Exercise??

[zenma]

I was in great shape before dd, but when I got pregnant I was both nervous about doing the wrong moves physically, and I felt so bad during my first trimester that I stopped exercising and didn't really get back into it until 10 months ago (dd is now 3). I have about 15-20 extra lbs, and I do feel more confident with this pregnancy, plus I'm in the habit of exercising now, so I want to find ways to keep it up, even if they're small ways. I have a gym membership, and I plan to keep using it.

Does anyone else have exercise plans for this pregnancy?

[*knittingmomma*]

good for you! My goal is to walk for 45 minutes every day, I was way too sick when I was pregnant with dd to exercise, but I really hope that I can continue to walk daily through this one.

[sunflwrmoonbeam]

I've been trying to keep up my exercise. I do yoga, and I'm trying to find a good book on yoga in pregnancy (probably Yoga: A Gem for Women by Geeta S Iyengar). I also bike as my main means of short transportation, walking, and swing dancing (tonight only). We'll see how active I can stay. I figure the more I do now, the better I'll be later.

[DoulaLMT]

I lift weights 4 days a week at the gym, plus walk with DH and the dog for 45 min-1 hour per day and I plan to continue as long as I feel good.

[wobit]

I do a lot of walking and social dancing right now (most recently salsa and argentine tango) but I'm hoping to get back to the gym for more regular exercise. Sometimes I need the gym in order to really symmetrically and evenly work my whole body.
Let us know how you like the pregnant yoga!

[tyisrrs]

I go to the gym 4-5 days a week, plus now that it is warm, DH and I love riding bikes in the hilly areas around here, or on the bike path. I do pretty intense weight lifting twice a week (full body) and at least an hour (sometimes an hour and a half) of cardio four days a week.

During the first trimester I am advised by my midwife and trainer that as long as I feel good, then I can continue as before my pregnancy. After the first trimester I will no longer do exercises that require me to lay on my back (no chest presses, crunches, etc.), and no exercises that may put me off balance (like single leg squats). For abs, I guess the only thing I can do after the first trimester will be the hanging leg lifts. I am assuming there will be a time when there will be no more ab work allowed, but I'm not sure. I will see my trainer in July for several workouts to get me through the second trimester and then again in October for my last trimester workouts.

[frogleymom]

I've always been a total non-exerciser. But just the last couple of months I realized I needed more energy to keep up with my girls. There is no way I could afford any type of gym membership right now and there's no way my girls would allow me to go to the gym on a regular basis. Instead, my MIL gave me some workout tapes for my birthday and I've been using those in the mornings. I've got a two yoga tapes, a pilates tape, a cardio dance tape and a kickboxing tape. All of them are for extreme beginners because that's what I am, and I just kind of rotate through them. Now that I'm pregnant, I plan to still do the tapes, most of them are gentle enough that I don't see a problem doing them while pregnant. I'll obviously have to avoid back-lying positions after a while, but that shouldn't be too hard. I also have a birth ball, and I'm planning on getting a prenatal pilates tape that uses balls in their workout.

DH says it's kind of funny to watch me workout though... I always end up with at least one girl climbing all over me whenever I get close to the ground. It's pretty difficult to do any type of plank move with a 25lb toddler on your back.

Emily

[paniscus]

I was in really pretty good shape for my first pregnancy and I feel it really helped. It seems a cruel joke that Mother Nature sticks you in a situation where you can't really work out and then puts you right in the middle of a marathon (labor and birth).

For this pregnancy I am back down to the same weight I was when I got pregnant with ds but I just don't feel as "in shape". It is something I really want to work on. It is just so hard to work out with a toddler. I was laughing so hard at what Emily said about ending up with a toddler on top of you. It is SO true (only mine is 35 lbs!!!!)

I am planning on probably just walking in the evenings with dh and ds for as long as ds will stay in the stroller. I am really trying to remember to do pushups and crunches whenever I remember right now because those will be so hard to do later. I think I am also going to try to find a prenatal yoga class. I took one when preggo with ds and LOVED it. I think I will really need the one on one time with just me and the new babe also.

[wobit]

prenatal yoga...

I really enjoyed Bikram (hot) yoga a few years ago, and I recall there was a hugely pregnant, glowing woman in the corner of the class several times doing some minor modifications and participating through the whole, intense 90 minute class. Have any of you tried Bikram?

[Finch]

I've been going to the gym 2-3 x a week (weightlifting, swimming) since January, and for about a year now I've been regularly walking and riding my bike pulling ds in the trailer, so I plan to continue all that.

