I just found out , I'm pregnant & the last week & a half or so, I've been having a difficult time at the gym. For all you that worked out during your pregnancies, did you alter your routine any? Could you step it up a bit, after you started feeling better?
I worked out with a trainer, who said it was very important to watch my heart rate. I had to keep it under a certain rate (i THINK it was under 90), and wore a heart rate monitor when I worked out. She did alter my routine compared to the non-preggos, but basically the cardio equipment didn't change, as long as I watched my heart rate.
I worked out through 2 pregnancies....keeping my old routines that I had in place (bootcamp, step aerobics, weights, kickboxing, etc....)
The first trimester is hard. You'll be tired. Working out will help, actually. But you'll have days where you need to go easy or shorter than you're used to. That's OK.
Once you start to feel better (or as you feel normal) your old intensity is just fine to maintain. Some days are better than others.
You'll need to modify some moves as you get bigger (push ups, for example), but you can sub out moves to hit the same muscle groups as you need to.
So the short answer is yes, but as little as possible. And I did push myself on tired days. Just remember...if it doesn't feel good..stop. :)
I had a hard time at around the second/third month, as my energy was really low and that's when I was the most nauseous :(
By the end of the fourth month I was usually back up to speed, and was able to work out until about the last month or so when I was just SO huge and uncomfortable!
Exercise is important though. Just do what you can do. A short or modified workout is better than no workout at all!
According to my doctor you should definitely exercise. However, you should do what your body is used to, not more.
It is really hard during the first trimester! Just do what you can, and if you feel too tired, rest. your energy will return at the beginning of the second trimester - then you can step it up a bit! I have 3 children and was most active during the last pregnancy. I am a runner and continued to run up until 3 hours before my water broke! As time went on and the baby grew, I ran slower and shorter distances, as well as less often. Do what feels comfortable - don't do anything more intensely than you did pre-pregnancy. Enjoy your pregnancy :)
Check with your doctor, but in most cases it's safe to continue with your workout AS LONG AS IT FEELS OK. If it doesn't feel comfortable, don't do it! If you've never done it before, now is not the time ot start.
I have always been a walker/runner. During my pregnancy, I continued power walking, but stopped running when my belly started to show b/c I felt unbalanced and achy after doing so. I also continued with very light weight lifting (think 5 pound hand weights), but nothing more than that. I did prenatal yoga because I had done yoga prior to becoming pregnant.
Here's the thing my doctor did tell me (aside from the above)... if you're tired, sleep. If you're hungry, have a snack. If you feel like you need to take a walk, take one. Don't force yourself to exercise on days that you are too tired. If it feels "off", stop doing it.
My girlfriend is an avid gym rat and is about 15 weeks pregnant right now. We were talking the other day b/c she has been doing her regular crunches and abdominal workout right up until this week. She stopped because it just felt "off". She listened to what her body was trying to tell her and tagged on 10 extra minutes of walking instead.
Some days I power-walked for 40 minutes because I felt great... other days I walked at a moderate pace for 30 because that's what felt OK.
As long as you feel good and don't have any medical issues, don't change a thing in terms of cardio. If you do weight machines, don't do the ones that make you bear down. I worked out my whole pregnancy and gained under 25 lbs. It was really easy getting it off because I also breastfed.
From what my docs have told me, working out while prego is totally fine, as long as you're doing what feels comfortable. Don't push yourself or do things you wouldn't normally do.
First trimester: absolutely not. I was tired, exhausted ALL the time. And Nauseous ALL the time. After about 14 weeks I started feeling better. I was still always afraid to do my usual intensity though. I chose not to run any more, just because it felt uncomfortable to me, but that's just me. I just kept it lighter with pregnancy workout DVDs (light weights, etc.) and did lots of exercises to prepare for birth - yoga stretching, squats. And I also walked a lot. I stayed in good shape and didn't gain too much weight. Congrats and good luck to you!
