wait, you’re pregnant and exercising?
Since getting pregnant I have realized that everyone gives you advice…even if you don’t want it. 
Pregnancy is definitely a strange time in life and there are LOTS of changes, but the important thing to remember is that it is SO different for everyone, so sometimes the advice you get may be coming from someone who had a totally different experience than you are having. I get comments almost daily asking me when I am going to stop exercising and telling me that I am over-doing it and I am going to hurt my baby and those comments always make me sigh…and then laugh. I am going to workout as long as my doctor says it’s ok. If I have to stop next week because of complications, I will…if I can go until the day I give birth…I most definitely will!
Exercise is one of the BEST things you can do for your body, pregnant or not. Before I got pregnant I would do EXTREMELY intense workouts about 4 days a week and then 2 days taking it a bit easier and 1 day totally resting. When I got pregnant my intense, intense workouts obviously had to change in order to keep my heart rate from soaring through the roof, but I am most DEFINITELY still exercising. I (obviously) asked my doctor what I could and could not do and he said to continue doing what I was doing – just to monitor my heart rate and to be sure I am not so out of breath that I cannot carry a conversation. He actually said, “the worst thing you could do in regards to exercise is to stop exercising. I need you to keep exercising.” I can still teach my classes, lift weights, run, and do pretty much anything…as long as my body feels good. One of the worst things I could have done for myself or my baby would have been to STOP working out when I got pregnant – that would have caused me to quickly put on weight and lose all of my muscle and endurance. Obviously if there is a complication or my doctor tells me to stop, I will most definitely stop, but until then…I am gonna keep on keepin’ on!
I want to encourage other active pregnant women out there (or women wanting to get pregnant) – keep working out if your doctor says it’s ok. It’s SO good for you AND your baby and probably your husband if you are like me and turn into a witch when you don’t exercise! 
Yes, you are probably more tired that you have ever been in your life and the couch looks much better than the gym, but get 5 minutes into it and your energy will SOAR. I find on days I don’t exercise I am lethargic and my heartburn goes crazy!
Here are some ideas for exercise while pregnant:
- lifting weights (as you get further along, things like heavy dead lifts, etc might not be the best idea due to balance and risk of lower back injury). Nervous about using weights? Go for resistance bands – same effect!
- Cardio Classes/Videos – lay off the crazy jumps and modify them to what is comfortable for your body. I am still doing Turbo Kick and Turbo Fire and modifying the things I need to modify
- Swimming – always a good one! I have been swimming and it feels awesome!
- Running/Walking – when running gets uncomfortable, switch to brisk walking! You actually burn the same amount of calories walking 5 miles as you do running 5 miles
- Prenatal Yoga (lots of DVD available)
**ALWAYS check with your doctor on his/her recommendations on your exercise levels, and it is especially important to listen to your body!!**
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