Anyone else on a (pregnancy) health kick?

[PerpetualStudent]

I just did my first jog of 2015, and my first pregnant jog!

Not going to lie, feeling slightly exhilerated and smug, possibly more than a 1-mile trot to the shops really merits!

Im 18+5, was a regular jogger/gym-goer/cyclist before pregnancy, but morning sickness plus a complicated house move basically wiped out exercise for the 1st trimester (and then some). Now, following all guidelines to take things gently etc, Im determined to get a level of fitness ticking over, to feel primed for birth & motherhood!

Is anyone else getting back into exercise with a bump in tow?

[croon979]

I am going to try. I am almost 18 weeks and the extreme exhaustion has just about lifted...most days!

My plan is to swim lots and walk regularly. Also have an exercise bike and have signed up to pregnancy yoga which starts next week. Those are my new year resolutions anyway. Have been told by so many people how important it if to keep gently active.

[GotToBeInItToWinIt]

I'm trying to be! DD is only 13 months and I am currently 14 weeks pregnant and 1.5 stone heavier than I was before conceiving DD. I definitely don't want to be another 1.5 stone heavier after having DC2! I was guilty of being a bit lazy and overindulgent last time and determined not to fall into that trap again. Just starting to feel human again after morning sickness so determined to get back on it!

[Tryingreallyhard84]

Perpetual - you sound like me. Regular gym goer/runner/lifter before Pregnancy...then came morning sickness and it killed me. The thought of the smell of the gym...yak! I intend to go back tomorrow morning and have ordered a new swimsuit for swimming (well, obviously).

I feel that other than walking I've not done anything of note since I was about 6 weeks pregnant. My poor running shoes are feeling pretty neglected.

[Tryingreallyhard84]

However, the thought of going back to the gym and only lifting the Barbie weights is quite depressing so I might try (and I can't believe this is coming out of my mouth) Yoga/Pilates to keep the flexibility there.

[Jackiebrambles]

Oh I'd love to perpetual, I'm also feeling more energised so think it's time! It's hard to get out to exercise with work / ds but DH and I have an agreement for a Tuesday gym night for me where he gets home early and does bedtime etc.

Trying las pregnancy I carried on with the reasonably heavy weights I was doing before, mostly. I just was more careful chucking around freeweights.

[applecore0317]

Me! am coming up to 20 weeks and I wasn't able to go to the gym in December because I wasn't well, looking forward to getting back into it next week, even if it's just gentle cardio :)

[Chillyegg]

Sounds like me to! I jogged everyday before getting pregnant! Then got really bad morning sickness and eating was just too much let alone jogging ! But I've started making all the super healthy snacks upping my fruit and veg to what it was and walking everywhare!

[leanne963]

Can you all send me some of your energy?! Lol tbh I was never very active before pregnancy so didn't want to start anything out of the norm for my body but even if I'm out walking I feel like I am waddling and that the baby will just drop out ha!
Cycling sounds fun though!!

[catsofa]

I'm 24 weeks and I've very nearly reached my goal of getting the bike computer on my touring bike up to 2,500 miles before I have to stop. The handlebars are so far back that even if nothing else I will have to stop cycling when the bump gets so big it doesn't fit on the bike any more. But I'm going to keep cycling for as long as I can, since it's the easiest way to do the weekly shop and get around. May depend on the weather more than anything else, it has been really windy the last few days.

I've started going swimming most weeks with a friend but we mostly just hang around talking and stretching, and just do the occasional length. It gets me quite out of breath, I'm planning to try doing more lengths so I can get stronger before the breathlessness gets worse. Also want to be swimming twice a week instead of once, but I'm a bit worried that the pool will be really crowded for a while with New Years Resolution people, which I think I'd find dificult to deal with.

Have done 1 pilates class and hopefully starting that again next week too.

[Letmeeatcakecakecake]

Meeeeee! Well I've been really good with exersice throughout this whole pregnancy (24w) but my diets been bad so I'm trying to sort that out!

