exercise

[030213babytime]

Im 14 + 5 and haven't properly exercised for the last 5 months, I got into the shred after Christmas and loved it but stopped.

Anyways now the nausea is a liittle better so I would like to work out at home. To be healthy and stand a better chance of a natural labour.

Is the shred suitable in pregnancy? I've read recommendations are to carry on as before, but I wasn't exercising before I fell pregnant and that's not a healthy life style.

Anyone been in my position? What are you doing? Thanks :)

I wouldn't do the shred because it's so high impact to help you loose inches fast, it's something that will put a lot of strain on your body when there's already so many things changing. The first time I did it I really struggled the first week when I wasn't pregnant, I think if I did it now it'd break me (I'm 21+1)! If you've not done anything for 5 months I'd try swimming, I've been doing aqua natal rather than just swimming because I'm more motivated in class settings and really feel it afterwards. I've been trying to get more walking in as well as exercise, I've not really noticed it as working out since really I'm just leaving the house 10 minutes early and walking to a further away bus stop for example.

Sorry, I've just noticed you said at home. There are loads of pregnancy fitness DVDs on Amazon, rather than the shred have a look and see if any get your interest.

I wouldn't do shred during pregnancy, think it raises your blood pressure and heart rate a bit too much. Pilates and yoga are good if you do the pregnancy versions, there are loads of dvds out there. I'm doing classes which are great coz you get to meet other pregnant people. Swimming is also great but obviously can't do that at home :)

You sound like me. I had been doing the shred but had been slack for a while, then got pregnant and have done nothing really and am now 15+2.

I have just bought a pregnancy exercise DVD. Erin something or other, recommended on another thread here a few weeks ago. I did it for the first time at the weekend. I ached for 2 days after, but I suspect that I'd because I've done so little exercise for months. I'm going to try and up my walking again and maybe swim from time to time.

I would really try to stick to lower impact stuff. Though it's fine to get out of breath and to improve your fitness a little. Stick to what feels comfortable, I would go for power walking, swimming and aquaerobics. There are pregnancy yoga and Pilates, they might make you feel nice and help you relax, but won't do much for your cardio vascular fitness.

Advice I was given is you can pretty much do anything you are comfortable doing and don't let your heart rate get over 140bpm. And don't do anything where you might fall (skiing, skating...unlikely at home I know). Oh yes and try not to spend too much time on your back (for example doing pilates) - you can do it but just switch it up a bit. BTW pilates is GREAT during pregnancy cos it gives you excellent core strength to help with delivery.