Fit mamas! - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[sillymom44]

It will be great to have a support and encouragement group!!  I gained too much weight wiht baby #1 and then was way to psycho about gaining weight with #2.  This time around I am trying to be relaxed and eat whole foods.  My DH is a Crossfitter and is always begging me to workout with him. But, he does it at 5:45 in the morning....I am SO not a morning person. I have done it in the past wiht him and really liked it, but I am not as disciplined as him...  He also eats paleo-- so the whole family typically eats paleo dinners and as much paleo as possible. 

I am super nervous about doing too much and risking the pregnancy (even though this probably is irrational).  We tried for a year and a half to get pregnant with this baby and I spotted for the 1st 10 weeks on and off....so I am more nervous than usual.  I am no longer running, but I am walking hard every other day or every day for 30-60 minutes.  I am also starting prenatal yoga classes now that my DH's crazy busy season at work is over and he will be home more to stay with our boys.  I also plan on swimming laps as soon as summer gets here and I am not working anymore.  I am working 5 days a week now and it is difficult to find time with my boy's sports schedules/classes even though they are only in 1 each.  BUT-- my 9 year old is a GREAT personal trainer.  He asked why there wasn't as much dessert in the house and I told him that I crave sweets when I am pregnant and have little control. So, now he is watching me like a hawk and telling my to excerise-- it's funny and we get a good laugh over it!!! 

[zubeldia]

So great to have so many people here! Sillymom, I hear you on the pregnancy concerns. There is only one study that I can find that suggests exercise might be problematic but it was a very large epidemiological study that showed correlation rather than causation. After 18 weeks, even in that study, and link between exercise and pregnancy went away. On the other hand, more in depth studies on exercise show that it has EXCELLENT effects on pregnancy outcome; from helping to grow a healthier, more robust placenta, to helping with appropriate weight gain management. I had two recent losses, though, so I have been quite nervous and tentative and was sort of glad that I was so sick in the first trimester that I couldn't even walk let alone run.

How's everyone's week been? Mine wasn't off to an auspicious start as I took Monday and then wednesday off because work for both DH and I has been nuts. The semester is winding down, though, and I thnk the end of May to the end of the summer will mean much more flexibility for staying active. I did get to the gym a few times, though, and ran on the elliptical for 6-7 miles a time. I've lifted weights twice (not especially heavy ones), rowed 10K, and ran only 3 miles. I also did a Centergy class today, which is a bit like a combination of yoga and pilates. My legs are bushed now! I am hoping for at least a 5 mile run tomorrow, but we;'ll see. It's been windy and cold this week and I hate running in the wind.

Also, I seem to have popped!! Ack. You could barely tell I was pregnant last week when dressed but there's no real disguising it now. I carry high so I can still fit into my regular trousers... just! Tops are a different matter...
 

[SunnyPerch]

Zubeldia, where do you find Centergy classes? Is that a YMCA offering, dvd, etc?  I am amazed you can row 10K. I despise rowing but try to do it once in a while as I know it's a weakness, and a good alternative to some other exercises. And about the popping - YES. I have a meeting with my supervisor this week (I work from home mostly) so I don't think I can avoid sharing the news any longer. It will be, um, a tad obvious. And I guess, at 17 weeks, it's probably appropriate to do so by now. ;-)

I missed one yoga class this week, but made it to two others, plus three mornings of Crossfit. On Friday we had a "Death by Power Clean" workout. Over the course of 15 minutes, I did 88 power cleans with a 45 lb. barbell. "Death by.." workouts mean that in the first minute, you do one rep, in the second minute, you do two reps, third minute, do three reps, and so on, with the rest time getting consecutively shorter in between each round as your reps increase. I've done similar workouts with a jump rope which, believe me, can get crazy exhausting and is a good one to try at home! Anyway, my arms are so not happy with me today, and this morning in yoga I felt like a wimp but had to ease out of plank early a few times. Anyway, I am feeling good this week. Random waves of nausea still affect me occasionally, and the damn headaches of course, but all is well for the most part.

[zubeldia]

Wow, sunnyperch, what an incredible workout!

Centergy is offered at my gym. I think it is some form of exercise system as my gym offers lots of different classes from some sort of exercise franchise. Here's a link to what centergy is:

http://bodytrainingsystems.com/pages/bts_programs/GroupCentergy.htm

I also like to do Group Power classes, which is a barbell class and an incredible workout for this weak armed woman!

Aha, I love rowing! I have a rowing shell which I haven't used since i was pregnant with my son, but I also have an indoor rower (a Concept 2) which I love. I went to a big rowing school but at the time I was a lightweight runner and coxing was my only option. It's an incredible workout.
 

[springmum]

Well you guys are really inspirational! I miss working my butt off like that, but it's keeping me motivated when I see how much you guys are doing!

I'm still easing into things, b/c I'm still throwing up most days (and yes with the headaches here!) 

So this week was : walking 30 -45 min almost everday. 2 miles on the elliptical (felt great and could have gone farther, but a headache started halfway through!) 

I also have 8lb weights that I use at home for my arm exercise 2x per week, and pushups of course.

I do leg exercises 2x per week at home too, and abs.

