Working out?(UPDATE)

I have a few questions for the PG ladies.

I am looking to rejoin a gym while TTC for a multitude of reasons but mainly for my physical as well as emotional health.I think it will be better for me as well as my future children.

I am curious to know how many of you worked out throughout your pregnancies.

I would also like to know how your workouts changed throughout your pregnancies.

Finally, if you were told to stop working out by your doctors, what were the reasons? (if not too personal - otherwise I understand)

Any information would be very helpful. Thanks.

UPDATE:
OK ladies, you all inspired me. After work today, I joined a new gym.

Some of you may know that I had been rather heavy and lost a lot of weight after gastric bypass surgery 4 and half years ago. I worked out for a 2 and a half years religiously (until family issues came up) and maintained my weight loss to date, but havent been FEELING strong. I needed to clear my head and find a healthy way to de-stress which can only help us with TTC. To make a long story short, the thought of gaining weight back TERRIFIES me. While I know weight gain during pregnancy is inevitable, I want to be able to lose it as quickly as possible after a pregnancy. I just can't go back to the way I lived before. I need to make healthy choices for myself, for my DH and for my future children - which was a reason for me having surgery in the first place.

Again, thanks for the information and I look forward to maternity yoga pants some day!

Message edited 2/28/2007 7:23:16 PM.

Re: Working out?

Honestly, I don't work out at all. I am too tired. I try to walk in my office building but that's not much.

I don't have the energy, I get tired quickly, I don't feel like it.

Re: Working out?

I have an elliptical machine at home and I use it 3 times per week. I am trying to stay active.

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I was a huge gym buff before pg, it's awesome you want to get healthier

When i got pg, i was so wiped out and exhausted, the gym took a backseat, but I did walk alot, I would take walks 4-5 times a week, i continued that after i had the baby. I think that's what helped me to shed the 50+ lbs i gained so fast.

Doc took me out of work to part time at 26 weeks pg because of pre term contractions, i was on partial bedrest and pelvic rest and on meds cause of it. My walking was put on hold until 36 weeks.

i have read though and was told if you are active pre pg you can continue as long as you are comfy, you just need ot modify things a little bit as you get bigger with pg.

Good luck! Kudos to you

Re: Working out?

i kept going to my cardio kickboxing class until i was 37 weeks and then i only stopped because DH was away and home and i didn't want to tkae any chances. But now at 39 weeks i feel gross from not working out.

Dr. said whatever I was doing before the pregnancy i could keep doing because my body was used to it. I wore a heart monitor during my workouts too.

I cut out jumping jacks and any kind of jumping from the routines.

Re: Working out?

I worked out before and through my whole pregnancy so far. Mostly I'm on the treadmill and free weights. As my pg progressed, I had to slow it down while walking and now I'm going pretty slow or I get out of breath. I also took down the weight from using 10-15's to 5-8's and I don't do and overhead lifting anymore. I still have a couple cardio DVDs that I can do without a problem, but I just can't do stuff like Tae Bo anymore and the jumping is uncomfortable.

Message edited 2/28/2007 8:59:43 AM.

Re: Working out?

Leslie, my doctor told me I could continue to work out without raising my heart rate above 140. I work out at home every day for 30 minutes using my machine (Gazelle - a low impact elliptical). I stretch and do squats without overdoing it. I feel so much better after my daily workout and I have definitely regained a lot of my energy back.

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FOr now, I am not allowed to do much- would love to start doing some hand weights and treadmill( walking)

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I stopped working out when I got my BFP b/c I was exhausted. I was looking forward to starting again in the 2nd tri, but my placenta previa prevents me from doing anything other than walking (no lifting & no squatting/bending)

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I worked out normally (3x a week with weights and kickboxing) while TTC. Once I got pregnant I found that I was really tired and while I still workout I definitely don't do it as frequently or with the intensity that I used to....I just don't have the energy.

I bought some prenatal pilates tapes that I use, and DH just bought an elliptical machine that I have started using, but I have never belonged to a gym.

Re: Working out?

Hi Leslie! I worked out religiously before becoming pg. Mostly I was running or doing HIIT for cardio and a weight routine for toning. Since getting PG, I was put on restricted activity a few times, most recently because of a low-lying placenta and a car accident. Before the accident, I was walking every day on my treadmill and doing stretching exercises. I still stretch now but I rely on my physical therapy exercises the most.

