Who is exercising? What are you doing? - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[greentoubab]

I try to go to the gym in my office's basement most days at lunch during the week. It's inevitably thwarted by deadlines and various work emergencies, but I do end up there about three times a week - I just wish I could make it four or five consistently! We have some different classes - pump, step, etc. - which I used to go to regularly, but since I did only low level exercise during the first trimester at my doctor's advice I find I get a bit winded at some classes. So I do a combination of taking it easy in classes, stationary bike, and serious walking on the treadmill, plus weight training.

I got a book on exercise in pregnancy that's pretty good, that I try to use once on the weekends for a cardio/weight workout. I also just ordered a prenatal vinyasa yoga DVD that I'm waiting for in the mail!

[ESPMadre]

Want to get back to yoga at the gym after being cleared to do it at 20 weeks, but I did some stretching yoga at home yesterday and felt like I couldn't get my breath after just a few minuts and a couple poses.  I may have to start with just some walking to get my stamina up.

Anyone else having problems with  getting back to it after a pregnant pause 

[CrunchyMama19]

I am still running though there has been a week here or there where it hasn't happened. I am trying to go 5 miles at least 3x a week which is still way below the mileage I was at before getting pregnant but I just want to maintain some level of fitness so I can jump back into it after the baby. I am starting to have lower backpain after a run though.

[GISDiva]

Originally Posted by ESPMadre 

Anyone else having problems with  getting back to it after a pregnant pause 

Yes, exactly this.  I'm getting winded going up the stairs at work already, it's rather pathetic...please, please, please, let the warm weather come so I can take a nice walk...it's the only thing that sounds good right now...

[Edelweiss98]

I used to run about 50 miles/week. Since this PG I haven't been able to run. I ran a half a mile at 9 weeks and almost threw up. Then between snow and cold and worrying about my SCH and being on modified bedrest for that, I have not exercised for months. Which feels really awful. When it gets nicer I'll try to walk 3 miles most days with my 3 yr old in the jogging stroller. I ran almost my entire PG with her except for some of the really bad nausea weeks first tri and early 2nd tri.  I already have some of my running friends planning on me running a spring marathon next year (I've already run 15 of them but it seems kind of soon after having twins...I did it after my singleton baby, though).  I figure I'll try to run a marathon at least fall 2014 and that'll give me a year to get back into shape. I am so thankful to be PG but right now I just feel kind of fat and out of shape. I have gained a ton of wt already and really look PG but my legs and butt and everything are fatter, too and it's just mentally kind of hard. Sorry that's way more than you were asking.

[ESPMadre]

Edelweiss98 - It is really hard mentally, especially when you were in great shape and then your body starts changing in areas like legs and butt that I certainly never expected with my first.  I was  in great shape as a dance teacher and performer with my first son, ESP. I was just getting back into dance exercise again in the hopes of moving toward returning to dance when I got unexpectedly but blessedly pregnant with this LO.  I really hope you are able to reach your marathon goals.  

I feel so far away from in shape and am having such a hard time getting energy and just the simple breath for exercise.  I hope I can spring back some now even if just walking so that I can do more after the baby is born.  Good weather can't come soon enough for me either

[thecoffeebean]

I'm definitely not exercising after nearly a month of pelvic rest! It's driving me nuts and making me a little depressed. :-( I'm not a super in-shape person, but I do enjoy a good walk or flow yoga class. It clears the head, makes me feel excited about life, etc. These past few weeks have been dark and dreary. I find myself just aimless, and not really looking forward to my days the way I usually do. Hopefully I can get cleared for light exercise at my doctor's appointment Monday morning.

[Mama505]

Originally Posted by ESPMadre 

Edelweiss98 - It is really hard mentally, especially when you were in great shape and then your body starts changing in areas like legs and butt that I certainly never expected with my first.  I was  in great shape as a dance teacher and performer with my first son, ESP. I was just getting back into dance exercise again in the hopes of moving toward returning to dance when I got unexpectedly but blessedly pregnant with this LO.  I really hope you are able to reach your marathon goals.  

I feel so far away from in shape and am having such a hard time getting energy and just the simple breath for exercise.  I hope I can spring back some now even if just walking so that I can do more after the baby is born.  Good weather can't come soon enough for me either

I hear you!  I also was in great shape with my first.  It took me a long time to get back into trapeze, but I finally found the time and strength last year.  Then I got pregnant, then lost the baby in June.  Since then I haven't been able to get back into shape.  It's like my body kept storing fat/energy for the baby due in late October even though I didn't need it anymore.  So, I wasn't back to 'my old self' again when we got pregnant in November. 

Now I would just like to be as healthy and fit as I can, but it like my body has no idea what is going on (when I try to exercise)!  I have finally gotten enough energy to do some walking, and now am waiting on the weather to cooperate.  One day I will walk downtown with my family, about two miles, and be hot enough in a long-sleeve shirt to break a light sweat... then the next day, it's hailing and windy!  Welcome Spring!  But I do feel blessed to have gotten through the worst of the fatigue.

[ESPMadre]

Thecoffeebean-  I have the "little depressed" thing going as well.  I wonder if some of it for me here in Baltimore is Seasonal Affective Disorder. I just thought of that now. I have this light therapy machine that I got a few years ago when we had a really bleak winter.  I am going to look for it and see if it helps.  

Mama505- I am so sorry about your loss and to have a body reminder can't make that any easier.  Congratulations on getting pregnant again and I wish you the best of luck with this pregnancy.  