I found a pre-natal yoga class that I'm going to once a week, which will be great.

Looking forward to upping my walking/elliptical distances and getting some good hikes in (we've got some great hiking spots around here)

once the throwing up is completely gone - I haven't gained much weight yet, and I'm one that should be gaining a little more, so I'm trying to stay balanced.

[Vegan Princess]

Hi Zub!

I need to join you guys! I'm so out of shape! I am typically somewhat active. But we went thru fertility treatments and IVF to conceive this baby and they made me stop exercising when I started the meds - and didn't want me to go back for quite some time. I stayed pretty active with my first - gym and bikram yoga (in a not quite as hot room and at home without heat). This time I have been pretty inactive and feeling blah. I also think I am gaining weight more quickly!!! 

I've been a member of a local Y with childcare but just switched my membership to a bigger Y that has prenatal classes and a pool. I've swam laps a couple times. I'm super rusty on swimming but it felt great - though I was EXHAUSTED after!! I also tried a prenatal water exercise last week - it was basically an hour of doing various laps around the pool while wearing a floaty around your chest and chatting with others while doing it. It actually did feel like a good workout. I'm also trying to do some prenatal yoga now. I still need to get in and do some other cardio or swim more often and do weights. I've managed to get more walks around my town in lately since it hasn't been raining as much and I feel so much better even just from that.

And lastly, I NEED to get back to doing my prenatal bikram tape at home bc I felt like it really helped prepare me for labor - breathing and mentally. But it's SO hard to find time to do any exercise at home with a 3 yr old running around! I suppose I could put on a video for her but when I do put the tv on for her, I like to sit and relax.

Cindy

[dandylez]

hey everyone,

This thread is inspiring!! I was a roller derby player, but stopped as soon as I found out I was pregnant. Exercise was sporadic at best in the first trimester, but I'm feeling like I'm getting back on track now.

My goal is to walk/hike briskly a minimum of 5km every day (so far, so good). I love doing this on a trail with the dog! 

My local yoga studio has a pre-natal yoga class once a week, and I've made it twice so far.  My schedule has been interfering with that one! :(  But I also purchased a pre-natal yogal dvd. It's a bit advanced for me still, but I try to follow along as best I can.

We've been out of the house for 2 weeks, staying with my parents first and now my in-laws, while our bathroom is being renovated. Once I'm back home, I'll add arm and core strength-training back into my routine. I found a video of pregnancy-safe core-strengthening exercises here that I'll follow.

I love running, but before I was pregnant, I'd often have mid-cycle bleeding during heavy exercise like running or endurance skating. It's made me a bit nervous to do high-impact exercise while pregnant, and although there's probably little correlation, I don't think I'll go back to running while pregnant.

[zubeldia]

HI everyone, good to see so many people posting. How are you all getting on this week? Vegan, I didn't do much of anything for 13 weeks as I was so sick, and while I'm still sick without my meds, I feel so much better for exercising. Mind you I feel exhausted a lot in the afternoons in ways I didn't with DS. Perhaps it's just because I am getting old!

Dandy, very nice goal. Are you having some good workout weather where you are?

I have had a pretty good week including some running, running on the elliptical, and some weights. Today we went on a 10k run/walk (mostly running) and I felt pretty cool pushing the running stroller with my tummy! DH mostly pushed DS, though.

Hoping to get to the gym in the morning so I can get some more weights in. I am not lifting anything especially heavy, but enough to work some weedy old muscles.

[bostonmummy]

I really love that I'm continuing to exercise 5 days a week, but I find that it's definitely getting more challenging. I have to eat at least 2 hours beforehand; otherwise the food gets pushed up into my throat, and I feel like I'm going to throw up! Saturday I had to seriously modify my workout because I ate less than an hour before my class. It was so bad I thought I was going to have to sit out the class, but I managed to make it through. Yesterday, though, my husband and I were out and about and when we got home we had a small snack before heading back out for a walk. We wanted to enjoy this sunshine that's been so absent. But five minutes into the walk I got the worst belly cramps! I felt like I'd just eaten a huge dinner and then tried to run half a mile. It was crazy! It could be that I wasn't hydrated well enough since we were strolling around a fair where bathrooms weren't easily accessible and I didn't want to drink as much water as I usually would. But still . . . it really surprised me! I'm not usually like that at all.  Oh, well . . . I guess a lot more changes are coming, aren't they? In the meantime, it's great to just keep moving when we can.

[violetflapjack]

I've been meaning to post to this thread for a while...I've got a fittness routine that includes activities for each day of the week.  Then whatever days I have time and energy to do it, I do the workouts.  Prepregnancy I has this kind of a thing worked out and was working out at least 5 days a week and often 6 or 7.  So far I've been doing about 2 days a week with 3 if I'm lucky.   I'm hoping that this thread will help me to get myself in gear because I know how important it is for me especially to MOVE for every aspect of my health!  I do about 1/2 hour of morning yoga with some basic toning exercises most days of the week, so at least I have that going.  But all of you are definately good inspiration!  let's keep up the good work fit mamas!

[DelawareMom]

Bah! The bladder!

