Anyone still exercising?

[BelliniButterfly]

Just wondering who is still a managing regular exercise and how long you are planning to keep up your regime?

I'm 32 weeks and still doing 4 body pump classes, 1 metafit and 4 functional training classes per week roughly. Sometimes a little less bit not more depending on how I'm feeling. Obviously have had to modify some exercises.

I'm still feeling pretty good and hoping to exercise as long as I can but wondering how feasible it's likely to be as the weeks fly by at this stage!

[Honeybee79]

Me! 29 weeks and doing about 4 dance classes a week (Zumba, contemporary dance) plus a weekly swim. Love it and will go on until midwife tells me to stop/I feel I want to stop. Ideally I will carry on until about 38 weeks (as I did when pregnant with DS) but will stop earlier if it's starting to get too much.

[Sugarcoma]

Ah I wanted to start a thread about this! I had a very good gym regime going (30 mins cardio, 30 mins weights every other day) until I got pregnant and the fatigue and nausea have meant I haven't been at all in two months. I want to start up again soon but worry about doing anything too taxing...

[Squtternutbosch]

Me! 33+1 and although I haven't been since Thursday, I've been doing a pretty good job of keeping up with my exercise. Cardio, weights, core, yoga, a bit of swimming - I've got a bad back now so I should start swimming more but I find it really boring so motivation's been low!

I am still working 60 hour weeks so I haven't had as much time as I'd like. Still, with all the time in the world I can't imagine doing 9 classes per week. More power to you. Ooh I'd love to start doing Pump again, I haven't been for ages. How much have you had to modify?

[BelliniButterfly]

@squtternutbosch the only modifications I've had to make in pump is to make sure my bench is at an incline and not flat for the chest and tricep tracks. I don't take part in the core exercises any longer and do whatever my instructor suggests during that one but other than that everything the same. Will start to drop my weights a little soon though.

I still do everything in functional training except for planks and push ups as I feel too much pressure on my abdomen. So again it's mainly core exercise that have been modified. I sometimes take the impact out of squat jumps onto the step etc more for safety and will do them without equipment instead.

Good to know that lots of people are still going on with their regime. I'm fed up of people saying I shouldn't be doing so much at this stage. Especially when im fit and have been doing this for a long time!

[Honeybee79]

This is a great thread - so good to hear from other women who are keeping so active!

@Bellini - totally sympathise re being fed up with the comments. Pregnancy does not mean we have to stop exercising - in fact, the physical and emotional benefits of continuing to do so are huge!

[KentCat]

This is really inspiring to hear people still so active later on in pregnancy. I'm only 8 weeks but fully intend on staying active. I've booked in a session with a personal trainer at my gym to review my current programme and make plans going forward.

This post has made my day

[Bobbycatz]

I kept exercising until 35wks but had a bad few days and decided to stop, I'm 38 weeks now and wish I had kept at it for a bit longer as I feel fine now but I'm being too lazy to start the routine again. As long as your comfortable keep going, as long as you listen to your body your body will let you know when it's time to take a break.

[Squtternutbosch]

@Kentcat, good for you! Keeping active and fit has helped so much through my whole pregnancy - from keeping my energy levels up in the first trimester to making sure I haven't gained too much weight and therefore don't feel worried about having lots to lose afterwards. Which I know isn't a concern for a lot of people, but it is for me - I'm at a fair risk of PND and I think feeling overweight and unfit would really contribute to that.

This thread encouraged/cheered me up as well, I've had people 'gently' suggesting that I probably want to stop exercising, take it easy, put my feet up etc.

Bellini I had to drop my weights a while ago due to bad back and pelvic instability, but great to know that Pump can be easily modified. Ooh I'll give that a go this week, thanks for the inspiration :). I've not had any trouble yet with core stuff, as long as I'm not flat on my back - so planks, Russian twists, push ups etc have been alright. I'm a bit worried about abdominal separation though, so might start easing up there now! I have this theory that the stronger my core is, the easier labour will be, but that could be wishful thinking

Hurrah for motivated ladies - wish I'd found you lot months ago!

[Honeybee79]

@kentcat - staying active has really helped me. I suffer from depression and exercise really helps me to manage that, lifts my mood, gives me energy, helps me sleep better. The benefits are huge. You can definitely keep it up!