I am sure we will all be complaining about the heat as soon as the summer hits or, for me realistically, sooner.  My oven being on makes it so I am most comfortable in 60% weather, which we have not hit yet in Baltimore.  We are still in the 30's/40's and occassionally 50s.

I am lucky that we live next to a beautiful college campus, Loyola University, and once the weather is better can go on some nice walks.  I want to be able to walk with my son but am worried that he will "drop" while walking and take me down with him.  He is six, so he is tall enough for me not to have to side bend to hold his hand, but developmentally very young and only been independent walking for a little while.  I guess I could hold his hand less but worry about him getting away from me with a street next to us.  It is a campus street so not very busy.  Have any of you ever thought of using one of those wrist or backpack "leashes" (I hate that word but don't know what else to call it)?  I just don't know how I feel about it. I want him to be independent but also keep him safe.  ESP would not care and it would solve the problem of me having to worry about him getting away from me. And he could drop and not take me with him.

Any thoughts on this?

[GISDiva]

I hated those "leashes" until I had a kid who didn't bat an eye about running off. I got a backpack style one like you said and he loved it. He felt like he could still explore and I felt better too. I say go for it if you think it would work for your situation.

[Edelweiss98]

My consolation with getting back into shape is that having babies in August means great fall weather isn't too far off and who doesn't love to exercise outdoors in Sept/Oct/Nov? January is always tough for me but I'm really hoping to make some good fitness strides this fall.

Spring still hasn't arrived here but when it does I'll at least go for some walks.

[ESPMadre]

Snow today in Baltimore!  No walking yet

[mellybelly]

Since the first trimester fatigue/nausea, I went through the terror of some iffy genetic tests early in the second tri. But now that that's past, I've been back on the gym bandwagon. I've had SI joint pain since my second pregnancy, and it's really been flaring up if I run. So I've essentially stopped running. Instead, I've been doing a half hour on the elliptical or walking on the treadmill 3-5 days and maybe doing a pregnancy video one other day. Also when I'm at the gym, I've been following the pregnancy workout app that I really like, which gives me 15 or so minutes of weight lifting (I do 3-5 weight lifting activities each day at the gym). My whole goal is to keep my SI joint pain in check this time around. That and I just love the gym

[Mama505]

Thanks for the kind words ESPMadre. 

Mostly I just wish I had been in better shape to start with.  It is much easier to stay in shape than 'get in shape', regardless of whether you are pregnant or not.  But now that I am pregnant, I don't know how to get more in shape but still allow my body to do what it needs.  I guess what I mean is when I am not pregnant and am working out it is toward a goal (usually strength and fitness for farm work and trapeze fun).  If I am not doing farm work or trapeze I don't know what to do with keeping in shape. 

So, I have been doing the walking thing, cause I am not a runner, and I just checked out the prenatal yoga video someone shared, but now I don't see the post.  I like that and have been doing that whenever I remember... in fact I think I'll do it now while DS is napping!

[greentoubab]

Originally Posted by mellybelly 

Since the first trimester fatigue/nausea, I went through the terror of some iffy genetic tests early in the second tri. But now that that's past, I've been back on the gym bandwagon. I've had SI joint pain since my second pregnancy, and it's really been flaring up if I run. So I've essentially stopped running. Instead, I've been doing a half hour on the elliptical or walking on the treadmill 3-5 days and maybe doing a pregnancy video one other day. Also when I'm at the gym, I've been following the pregnancy workout app that I really like, which gives me 15 or so minutes of weight lifting (I do 3-5 weight lifting activities each day at the gym). My whole goal is to keep my SI joint pain in check this time around. That and I just love the gym

What is the app you use? I may try it!

[mellybelly]

It's called Sculpt My Pregnancy. I like it. It gives exercises that really seem to target areas that get weak and sore during pregnancy. And there are new exercises every month, which is nice,

[ESPMadre]

Thanks MellyBelly - Sculpt My Pregnancy - downloading it right now to my phone!

Mama505 - Tapeze - so cool!  How did you get into that?

I agree, It is more fun to workout when there is something to train for.

My goal now is strength and endurance to get through this pregnancy and labor.  I have no endurance anymore.  Every move seems to make me breathless.  I am 21 weeks now and birth seems pretty far away with only more strain upon this older body.  My doctor says that the breathlessness and is due to organ smush as well as high progesterone levels.  It is hard even to walk through Target to look for sweatpants for my 6 year old!

[joanatron]

I'm still doing my regular workout 2-3 x a week with modifications (no crunches but lots of plank and oblique strengthening). it seems to be going ok. Baby didn't like it on Monday, but I went for workout, then did a 90 minute massage, then had to haul some 5 gallon water jugs.  I will take it more easy tomorrow!

[Mama505]

ESPMadre-  I had a friend years ago who once said to me "You should be in the circus."  I responded that I would love to, but would know where to start... and she gave me the name of a local circus group (Wise Fool NM)  and that was the start of something wonderful! 

My midwife said that (in addition to the smush and progesterone), the extra blood and all the work of pumping it makes it harder to breathe during this time.  I go between totally winded one day and fine the next... never can tell though which it will be!

[Edelweiss98]

With warmer weather I'm finally back to walking. Not the same as running but I don't think I'm up for running. I get out of breath just pushing the jogging stroller. But I've made it 2-3 miles the last 3 days.