Exercise / Weight Loss During Pregnancy

Congrats on the pregnancy! I was in the same unfortunate position with my first baby (who is now 6 months old). I was about 20 pounds overweight -- no good explanation where it came from, and was exercising and still trying to lose it when I got pregnant. My doctor and all the books I read were quite strong that no dieting is allowed while pregnant, but that exercise is a wonderful thing to continue. You need to switch from running to fast walking and be careful with weights (but that doesn't mean no weightlifting at all -- small weights for toning are fine.) Talk to your doc about what they say is OK and not OK. They may want you to keep your heart rate below a certain number. Also, just ask your doc if gaining only 20 pounds or so would be ok, so long as you eat very well and keep the weight more moderate through exercise rather than calorie restriction. FYI, I ended up gaining 35 pounds anyway, but my baby was big (10 pounds) and I didn't get to exercise as much as I would have liked because I was working very hard. Good luck, and don't sweat it if you feel really heavy the last few months over your pregnancy. Everyone looks relatively huge by then anyway and its better to have a big healthy baby than to be back in your jeans a few weeks or months sooner! :)
p.s. Ignore the advice to take any kind of supplement or "mineral water". Many "natural" herbs and minerals are untested and could be harmful to your baby if taken in the strong concentrations in those kinds of products.

T.,
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D. K

Exercise definitely helps so continue it. I gained the recommended 35 pounds while pregnant and I exercised throughout the entire pregnancy; it really makes a difference!

Hi there,

I worked out through both of my pregnancies, and I was told that it was safe to maintain the same level of exercise you are accustomed to. There is certainly no need to stop it while you're pregnant unless your body tells you to. At the same time, pregnancy is no time for dieting. Eat carefully, properly and plenty would be my advice. Cravings are cravings, and we should listen to our bodies for those, but in general, try to keep healthy eating habits, as I'm sure you were doing anyway to accompany your exercise routine.

Good luck!
E. W.

Congrats! I would talk to your doctor about the exercise. As far as I know as long as you were doing this activity before getting pregnant you can continue. I have never been to Curves but from what I understand it is a combination of Cardio and weights, which shouldn't be an issue.

Good Luck!

hi, i didn't do much of a workout while i was pregnant, i tried to keep it down to little walks (i walked 15 min to and from work 3-5 times a week), but i was a cashier and had to lift many things constantly while twisting my body back and forth for 4-6 hrs those days i worked so i didn't think i needed to do much else for a work out. when i was in a gym, there was a pregnant woman there, and she looked great, wound up having the cutest, healthiest baby i've ever seen (until i had my daughter of course lol). i would speak to your dr. tell them that you're going to a gym and want to continue a work out, what do they suggest. i'm sure they can give you the limitations on what you can and can't do and at what stage of the pregnancy that you'll have to slow it down a bit more. i do know that there are classes for pilates for women in certain gyms. a friend of mine was going to join one, then she found this website and started doing something at home..got a couple of videos and stuff. but since you have a membership already, why not use it for that if it's available. here is the website. http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/159_515.asp?gclid=CMWWs...
congrats and good luck.

I did yoga on the cold days... I was never a yoga person, but for some reason loved it during pregnancy. It relaxed me and stretched me to make me feel really good. On the nicer days I walked like crazy. All the way up to the day I was induced (1 week past due date). I enjoyed walking because it wasn't rigorous, I could go at my own pace. I would usually walk the dog. I lost most of my baby wait pretty quickly (still have about five-ten lbs to go). I gained about 35 lbs, but am tall. I think in the first trimester is it okay to stick with the curves classes, but I am not sure. Congratulations on your third child!!

Tracey-

Congratulations on your pregancy! Definitely discuss excercise with your doctor. In terms of weight gain, if you try to go heavy with proteins and limit (but not exclude) carbs and sugary foods you should be okay. Stick to multi-grain and whole wheat bread/pasta rather than white flour foods. I know this is hard with pregnancy, but there are alot of lower carb ice creams and sweets that are very good (healthy choice fudgcicles are yummy)! This type of "diet" will allow you to eat enough for the baby but manage your own weight gain. I hope this is helpful!

Water aerobics is the best and safest solution. Look into your local/town recreational center or just go to any indoor pool and walk in the water. You could probably google water excercize ideas for pregnant women. I used to train women at a women's only fitness center. We kept the pregnant ones in the pool. You can do a nice variety of workouts in the water.
Good luck to you on your third! R.

