What, if any, exercise are you doing?

[Annie456]

Afternoon all,
Im 6+5 and generally too tired to exercise but have had a couple of more high energy days and feel like I should so "something". I know swimming would be good but I'm not sure I have 'that much' energy, and just wondered what anyone else is doing?
I used to be really active so not sure what's safe?

just walking to the shops and wondering around is tiring enough for me! (also 6 weeks)
I keep saying I'm going to go swimming but never get round to it...

At your stage..probably just moving off the sofa would be enough for me! Dont get too stressed about what you should be doing, dont push yourself. I went to yoga every week and it was a real struggle to be honest, I had to have a sleep before going otherwise I just couldnt muster the energy. I also walked the dog for an hour a day but quite often had to have a snooze after that too! It will get better. I am approaching 17 weeks and at last am feeling more normal - Im considering an aquanatal class once a week, yoga once a week and a walk every day. I might also consider a gentle cycle every now and again...but this is a very recent development, I couldnt consider anything like this at your stage.
The only thing I would recommend is a walk in the fresh air every day if you can - it helps stave off the vit D deficiencies and for me it kept the nausea away for a bit.
x

so energy does perk up then? I don't know if i could stand being this tired for the rest of pregnancy! just reading what you're considering doing on a weekly basis has made me feel tired!

I exercising my right to be a stroppy mare.

Currently (26 weeks) between 3 and 5 bodybalance classes a week, sone treadmill walking (but that's boring!), an aquagym class and a yoga session.

At 6 weeks I was probably still doing my full exercise load, I only dropped jump around aerobics/weights when I told my instructors at the gym which was shortly after I found out (cos they told me to), dropped running for walking at 20 weeks.

I did do a disgusting amount of exercise prepregnancy though...I felt knackered but better after exercise, particularly bodybalance which us why I've replaced most of my classes with that. Used to do 2 a week or on rare occasions 3.

Everyone's different though and you definitely shouldn't push yourself if all you want to do is sleep. If I feel particularly tired I'll skip a day and not feel guilty!

Walking and swimming are fine all the way through. Cycling is okay as long as bump permits!

Running is fine to 20 weeks.

Yoga is up to your instructor, some say avoid during the first trimester, others give modified positions. Likewise pilates. Otherwise you can dk them to the end (with bump modifications!).

Step/bodypump/classes targeting abs aren't generally recommended although they can be adapted by instructors who know what they're doing. They'll err on the side of caution though, which is good.

What did you used to do?

Hi, exercise actually makes you feel less lethargic, so try and drag yourself out for some gentle exercise. Energy levels will also pick up as the weeks pass.

I swim a few times a week and cycle around Oxford when I'm out at about. I'm 24 and a bit weeks at the moment.

I also do a standard aqua-aerobics class once a week and do light exercise at the gym from time to time (exercise bike, cross trainer and walking on the treadmill).

Don't overdo it, remember to rest as well, but I figure the fitter you stay during pregnancy the better. Even if it's just a walk in the fresh air once a day.

I've continued with the exercise that I was doing pre-pregnancy, Pilates and Bodypump, just lowered the intensity levels. Had to take a break from exercising in the last few weeks due to being very busy at work, going away over Christmas/New Year and the catching a massive cold... Now I'm hoping to start again, but it'll be very gentle I think. I'm starting pregnancy yoga next week as well, looking forward to that. And I did buy Erin O'Brien's Pregnancy Fitness DVD ages ago, but still haven't tried it out...

Oh, I had to stop running/jogging, as it felt really uncomfortable and just not right...

I used to run regularly but I was told to drop it when I got pregnant, as I'd had a m/c a few months earlier. I still think this was over-cautious but I didn't want to do anything to screw things up this time.

I do yoga once a week, have just adapted my regular class as my teacher is a preggers yoga teacher too. I also swim once a week and go on nice big walks at the weekend. I'm finding now, at 26 weeks, that I am shattered after my long walks but am still managing about 7 miles for the big ones.

Swimming is really good and it doesn't feel too strenuous.

You will get more energy too, the early weeks are a slog!

I am 36 weeks and am walking on a treadmill on an incline every day for half an hour.
That's down from almost full gym sessions three times a week that I was doing until about half way through second trimester. Gradually you need to reduce it because you have to watch your heart rate so you don't starve the baby of oxygen.
I too was knackered in first trimester but it passed and I felt really good in the second. In fact I was running around doing Christmas shopping and going to parties well into third trimester without feeling worn out.
Am 36 weeks now and am starting to get tired again but making myself do the walking.
I keep thinking about the physical effort that will be required for the birth, having some fitness will help.

OMG Frak you're mental! (in the nicest possible way, of course!)

I've mostly been doing such exercises as changing tv channels, walking to the fridge, and then of course there's the squats I do each time I have to wee!

All the books said to continue what you used to do, but not take up anything new. I used to skateboard & surf a bit, but that all stopped right away.

Weirdly the month I found out I was pg, I had the urge to go running. I should've known something was up then!

I am 10+3 and definitely noticing that my gym sessions seem harder work - though that could just be the consequence of skiving over Christmas :) I saw a personal trainer today for some advice as I don't want to do anything 'wrong' but equally need a bit of motivation not to use it as an excuse to be lazy. He said all exercise one is used to (ie don't start anything new) is fine in first trimester, and good for you, good to battle the tiredness, etc. After that he said supine exercise (e.g abs work lying on one's back) is out, everything else depends how you feel. He suggested to me doing interval training - ie short bursts at higher intensity and then some at lower intensity than your normal can feel easier than protracted bouts at a constant speed and have the same benefits.