I've been doing water aerobics followed by laps 2ce a week and weight lifting 3 times a week. No need for Barbie weights!

[BanglesSpangles]

Ooh i'll join in! Im 34 weeks now and running is sadly a distant memory, but i really need to stop eating the absolute crap that ive been indulging in over christmas- i was really good pre-december, but if im not stopped, i can see myself using pregnancy as an excuse to eat utter rubbish for the next 6 weeks 'because the baby wants biscuits'

Healthy eating starts NOW!

[PerpetualStudent]

Yay - healthy pregnancy crew! How exciting. Definitely feeling inspired by all the positive health/fitness energy.

Trying - I once left a yoga class at uni because 'it wasn't like real exercise' - but I'm now googling/seriously considering pregnancy yoga - has anyone else tried/can recommend?

I used to do bodypump fairly regularly - but had a break of quite a few months before getting pregnant, so I'm loathed to start it up again at this point - Barbie weights for me!

Even walking feels like it's doing me some good though TBH - been up in the highlands with my DP's very outdoorsy family, so been dragged on various woodland hikes and definitely felt the benefit!

Bangles it's so hard eating healthy in pregnancy, isn't it? I've found with morning sickness there was about two months when I could only eat a really limited, bland, basically cheese-and-bread-based diet. I think I got a bit to used to going for the 'easy' food choice, on the basis that 'at least I'm eating something'. Now (touch wood!) the nausea is gone I need to get myself back into healthy mode. Trouble is, I think the baby's got too used to cheese!

[Tryingreallyhard84]

Haha - I don't think I could eat anymore cheese if my life depended on it. seriously cheesed out!

Jackie - will see what weights I can comfortably lift and take it from there. I do like my weighted squats.

I too am dreading going back with all the new years crowds. Still, it usually quietens down at the end of January.

[BanglesSpangles]

Ha pepetual i didnt even have the excuse of morning sickness, i fell into the age-old trap of deciding that pregnancy was a licence to eat what i fancy!

The lack of exercise is really getting to me though- ive had really bad sciatica and decided to jettison 'proper exercise' in favour of pregnancy yoga, which i agree is a bit pedestrian in comparison

[ChickenMe]

I'm trying to keep the gym going too. Its been on and off but something is better than nothing. I do the x trainer and use medicine balls. Actually I am looking forward to going to the gym post birth and using the normal heavy weights again (I might feel differently in a few months time!)

[Chillyegg]

Aqua natal classes are really good ladies if any of you can get to them I do a few lengths before and after... Makes me feel so much better

[catsofa]

Well it looks a bit too icy to cycle today, I wonder if it'll all melt by this afternoon. Most of my exercise the last few days has been from having a massive clearout of my house, which has made my back a bit achey (even though I'm not doing any heavy lifting at all). Just feel so big and awkward trying to move around, everything is harder to do that it usually is, and I still have four months of pregnancy to go!

I need to get stuff out from under the bed today, I do hope I don't get stuck under there . I am actually going to do it with my phone in my pocket just in case I need to call someone to rescue me.

There are no aquanatal classes near me but there are aqua aerobics, I'm dying to go but also a bit scared - think I'll wait until February when the class won't be so crowded.

[ClearlyOpaque]

So glad I stumbled across this thread! I went from being fairly active (running, swimming etc) before being pregnant to doing zero due to feeling so rubbish. I'm now feeling better (at 17+5) and have been berating myself for the past couple of days for being so sloth-like. After reading this read this morning, it gave the final push to get off my arse!

Went for a swim this morning and feel soooo much better for it. I surprised myself by not getting too out of breath, but only did 25 lengths, to take it easy. I stuck to my usual crawl - something at the back of my mind says that breaststroke is bad for pregnant ladies, but I need to google that to find out if it's actually true.

Had a bit of a funny turn in the supermarket afterwards, but I'm putting that down to it being warm in there and me still being wrapped up in big coat, hat etc after the 20 minute walk from the pool.

