Exercise « Back to Group Discussions

[Starfish11]

Can we talk about this?  :)

I teach Zumba four times a week.  My classes are high-intensity and I've been doing high-intensity for a while but all of the sudden I am a bit nervous.  According to what I've read since my body is used to the level of aerobic activity it's not a big deal.  I think my MW will be so supportive of me doing it but I wonder when I will have to stop.

Anyone else with a regular exercise pattern that's worried?  I actually think this pregnant will prove to be so much better than my others because I will have motivation to keep working out so I can keep teaching, which I love.

[Kamiro]

I actually have the opposite question...I am really out of shape. Would doing a 1 mile walk at home video be an ok place to start?

I would love to try Zumba, I've heard lots of great things about it.

[Starfish11]

Walking is a great way to ease back into exercise.  There are also some good videos that are specifically for pregnant women and you can do them the entire time you are pregnant.  Lisa Hart I think has a few and there's one by this woman who was in Cirque de Soleil.  Holy good goodness that one is challenging but great.  She is pregnant in it and it's a marvel. 
 

[SparkleMaman]

Starfish I think it totally depends how you feel. Your MW might suggest a heart rate monitor, just to help you keep your heart rate in the safe zone and remind you not to over do it. But if you're used to the higher intensity, it shouldn't be an issue. I was running a lot before I became pregnant with DD and ran daily through 20 weeks. After that, my uterus felt too heavy and it became painful. I walked 5+ miles per day after that.  A good friend ran through 38 weeks. Paula Radcliffe, marathoner, ran through her pregnancy and won the NY Marathon 9 months after delivering her daughter. I think the key is maintaining rather than trying to push for greater activity in the higher intensity levels.

Onemoreontheway I'd think starting out with 1-2 mile walks at a moderate pace would be perfect! If you're outside, just be careful of ice. Obviously you don't want to fall. Do you have Netflix? They have some exercise videos on demand. I liked Crunch Fitness Yoga Mama when I was pregnant with DD. I noticed it on Netflix a few months ago.

[JonesiesGirl]

I've been doing some exercise basically every day. I usually swim laps 4-ish times a week (45 minutes), play badminton once or twice a week (60 minutes), and do a lot of walking (4 miles in an hour for exercise, otherwise just a ton of walking for transit as we're car-free and don't use public transit). I'm planning to keep up this level of exercise throughout pregnancy. I'm also planning to get a birth ball and a book of exercise with it, so I will be adding that in as well. I'd also like to sign up for aquanatal or prenatal pilates or something in the second trimester. My main concern at the moment is keeping up the same level of exercise in spite of the first trimester exhaustion and nausea. But I have read that walking and swimming in particular are safe to do up until the day of delivery, so I plan to continue with those. 

Onemoreontheway, it sounds like you might enjoy the Leslie Sansone Walk Away the Pounds videos. She has a one mile video that would probably be perfect for you if you feel like you are out of shape. She usually includes some arm exercises and things as well. And it's really easy to adjust any of the exercises if you find anything too intense. 

[Kamiro]

Thanks ladies :) Yes, I was thinking the Leslie Sansone series. I do have Amira's bellydance and yoga pregnancy dvd..I will start with those. I don't know about cirque de soleil. I can only dream!!

[Starfish11]

I really like the Leslie Sansone program, too!

I have to figure out how long I can teach. I am booked through next December but that's not going to work!

[maggiemay81]

I have been walking and jogging. I had also been horseback riding, but my doctor told me I should stop. Anyone else out there a horse person? Any opinions on riding in the first trimester? I have done lots of research, and the real risk is a fall off the horse. But, I could fall when I am jogging/walking, or coming down the stairs in my home. 

Yoga is on the to-do list, I was pretty avid with it, but have let it slip lately. 

[Starfish11]

I don't know much about horseback riding other than the fact that my friend had to give it up, too. She did not push it with her doc but I think she could have if she had done the research you've done, ie it's more about falling than riding.

[andi-mama]

I am a runner and depend on it just as much for my emotional well-being as I do physical ;) I generally run anywhere from 30-40 km (18-24 miles) a week and plan to keep this up for as long as I can. I've never really made any effort at staying in shape through past pregnancies but having lost a lot of weight in the past year and a bit I hope to be healthier in general this time (instead of gaining 50+ lbs again!).

