Roll up, roll up: it's the ante-natal fitness motivation club. All welcome

[sputnik]

Some of us on the June thread wanted to get together and give each other some support and motivation for a bit of exercise in pregnancy, and, not wanting to disturb others on our thread who just wanted to chill out in peace, thanks, thought it'd be a good idea to set up a new thread for everyone on the ante-natal threads, all welcome.

We're not talking marathon training or anything here, but it would be great to have a place where we could share our experiences of exercise in all stages of pregnancy, swap tips and links, and gently motivate each other when we might be flagging a bit. I for one am in serious need of it, having spent xmas doing nothing more strenuous than chewing on quality streets.

So, who's up for it?

[mummyjx]

Thinking I might be around 26 weeks (am not good at this counting business - will tell you when it arrives!)
Today I am feeling like a big fat Flump that does not walk or even waddle but moves in a shuffling manner - perhaps the Flumps had feet? I'm not sure about that either.
Did not walk yesterday. Was supposed to be picnicking in forestry with parents, sister and various relative children to celebrate mothers day (DH being at work cooking for other mothers), but could not motivate rest of family so therefore followed their lead and spent another Sunday drinking tea on the sofa thinking it was cold!
DH took me to shopping centre today to amble around in the relative warmth.
I need greeness and hills and fresh air and trees etc(not so much the hills actually), but I don't walk particularly briskly I have to admit. Still at toddler pace, but that's how fast toddlers go isn't it!
At least we are all healthy and happy.
Hope to be more smug next week!!!

[sputnik]

Maybe not but I can sympathise 100%. Try as I might I cannot manage a brisk walk anymore. I hate walking slowly. Anyway, you're doing fab just managing doing anything on a regular basis, I think that's the main thing. If you stop you get really creaky, that's what happened to me

I've managed to get in a fair bit of walking this week and some stretching toning kind of stuff and slowly feeling better.

[TALLULAHBELLE]

Since last posted have managed to go to aqua natal once, sadly just never seem to have energy for dance class. Have managed to keep up yoga once a week though. Feeling like I'll never get fit again, get puffed just walking to work and it's only 10 min away ( though now it takes me 20). Sorry, none of that very motivational is it .

[sputnik]

Hi Mummyjx, great to hear that you're keeping up the walking. I'm 25 weeks now, you're a bit further on, aren't you?

[mummyjx]

Am glad u r back sputnik. Hope you feel better. Was beginning to think I was only pregnant person left on planet and everyone else was happily cuddling babies!
Have not done a lot either - so tired. Did decorate the hallway as got tired of waiting for DH to do it. Took some energy too. Have walked in the forestry nearly every weekend. Did not go last Sunday and really missed it and felt so lethergic on Sunday evening. Will not miss it out again unless the promised snow comes (surely not now?)
Walked on the beach today, lovely weather, and up the cliff path to the park, so felt justified in having fish and chips for tea!
How much longer do you have left?

[sputnik]

Is it time we revived this thread?
I had a horrendous few weeks with cold followed by sinus infection, couldn't do anything.
Finally feeling better and have got in a good bit of walking and some gentle stretching, but I am so out of shape it's quite hard going. Hope it'll start getting easier soon.

[TALLULAHBELLE]

Full of good intentions this week. Mon-yoga- check. Tues - dance class - well, got home, got ready,just time for quick update from Mumsnet -got totally engrossed in Victorian thread, next thing I know class started 5 mins ago. Gave up for the rest of the week.

Sputnik - hope cold better soon.

[sputnik]

Sorry to hear that Tallulah. Still suffering with a really bad cold here. I thought a walk would clear my head but ended up feeling awful. Not doing very well here, are we.

[TALLULAHBELLE]

Yeah, you were right about overdoing it. I was too knacked to go to dance class on Tues, ended up lying on couch, being violently sick and going to bed at 9 o'clock. And I was on holiday too .

Haven't tried anything else since but will be back at yoga on Sat.

[sputnik]

Sounds like you're making up for lost time Don't overdo it will you.
Personally I'm feeling like the dog's breakfast due to a cold, lack of sleep etc, so not up to much this week myself. Hopefully will be back on track soon.

[TALLULAHBELLE]

Yay - went to yoga AND aqua-natal yesterday (was on hol for half term). Going to attempt dance class tonight. Then can I have the rest of the week off please?

[mytwocents]

tee hee me too hairy for swimming too, gross, think I'll go first thing then no-one else there.....
so, got the pg yoga dvd, started it but pmsl most of the way through, was filmed in the eighties with fake sun effect in studio and women in bejewelled unitards on persian carpets - the studio is white so it looks like they're floating in the air- bizarre.
Very good routine though for anyone used to a more challenging hatha yoga sequence i would recommend . It's called rajashrees pregnancy yoga.

[TALLULAHBELLE]

Happy days - have just got my online order from Mothercare and now have 3 swimming cossies to pick from. No stopping me now. Will be in that pool just as soon as get a de-fuzz. Wouldn't want all that hair to drag me down .

[sputnik]

Probably not mummyjx, but maybe a quick phone call to your MW to check would put your mind at rest.

Welcome Taichimum, nice to see you here. Shaolin kungfu, wow, I saw a performance by the Shaolin monks a few years ago, it was fantastic, can you smash bricks with your forehead then? . They also had an old guy and some women (nuns, apparently) doing tai chi as well, which was beautiful. I am confused though, what is Gigong, a form of kungfu or tai chi? Would you recommend someone who never did it before taking up tai chi while pg? This is of accademic interest for me as there are no classes round here, but are there any simple to explainmoves you could recommend for pg?

