Exercise?

[bronxmom]

What are other pple doing about exercise? When I got pregnant before, I exercised pretty much every day for about 30-60 minutes: treadmill, elliptical and weights. After miscarrying at 6 weeks, though, I'm terrified to exercise this time around. On the one hand, I know it's so good for you to keep in shape throughout your pregnancy and that it could have positive effects such as increasing blood flow to the uterus; on the other I'm just so scared that anything at all strenuous could cause another miscarriage and figure I could always start working out again in the 2nd trimester. Thoughts?

At this point, I'm leaning towards easy paced walking and prenatal yoga.

[terrainthailand]

I've been sticking to my routine of elliptical + yoga everyday. Well almost everyday :Puke.

I right there with you though! I still struggle with similar worries that I am going to cause a miscarriage. Still, everything I read leads me to believe that the exercise can only be good for me as long as I don't overheat or push myself too hard. And of course my doctor said it was a good idea. If anyone has contrary advice I'd like to know too!!

[Starfish11]

I have only been able to do 3-4 workouts a week versus my 5x a week pre-pregnancy. My issue is fatigue. It's hard to get motivated when all I want to do is nap all the time.

I've been sticking to walking, pilates, and yoga. I also got this pre-natal dvd done by one of the former members of Cirque de Solei (spelling?). It's great! very bare bones but EFFECTIVE. At one point all I could think was: this way pregnant French lady is kicking my a#$.

[waldorfknitmama]

If you count taking care of a busy toddle excersize, count me in! I don't really do excersize, I watch what I eat and walk everyday, but weights, running pulling na uh!!! I do like yoga everyonce in a while. So heres what I heard about excersize: You should always consult a dr. b4 starting and excersize program (not sure if I whole-heartidly believe that one) and you should only do things that you were doing b4 pregnancy, like you should not start a new progrom if you haven't already been doing it. I like to think pregancy is a time to ripen and soften not become rigid, and muscular. So for that I would suggest gentle walking! But that's just me!!!

hth

[magpiedee]

I expect to do a lot of walking on the treadmill and light handweights as soon as my sinus infection goes away. Anything in the first trimester is a plus! I know i'll feel more secure physically in the second trimester and can get in some good exercise then, and the third tri will be all about walking. Elliptical and bike make my hips ache, so now would not be a good time for that.

Last time I was pregnant, I took both prenatal fitness and prenatal yoga and enjoyed them both, but this time, with my gym membership and the included childcare, i'll be taking much advantage of the time and freedom to get gentle exercise there.

[tschifo]

I've been meaning to start this thread. I've continued my normal routine of running on the treadmill 2x a week. I totally didn't feel up to that in my last pregnancy, but this time I feel oddly very good. Also, since my last pregnancy I've acquired an obsession with cleaning the floors on my hands and feet. We'll see how long that lasts.

[LoveMyJonah]

I'm just doing walking, either outside or on the treadmill no greater than 3.2. That's what I did prepreg anyway!

[grace's voice]

I didn't work out at all with my last 2, this time I plan to do pilates (the only exercise I enjoy) and yoga. I have a lot of preterm labor, so anything that involves upright movement is out, even walking. I'm hoping this will help me recover easier afterward... not to mention get my body back. I had JUST lost 30 pounds when I found out I was pg. BLAST!
Trying not to gain it all back.

[chic2chic]

i'm a bit of a fitness buff.

i've been running all my adult life, and i continued running 5-6 days a week through both my previous pregnancies until month 7. then i switched to speed-walking (2 miles per day) up until the day i gave birth. i also did prenatal yoga with my 2d pregnancy.

i know it sounds like a lot of exercise, but it helped me with the pregnancy symptoms -- and i never had any issues with diabetes, blood pressure or weight gain.

i also attribute my two super-fast, easy labors & deliveries to being physically fit. there's a lot of research out there that shows that regular exercise can shorten labor (my first labor was 6 hours, my second labor was one hour) oh, and my babies were healthy, full-term & 7.5 pounds each.

so right now i'm still running & doing yoga, even though, yes, i'm tired & nauseous pretty much constantly. (the fresh air helps)

ultimately i believe the key is to listen to your body and do what feels right for you. certainly, if you're not already exercising, now is not the time to start. but exercise is really important preparation for labor, so if you're already working out and it feels good to you, there's no reason to cut back until your body tells you to.

