Exercise, what is safe to do?

[Lovelylace]

I am only 9 weeks pregnant but have been feeling really tired and hence not kept up my normal fitness regime at all the last two months, I have also been constantly hungry and lost my appetite for more healthy options and have (I hate to say, given in to my cravings for crap food) This have made me gain a dresssize if not more, especially around my boobs..and tummy/bum...hrrm I know that my body obviously will go through a lot of changes and trying to be on a strict diet, intensive training regime would be stupid, but there must be some exercise that is toning, calorie burning but not harmful? Swimming? Yoga? Cycling perhaps? any ideas for staying fit and healthy through pregnancy would be great!

I think the rule of thumb is to not start anything new or intense. So if you used to run regularly before the positive, then there is no reason why you can't carry on.

Swimming is always good - it's a low intensity, low impact exercise so even if you "run" the lanes.

I felt the same for the first few months and did a bit of swimming and walking but not very frequently. I'm now almost 18 weeks and my energy has come back more, I'm doing my usual jogging (but slower), longer weekend walks, swimming and planning on resuming yoga but a pregnancy version.

Don't push yourself as you may feel better in a few weeks. If you can fit in a walk at lunchtime or after work it all helps. Swimming is great, especially if you're feeling more uncomfortable with your growing size. Yoga for pregnancy is generally recommended after about 14 weeks.

I've started taking liquid iron supplements (Spatone) and that has made me feel better too.

I'm usually very healthy foodwise but it all went out the window in the first trimester. I now feel like eating good stuff again, so don't despair and just be easy on yourself! If you eat unhealthy food just try and have plenty of fruit and water and some vitamin pills for now.

Good luck and hope you feel better soon.

I stopped cycling a few weeks ago (I am 31 weeks) and really miss it. I just couldn't risk coming off and something happening to the baby (and some f*ker nicked my bike seat). But I loved cycling until then.
I've been running all the way through and felt fine. Still do, though a lot slower now obviously.
Yoga and pilates are great, though don't do what I did and carry on regardless with the core work as it can cause your abs to split. Doesn't hurt but not good for trying to get flat tummy after birth I believe.
So don't lift your neck to do crunches and in yoga don't do boat pose or deep twists.
I am a BIG fan of stayng fit while pregnant. I am not there yet obviously, but so far, I've had lots of energy and no aches or pains. It's tougher in this heat though! I feel like I am carrying a radiator around!!

ahh, that is good to know, I have to say, that I have no problem with belly and boobies growing but my thighs and arse I prefer NOT to grow at this rate ;-) But I have felt absolutely wiped out, and having horses and other animals all my energy have been going on looking after them...Have never been so tired in my life, on sunday I slept for 12 hours straight, got up did the horses and the dog and went back to bed for a nap, 2 hours after getting up..:-O But hoping that the energy levels will come back soon, meanwhile I will try to keep up the water and fruit and try to limit the crisps, pasta and toasted bread with jam...just craving sugary treats and carbs constantly..People dont get a bit funny with you swimming when pregnant, do they? I mean now I just look a bit fat, but when you obviously show that your preggers?

No one will think twice about you swimming with a bump. You might get a few smiles from other mums, but that's all.

If you are only 9 weeks I'd take it a bit easy to be honest and not worry about the size of your arse! Try to eat healthily though, and focus of having a healthy baby.

I'm 9 weeks too, and walk, swim, and do pre-natal pilates. I've given up running, and anything high impact as I've had some bleeds so need to be careful - we are all different. I'm also exhausted all the time, and could quite easily go to bed at 8.30pm!

First trimester I did the same exercise just downed the intensity a bit. and a lot less of it as I was knackered then got a pregnancy gym routine and did Pilates a couple of times a week with a bit of swimming. If arse is a problem clams and squats really good for you in pregnancy. Like other said though don't beat yourself up if you don't do much first trimester as you are so tired. I have managed to get back up to 4 times a week now, have to force myself but always feel better for it. Running is a no for me as my ligaments in my bump hurt but cardio machines fine.

If you're that tired there is no harm in just letting exercise take a bit of a back seat for a couple of weeks. I found that this really wasn't one of those times when a bit of exercise made me feel better IYKWIM, with DS I felt much better at around 15 weeks and was able to swim and I walked a lot, I would have continued running and cycling, but I had sciatica and it was during that really cold, very snowy winter so it was just to risky to get on my bike.

