exercise

[mclisa]

OK, who out there is still getting themselves motivated to get up and get going? I started out late last spring trying to get off some baby weight and have gotten myself a habit/addiction of being on the treadmill 5-6 days a week. I usually walk at 4.8, but today (at 7 weeks) that was too fast for these legs and I backed down to 4.5. I would like to stay fit during this pregnancy and avoid the 60+ pound weight gain like I did with #1. I'd also like to have an easier labor so being fit hopefully will play a role in that.

Michelle

[paniscus]

I am trying to workout. I was walking/running 3.5 miles a day (more walking than running). But then about two weeks ago I twisted my knee (not running, etc.) so I have been trying to take it easy. I have cut back to just walking instead of running. Lately I have just not been interested in doing anything so I have been having a hard time getting motivated. I did walk the last 2 days but I didn't today (well, I had an appt for my knee but then they called this am to reschedule so I could have gone if I really wanted to). My neighbor is preg. (due in Dec.) and she walks everyday, rides her bike to and from school, goes hiking down by the river, goes horeseback riding, and walks to the grocery store. I am hoping she will be my inspiration!!

[NiksMom]

I've been exercising since February- low impact aerobics/walking tapes and some jazzercise thrown in. I usually exercise with my parents when I go to pick up DS- if I had to do it at home alone I know I would slack off.
I too do not want to put on a bunch of weight like the last pregnancy. I was 30 lbs. overweight when I first got pregnant and gained another 50- I had gestational diabetes and it was awful! So I was ALMOST down to my pre-before-pregnancy (before I gained to 30 lbs.) and now I'm pregnant. So I'm hoping to gain no more than 25 lbs. We'll see :eyesroll

[westernskies]

removed

[noodle4u]

Id like to focus on some specific exercises for pregnancy and birth, but alas Im lazy.
Im hoping getting outside and taking care of our menagerie will be enough, and I love yardwork.

[aja-belly]

i've been doing 'yoga for weightloss' and swimming. my heartburn has been making the yoga all but impossible lately, and it's getting too cold to swim. as the heartburn eases up (which it has been the past couple days) i can get back into the yoga. i am gonna miss the swimming though. nothing else compares to it.

aja

[mom2jack]

I went for a walk today for the first time in a few weeks. I usually walk 3 -4 miles several times a week and am going to try to keep that up. I have been super busy, but now that things have settled down I need to get going again. I gained over 60 pounds with my first pregnancy too. I REALLY don't want to do that again. It was so uncomfortable.

[paniscus]

Does anyone know anything about the tape/dvd Pilates for Pregnancy or something similar?? I haven't ever done pilates before but it seems awesome for pregnancy and birth because it focuses on the "core" muscles.

[Meli65]

You all are such an inspiration! I am so not exercising, although I know I should. I thought at the very least I'd be getting out for some long walks but it just ain't happening.

I gained 50 pounds with Miles and don't want that to happen again either -- but I was walking a lot in those days (back and forth to the train in NJ -- about two miles a day) and I think the main culprit was all the carbs I ate....

[NiksMom]

Yeah, I'm watching my carbs too- I used to eat nothing but carbs, not too many vegetables, no fruits, etc.
I'm not really cutting out carbs, but am balancing out my meals. I've incorporated salads into my diet and I actually crave them now. I'm trying to eat more fruits now too, especially since I've been SO constipated, but I'm just not a big fruit eater.

[mclisa]

I've also looked into the local fitness center. They have a water aerobics class for pg women. I love swimming and think I would like that. I'm just waiting until my appointment so that I can get a not from my doctor.
Michelle

[Karennnnn]

My first pregnancy... I gained almost 40 pounds and didn't exercise. I began to because I was given a membership when I was first pregnant. I went twice and never went back!! I paid for it too. I can't believe how I looked when I was pregnant. Obviously you need to gain weight but sometimes too much is too much for certain people. For me 40 pounds was way too much.
Second pregnancy. I didn't formally exercise but did play a little bit of tennis here and there and had to walk up 3 flights of steps every day to our apartment. I don't know that my eating habits were different but I gained between 25 and 30. Do you factor in the 5 pounds that you lose in the first tri??? :)
My advice is to do SOMETHING. Not necessarily anything formal, but remain active. Do the stuff your'e supposed to do like taking the steps, walking when you can, etc. It makes a huge difference.
I had wanted to lose 10 pounds before getting pregnant as an experiment because when my son was born (2nd baby==1st wasn't breastfed because it was a surrogacy), I lost all of my pregnancy weight within two weeks. Maybe I didn't gain enough eh? However he gained a pound per week himself until he was 2 months old, then it tapered off.
Within that first year I lost another 10 pounds without doing anything. I was one of the lucky boobie moms who lost weight and I was thanking God every day let me tell you!!!
So I thought this time let me lose some weight prior to and see if I ever get to know what it's like to be skinny lol ;) Silly I know but who hasn't thought about it?
Take care,
Karen

[Awaken]

I am usually a big exerciser (although NOT sporty or any kind of extreme fitness buff- I just like to get out and move)- I am doing waaayyy less this pregnancy, because of having a toddler in tow, and since I am working much less I can't really afford the gym anymore. I was going to the gym 3-4 x per week and weight lifting till my 8th month last time and going on long walks with my dogs.

Now that is a joke- I do take a lot of walks with my son- I make a point to do that since it's basically ALL I do for exercise! I do have some good workout tapes I used to do when he was napping, but now I nap when he does so that isn't happening! I also signed up for yoga on Sat. mornings before I knew I was pg so that has been great, and I'll sign up for pregnancy yoga next semester, which I did last time- the instructor is a doula and hynobirthing instructor so it was a tremendously helpful class. I try to do exercises at night when I'm watching tv but that is not happening as often as I'd like!

I did lose all the weight after having my son but lost a lot of flexibility and I'm so much flabbier. I never did build up those big arm muscles they say you do from lifting your baby all the time!

I, too, wish we had a treadmill or eliptical trainer here- but maybe I'd never use it, who knows.