From what I've read, it's okay to maintain current exercise levels during your pregnancy but that you shouldn't begin any strenuous exercise while pregnant. I don't see how a mile walk could hurt but I don't think it is the best time to take up marathoning or anything like that :)

[SparkleMaman]

Andi-mama Totally hear you!! I recall that when I stopped running and was walking (at around 20 weeks with DD), it was still a real workout! I had been running 50-60 miles per week prior. I didn't keep that level of intensity up when pregnant though. But my point is that whether you walk at a moderate intensity or run at a low/moderate intensity, it should help, both physically and emotionally. It did for me. That, and the prenatal yoga.

As for horseback riding, while you have an obvious risk of falling in any activity, the risk is quite high with horseback riding. And the impact of a fall off of a horse is much greater than a fall walking/running. The impact can easily cause placental abruption. Because of this, I know it is recommended to not participate at any stage of pregnancy. I have a good friend who is an avid runnr and competitive horseback rider. She ran throughout her entire pregnancy but did stop riding. These are all ultimately personal decisions.

[Starfish11]

Right on about the emotional well being. The endorphins I get keep me so balanced!

[ultrafighter]

I do a boot camp at least twice per week and have been since October.  We are really encouraged to go at our own pace so if I need to start dialing it back a little then I'm totally okay to do so.  My MW also said that whatever I'm used to I can keep doing so yay!!  I have to be honest, though...  I'm a little overweight already (never have really gotten my eating in line for boot camp to make a visible difference though I'm way stronger now), and I'm really worried about never having a pronounced and perfect baby bump and just looking fat. 

[maggiemay81]

Thanks Starfish11 and SparkleMaman for weighing in on the riding issue. We are big horse people, and I know the decision lies with me. My husband thinks it is ok as long as I am in the arena, and on a bomb proof horse. He wouldn't let me go near any of the younger standardbreds or any spooky horses. In my 31 years I have only fallen off once. I didn't ride at all in my last pregnancy. I really wanted to keep active this time around. That said, I know accidents can happen. I will likely just do flatwork and grooming from now on. 

[Kamiro]

Originally Posted by ultrafighter 

I do a boot camp at least twice per week and have been since October.  We are really encouraged to go at our own pace so if I need to start dialing it back a little then I'm totally okay to do so.  My MW also said that whatever I'm used to I can keep doing so yay!!  I have to be honest, though...  I'm a little overweight already (never have really gotten my eating in line for boot camp to make a visible difference though I'm way stronger now), and I'm really worried about never having a pronounced and perfect baby bump and just looking fat. 

Don't worry about that. You will get the baby bump ....

[maggiemay81]

At times I find myself wanting the baby bump now lol!! But then, I go back to work on May 13, and don't want to be showing until I have talked to my employer. I will be 15 weeks when I return, so I am pretty sure, unless I am one of the lucky ones, that I will have a good sized bump by then.

- Onemoreontheway- are you still breast-feeding? how are you feeling? I am exhausted at night, and it seems like DD only wants to nurse when I want to sleep. I was hoping to not be nursing before the next one comes along…. 

We are trying not to tell family and friends until I am 12 weeks…. but today talking about our next home with my in-laws, it got a little dicey…. My MIL kept saying well you are going to have another kid soon, so make sure there is lots of room. There is no way she could possibly know, but I still got flustered. Oh I hope we can make it! 

[Starfish11]

Oh I work out all the time and follow weight watchers but I am far from svelte. I am definitely fighting the uphill battle of having two kids in two years. I am interested to see if the third baby will pop a little earlier. Maybe if I do my students will give me a bit of a break when I am dragging from my no-coffee mornings!

[Kamiro]

Maggie - Yep. Still nursing. I have to admit last night I was thinking "How on earth am I going to wean this kid?"..So tired!

[Emmecat]

I was wondering about the exercise thing too. I"m def heavier than I was pre kids, probably not helped by having 2 children in 18 months lol. I've only just stopped tandem feeding recently too, although still BF my 2 yr old. I think I'd like to wean her as bf during pg was hard work for me last time :-/

But oops back to the exercise thing, I was thinking I might just start going for walks around the hills here maybe 3 times a week adn build up slowly. Just to keep stuff moving, not try to be svelte again :p

[Starfish11]

Those two kids close together is hard on the body! Walking hills sounds like a great idea.

I teach two classes on Mondays. My night class was so. Very. Hard. I am glad that I have it because otherwise I would be sedentary with the incredible nausea and fatigue.