Lovelylace: I felt exactly the same as you for first trimester. I felt sick all the time (though wasn't actually sick) and was exhausted. I would always be planning my next nap! I had a healthy diet beforehand, but craved pasta and McDonalds of all things, so went up a dress size pretty quickly. I am now 16 weeks and feel so much better. The sickness has pretty much gone so now only feel sick when brushing my teeth and I have loads more energy. I have just started swimming which I am really enjoying and will start an antenatal yoga class on Saturday. I am now loving fresh fish, new potatoes and salad (think I still need the carbs). I still don't look pregnant, just fat with massive boobs, but tummy has really expanded so can't wear my old jeans or anything with a proper waistband, so have just ordered some maternity clothes and am living in empire length dresses and linen trousers with a drawstring waist. First trimester is really tough, especially if you aren't telling people, but I promise you it does get easier and your energy levels and healthy diet will come back. Good luck.

Complicated24...YES, that is me down to a T before pregnancy I was suuper active, I have two horses at home with no help so apart from all the mucking out and riding everyday, I was running to the gym, did boxercise and bodypump classes three times a week, spinning twice and also walking my massive Great Dane for an hour or so a day, I lived on a high protein, lean diet, and no carb intake from grain products, bread, pasta etc was a no no and no potatoes...a lean mean size 8 with a healthy body that did what was asked, heaps of energy with days starting at 5.30 and lots to do...Now..pasta, chips, toast with jam, and McDonalds..YUM, I havent had a Maccy D for 10 years before getting pregger, now I have had 4 in two weeks. :-O plus sluggish beyond beleif, I struggle to do the minimum for the horses, dont ride, and sleep for 15-16 hours a day with my naps (luckily not working at the mo, have no idea how I would have coped) and struggling to fit into anything I own, live in a couple of empire cut maxi dresses and a sarong :-p but I am still very happy to be pregnant just hoping I will be able to get a energy boost soon and will be able to start up some exercise before I balloon into something completely unrecognizable..LOL BTW does anyone else noticed a difference in their skin? I am more spotty now than I ever was as a teenager, feel a right frump...:-p thought you supposed to be blooming when preggers...

Agree with lots of what's said above, I did skipping, swimming (can't to front crawl but do a mean doggy paddle which is surprisingly good for cardio - prob not in preg though!) Short jogging, cycling 4 miles to work each day and I have played capoeira for years (not as obsessively as some!) all before pregnancy. I also started ashtanga/ forrest yoga a year before preg.

In pregnancy (now 22 weeks) the swimming has definately been the best thing to continue, apart from anything it seems to help with occasional water retention and using a kick board seems to help leg tiredness/ fitness. Plus nice and cool. I had a wobbly thyroid for a while but swimming was good as can do as little or as much as needed and quite a nice therapy too. Found the jogging by 14 weeks hurt my lower back, Capoeira fine if just doing the turns, squats and kicks but didn't play other people.(currently can't be arsed to go!) Definately no core work and it hit me pretty suddenly why as you do begin to get tweaks quite soon. Carried on the yoga class as ok by teachers who are excellent, strictly no core from 4 weeks but lots of leg stuff which has been great, and supplemented with preggo yoga but i do find it a bit dull. (horse against the wall is fab).

still cycling when I can but its pretty safe round me with lots of cycle paths. ( I wish there was a baby on board sign you could stick on some how - tabbard?!)

Surprisingly found aquanatal pretty good!

Excellent work out dvd set by someone called erin (workout, yoga, pilates and post preg workout) which really got me sweating. - look on amazon.

Haven't quite managed to squeeze in pilates yet but many people recommend! Main thing imo is to listen to your body during and the next day, muscles, tiredness etc. You may find pretty soon you pant more etc! I have found (once thyroid began to stabilise) that morning exercise is better/ easier if possible, I appear to be less likely to drag meself out after 6!

Oh and very slim pre preg but instant weight gain on thighs and bum (extra 2-3 inches) stabilised around 12 weeks. Ive begun to think necessary fat stores to prepare for bf / hormone storage as not fatter in face and only slightly in arms. Once the bump starts bum doesn't look so big! Erin does lots of good squat stuff.