[Madeline29]

Loove reading this thread! I'll be 22 weeks on Saturday - Still running about 10/14 miles a week usually do the park run on Saturdays also still going to the gym every morning besides weekends. I do try to get out on my bike normally do 20 mile rides its nice & relaxing along the Tyne River.

Anyone still doing Burpees?

[MrsMKJ]

What a refreshing thread!! I am 36+2 and still doing spin twice a week, swimming X1, Pilatesx1-2 and General gym workout maybe X1. I stopped running about a week and a half ago. As I have went along I've modified what I've been doing according to what I feel comfortable with. I researched and researched and again was being told silly advice by nothing other than opinionated interfering eegits. Keep going girls, as long as you feel able and always always listen to your body. I will say I realised I was a bit naughty in spin and got a bit carried away with the atmosphere so I wear a heart rate now for my own monitoring. Other than that I have no plans to stop until I feel I need to! Girl power xx

[noodlmcdoodl]

I'm 26 weeks. I've continued cycling (usually road race but not done so since pregnant) including club time trials up until about 16 weeks (only stopped as I couldn't fit more round work). I was doing about 15-20 hours cycling a week pre and in early pregnancy but it's gradually scaled back to 7-10 as I've got more tired. I've continued with about 2 hours strength training a week. I've also added in approx 5 hours of pregnancy yoga a week (I just follow a Tara Lee DVD). I plan to start regular swimming at 30 weeks (which is when I start my maternity leave). I also ensure I walk at least 3 miles a day (I've always done that and will continue throughout pregnancy).

I'm sure it's helped me keep agile. I found cycling really alleviated the early pregnancy sickness and tiredness.

I thought I'd have had to have made adjustments to my bike (like raising stem) but not yet. I have put a rack on my training bike so I can carry everything in a pannier rather than in my pockets or a shoulder bag (for commuting) as I found it uncomfortable after about 20 weeks.

I read a brilliant book by Dr James Clapp - Exercising Through Your Pregnancy which I highly recommend. As well as exploding all the myths/ bad science/ old wives tales with his scientific research on pregnant endurance athletes like keeping your heart rate below 140, he also talks about the many benefits to pregnant women and their babies. It was a really refreshing read.

Anyone else get fedup of the comments like "you're not still cycling/ running etc are you?" I've started responding with "it's great the extra stone in weight means I can go much quicker down hill, I clocked 45mph this morning." I'm sick of being told to be careful - nobody said this before I was pregnant. I'm. Not. A. Baby. Carrying. Vessel.

[BelliniButterfly]

I'm still doing burpees without the press up as I feel too much pressure on my bump but I still do them with as much energy as I can!

Functional training is like metafit with weights so pretty intense. Planning on doing it for another couple of weeks then I will drop down to body pump and body balance for the last weeks.

I am definitely fed up with all of the comments from other people though! "Are you sure you should be doing this, you should be taking it easy, why don't you go for a walk instead" and the worst one ever is "think of your poor baby!" I'm like that is the reason why I am exercising! To stay as fit and healthy as I possibly can for my baby!

Loving this thread. Inspiring to hear of so many likeminded people who are keeping fit during pregnancy.

[ohnonotanother1]

I'm so pleased I found this thread - I've been overweight since my first pregnancy and my body really suffered, I'm 5 weeks with no2 and keen not to make the same mistake but I'm actually not sure where to start?

I will look for that book noodl - thank you - but does anyone know if it's OK to carry on with normal (ie not specific pre natal) classes? I had been doing aqua aerobics and was keen to start Pilates when I get back from hols - would these be ok? I'll speak to a PT at the gym and ask for a gym routine too, and I'm definitely going to try and do more general activity like walking.

Thanks ladies, I'm feeling inspired and a bit less like I'm going to turn into a huge immobile blob in the next 35 weeks

[user1469387123]

Love reading how active everyone is!

I enjoyed a good sweaty workout this morning after reading everyone's comments!

I'm also sick of people telling me I should be resting etc etc! Even my partner ha! I'm getting up off to the gym before he's even out of bed!! lol

[BelliniButterfly]

@ohnonotanother1 from all the research I've done and from speaking to pt's and so on it's absolutely fine to continue with whatever you were doing before you fell pregnant as long as you feel comfortable.

It's not advisable to take up a new fitness programme. Also you are aiming to maintain rather improve your current level of fitness. Check with your instructors whether there are any pregnancy specific modifications you need to make to certain exercises such as not lying on your back after 16 weeks etc.

