Exercise Routines

[springbride]

What sort of exercise routines does everyone keep up with while preggo?
This is my first so I need all the help I can get!
I am not really sure what to keep up with and what to stop. I had been working out religiously through spring/summer, took about 8-10 weeks off (family came in town & picked up extra classes, just couldn't get there!) and for the last 6-8 weeks have been back in the gym doing weight training & intervals every other day. I'm scared to do to much! Is it better to just walk and do light weights? Or keep up the running?
Thanks for all your help! Not ready to tell the folks yet!

[kristinb]

Does walking upstairs to put laundry up count?! lol Actually, I plan on doing prenatal yoga and taking lots of walks.

[.:Melissa:.]

My doc told me last pregnancy not to run or jog because it weakens the pelvic floor. I did a lot of walking, light weights, and a pregnant aerobics DVD. A lot of low impact stuff is okay.

[eli's mama]

I walk/hike and do yoga regularly. and I lift light weights once or twice a week.

[*violet*]

For the last six months, I've been doing the 3-mile Walk Away the Pounds video every day. I've been doing 1 or 2-miles every day since I found out I was pg.

[haren.13]

If your body is used to running from before pregnancy, then continuing to run is not a problem With DD, I was able to run (albeit slower than before!) until I was ~20 weeks, when it became too uncomfortable. From 20-41 weeks, I went to the gym ~5 days/week and used the elliptical machine for 30-45 minutes. I credit the exercise for my relatively easy labor/delivery!
This time I'm not in as good of shape as I was before, so I'm doing more walking, though I do try to make it to the gym when I can...my biggest reason for skipping the gym most days is actually that DD doesn't like being in the daycare there!

[pinksprklybarefoot]

I do fitness yoga twice a week, and I was running up until a couple of weeks ago. I've only been back at running since the summer, though, so I think that I will make a permanent switch to the elliptical machine. For some reason, running during pregnancy makes me uncomfortable. I know many women do it, but it is just not for me.

[sarahlynn83]

I have been walking on an eliptical machine at the gym three to four times a day. I am diabetic and in order to not have to go on insulin shots, I plan on keep that routine to keep my blood sugars down. So far it is working. Plus I gain weight very easily and I am hoping that this will help with gaining so much weight.

[curious&eager]

In What to Expect When You're Expecting, they say if you've jogged before being pregnant you can keep it up up to two miles a day if you are fit. I'm not a big runner. I have done a couple 10ks. But, I'm not too interested. So I don't plan on running.
But, I love to dance and I do plan on keeping that up. I have a performance in two weeks and I really want to dance a recital when I'm seven months. It is barely in it's planning stages, but the song will be about pregnancy as a precious moment in life. They'll keep the steps easy for me. I know I won't be leaping across the floor with a big belly, but I should be able to do all the on the floor stuff I hope.
Tomorrow I am riding my bike to and from work. It's just 2.5 miles one way. I like riding more than running. I think I'd keep that up until the people in the cars start giving me hateful looks, "Why is a pregnant lady riding a bike?"
Basically, I've been itching to exercise. I got a bit busy too and slacked off. But, everything feels better after working out. Have fun exercising!

[ATruck]

I have a hard time making time for exercise with a clingy toddler. With my first pregnancy, I had been going to the gym religiously, but we moved in the first trimester. I didn't join a gym in our new city and just walked a lot every day, did prenatal yoga twice a week, and swam. This really helped with labor!

I do still walk a fair bit (and I wear my 30 pound toddler on my back, which is pretty good exercise). I try to go to yoga 3 times a week, but some weeks only make it twice. Honestly, I would love to do more, but DD has such a hard time.

My mw advised against running and biking last time, but she was pretty opinionated. I am excited to have a different mw this time around!

[treehugger75]

My exercise routine is pretty tough. It consists of stealthily raiding my kids' Trick Or Treat bags, opening wrappers, lifting the candy to my mouth and chewing.

[Reha]

I was running 5 days a week during the summer, and stopped mid-September when we went on a vacation. I hadn't gotten back into the routine since we've been back, but now that I'm pregnant, I'm going to try to pick it back up again. I went yesterday for my first run!

FWIW, I don't believe that running will weaken your pelvic floor.

[*violet*]

Originally Posted by treehugger75

My exercise routine is pretty tough. It consists of stealthily raiding my kids' Trick Or Treat bags, opening wrappers, lifting the candy to my mouth and chewing.

laughup

[pinksprklybarefoot]

Originally Posted by treehugger75

My exercise routine is pretty tough. It consists of stealthily raiding my kids' Trick Or Treat bags, opening wrappers, lifting the candy to my mouth and chewing.

I just laughed so hard at this, DS just toddled over to see what was so funny.

[mangofandango]

I'm doing yoga once a week, and my mild physical therapy exercises (things to strengthen very specific muscle groups). I'm also trying to take walks. But I feel like I really need to step it up - maybe swimming (is chlorine okay?) or doing some gentle aerobics at home with my exercise ball (if running isn't ideal, how about bouncing?)

[lindsayjean]

i have actually lectured college students about exercise and pregnancy... it is what I did my senior colloquy on in college (my degrees are in Exercise Science). I am currently just working about 14 hrs a week as a personal trainer and plan to stay active just like last pregnancy. My last pregnancy I bounced back from VERY quickly and my labor was short and relatively easy and I attribue that to exercise FOR SURE.
I plan to do yoga once a week in addition to my normal routine, which I will modify by doing nothing on my back once I hit the 2nd trimester. Other than that, I just listen to my body and slow down when needed, but mostly do what I had been doing. There are sooooo many benefits to exercising during pregnancy!!!

[sdmomma]

I did a lot of walking with my last pregnancy. With this pregnancy, I am going to add water aerobics at the gym once my morning sickness is under control. I think I read that you should not let your heart rate get above 140bpm and to not lay on your back after 16 weeks.

[KimProbable]

My plan is to run twice a week for as far into this pregnancy as I can and to incorporate doing workout DVD's and going to the gym into my schedule as I can. I was running 4 or 5 days a week this summer and did a half-marathon so I feel quite confident continuing with running. My biggest problem so far has been mustering up the enthusiasm with how tired I've been!

[Viriditas]

Right now I'm not allowed to exercise and it's driving me crazy! But as soon as I'm cleared I will start yoga again as well as hiking. I also want to do some pregnancy-friendly weight training or something this time, as I think I really would have benefited from having more muscle tone during my last labor. I strained a lot of muscles and my body was SO sore after ds's birth.

[bananababies]

I didn't exercise with my first pregnancy and I ended up with sciatica and lower back problems that required physical therapy. I'm hoping that this time I'll be able to avoid those with a regular exercise routine. I went to the gym today for the first time in almost a month! My dd and I had been sick for about 3 weeks - today we're finally feeling better. So we went and I did 30 min on the elliptical. I'll probably do that a few times a week, and do a prenatal workout at home the others. I love yoga, and I think I have a prenatal yoga video stashed somewhere (who knows where though, like I said I didn't work out last pregnancy!!).