feels best at the time.

anjsmama~I'll be interested to hear how your marathon training goes if you decide to keep going with it. I too had to stop running/exercising with my first, but kept it up with my second and could definitely tell a big difference in how I felt late in pregnancy and after birth.

Congrats to everyone keeping up with their health!