what exercise can i do, please?

[fillyjonk]

am around 5-6 wks pg

i have been going running etc, but i am pushing myself and IIRC there is something about not letting the heartrate go high?

My heartrate skyrockets very easily, when I am running and it always has even when i have been undeniably in shape. I want to be cautious here

how about stuff like cycling (on statics)?

I take it there are no problems with Pilates/yoga/NIA

oh and yes, swimming, I KNOW, though it is the world's boringest sport

thoughts?

I was wondering the same thing, have been going to the gym for the last couple of months to try and get a bit fitter but now 5 weeks pregnant and I don't want to overdo it....i've found that 20 minutes on the bike burns about half the calories of the same time on the cross trainer but without my heartrate going through the roof. Pilates and yoga are great but not for cardio vascular, so I'm going to keep going to the gym but will probably stick to the bike, fast walking/jogging on the treadmill, and rowing. And will monitor my heartrate carefully.

If you enjoy running you could still do it but alternate running and walking to allow your heartrate to recover, do you have a heartrate monitor? Could give you some piece of mind to be able to check it.

i think i will give running a miss, i dunno WHAT it is but it skyrockets my heartrate. Cycling is much much better. Also I can stay on the heart monitor

I do get grumpy if i am not exercised, its finding the balance

Would Yoga be too boring for you?

I ran part-way through both pregnancies and was happy with that (despite miscarriage worries). It's a good fix for pregnancy constipation, for one thing.

But biking is good if that works better for you. Real bikes are more fun than statics, though.

I don't think high heart rate is a concern any longer - it's more overheating, and even then, it's not a very likely outcome.

(Oh, congratulations, by the way!)

Yeah, I don't know why my heartrate rockets when I exercise now, I must be pretty unfit! Sure it didn't do that when I was in my 20s....if you're happy to stick to cycling and swimming that's still good exercise, you just might need to keep going for longer or do more sessions in a week. I'm going to try and do some stuff at home rather than just the longer gym sessions, then I won't feel I need to push myself.

oh swimming KILLS me. its about as boring as it gets. you can't even listen to music fgs

i had a cycling accident with first pregnancy so will stick to statics. I get VERY clumsy, for some reason

yoga and NIA, I dunno, I think they will be TOO low impact. I need aerobic stuff. hmm.

ok so if heartrate remains reasonably ok (I quite often push mine to 180, I won't do THAT, though i'm not massively out of breath or dying or anything) then prob ok?

I think heartrate issues are fine - if you are pushing it too high, you will feel uncomfortable and want to stop. Just make sure you're not too warm.

I do know people who ran right through their pregnancies, obviously reducing speed and duration as they went on, and were absolutely fine.

I can't stand swimming, either, although DS1 helpfully adores it, so we go a lot. I wear glasses, so struggle with that, and then if I do get out of breath I can't feel myself sweating so become convinced I'm panicking or something. [fraek]

swimming is revolting

static cycling and fast walking and all that would be fine, filly

how about cross trainer?

ok i have another issue with running, which is utterly paranoid but

all the people i knew who ran through pregancy had long, hard, often c-section labours

those who sat on the couch with a bowl of crisps, much easier

this is my fear

i think the OTHER thing is that i am inclined to push myself and increase fitness and so on, and i am not sure if this is wise

Oh, the science doesn't go with your anecdotal evidence on that one - women who run in pregnancy gain less weight, have smaller babies, and easier labours. For what it's worth.

I'm trying to find cites on this, and keep finding irrelevant pages, or things on running marathons while pregnant.

It is true that if you are super fit you are more likely to have trouble pushing baby out because the muscles are SO tight in that area... BTW definitley not an issue for me ...info from a superfit (like triathalon) mum I know.

BTW- Yoga- a pre-natal class wont take you until you are at least 14 wks PG.

You will slow down as the pregnancy goes on, whether you want to or not.

What happened with exercise in your other pregnancies?

oh I'll believe you. I did exercise moderately both last times and I had a 1 hour labour first time (then a 3 day one second time...)

oh i doubt super-tightness is an issue for me

this is baby #3

fillyjonk you shouldn't use a heart rate monitor when exercising in pregnancy due to cardiorespitory changes. you should work hard enough to carry on a conversation (rate of percieved exertion or modified borg scale). You will find lots of info on babyfit.com. I'm a qualified pre natal exercise instructor (just) so info is up to date. Also there is a website fittodeliver.com. (sorry don't know how to link) Lots of benefits to exercising whilst pregnant as long as so contra-indications.

ah ta, will check that out

There is also evidence that children of women who exercise throughout pregnancy have lower bodyfat and scored higher on intelligence, co-ordination, and oral tests by the age of five.

Is it ok to use the cross-trainer whilst PG? I'm quite overweight but haven't been to the gym since just before i got pg because i'm a lazy cow and cant be bothered. However i'm feeling a bit guilty about doing nothing except my daily stroll to and from teh station each day (10 mins each way) so would like to do something at least. Agree about swimming being boring as f*ck.

I'm thinking of doing some gentle x-training, static biking and maybe that thing where you cycle with your arms, and some brisk walking on the treadmill (i dont do running).

Any advice would be fabbioso. Chars!

As long as you have no health problems or problems with your pregnancy it should be ok to use a cross-trainer. Remember you are just looking to maintain fitness not to increase it, don't overheat, and drink lots of water. You should always be able to carry on a conversation as you exercise.

I did cross trainer and found it was a great ex cos low impact but it is aerobic. I also did gentle step. I would say though, take it easy, like 20 mins is enough 3 times a week. I also did strength training like gentle squats and hand weights for arms, and pilates for pregnancy from a dvd.

In the very late stages I did a kind of one hour power walk every day, doing step ups on steps and brisk walking. Got some funny looks! Also kept on with squats etc. But I'm sure it kept me fit and I was up straight after the birth and did well. I would personally not say running was good after the first couple of weeks because of the impact, but if you feel ok doing it, then fine.// best of luck !

oh anyone know about rowing?

that is my Favourite

BUT does seem to tax my abdominals

Thanx Yogimum! Back to the gym it is then!