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Original poster

Support thread for people trying to exercise while pregnant

30 replies

fitzbilly · 10/04/2016 08:21

Hi, I'm fifteen weeks pregnant and really want to keep on being fit and active during pregnancy, so thought I'd start a thread for others to join to to help keep us all motivated and share tips.

I am a runner and have been trying to keep that up but am going much slower than usual, park run gets slower by about a minute per week, I did it in 32:30 yesterday.

I am also a climber but won't keep that up once the belt gets in the way, and surfing is now out of the questionSad

Today I am doing a ten k race, I am not going to focus on time at all, instead monitoring my heart and keeping it below 165 as recommended by my midwife.

What are other people doing? Share here to keep us all motivated! I am finding it a bit hard losing my running when all my friends seem to be getting PBs, and I have to have a stern word with myself and remind myself I have a baby in there.

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Woody096 · 02/05/2016 20:48

I am going to keep going for as long as possible. I am going to add yoga and swimming as my pregnancy progresses and if all goes well I Will continue the weight resistance work xx

Georgina4 · 02/05/2016 08:49

Just wondered how far are ppl planning to keep exercising until? Right up to 9 months or perhaps try a lighter form of exercise like swimming at that point?

Original poster
fitzbilly · 26/04/2016 22:37

Welcome Georgina!

Glad you have found us and yea there is no reason not to keep up exercise just because you're pregnant.

Some of my colleagues were shocked that I haven't just stopped running, but my midwife said it can actually be more harmful to stop is toy are used to it, for mental reasons as well as physical.

I got out and did my three miles this evening, it was cold!

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Georgina4 · 26/04/2016 19:47

So glad I saw this thread. Ppl keep thinking I'm mad keeping up the gym but just bc ur pregnant doesn't mean you stop everything. I've been doing body pump, body vive and cardio gym classes. I've dropped to lower weights and found it fine. Actually feel better/ more energy to have kept it up With sit ups my class instructor has just said do planks if that helps!

Original poster
fitzbilly · 26/04/2016 19:37

Welcome woody! Glad you are still going to the gym! I don't know about airfield exercises to recommend though.

Last week I went climbing on Monday and Sally dislocated my shoulder, but it popped right back in so it wasn't a bad dislocation.

I then ran on Tuesday and Wednesday but kept getting a karting pain in my shoulder, so rated Thursday and Friday, then for mile run on Saturday was OK, dislocated my shoulder again later on Saturday in a changing room while trying in maternity clothes, but this time after popping back the pain went, so wonder if something was trapped? Sunday I went for a long 6 mile run and there was no pain so that's good!

No more climbing for me though now, after that scare.

I'm psyching myself up to go for a3 mile run now...

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Woody096 · 23/04/2016 21:24

Hi Ladies
May I join?
I am 11+5. (First pregnancy) I have been working out with a PT once a week for about a year before falling pregnant, plus training on my own 3 X per week. I really worked hard on strength training. Since being pregnant I have made it to the gym 1-2 per week and used much lighter weights.

I also haves young dog, he has just turned one, so we normally do a 2-3 mile walk everyday.

I really want to maintain the gym work, even when feeling utterly rubbish I found it has perked me up. I am really looking for tips on what exercises I should definitely avoid & any recommendations/tips for preg-friendly exercises. Sadly I am a rubbish runner, it does nothing for my hips 🙄

laracroft2001 · 20/04/2016 07:02

Yes planks will be good in a few weeks- problem is as I'm still in an air cast with the Achilles injury , it's really awkward and need to be careful. One legged planks it is!!

TriJo · 19/04/2016 23:41

You're not on your back for planks! I was doing them until I was well into the 3rd trimester.

laracroft2001 · 19/04/2016 16:12

40 mins on the bike and some weights today

Can I still do ab work? I have stopped as I know lying on back exercises aren't recommended in pregnancy but there must be something I can do?

Original poster
fitzbilly · 17/04/2016 18:56

Yeah park run is at least one thing I know I'll always do, as we do it as a family so I'll at least keep that up!

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Original poster
fitzbilly · 17/04/2016 18:49

Welcome laracroft and so sorry to hear about your injury, that sucks Sad

At least you are keeping up your upper body work, you'll be back running in no time even if it is slower than usual!

