Exercise? - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[cabbitdancer]

Oops. I suppose I should've posted this one over here... ;)

I was running about 3 miles every other day, doing yoga once a week, and strength training once a week, before I got pregnant, but stopped running shortly after the positive, because I felt "off" every time I ran, and maybe a little lightheaded. And then I got a job, which lasted about four weeks before I realized that I wasn't going to be able to handle it and my diabetes through this pregnancy, but that meant that, between the exhaustion of pregnancy and the exhaustion of working about four hours a day, I wasn't getting anything done. I'm back up to walking on the track four days a week, with a strength training class on Thursdays, and roller skating with my daughter every other weekend. I keep wanting to push myself with the walking. I'm up to 5 miles at the gym, plus another leisurely one and a half every weekday afternoon when I walk to pick my daughter up from Kindergarten. I was sorely tempted to push myself for another mile, today, because I was feeling pretty good, but I didn't want to miss my post breakfast meter reading. I may just have to walk back out to the car, test, and then go back in, one of these days.

I feel amazing, this pregnancy, and my hips were KILLING me for a while (they still do off and on, at night), but the more I walk, it seems, the better they feel. My OB looked at me like I was insane when I told him I was walking 4 miles a day and told me I wouldn't be able to do it forever. Ha! Is that a challenge, sir?

With my daughter, I was sorely out of shape, though I was a member of a bellydancing troupe and so danced at least once a week up through my eighth month. I really need to get back into it again, as I think it helped a lot with balance and coordination.

[chocolatechip]

spughy - I hope your TG dinner outside was beautiful.  We finally have clouds here today, and it definitely now feels like fall!

maydaymom - Good for you!!! I think the hardest thing with exercising is starting a routine. Getting myself off my butt to go do something the first thing is always much harder for me than going the second time. And once I'm in a pattern, it's much easier to continue, because, "oh, it's Wednesday, and that's the day I go do x!" I used to Zumba on Wednesdays and do strength training on Sundays before getting pregnant, and that all went out the window when I stopped feeling able to move much. I've got myself on the walking and yoga cycle now, but I really want to go try Zumba again (taking it easier, of course). But it's hard to get myself to go the first time again! Maybe this week. 

cabbitdancer - it sounds like you're doing great! I find it kind of odd that your OB would be at all negative about your walking (not that you're doing it now, but that there's no way you'll be able to keep doing it). It seems to me like that's the perfect thing to get in the habit of doing, that you'll probably be able to do right up until the very end. And as a side note, I have to say I took a three month belly dancing class several years ago, and it was SO much fun!

ETA: Oh! As for me, I had another amazing yoga class on Sunday, and yesterday kind of failed with the exercise, though with some home improvement work and some errands to run, at least I didn't sit on the couch all day. :) Today I need to make sure I at least get out for a good walk!

[withlittlelungs]

I did a 4 mile run on Tuesday, because the weather was GORGEOUS. The run felt great, but I was on the verge of peeing my pants after every single mile! It was brutal. I even made myself go pee 4 times before leaving the house to avoid having to pee on my run. I want to keep running, but at this rate I'll have to wear a diaper lol

[happylemon]

So glad to see so many active Mamas! I did my half two weeks ago and have only done one run since because the weather has been cold and rainy, but things are looking warmer the next few days so I will at least try to get a run on Saturday. I am still doing videos in the mornings. I always take Sunday off and I have been forcing myself to take another day off to not over do and just try to get some stretching in that day. I just don't feel right when I don't get the heart rate up a tad and get a good stretch in. I need to stay limber to keep up with the rest of the clan. I was so soar in my second pregnancy because I never did any physical work and I could not handle the kids these days if I felt that badly so I hope that I can keep it up and stay on top of things. I ran until mid third trimester last time, but with winter coming I am sad that that probably wont happen this time.

