Exercise in pregnancy, experiences please.

MrsH78
MrsH78 Posts: 46 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Ok, so I know that it is fine to exercise if you exercised before pregnancy and until recently I was. I was 3 weeks off finishing tapout xt, i'd been dogging it before i found out i was pregnant and wondered what the deal was... so (after posting on here coz i was beating myself up about not finishing what i started) i did what i could (30DS and Turbojam being the main things). Then two weeks ago, i went back to work, after the summer hols, and couldn't physically do anything after working all day. Then last week, i was all set and planned to start round 2 of Chalean Extreme and i got a sickness bug!!

This week i have begun CHX and found it really hard and spent a lot of time dizzy!! Don't know if it's because i've been off the wagon a bit or because i can't do it in pregnancy.

I have always found cardio easier than resistance so was wondering if i should drop the resistance and just do cardio?

I have not gained any weight yet and hope not to gain too much (i put on nearly 60lbs with my last pregnancy), i have lost quite a bit the last 2 years but had plateaued and wasn't at my goal when i got pregnant, so 14-25lbs is reasonable (closer to 14 would be better).

I am better motivated by a schedule and so need advice as to what people think i should do before i put one together using my existing DVD collection.

Sorry to bang on!!! just very eager to get back into it before i spend the next 7 months getting bigger again :/

Thanks

Replies

  • WeepingAngel81
    WeepingAngel81 Posts: 2,232 Member
    Walk walk walk! One of the best things you can do during pregnancy is walk. Get an exercise ball as well and sit on it periodically, especially as baby grows. I found that this helped with the pain I felt in my hips. Finally, LISTEN to your body! If it makes you dizzy don't do it. Make sure you getting plenty of the foods you need to sustain your pregnancy. Have fun!!!!
  • Jilliana22
    Jilliana22 Posts: 70
    Nothing beats the advice of your OB/GYN, but when I was pregnant two years ago my doctor told me I could continue my exercise routine up until about mid-second trimester when the belly pops. From there I was told to focus on taking in the necessary extra calories a day about 300 for a single pregnancy and not to get my heartrate up past 130-140. Lots of walking and lifting of light weights, (no lying down chest work) and you shoud be fine. My main problem was getting past the morning sickness, and nausea long enough to want to workout those first five months.
  • shawnakrebs
    shawnakrebs Posts: 50 Member
    I was in training for a Tough Mudder when I found out I was pregnant. I continued hard training, running and Tae Bo until my Tough Mudder where I was 6 weeks pregnant at the time. After I completed my Mudder I continued running and when the weather turned I started on the elyptical 30 to 40 minutes a day 5 days a week. I made sure I listened to my body. If at any time I started hurting, I slowed down or went down on the resistance. Just don't put a lot of pressure on your growing belly :).
    I watched my food intake sticking to the 1400 calories a day and with the exercise I gained a total of 30lbs. I lost 15 almost right away since I was all baby. Don't be too concerned about your weight, just don't "eat for two" :)
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    consult your doctor...you doctor will tell you exactly how much weight you are expected to gain and how much it too much and how much is not enough. Your doctor will also tell you what exercises you should and shouldn't be doing. From my wife's experience, she did some of the same stuff very early on, but that quickly changed and she was told that she could exercise, just not really vigorous effort...as she approached the end, she could do little more than walk.
  • shawnakrebs
    shawnakrebs Posts: 50 Member
    and yes....listed to your doc! Mine ok'd me to work out....he even had a woman teaching a step up class at the gym. She taught a class one morning and had the baby that afternoon. As long as your doc feels it is ok for you to work out, go for it. Mine told me no high kicks and no horses after 20 weeks.
  • MrsH78
    MrsH78 Posts: 46 Member
    Thank you everyone. My cals are still ok, was on 1600 fat burning when I got pg so have kept around same cals but added carbs as couldn't function without them - they bloat me massively but...

    Thanks again.

    Will do a mash up program of all i can manage! And will definitely listen to my body and not stress too much.

    :D x
  • Noor13
    Noor13 Posts: 964 Member
    Speak to your doctor first!

    I used to lift heavy before I fell pregnant and did HIIT for cardio

    I am currently almost 35 weeks and I am still lifting heavy 3-4 times a week, but always listen to my body and I have my doctors ok.
    I sometimes do some low impact HIIT or some kettlebell workouts for cardio, but my main focus is on lifting. Well and I walk a fair bit on a daily basis.
    And I do Yoga now and again which is great too

    Oh and I kept my calories at maintenance during pregnancy and upped about 300 cals in the third trimester. So I am eating around 2600+ kcal which lead to a weight gain of 16lbs so far.
  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
    Walk walk walk and walk some more.

    But seriously, discuss it with your ob-gyn. When I was pregnant, I read in a book somewhere not to let your heart rate get above 140bpm. My doctor told me that was nonsense and that she has had patients running well into the seventh month, and at my fitness level I could have kept running too.

    Bottom line, it varies person to person, and no book, message board, or internet forum has the right answer for you.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    If you have the energy and approval from your doctor then of course keep going.

    I've noticed at 24 weekish I have the energy of a slug and feel like I'm walking in concrete. I can only make it half way through my usual routine in the same amount of time.

    I do feel better when I move I just have to take it slow. Standing has become a problem for me now as my sciatica on my right thigh becomes numb, lol..sigh pregnancy it's just so much fun.
  • Davina_JH
    Davina_JH Posts: 473 Member

    I watched my food intake sticking to the 1400 calories a day and with the exercise I gained a total of 30lbs. I lost 15 almost right away since I was all baby. Don't be too concerned about your weight, just don't "eat for two" :)

    1400 CALORIES?!!!


    No wonder you were "all baby"

    To the OP:
    My BMR alone prior to pregnancy was in the 1600s. Seriously...Don't "eat for two", but make sure you are getting an adequate caloric intake...Something like TDEE+ 200 calories in the second trimester , 400 in the third, and 500 if you are breastfeeding. Of course, that is a guideline...make adjustments according to your specific needs.


    The dizziness: Make sure you are drinking enough water, especially when exercising (yes, you need more H20 when pregnant as well). In my first pregnancy, I always had water with me...I was surprised to find when I felt dizzy in the mornings it was because I needed to hydrate more. Also if you take vitamins that may make you dizzy, taking them at night.



    Congrats :flowerforyou:

    edit:

    If you have the energy, and it's a go with your OB or midwife, you can absolutely keep exercising. Do what feels right for you. Yoga, swimming, and walking are very beneficial, low-impact, and generally safe and recommended during pregnancy. That being said, (if it's not your first time doing it) lifting, running, and even Crossfit are all OKAY during pregnancy. Once again, if you have no complications in your pregnancy and if you are already used to doing it.
  • JDubIsShrinking
    JDubIsShrinking Posts: 207 Member
    Listen to your body - and your doctor.
    I was in serious fitness mode when I found out that I was pregnant with my second. I continued exercising through my entire pregnancy (even went to the gym the day I was in labor). If I felt like I was pushing myself too hard, I would back off. Before pregnancy, I was an aerobics class/zumba fanatic... by 25 weeks, I was pretty off balance and uncoordinated, so I ended that. By the end, it was walking on the treadmill, or taking it easy on the elliptical and weights.

    Just a warning - I was determined not to gain a billion pounds with my second pregnancy, so I continued to exercise and eat well (NOT diet - just healthy stuff) and still gained 40lbs. I swear your body does whatever the hell it wants during pregnancy.

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