Exercise!

[DannyWallace]

Hi all!
Just wondered if anyone has any tips they want to give?

Pre pregnancy I did a fair amount of exercise. No set routine but always did something a few times a week. Quite a lot of running (I was never a natural at it, but liked pushing myself), went to spinning classes and also did HIIT workouts when possible (I followed Kayla Itsines ones and they killed me...in a good way haha). I also did some yoga at home and have carried that on.
The first trimester kicked my ass, and the tiredness and sickness (plus starting 2 new jobs) meant I didn't do much. Now I'm 16 weeks and slowly but surely getting back into it.

I don't feel like I have the fitness to follow Kaylas plans anymore, and am not good with just "winging it"-I need a plan before I start exercising or I just give up when I get a bit tired.
Does anyone have any good plans they do in pregnancy? I live relatively rurally and there's no good classes close to me around me work hours (well-there is the occasional spin class that I could possibly make during my lunch hour but I NEED to eat 😂).
FWIW I'm still out walking my dogs quite a bit-just wanted something a bit higher intensity. Preferably things in the living room (I have basic weights at home) but I do have access to a pretty good gym too.
Thanks 😀.

Do you have a swimming pool nearby? The feeling of weightlessness is wonderful!

On that's another thing I was going to start haha.
I do have a pool close by, I can make one session a week around my working hours, but definitely going to give it a go. Thanks 😀x

Oh also I did aqua aerobics recently too! Was a good laugh and a real change from my usual running, which I haven't really managed to keep up. Really low impact.

@magpie24 I've checked and definitely no aquanatal classes close by 😫. Fingers crossed that changes soon.
I used to do aqua jog-really hard workout but would manage it in pregnancy, none of that here either though

I found cycling good, managed to keep it up until almost 28 weeks.

@DannyWallace I am the exact same! Would exercise regularly and now it's a mission to get myself out of bed never mind make it to the gym! I am scared as already feel my muscle tone has gone and I am only 8+6 weeks! I know baby D will be worth it but can't wait to get back to exercise! X

As you ran before, you could continue to run during pregnancy, but go steady.

I also found the first trimester pretty much a write-off, but fortunately I felt better in the second. I've found cycling brilliant, especially now I have an e-bike to help me up hills, but then I have always cycled. I bought the book "Bump it Up", which you might find interesting. Yoga has been great too, especially pregnancy yoga for meeting other people in the same position. I'm 31 weeks now and I have had to slow down, but I've found that as long as I listen to my body and rest when I need to I can still manage most things, just not at the intensity I did before. Maybe you could adapt your HIIT workouts somehow to make them more realistic but still structured?

I did:

• Walking
• Swimming
• Yoga
• Pilates

Kept all of it up until the very end. Was walking at 42 weeks the day I went into hospital! Although it didn't help bring on the labour (had to be induced) I really think it helped my stamina and strength to get through it. Also despite a huge bump and a big baby my figure bounced back (mostly) within 3 weeks.

You girls have inspired me. I have woken up this morning feeling a bit more energetic than what I did last week. Going to get the trainers on a aim for 10,000 steps today! Thank you