[cabbitdancer]

My exercise today was heading out to the barn to help a friend with the care and training of her new horse. She's still too young to be saddle-ready, but she's so sweet and fun to walk with, and I can't help that the little girl in me squees every time I go out there. :)

[Linnaea]

Originally Posted by cabbitdancer 

My exercise today was heading out to the barn to help a friend with the care and training of her new horse. She's still too young to be saddle-ready, but she's so sweet and fun to walk with, and I can't help that the little girl in me squees every time I go out there. :)

Awww, that's so awesome, cabbitdancer   There is nothing like the energy of horses to brighten one's day and make you feel a kid again.  

I feel lazy whenever I look at this thread   I'm definitely not a runner, going for a walk is difficult enough.  Reading withlittlelungs' comment about almost peeing while running makes a lot of sense to me--I'd probably be leaking the whole time if it were me   I distinctly remember this one walk I went on when I was about 20 weeks along with DD: I was getting over a cold so sometimes I'd have coughing fits.  Well, a coughing fit started when I was only about 10 minutes into the walk.  I didn't have any water or anything that would help stop the cough.  So, wouldn't you know it, every friggin cough resulted in a small gush of pee   By the time I made it back to my house (which I did much sooner than I had planned), the front of my pants was soaked.  Thankfully, no one saw and I definitely learned my lesson.  

I've been dancing, walking or doing yoga on most days, so I try not to badger myself too much on the days I simply don't want to move at all.  As long as I don't gain too much weight (any more than 50 lbs is too much for me) I'll be okay.  I think I gained a little more than 50 with DD and I felt very heavy at the end.  It seemed to be the right amount of weight, though, since my daughter was big at birth (10.5 lbs) and the weight came off fairly easily within 4 or 5 months.  

[chocolatechip]

Good for you, those of you who are running! I can't imagine running at this point, and I'm only at 16 weeks! While I was out on a walk the other day, I ended up sprinting to cross a street while the walk signal was still on, only I realized I don't so much "sprint" any more. Not that I was ever a particularly fast runner, but I did get out for an occasional jog. I don't think it's going to happen while pregnant.  I have, however, managed to get out on a walk every day this week, and had a particularly long one with good hills on Thursday, so I've been noticing my calves are a bit sore the last couple days. I feel good about that! And I'm looking forward to yoga again tomorrow. I didn't manage to make it to Zumba this week, because my husband has been sick, and mid-week I was suddenly really tired again, and I decided it was more important to sleep and rest than push myself to go do entirely-new-since-pregnancy exercise. I think it was a good move, because I was feeling much better by Thursday, and I have yet to get sick, which is pretty miraculous. Fingers crossed it stays that way!

[Bena]

Originally Posted by chocolatechip 

Good for you, those of you who are running! I can't imagine running at this point, and I'm only at 16 weeks! While I was out on a walk the other day, I ended up sprinting to cross a street while the walk signal was still on, only I realized I don't so much "sprint" any more. Not that I was ever a particularly fast runner, but I did get out for an occasional jog. I don't think it's going to happen while pregnant.  I have, however, managed to get out on a walk every day this week, and had a particularly long one with good hills on Thursday, so I've been noticing my calves are a bit sore the last couple days. I feel good about that! And I'm looking forward to yoga again tomorrow. I didn't manage to make it to Zumba this week, because my husband has been sick, and mid-week I was suddenly really tired again, and I decided it was more important to sleep and rest than push myself to go do entirely-new-since-pregnancy exercise. I think it was a good move, because I was feeling much better by Thursday, and I have yet to get sick, which is pretty miraculous. Fingers crossed it stays that way!

I used to have visions of myself as one of those pregnant people who keeps running all the way to the end!

Ha!ha!!!  This is my 3rd pregnancy, and I've never managed to run after week 5!  The nausea and fatigue during 1st tri really hits me and knocks me out!  ANd by the time my energy is back, running just feels wrong.   So no worries, you're not the only one!

I've also started going to prenatal yoga last week, and wow, does it ever feel good to be moving again, though!!!

