I have always been a very athletic person - walking, running and cycling on a daily basis. Pre-pregnancy, I weighed 160 - when my first child was born in June 2007, I weighed 220, and have since dropped to 180 (everyone says those last twenty are tough!) However, now, I have recently found out I am 7 weeks pregnant with child #2 due in October. I am very worried about my weight, as I am already starting out 20 pounds heavier and gaining another 60 would not be a good thing. During my last pregnancy, I had a lot of trouble sleeping due to the extra weight and a lot of pain in my hips - I could handle it then, but with an 8month old to take care of, I dont have the ability to sit with my feet up and rest!
My upper body is not the problem - I have gained all my weight on my rear and thighs. I would appreciate any exercises you would recommend for the lower body, considering I cant do anything too strenuous. We have a pool, and I will be swimming as soon as it gets warmer. I am VERY careful about what I eat, but the weight keeps adding no matter what.
Thanks in advance for your help, my apologies on the length of the request!
I believe the old recommendation of no heart rate above 150 still applies (during pregnancy). That is still a good active heart rate. While i was pregnant i got on the Tread Climber and also the bike. I had a lower back injury and surgery, before pregnancy that prevented me from doing other trainers. Swimming, for me, was key. I wish you luck.
Good for you for wanting to be proactive with your weight gain with this pregnancy. As long as you have the OK from your doctor as having a low risk pregnancy, try to do as much aerobic exercise as you can. This is what I did and was able to maintain my weight gain at just 25 pounds. Walking your current baby everyday for 1-2 hours, or any stationary gym-type aerobic machines when your husband can watch the baby, etc. It's great for reducing stress, too. Spot training (like leg lifts, etc) for the lower body won't prevent weight gain there if that's how you are genetically put together. Plus, the full body aerobic activity firms up the rear-end and legs better than anything else. Good luck!
I found that belly dancing really helped with my low back pain. It allowed me to stretch that part of my body and helped to keep my weight under control. There is a studio in Walnut Creek that offers beginning classes on Tuesday evening. It also helped with my labor and allowed me to be active all the way to my 9th month.
M., I am no longer pregnant, but have had 3 kids. I do a lot of core exercised on the stability ball. They are great for the hips and legs, as well as strengthining
the torso. None of them are strenous. Which was amazing to me because I am used to lifting over 200 lbs when I do
squats. When you can go to one of the local book stores,
they have books on Stability ball exercises, and or books
on core exercises. Both would offer you some choices. Don't do what I did and eat fast food....it only packed on the lbs. due to the salt content.
I am due with my sixth child September 13th and have the same problem. One thing I did do was have my thyroid checked and found out I have hypothyroidism. Also, keep up the swimming, walk a lot. Do you belong to a gym? It would be good to talk to a staff member of the gym, if you do belong, and see what they recommend. Ask health professionals, sometimes they know. Also search the web, there could bevaluable informaiton on exercises on the web. I wish I could tell you more, but I am in the same boat and trying to eat right (less fat, cal, hydrogenated oils and such), but the recommended caloric intake is supposed to be 2100-2400 calories a day. A lot, huh? So, I feel your pain.
If you need a friend, email me at ____@____.com. I live in Antelope, north of Sacramento.
To add to Sydney's response...
I see you're in Carmichael... The Sunrise Park and Rec department offers beginning belly dance classes at Rusch Park. I've taken classes from the instructor, Julia, there... while I was pregnant with my first. The important thing is keeping the heart rate down (as mentioned previously).
Belly dancing is supposed to be wonderful for pregnancy!
There are other belly dance classes available in and around Sac (but I've always taken my classes from Julia), so check other Park & Rec brochures, or even the yellow pages.
Good luck to you!