This is my biggest challenge right now with my runs. I go right before I start and still, every step feels like I'm going to wet myself. Ok, bit of an exaggeration, but still. Other than that, feeling pretty good about fitness level right now. Catching up here sure helps. Thanks, everyone!

[zubeldia]

HI all,

Violet, I have sometimes been feeling EXHAUSTED and last week I didn't get out as nearly as often. But I think it makes me more tired not working out.

And, oh, the bladder! I've been running on trails where I can duck behind a tree, and at the gym I have to hop off the elliptical regularly. The worst is when I'm rowing, though. My uterus must really press down on my bladder when I'm in the catch position because I have to stop for a loo break so many times!

After not an especially great week last week, this week has gotten off to a good start. My dad died at Thanksgiving and in his honour I ran 8.7 miles on the elliptical (he would have been 87 today). I would have liked to have run outside but it was raining and I don't know if I have the running endurance to do it. I did run 5 miles on Sunday with DS and DH and walked a couple of miles, too, so I think some fitness is returning.
 

[Vegan Princess]

I have no idea how you ladies run! My hat is off to you! But this comes from someone who feels like they are going to die after a short run, even when I'm not pregnant. Just never been my thing! I wish it were though bc it's my DH's thing.

I keep this thread in the back of my mind a lot for motivation. :-) 

I did prenatal yoga yesterday. Today and made sure to take DD for a walk and then went to the gym and did bike and elliptical and some weights. 

Zub: That's a sweet tribute to your dad! Was he a runner too?

Cindy

[springmum]

The runners are amazing me too!

Still have some morning sickness (ugh!) , but as long as I exercise in between I'm good. My goal is walking 30min's - 1 hour every day. The weekend is the only time I can get to the elliptical (b/c I'm too tired to go when DH gets home from work. With my walks at least DS can come with me)

I was able to get in some good leg, ab & arm exercises this week too. I'm starting to feel stronger again which is good, b/c my belly is really getting big, and I have a feeling my body is going to need to be extra strong if it keeps growing like this!

Prenatal yoga class this weekend. I really liked the first one, and can't believe how much I felt it the next day! I was really needing it obviously :)

[alevagon]

This sounds like a good idea.  My goal is to work out 4 times a week.  This is my second baby and with my first, I worked out about 4 times a week and still gained a lot of weight (amost 40 lbs).  I never lost all of it, and I would really like to gain less weight this time (another 40 lbs would be too much on my body, I think).  But hearing from other pregnant moms is a good idea.  I have done 3 workouts this week and I ordered a prenatal DVD from Amazon (which apparently is arriving late).  I work full time and have a toddler, so sometimes it's tough to get the workouts in, but having the weekly check in would be great.

[springmum]

Maybe it would be useful for those w/ kids to share tips on how to squeeze a workout in?

- DS is really into bike riding now, and although he stops a lot, he's good at getting me going. Before the bike, and before getting pregnant, I would often pick a really far away park for us to go. DS would be excited about it enough to sit in our jogging stroller long enough to get there (ones with a water park were good motivation) I could either keep walking laps around the park or just rest and do the walk home.

- For the kids who nap, that obviously is good time for some home weights, yoga or something (DS doesn't, and I remember how much I needed that break when he napped, but it doesn't take long to do a set of arm or leg exercises)

- Put on a audio CD for kids to listen to while you workout at home. We only have one, but luckily it still works.

Maybe it will be helpful for some? I know some days it's a challenge around here.

[Vegan Princess]

I know I should do my bikram yoga CD while DD watches a video - but I often use that time to sit on my arse and rest too. LOL. Ack! My only saving grace is having an amazing YMCA with childcare for while I work out, swim or do classes. Otherwise I'd get nothing done! I'm pondering putting on the yoga DVD my MIL gave me and having her do it with me - but I doubt I'll get much done. PLus it's a better video for later in preg bc it's pretty easy. I try to go for stroller walks to - walks to the farmer's market or to the library - places that are at least a mile away. It's definitely better than nothing!

Cindy

[DelawareMom]

3 cheers for the YMCA! I don't know what I'd do without the really sweet ladies in the drop-in childcare. We are in a metro area, so we've even got a few different locations to choose from. DD loves going to play with her friends while I get in a workout (and usually even a nice, uninterrupted hot shower.) I feel really lucky to have this option. It would be a lot more challenging to sneak in exercise without it.

[waylonsmama]

I also love our YMCA childcare.  My youngest loves going too.  My oldest is in school...so does not go very often...but still enjoys it.  I get a great hour workout in and a nice uninterrupted shower.  My youngest does not nap either...so it is really my only break in the day. 

[zubeldia]

I find it really hard to exercise with DS hanging around! Usually I get up very early to exercise and I'm at the gym before 5am, just when it opens, or I run with DS in the stroller, or DH watches him. I should use the daycare at the gym but have never gotten DS used to it.

I'm still running, though the weather was lousy this week so mostly I ran on the elliptical and rowed. Tomorrow I'm planning a long run in the morning. Cindy, dad wasn't a runner (he thought I was nuts!) but he was incredibly proud of my sporting pursuits so he would have liked that I ran the miles for him.