I really need to exercise! My arse has just laughed at me!

[cupcake78]

I've been housebound for months with morning sickness. I used to walk loads, run, swim etc. although I'm overweight I was actually quite fit. Tonight I have just started doing yoga in an attempt to ease my backache and I've seen what looks like a huge arse that seems to be attached to my body!

How much is ok? I feel like I need to go running again, walk for miles etc but realistically there is noway I can do it. My energy levels just aren't high enough, I'd go dizzy in a minute.

I used to do floor exercises on legs, arms and abs can I still do them? Even if it involves some huffing and puffing.

Do not push yourself, it might be best to get some advise from the gp or midwife, I'm no expert on exercise but if you are struggling I would go easy xx

I'm just feeling so fat and flabby! My legs and bum are bigger than they were.

I'm so unfit compared to where I was and I really need to do something about it.

What about swimming? This is really gentle and eases backache. It also makes you feel weightless!!!

I second swimming or does your local pool do aquanatal?

Totally get where you are coming from 14 weeks now but have been near enough housebound since 7 weeks. Now I am feeling better I need to get my arse in gear!

I also have a yoga DVD but currently sat here eating crisps!

I know just how you feel!
Can you start going for regular walks and gradually build it up from there depending upon how you're feeling? But definitely speak to your GP/MW about it all first.
I have just started walking (also pregnant) as it means I can push my son in his pushchair at the same time, and I'm currently doing about 2 miles a day, four times a week.

I think I'm just so frustrated with it all. I need to start walking again to start with. I would struggle with two miles I think tbh. Would love swimming but don't have the energy to go swimming yet.

I will start walking again this week. Worried if I push myself too hard the sickness will come back. It's been a really hard 3mths!

I'm the same as you OP - used to do tons of exercise and through sheer exhaustion ended up having the best part of 2 months off bar one aerobics class per week (that I was teaching so had no choice over and felt like it almost killed me!).

I've been getting back into it for the last few weeks, just doing short sessions 3 times a week at a lower intensity and for less time. My fitness is coming back - slowly - but I'm reassured that it hasn't been lost. Best advice I have is to listen to your body and start really, really small. Try and track down classes that are happy to take pre-natal so they'll look after you and take care when you're training alone - quite literally don't run before you can walk (you may find, like me, that running is off the menu now). Don't do too much too soon, but don't give up on it either. Listen to your body and what feels good, ie. what gives you energy rather than knackers you out. You will start to feel better for it! Oh, and abs training best avoided!

Have you had your iron levels checked? You might be slightly anemic which could explain the exhaustion xx

Iron levels are good, I'm just unfit, fatter than I like and pregnant

Tomorrow I will walk and hopefully feel ok. At least I can finally get a handle on the food I eat with my nausea passing and thank goodness I seem to love salads, fruit and jacket potatoes rather than crisps and sweets!

Forgot to say don't expect that you'll get back to the same fitness as before, but you can still get loads of benefits from doing light to moderate exercise at this stage. Check with MW, def.

It's fine within reason - so if you've not been running for ages, not a good idea to start up again. I believe the theory is you shouldn't do exercise that causes fluctuations in temperature if you're not used to it because its not good for the baby. However if you were doing more intense exercise when you got pregnant you could in theory carry on. I think most women find it too much and obviously there's some things that aren't safe.

I was walking (up to 6k) when I got pregnant (trying to lose enough weight to meet IVF criteria!) but did a lot less in my first trimester (nausea and fatigue!). I went for a walk today, I managed 3k in about 40 minutes. Felt tired but not too fatigued. Build it up again gradually. 30 minutes should be enough to get you started and feel a bit better.