Definitely keep exercing! I agree with the pp that you shouldn't do anything that you weren't doing prior to being pregnant.. (running, etc.) but lifting weights and/or stationary bike riding (i think that's what they have at curves?) should be fine. Definitely talk to your CR. to make sure he/she approves... and discuss your weight concerns. The pp is right in saying 15 is good weight gain if you were overweight to begin with... or 25-35 if at a good weight.

Eat reasonably healthy and exercise... even if WALKING is all you have the energy for it's GREAT exercise. Also, maybe look into a prenatal yoga class?

good luck!

p.s. i was overweight when pregnant with dd #1 and i don't even remember what weight I ended up...but it did take me 9 months to get back to the original weight (without really trying, but i did BF her)... I am very proud to say that I'm not 24 weeks pregnant and because I started out weighing less (in a healthy range) I have yet to even gain what I did before pregnant with DD#1!)

We do the South Beach Diet and hubby and I both successfully lost about 30 pounds. I believe the basics of the diet have helped me to only gain an appropriate amount during this pregnancy so far. If you're interested, email me and I can tell you more! Or just look South Beach Diet up for yourself!

HTH

There is a great book called Exercising Through Your Pregnancy; Runner's World recommended it back when I was pregnant with my 1st. (She is 5 now) I ran the entire first pregnancy, through most of my second, and some of my third (up to the 6 month point). The person who wrote this book did TONS of studies on women that were pregnant and the findings were really great. He studied 3 groups of women, those that never exercised, those that exercised and quit, and those that worked out the whole time.

It is a pretty technical read but very informative.

I gained 40 pounds with both pregnacies (both kids were 9 pounds but still had 30 to lose...15 comes off over the month with water loss) so that left 15 pounds. I started teaching pre-natal & deepwater running awesome!

Check your local Y or place with a pool because the water helps soo much..you feel weightless for the hour. I teach at the Wyckoff Y & the pool is 88 degrees so it's nice!

Connecting with other moms helps you, too. I started a community with the pre-natal moms...we do a fun event once a month. If you live locally (Bergen County) let me know...April 18th CPR for baby is coming & May 14th is Signing for baby. You learn something for your baby while connecting with other moms...very special time!

____@____.com

I worked out during my whole pregnancy. I ran all through the first trimester. I could only walk for the rest of the pregnancy, but I walked about 3 1/2 miles every day up till the day before I had my son!

Keep on exercising! If you have no medical condition (and pregnancy is not a medical condition) you can continue your regular exercise. I am a marathoner and though I did not run a marathon while pregnant, I continued to do moderate runs (for me and my fitness level at pregnancy) from 3 - 5 days a week. I also continued to run road races until my 8th month. If you feel like you can do it, you can.

I exercised before pregnancy and my doctor told me to keep going-just switch to low impact. My first pregnancy I gained 24 lbs. with an 8 lb. 1 1/2 oz. baby and the second time I gained 22.5 lbs. and had an 8 pound baby. I think exercising also helped me bounce back quicker. I went natural and I was walking around in the hospital the next day like almost nothing happened. As a matter of fact, I don't wear pajamas in public so I had on a big shirt and leggings and the nurse yelled at me that it wasn't visiting hours yet. Keep exercising!!

You should not exercise more than you did before pregnancy but walking is great if you weren't doing anything. So is swimming. Don't try to loose any weight. If you eat well and move just a little 25 pounds is a normal gain, 15 if very overweight. Always talk to your doctor. Best wishes in you newest adventure.

Hi!!!
I went to the gym throughout my pregnanacy. I belong to Lucille Roberts. The trainers have knowledge about exercising during pregnancy. I wore a heart monitor and continued with step aerobics, kick boxing and everything else until my 32nd week. I was just getting too big - was carrying twins. I think it helped a lot. I gained 56 lbs and lost 50 by my first ob appt. As long as the doctor says it's ok - go for it!!!

First check with your dr to make sure it's safe for you to be exercising. I know that walking is the safest and great way for both you and your unborn baby. Asd your dr to see a nutritionist. I found out early that my blood sugar was not normal and lost 25 lbs once I was on the right track with the nutritionist while I was pregnant . The abnormal weight gain comes from the combination of foods you eat and at what time you eat. I lost 25lbs gain 32lbs and was back to my normal wieght by my first OB visit delivering a 8lb baby.
You can do it.