Am carrying on yoga classes but have told my instructor. My norm has been 2-3 45 minute cardio sessions plus some weights/stretching per week, one yoga class plus things like walking and gardening, and I'm prob doing 10% less than previously.

I've been knackered on waking up and by about 9pm but generally ok in the day so that hasn't messed too much with exercising; think I'm really lucky there. And as Frak said it is great to have an excuse to give it a miss on particularly lethargic days!

The advice for what it's worth - it really does make you feel better (tired in a less collapsed way) doing a bit of exercise. Well actually I don't know about you, but me for sure! Good luck.

Running is fine right they way through as long as you feel comfortable, are used to it and are not suffering any medical issues which would make it unwise. Wether you have the energy or inclination is another thing altogether :)

All the extremes is one thread, brilliant! I've never been a gym bunny but was very active - lots of ab work which is now out and I used to go climbing for a few hours a week which I'm assuming is definitely out now!

My work days are spent running around London seeing clients so it tires me out a lot at the moment. I guess whatever exercise I do now will have to be new stuff - maybe I'll look for pilates and aqua classes. I'm trying to force myself to walk at lunchtimes and weekends too but I'm a bit lost without my climbing and crunches!

At your stage of pregnancy, I did regular yoga ashtanga and viniaysa flow 1.5hr per day x 6-7 days per week. I carried on with a strong practice. It really helped me to maintain high energy levels and stay on a healthy eating plan. Fortunately, I did not have any morning sickness. I also walked a lot. I purposely did not swim as my doctor said that a potential infection from the pool is quite dangerous during the 1st trimester (not to me, but to the fetus).

Now at 23 weeks, I do regular yoga twice a week, prenatal yoga twice a week and swim 3 times per week.

You must listen to your body. If you were active pre-pregnancy, there is no reason why you should stop, provided you feel okay (eg, no bleeding, nausea, etc)...

I had a rubbish first trimester and was way too tired to exercise - it made me feel worse not better. Did like the idea of swimming but was terrified of being sick in the pool!

Then around 12-14 weeks energy levels picked up big time, since then have been doing yoga 2-3 times a week and lots of walking.

Didn't really exercise much other than walking a fair bit before i was pregnant, walking less now as have moved location the work and the weather is rubbish.

I've tried unsuccessfully to find aquanatal but its a victim of council spending cuts in my borough. Still looking though i'm also interested in pregnancy yoga if i can find some in the day but not a monday nor wednesday. So if anyone in the liverpool of northwest knows please add some details.
Thanks

wii just dance-but i stop when i feel my body cant take it (i used 2 push myself and work up a sweat). i'm 5.5weeks, only got the energy 2 get back in2 it about a week ago

@Justtrying
Try these in Liverpool-
www.yogabumpsandbabies.co.uk/

Park Road Sports Centre
Monday 1030
0151 709 5395
Classes cost £2 per session. Midwife-run.

Selina

guiltily nothing from being a right gym bunny before, feeling sluggish on it, but now a walk round block at 29 weeks seems an effort...
always thought id be a yoga mum to be but no classes nearby - closest are £8.50/hr and15 miles away!

this is so obviously not my kind of thread Didn't do anything before, during and don't intend to after either really!! LOL at petalouda though as thats my kind of exercise!! Does running around after kids and keeping house count though???!!!

Hats off to those of you who do exercise i really wish i could get the bug and enjoy it.

annie
I am a climber too and after the first trimester when I couldnt muster the energy to move off the sofa I did wonder if any kind of climbing would be possible. Now I have more energy I wouldnt fit into a harness and it certainly wouldnt be safe to be falling with the strain around the waist.
Bouldering would be out too due to the extra weight and weaker ligaments.

Instead I have been doing some very light scrambling, making sure my heart rate doesnt get too high and I dont run out of fuel. I've also been going to yoga and that has kept the shoulder muscles going.

Its no substitute but just think of the fun when your bub is a few years old and you can go and buy those weeny rock shoes and mini harness!

Walking is really good for general fitness - try going places by foot rather than in the car.

Swimming is BRILLIANT especially as you approach d-day - nothing better than the feeling of that humungous wieght being supported by something else other than you. Just be warned that getting one's pregnant booty OUT the pool requires a couple of a lucozades and an energy bar.

I also bought a "Pilates in Pregnancy" DVD - all about strenghtening core muscles, and it was really gentle (as most pilates it) as it's all about slow, controlled movements. It really helps with the alignment of your body and will keep your muscles strong and working in the right way, which will help you adjust quicker once DC is born.

At 6 weeks I was still training for a half-marathon so running quite a lot although probably not as much as I would have been had I not been pregnant. Developed sciatica during the actual race itself (9 weeks) which stopped me running completely, so pretty much just had my normal walk to work (3 mile round trip), a bit of cycling and yoga until about 16 weeks when I started swimming when my ms began to ease, I now go 2-3 times a week depending on other commitments.

I'm generally quite active but found the first few weeks of pregnancy really tough tiredness wise. If you're not really sure you have enough energy for something like swimming then going for a walk would probably give you the chance to do something without having to go to too much bother. Things will get easier as pregnancy progresses and you feel like doing more.

I think I was quite lucky like some others that I didn't struggle much in the early stages. I didn't find out I was pg until I was 8 weeks. I did yoga and pilates once a week until about 24 weeks I think, then just yoga once a week till 37 weeks.

Generally the advice is to stay as active as you were beforehand, although if you're too tired or sicky don't bother. But try not to put on 3 1/2 stone like I did, it's bloody hard work to shift and yoga doesn't seem to be doing the trick!!