Have any of you had any weird reactions to working out whilst pregnant.

Big thanks to PerpetualStudent for starting this thread and also for saying that you've been for your first pregnant run. I'd assumed that since I haven't run at all since finding out I'm expecting it meant I shouldn't go now (I was a fairly regularly runner before).

[muddylettuce]

Was going to say yes! I have just made fat free veg soup but then I realised you're all on about actual exercise! Sadly spd means walking is no mean feat so no running for me. I do walk the dog every day...does that count?!

[PerpetualStudent]

Healthy food definitely counts too muddy! The soup sounds lovely, I've been without a kitchen for a month due to house move/renovation - can't wait for new one to be installed so I can start doing some proper/healthy cooking - pre-xmas diet of café breakfasts and takeaways haven't been kind!

Clearly I thought that RE running too - that the rule about only doing exercise you're 'already' doing meant the three month break ruled it out. But chatting to a friend of mine, who's gorgeous DD is about to have her first birthday, and she reassured me that she got back into regular, light jogging in her second trimester without issue.

I've been slack today though, after such a promising start - have managed to get myself into an awful sleep routine over the Christmas break where I can't drop off until at least gone 2am (was 4:30-ish when I finally got to sleep last night) and so couldn't drag myself out of bed until 11am - there goes morning jog!

So frustrating, I used to be a deep sleeper and early riser, but seem to have pregnancy-induced insomnia. Whenever anyone gives the inevitable "Sleep now, while you can" advice, I laugh bitterly in their face :(

[Tryingreallyhard84]

perpetual - thanks for the advice re running despite a break. I love running so my poor running shoes are feeling lonely.

back on "normal" food now. feels so good. I've got to go round the shops at lunch so I'll power round for a good walk. was going to gym tomorrow but someone has booked a meeting I need to rearrange otherwise my timings will go to pot.

loads of people are back on the wagon in the office today.

[BanglesSpangles]

its definitely so much easier to eat healthily back in the office! - No cake, crisps, cheese or naughties so far- the closest I've come to being un-virtuous is a cuppasoup!

And I went for a very pleasant walk round the park in my lunch break.

Trying/Clearly- I also had a break from running for a fair chunk of my first trimester, and got back to it- I did a similar mileage but quite a lot slower for a few weeks, but had soon built it back up to what I'd been doing pre-pregnancy, with no ill effects- As long as you're comfortable with knowing your limits, you should be fine :)

[Tryingreallyhard84]

well, I've got my gym kit ready for tomorrow. really hoping I can move my last minute meeting but invite can't, even 30 mins at the gym will be better than nothing!

My walk at lunch was a killer. living in a hilly city is all well and good til you're pregnant and you get breathless looking at said hill.

[JennyOfOldstones]

This is a great thread! I have never been super-active but built up a reasonable level of fitness with exercise DVDs prior to getting pregnant then stopped completely due to sickness. Started again around 10 weeks then stopped again for colds/Christmas! Going to start again now, half an hour walking at lunchtimes then add in a dvd next week. Would love to swim too but need a maternity swimsuit first! Great to know others are getting back into it after a break too. Good luck ladies!

[catsofa]

living in a hilly city is all well and good til you're pregnant and you get breathless looking at said hill.

OMG yes, isn't it? I cycle everywhere and since I've been pregnant I go at my normal speed downhill, nearly normal on the flat, then almost grind to a halt at the slightest suggestion of an upward slope and have to try hard to keep balanced upright because I have no momentum to keep me stable.

Went swimming this evening thanks to friend without whom I would totally have copped out. We left quite late so didn't have long to swim, but that meant I actually tried to do lengths rather than messing around floating and talking the whole time, and was impressed that I could do four lengths without stopping and without feeling too breathless. Could it be that I am (very slowly) getting better at it? I might be brave enough for the lane sessions if I thought I could do several lengths at a time without stopping!