[mummyjx]

Hi all, I am humbled by your efforts in the face of my inactivity - I had a small amount of bleeding on Thursday and now feel I can't move (I seem to have imaginary pain in my tummy etc)! What do you think? I am also too exhausted to move but usually feel better after my "green therapy", surely a gentle walk wouldn't hurt?

[Taichimum]

Blooming marvelous do some good smimming cos but I have big boobs so not sure how it would work for you. I must say I found swimming brilliant in my last pg.
If anyone would like some info on Taichi I have been practicing this chinese art for several years. I also used to practice Shaolin kungfu but stopped when I was pg last time, although this was over cautious probably. However, I personally would be wary of Gigong whilst pg unless you have been practicing for a long time and have a very good teacher. My teacher says it can be physically dangerous if practiced incorrectly .
Myself and another lady in my class carried on with Taichi whilst pg. It is very good for stress and keeping your joints flexible as well as giving your body an all over gentle workout with very low risk of injury. Also very good for prevention of osteoperosis in women.
I also practiced intermediate Iyengar yoga for many years but stopped when pg as could not find a decent pg yoga class. I went to one and it was so far up its a**e it was all I could do to stop bursting out laughing or walking out. Don't get me wrong I love a spot of meditation there is a difference between exercise that includes a spiritual element and some looney tune woman talking about golden threads of light caressing your unborn child. I think there are a lot of people out there who try and cash in on the pregnancy and baby market that are fake.
Incidently does anyone know of a good preg yoga class in south east London?

[sputnik]

No more excuses now .

[sputnik]

I'm built like you and got one from Jojomamanbebe , it's 2 piece tankini with shelf support type of thing, they also have other stuff. Got it 3 years ago and never used it , hopefully it'll get an airing this time round

[TALLULAHBELLE]

Am trying to get going with this fitness malarky but still having probs getting kitted out with swimsuit. Looked on figleaves website as suggested but am usually size 8/10 and evrything seemed to start bigger. Tried Mothercare - one size 10 in whole store which altho fitted quite nicely on bump was HUGE on bust. Know this cos most folks get big boobs when pg but sad to say the titty fairy seems to have lost my address. Had same prob looking at maternity bras - lots of ranges seem to start at C cup and am nowhere near that. Guess its boring old sports bras all the way for me. Sorry am rambling. Point is does anyone know where a small chested, big bumped preggy lady can get a swimming cossie??!!

[sputnik]

I feel for you Mummyjx as, though I was at a good weight before getting pg I had just spent a year struggling to get rid of the weight from my previous pg (and a year before that failing to do so completely!). I am keen not to put it all on again but it seems that's pretty much gone out of the window already. I think just doing whatever we can is a start though, and just doing a bit of walking or whatever you can manage regularly is surely better than nothing. Hopefully we can all give each other some moral support here to keep going.

[mummyjx]

I bought some maternity knickers from a fellow mumsnetter but haven't tried them yet. I am about 19 weeks too but can't tell if I have a bump or not as SO FAT! (my tummy is harder though so maybe as I certainly don't have a six pack!) Can anyone point me in the direction of a thread on being overweight before pregnancy and trying not to become too much more so? Thanks.

[sputnik]

Good to see you are keeping it up, Mummyjx, sounds like you have some nice places for walking where you are.
I did quite a lot of walking on friday, though not more than I would normally, and ended up with all the muscles at the top of my thighs and round under my bump aching like crazy, this happened to anyone else? I'm 19 weeks but already have quite a bump. Would maternity knickers help? Didn't use them last time, had a giant elastic thing I wore for a while but that was much later on.

[mummyjx]

Hi again. Managed without the ice cream today - or fishnchips - the kids had squeezy yogurts and jaffa cakes instead(no hailstorm either, that could be divine intervention?)!. Did two miles (toddler walking. although he did run most of he way - bless him)in less than the time it took us last week to do 1+1/2 (also "reversed" my driving route to get to said forestry which was a lot less stressful - the passing places on the narrow roads were all on my side this week! Typically there was no other traffic and less cyclists so it wouldn't have been a problem if we'd done the other route anyway, for some reason I have massive issues with overtaking cyclists!- I prefer to travel BEHIND tractors as a general rule anyway). We did a much hilly-er (is that a word?) route this week, so it will probably cancel out the fact that by the time DS1&2 have gone to sleep this week I have been more interested in the sofa than the pilates dvd, although I have walked around the village (20 minutes or so with a trike with a parent handle - is that as effective as a pushchair? plus rain) almost every day this week. Surely this is better than just sitting...? Next weekend (if the weather holds of course) I have plans for a waterfall route (unless I have one of my driving phobia days and then it will be the beach, so flat but windy) so surely that should be hilly? Will have to consult the map.
How's everyone else getting on with the "proper" exercising? Is a gym ball the same as a swiss ball? (I spotted them in tesco and WANT one), what exercises can you do on them when PG?

[TALLULAHBELLE]

Was thinking more of her lights swinging dangerously and bits falling off her ceiling as I thump about above her!

Yoga tomorrow, looking forward to it, but still not managed to fit in anything energetic. Will try harder next week .

[sputnik]

Me too, to be honest, after my good start to the week, have done nothing, maybe cos the weather has been appalling and I'm used to exercising outside. Will be doing lots of walking tomorrow as I'm on my weekly trip to the big city and will be doing a bit of shopping.
Will kick you anyway, marvellous thigh toning move you know....
Tallulah, headphones maybe?