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I wasn't a gym rat for years and years but I was working out regularly (moderate exercise... mostly yoga, hikes, some small weights) before I got pg. I thought it could only help.

Once I became pg, I was labeled high risk for a multitude of reasons, mostly because of multiples (all multiple pregnancies are considered high risk). My RE had some concerns very early on so I was urged to severely curb my activities.

to you

Re: Working out?

Before I started TTC I was running around 3 times a week (some weeks more or less) - about 2-3 miles and sometimes HIIT. I also did Pilates a few times a week.

After TTC and getting PG I stopped running (on my own) and pilates (dr.'s orders unless pre-natal). I started walking 30 min about 3X per week. Then I started feleling very sick and exhausted so I stopped exercising entirely for a few weeks.

Basically my dr. said I could continue doing whatever exercise I was doing consistently for at least 3 mo's b/f getting pg EXCEPT - no abs of any kind including pilates and I should not get my heart rate over a certain amount. I stopped running only because I just didn't feel comfortable doing so.

Now I am getting back into a walking routine and I plan to do some arms but this is it for me.

Good Luck

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I was swimming 3x per week, about 2/3 of a mile each time. I did this until about week 10 when exhaustion told me to stop. Now I'm at week 14 and I'm waiting for the exhaustion to pass so I can go back.

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Leslie, b4 I got pregnant I was going to the gym 5 days a week (about an hour a day or so). Yet b4 I even knew I was pregnant I began getting so tired that I could barely drive home the hour + 1/2 from work keeping my eyes open, let alone go to the gym. I attempted to go when I did feel okay, but just found myself doing the treadmill (fast walking) or the elliptical.

Due to some spotting around the 9 week my dr. told me to stop going for a week or so & so I did. Then when I could have gone back I was so tired that I didn't have the energy.

Although I have my energy back now, I decided to just go walking w/ DH. Also after the 20th wk its not recommended to do any exercise where you lie on your back. Also if you are lifting weights, make sure the weights are not too heavy.

Good luck!

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Thank you so much for your informative and thorough answers. I think working out will help clear my head before during and after a pregnancy. I just wanted to be able to maintain an exercise regimen as long as I can barring any medical issues that may arise.

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I worked out throughout my entire pregnancy. I did the same workout that I always did, except I lifted lighter weights the further along I got. I also wore my HR monitor.
I always felt like everyone at the gym was staring at me though! Like they were thinking, "Egads! What is that crazy pregnant woman doing lifting weights!!!"
But you know what, after giving birth I only had 15 lbs to lose, and it came off pretty quickly

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I started working out with a new trainer about a month before i found out I was PG and i still continue to go now that i am pg...she just changed the intensity level of our workouts. I was very tired throughout my first trimester, but i forced myself to go and i think thats why i didnt get any m/s...

tonight im taking my first prenatal yoga class - im so excited about that!!!

Re: Working out?(UPDATE)

BUMP

Re: Working out?(UPDATE)

I taught dance through pretty much my whole pregnancy. I was about 5 months at the begining of summer, so I was off from mid-June to September. During that time I would go to the gym and walk 2 miles. I returned to teaching in September and taught dance until the day before my induction. I also went back to dancing 3 weeks after I delivered.

Re: Working out?(UPDATE)

i havent done any exercise whatsoever since i got my BFP....i've just been too tired...One of these days i'm going to get on my treadmill again

Re: Working out?(UPDATE)

Hey Leslie -

Looks like you made your decision - which is awesome!!!

Before I got pregnant, I worked out a LOT - and I attribute it to being part of my healthy lifestyle, and possibly why I conceived so easily - but everyone is different.

I continued to work out in my 1st tri - obviously, before I found out, and after I found out. However, I did stop for several reasons:

1. The morning sickness was so bad, I could not get thru a workout without stopping to puke

2. I was so undernourished from m/s, that I had no energy to get thru the day, let alone work out on top of it

3. I was losing so much weight from m/s

4. When I began to feel better, I spoke with my kickboxing gym about not coming, but continuing to pay, and then getting the credit after I had the baby - this way, I knew I could come back and work off the baby weight, and not be paying for half-a$$ed workouts during my pregnancy. I feel I am pretty active during the day, and do enough where I am getting enough exercise for now....

some days I'm so exhausted, the thought of working out makes me laugh. I know I will need that workout time after the baby is born for many many different reasons as well....