[applecider]

I just go for walks as much as possible and I would like to do some sort of yoga, even though I have never done it before!

[Funny Face]

I normally work out 4 to 5 times a week doing dance/mix/aerobics and kickboxing but have been to nauseated to accomplish this. I plan to resume activity as soon as I can and switch to cycling and swimming when I'm too big or too unbalanced to continue with my regular work out.

I miss working out right now.

[Starfish11]

Originally Posted by chic2chic

i'm a bit of a fitness buff.

i've been running all my adult life, and i continued running 5-6 days a week through both my previous pregnancies until month 7. then i switched to speed-walking (2 miles per day) up until the day i gave birth. i also did prenatal yoga with my 2d pregnancy.

i know it sounds like a lot of exercise, but it helped me with the pregnancy symptoms -- and i never had any issues with diabetes, blood pressure or weight gain.

i also attribute my two super-fast, easy labors & deliveries to being physically fit. there's a lot of research out there that shows that regular exercise can shorten labor (my first labor was 6 hours, my second labor was one hour) oh, and my babies were healthy, full-term & 7.5 pounds each.

so right now i'm still running & doing yoga, even though, yes, i'm tired & nauseous pretty much constantly. (the fresh air helps)

ultimately i believe the key is to listen to your body and do what feels right for you. certainly, if you're not already exercising, now is not the time to start. but exercise is really important preparation for labor, so if you're already working out and it feels good to you, there's no reason to cut back until your body tells you to.

My stepsister is a major long-distance runner (marathons, super marathons). During her second trimester she ran a marathon with her doctor's blessing. Also, in her first trimester she hiked Mt. Rainier for 2 weeks. I remember thinking that she was just a gorgeous pregnant woman and think that the major exercise really helped her body

[meetoo]

ummm i think I'll stay away from this thread. If I can find the energy to clean the house, cook dinner, drive the kids where ever they need to go, bathe and play with the kids, do the endless piles of laundry we always seem to have, and maybe pay attention to my husband occasionally. I'll be happy

[wrzos]

I'm definitely NOT an exercise addict! LOL That said, I've been going to curves (circuit training like) 4-5 times a week now for a few months, so I'll keep that up and possibly add yoga once I get back in the country around week 18 or so.

[simcon]

I'm planning on walking and swimming, and may add in yoga after the first trimester... and maybe the elliptical trainer. During my pregnancy with my daughter, I swam 30 minutes (freestyle) and did 35 minutes on the elliptical trainer 5-6 days a week from the end of the first to the middle of the third trimester, and I felt great (I continued walking until the day I gave birth). No back pain at all, slept wonderfully the whole time, had an easy recovery from birth, which went fairly well, etc... but last time I was pregnant I had a miscarriage, so I'm much more nervous this time--my goal for now is to walk 30 min 5+ days a week, and swim 25 min. 3-4x week for these three months, and hope all goes well.

[JennM1021]

Ah...I wish I had time. I used to do the crosstrainer, weights, crunches probably 4x a week. The past few months...nada. I started taking graduate classes and between that, TTC, cleaning, cooking, laundry, vet visits, family...ahhhhh!!! Yeah...anyway...I don't have much time. But, we did get a yoga for pregnancy dvd that I want to try soon. So, I'd like to incorporate that with some light walking.

[superflippy]

I plan to exercise for as long as I can. Right now I'm doing circuit training 2 days a week and aerobic (either eliptical or recumbent cycle) 1 day.

Are there any strength training exercises you should avoid while pregnant? I'm thinking of leaving out all lower-body strength training and doing more aerobic exercise.

I had GD last time, and I'm hoping that by exercising and eating healthy this time I can avoid it.

[Pookietooth]

I don't exercise much at all. I'm hoping to try to do some, but where I live, it's so cold and rainy, and ds will not go to the daycare at the gym, so there really aren't a lot of options for me.