Take care not to overheat and make sure you keep well hydrated.

Good luck!

[Summer1979]

I am a cyclist and have continued to be as I did with my last pregnancy. Only bummer is I love track cycling and the local velodrome won't let me ride there any more. Up until 16 weeks I was racing but now I have 'the bump' I feel that baby is more vulnerable if I crashed and you get lots of crashes so have knocked that on the head for now. I also was helping with track para-cycling sessions for the blind and I am banned from this too until I have given birth.

I am still commuting to and from work (30 mile round trip) which includes a cat 4 climb (very big steep hill) but I knock the intensity on the head and focus on keep up my endurance and will work on power and speed when I have had the baby.

With my last pregnancy I feel my regime made me 'fit to give birth' however I do use a cyclist social media tool called Strava to log my miles and have been publicly criticised by male cyclists who know I am pregnant saying I am putting my baby at risk - though surely being obese and unit probably does so more?

[MrsMKJ]

summer sorry you've had to listen to that bu11shit!! If you're taking things at your pace, adjusting where needed and listening to your body then how dare any eegit comment, let alone a man who will never know what it is to carry a baby. Rudeness personified. I get constant comments from my MIL especially but from many others too.."that baby will be born on a bike" / "you'll be starving your baby's Brain of oxygen" / "does that poor baby ever get to rest?!" My most favourite "that child won't know how to sleep when it's born. You'll be sorry then!" Yes.... Because I go to the gym
At 6am, my baby will never sleep. How silly of me not to realise!!!! It's so demoralising. If I was drinking and taking drugs would they say the same or quietly shuffle off to mind their own business?!? It used to really bother me at the start, and make me feel quite paranoid that I was being a bad mother, harming my unborn baby in some way. But at over 36 weeks I'm still flying, I've been super well all pregnancy as has my baby thankfully and I'm convinced exercise and my own wellbeing has a lot to do with it. Rant over! Sorry!

[MrsMKJ]

ohno just to add that if you've been doing something pre pregnancy you should be grand to continue- esp water based as your bump grows! My gym instructors have been trying to get me in the pool for a while. From what I can understand you can start new things but it needs to be very carefully guided by a personal trainer with experience, not just a certificate(!) in antenatal care. I also took up Pilates much more after getting pregnant and found the breathing and abdominal exercises fabulous - I still do them now!! Avoiding crunches at this stage but I kept going on them for as long as I was comfortable too!

[ohnonotanother1]

Thanks Bellini and mrsmkj - I'm really not that fit so it's more a case of wanting to ensure I don't become immobile again rather than improving fitness so I'm not looking for anything strenuous just to maintain my current levels. What a lovely thread, I'm so excited to get back from hols and go to the gym, which I never thought I'd say!

[MrsMKJ]

That's fab bellini! Stay confident and allow yourself time to adjust. I've allowed myself days off when I didn't feel up to it but have stayed motivated to always do a little bit at least. Trusting that it'll keep me and baby well now and labour is a great help. Enjoy getting to know your body as it changes, it's not all for the negative! And be proud! X

[MrsMKJ]

Sorry!! I meant ohno in my last post!! Baby brain.

[AyeAmarok]

32 weeks here and still running!

It's a slow jog now though, and I only do up to 5k now and do intervals of walking in it. But still feel strong because of it.

Great to read how you are all sticking with it and still enjoying it!

[Summer1979]

Thank you MrsMKJ - my favourite was the man who told me he 'stopped' his wife exercising at 1-month. I replied with makes me pleased I'm single lol (I have the gift of being unexpectedly expecting).

I think as long as you listen to your body and don't go mad surely nothing but good can come of being physically fit? I have dusted down my Nipper Sport from my son (now 7) and am looking forward to cycling my rollers and taking baby out jogging after the both (and when baby is old enough).

[Feelinghungry]

Very pleased I found this thread. As many people tend to frown or express concern when you mention exercising in pregnancy. I kept on attending british military fitness classes (lots of burpees!) till about 6/7 months with my last pregnancy then continued to jog for another month before I got uncomfortable then went down to some low impact exercise routines. I had a great pregnancy as a result no aches or pains and felt v strong throughout. I also bounced straight back into my jeans a week or so after giving birth! I've just found out in pregnant again and hoping to do the same. It's good to hear other ladies are continuing their exercise regimes.