I'm bummed that I can't go in the hot tub at the gym any more though. That was my reward after a good workout!!

[WishingNHoping]

I'm going to continue my cardio hula and windsor pilates... but Ive had a cold for the last week and a half so all Ive managed to do is walk.

[matey]

I have to disontinue yoga for a bit. My nurse and instructor have forbid me until I am out if the first trimester. I ride my bike all the time, and can continue to do so and long as it is low intensity. That means no fun biking adventures full of huffing, puffing, and massive sweating for awhile. I need to just start walking. I am going to Italy in June, so I cant let myself get too lazy, otherwise all that walking will be a shock to the system!

[sunflwrmoonbeam]

Matey, what style of yoga do you do? And wy did your instructor forbid you from doing it?

[Momma2DoubleCuties]

I'm doing yoga 2x a week and then walking. I've missed the past week cause I badly sprained my ankle, I'm going to see how I feel in the morning cause the class is at 6am and that's usually my queasy time. But I do hope to continue as long as I can. My gym membership is up in October and I don't think I'll be renewing it so as far until October as I can.

[zenma]

I used to do Bikram, and I'm impressed that someone did it through their pregnancy! Amazing!

I had a great time at the gym this morning, but I've been toast the rest of the day (not because I went - I was toast yesterday without the gym). I did 20 minutes on the elliptical, 10 stretching and lifting weights, and 10 in the pool. I wouldn't get near a pool with my last pregnancy, because I'm pretty avoidant of harsher chemicals like chlorine, but the pool at my gym is a saltwater one and seems a little less harsh. It was awesome!

[Surfacing]

Wow, what an active bunch we have here! Count me amongst the swimmers, walkers, and cyclers. I danced for 25 years before dd was born but once she came I didn't have the time...........I miss it a lot.

I'm thinking about taking belly dance classes this summer. I'd be interested in hearing whether anyone has done belly dance and found the movements helpful for birthing?

I'm reeeeaaalllly hoping to gain a minimum of weight this time as I'm already 15 lbs overweight. Sigh. 25-30 lbs would be ideal.

[wobit]

I love bellydance, I studied it for years, but school gets in the way so I've had to lay fallow. It is definitely awesome for toning and strengthening your core muscles, abdomen and back, and helping you to feel in control of your pelvis. I've never birthed so I can't comment personally about it's usefulness for labor, but...
One of the stories of the birth of this art form (who knows if its true?) is that the wise women would teach these movements to pregnant women to prepare them for birth, and that during early labor they would dance gently, in support of her.
My most recent (and favorite) teacher is actually a retired doula, she taught through her pregnancy with twins!

Do tell your teacher, though - like any exercise there are certain movements that you may want to keep toned down. Certain kinds of shimmies, I think. If you get into it, I can email the doula/dance teacher and ask!

[Finch]

Okay, so I've been researching. : I do NOT wanna give up my weight lifting, it keeps me sane (I have a history of an eating disorder, and exercise within reason keeps it in check) and makes me feel better. I realize, though, that crunches and using the abdominal weight machine are pretty much bad ideas. So pilates....pilates really helped my back when I did it, and it is great for your abs, and there are a lot of pilates exercises that don't involve crunching/squishing/bending the abdominal area. Is pilates okay?

[Fishie Kisses]

I have been going to the gym 3-4 times a week with my sister in law for a few months now. We are both expecting, and due the same day!!! So we will simply modify our routine for more baby-friendly activities (ie--no more step class, lots of walking and swimming, prenatal yoga, etc)

[zenma]

Originally Posted by Finch

Okay, so I've been researching. : I do NOT wanna give up my weight lifting, it keeps me sane (I have a history of an eating disorder, and exercise within reason keeps it in check) and makes me feel better. I realize, though, that crunches and using the abdominal weight machine are pretty much bad ideas. So pilates....pilates really helped my back when I did it, and it is great for your abs, and there are a lot of pilates exercises that don't involve crunching/squishing/bending the abdominal area. Is pilates okay?

Everything I've read says crunches are fine, but you don't want to be exercising on your back after the first trimester. Some abdominal machines have you sitting up the whole time - soemthing like could work. I totally avoided doing anything abdominal with dd, except cat/cow and whatever else we did in prenatal yoga, but I regret that decision.

I've also read that most yoga poses are fine, but again, modified so you're not on your back, and no twists. My prenatal yoga book said that twists encourage your body to cleanse and empty itself out. I guess it could potentially trigger a miscarriage.