I'm trying to get my schedule around making it to one zumba class a week.  I feel like dancing!!  But I'm not sure it's going to work out ;(

[cabbitdancer]

I've been feeling pretty good in my walks, of late, and wanting to push myself without running, as I still feel a little "off" when I run. I wonder if I shouldn't try the "hills" setting on one of the treadmills at the gym, though I remember how boring the static view gets to be, even with an audiobook. :P

[chocolatechip]

bena, we're like exercise twins! Yay! I love love love my prenatal yoga class. I've ended up with plans during yoga-time this Sunday, and I'm a little sad! But, there's another option on Thursday night, so I think I'm going to go to that. I'm a little more determined to go to zumba this week too, though that doesn't mean I'll make it.  I am most worried at this point about finding the right time and the right thing to eat enough before going!

cabbit, I agree about the boringness of the treadmills/elipticals/whatever. I usually do podcasts if I use them, but it's still pretty boring. I have way more fun when I do one of the classes. 

[spughy]

YAY I finally made it to the gym today! Granted it was a "errr.... so what do we do again?" workout with DH (who also needs more exercise, as per his dr's orders - not for weight control but because he's weaning off his depression meds and his dr very sensibly prescribed exercise as a good adjunct to that) but at least I was there and I sweated a bit.  And my squat form is still fine but lunges don't work very well with my belly now :)

I do use the elliptical but just for interval training - 30 seconds hard then 3 min slow or thereabouts - it's not nearly so boring as just go go go. 

And I took the dog for a nice loooooong walk in the woods this morning, in the brief period of sunshine before the rain started up again.  Our weirdly extended summer has finally finished and it's suddenly very much autumn - we've got a nice storm scheduled for tonight.

[chocolatechip]

spughy, nice work keeping up your activity and making it to the gym! 

I haven't done much the last couple days, except for little tiny walks. However, I think I am going to make it to Zumba today. I am determined! And if the class is full by the time I get there, I will make myself stay and exercise in other ways. And now I've told you all, so I have to go! 

[chocolatechip]

It's been a while, but I did go to Zumba last week! It felt great. I took it pretty easy, and was gentle with myself, but it was really good aerobic exercise. I just didn't jump around or move as quickly as I used to.  Then I went to prenatal yoga on Thursday, because I didn't expect to be able to go on Sunday, and I think that was increasing my exercise too much over just a couple days. I was then super tired for another few days! We also had house guests and social events, so that might have had something to do with it too.

Today I went on a brisk walk. It's getting harder to get motivated to get outside, now that it's colder and more likely to drizzle!

[buko]

Wow, this one got buried!  Well, I'm happy (and truly shocked!) to report that I am up to 143 days of exercise since conception (per post #2 on this thread), with 7 days left before my EDD.  So if I do exercise every single day, I will hit my 150-day goal!  Trust me, with ADD, consistency is not my strong point, so I'm pretty impressed with myself.  *pats self on back*

Of course, many props to DH, who is always willing to accompany me on a brisk walk or do prenatal yoga DVDs with me.  (When they tell us to put one hand on our hearts and one hand on our babies, he just reaches over to my belly-- awwwwwww.)

Anyone else still working out?  How do you stay motivated?

[farmer]

Congrats on (almost) reaching your goal!  That's wonderful!  :)  I'm pretty committed to daily (well, weekdays) exercise, since if I don't fit it in, my mental health does a nose-dive!  I'm still running with my daughter every morning before work.  I'm at 36 weeks today, and we've been doing about two miles.......its a half-mile hill, so we run down, walk up, twice.  It has been crazy, because I live in New England, and between the ice and the cold, it has been tough to find a good route.  Up until a month ago, we were running most of a 2 1/2 mile loop, but it just got too slippery after the last big storm.  So, that's what we do.  I'm so pleased because I've never run this late in a pregnancy, and I'm a lot older than I was with my first four!  :)