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mumwhoruns · 17/04/2016 17:31

Great exercising all round!! Love parkrun too.

laracroft2001 · 17/04/2016 16:36

Hello

Hope I can join. Am around 8 weeks pregnant but also 6 weeks into a ruptured Achilles injury AngryAngry

A normal week sees me running/cycling over 50k plus weights /stepper and a lot of walking.

So bloody frustrating the last few weeks and knowing I won't necessarily be able to get back to normal until after child is also so demotivating

However have kept up the upper body stuff for the whole time -weights and arm cycle- and in last two weeks have started using the bike with my air cast on.

Hopefully can start swimming next week, but I am at least 6 weeks away from running!! SadSad

Last pregnancy was in the gym up til 3 days before birth- hoping I can do the same this time!!!

Congratulations to everyone!!

Original poster
fitzbilly · 17/04/2016 16:25

Wow trijo!!! That is epic.

Park run in 27 minutes when you were 25 weeks is very impressive! I am already allowing down to over thirty minutes!

I did a very hilly very muddy ten k race today in an hour and ten minutes. It was extremely muddy though, so had to be very careful not to slip.

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TriJo · 16/04/2016 17:23

Regarding the rowing machine - I had to stop using that at 19 weeks because it would make the baby kick like a mad thing within 3 minutes of starting on it!

TriJo · 16/04/2016 17:21

My son is nearly 3 weeks old now, but I kept exercising until past my due date. I was training for triathlons when I got pregnant, I tried to keep up training as best I could. I did an Olympic distance triathlon at 8 weeks, stopped cycling at 14 weeks because London roads are scary, ran until 25 weeks, swam until 40+5, did gym cardio (stationary bike and elliptical) and light strength work until 35 weeks and yoga until 37 weeks. Did my last Parkrun in late November at 24 weeks in around 27 minutes.

I wouldn't change a thing - in the end my son's birth was very straightforward and I've recovered very quickly. The 6 week checkup feels like an awful long way away...

Original poster
fitzbilly · 16/04/2016 15:19

At least with rowing machines you are sitting down! But maybe the bump would get in the way after a while!

Did park run this morning to in a very terrible time of 32:55. It was windy, raining and very muddy.

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mumwhoruns · 15/04/2016 19:36

Climbing sounds cool

mumwhoruns · 15/04/2016 19:36

Rowing machine? Not sure if ok to do that or not - prob not v comfy as you get rounder

Original poster
fitzbilly · 14/04/2016 22:21

So yesterday I went for a one hour session at the climbing wall which was fun, and today (after the rain stopped) I went for a very short two miles run just to get a bit of exercise.

Friday will be a rest day.

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mumwhoruns · 13/04/2016 13:40

What about those machines in the gym that are like steppers? They are low impact but give a good workout?

Original poster
fitzbilly · 13/04/2016 06:41

Fuzzy I wonder if cycling would be any good for you? Would that make your hips hurt?

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FuzzyOwl · 12/04/2016 22:44

I think running will be out of the question for me, as I already had hip pains and am only 10+3, but am definitely doing yoga and swimming for as long as possible. Any other low impact suggestions? I have a ten month old who has just started toddling, so running over her is a constant!

Original poster
fitzbilly · 12/04/2016 22:35

Mumwhoruns you are my inspiration, staying running till a few weeks before giving birth!

Yesterday I did 5k slowly after work, and today did a very short two miles just to get out of the house for a bit while the sub was out.

I do worry that I'm not doing saying to keep toned, might try some YouTube fitness workouts?

I had to battle the nausea for the first eight weeks.

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mumwhoruns · 12/04/2016 21:09

Hello I'm about to give birth (argh) but managed to stay running - actually wouldn't call it that - till couple weeks ago. I could only Manage a couple of miles really but just wanted to keep going as I felt left out!
Otherwise I swam lots and gave really got into that and done some yoga. I reckon I should have kept up more with gym stuff as I'm all wobbly now what with extra eating and not really doing much exercise. Wish I had done some toning arm and leg stuff really.
Itching to get back to exercising again.
My main issue was nausea bleurgh.