Are you exercising?

[CarrieK]

If so, what is your routine? What kinds of exercise do you do and how often? Are you continuing at a pre-pregnancy level? Have you slowed down your exercise routine or just started one?

Thanks!

[bc1995]

I walk 2 miles 3 times a week. I was doing pilates but had slacked off before getting my bfp. I am going to ask my midwife if it ok for me to resume the pilates. I really miss it.

[janola]

I'm just dropping in from the Nov. boards, but thought I'd share my exercise routine.
Before getting pregnant I worked out roughly 30 min a day durin gthe week--swimming, walking or the eliptical or bike at the Y and one day of yoga. I've not felt like doing yoga agian yet, but still do at least 30 min a day of some cardio excercise. I've slow it down a little bit since I understand that pregnant women should keep their heart rates below 140. At the very least, I plan to walk a mile a day throughout my pregnancy.
I gained 60lbs with my dd, was borderline for gestational diabetes, and struggled with pregnancy-induced hypertension, so I hope being more physically active this time will stave off all those conditions.

[mother_sunshine]

I swam throughout my last pregnancy and it felt wonderful, so I'm doing it again in hopes it'll keep me feeling just as good. I also coach dd's soccer team so I do a lot of running twice a week with that, but it'll end in 2 months so then I'll just have swimming.

Thinking of going back to yoga but vinyasa might be too much for me...


My M/W threw me off the other day when we were talking about exercise. She said it is better (for labor) to be loose rather than tight. But I really don't want to get too loose. I want strength (and relief) for the upcoming aches and pains.

[alohacurry]

I've been participating in the local stroller fitness classes ever since my ds was about 2 months. I'm planning on keeping up with those and hopefully a prenatal yoga class.

[milk_maker]

Nursing burns what, 500 calories a day? Latch on and latch off. Latch on and lach off. Come on girls!

Seriously, I swim every chance I get and I do ride my bike to the beach but lately I've been fighting really bad dizzy spells so I've been takng it easy.

[ATruck]

I'm very curious about how this is going to go for me. I exercise at a gym 4 or 5 times a week (mostly cardio -- spin class or eliptical, usually) and I also walk a lot. I just got my BFP yesterday, and just started feeling queasy over the weekend as well.

I've heard that the 140 HR thing is overly precautious, but I don't want to be stupid. I usually go up to 170-180, though I have to admit, my body has "asked me" to not do that the past week or so, and I have been keeping it more mellow (160 or so).

anyhow -- I don't have a real plan yet. I've never been a yoga person, but I might try to do a prenatal yoga class. I kind of feel like my body is going to let me know what I can handle. I'm not a fitness freak and I know I won't go way beyond what I should be doing.

[emdeecee_sierra]

As the weather improves, I hope to be going on hikes most days. Nothing strenuous, mostly walks with the DC, if we go into the hills, I'll take it easy. In past pgs, the 24hr morning sickness has made me not want to go outside nor do much of anything. In the past some people had advised me to go for walks to help alleviate the morn. sick., but I just couldn't do it. I hope this time I'll still be able to do something for my DCs' sake.

[Lisadeanne]

I was exercising off and on before I found out. Its been a few weeks now but I would like to get back into the gym. I love the elliptical machine. I am just so darn tired right now. We have a pool so if it ever stops raining I would love to get out and swim too.

[amyandelle]

I don't exercise daily but I do wait tables a few nights a week so that keeps me in pretty good shape. I am so excited to be a normal weight during this pregnancy. When I got pg with Elle I was about 55 pounds heavier than I am now and I had a lot of body pains. I had a job that did not keep me really active so I was really out of shape the whole nine months. This time I am just above my ideal body weight, I eat very healthy (forced by my nursing dd's food allergies ) and I have a much more active job so I am hoping that my body will have a much eaiser time this time around!!
Amy

[Sophiasmomma]

i was taking classes 4 days a week at the gym but the week before i got my bfp i wasnt going because i didnt feel well but didnt know why ... So I havent been back since.. I do plan to continue walking outside and on the treadmill and using light weights once my fatique leaves soon:

[raversangel]

i walk two miles to the post office everyday in hilly terrain but i just did today and got REALLY swollen so i think that may be out for a while...but i want to look into underwater aerobics...i think that would be fun!!

[NullSet]

I do 20 min of exercise daily. It might be the stair stepper, treadmill, stretching and toning, or whatever I feel like, but I HAVE to do 20 min. I made that promise to myself a few years back and it works well. It is so hard right now because I am exhausted! Activities that were a breeze now wear me out!

[She2dancer]

As you see from my screen name I am a dancer - lol - I usually take 3 or 4 2-hour dance classes a week, plus my rehearsals...luckily lately I have had a really light rehearsal schedule and I have slacked a little on classes, but those classes I have been in I have noticed I am much more tired!!! I plan on continuing to take at least two classes a week, but I may need to cut back a bit on the intensity...we'll see how I feel...

In addition to dance, I also teach Pilates (both mat classes and private machine work)...I am teaching about 25 hours a week right now, and I usually jump on the machines between clients and I will do a few repititions here and there with my mat classes...

bc1995 - obviously I would definitely reccomend Pilates - we always have pregnant women in the studios at all stages of pregnancy....Pilates is often reccomended because as you you do Pilates, you are bringing the blood to the center of the body, rather than sending it to the extremities of the body as most other forms of exercise do (especially cardio...). The book Pilates Pregnancy is great and gives you a ton of information, as well as exercise routines for each trimester of pregnancy. If you have any other questions - feel free to ask!

[Sharlla]

I try to walk at least a mile everyday. I do get really tired in the afternoons and find that a walk really perks me up.

[ATruck]

Interesting, she2dancer. How is pilates modified for pregnancy? Are knees often kept bent? I read somewhere else that it is not a good idea to raise your leggs while straight or to sit up with your legs flat on the ground, which entails about half of the pilates classes I have been to. Also, do you know anything about regular stomach crunches being a problem? And finally, if you aren't supposed to lie on your back at all at some point, I take it you are somehow on your side in pregnancy pilates?
Until what point in pregnancy do you think it would be okay to go to a regular pilates class?
anyhow .. sorry for so many questions.

[BunnyMcFluff]

I usually do an hour of cardio 3 times a week, and strength training for 90 minutes twice a week.

I'm planning on continuing the workouts, modifying my routine as my body lets me know I need to.

[Twilight]

I was jogging and biking 4 times a week before this pregnancy. Now my energy level is so low I have been getting out twice a week if I'm lucky! It's very discouraging.