Is it actually impossible to ‘tone up’ whilst pregnant?

[Amby99]

Before pregnancy I was probably the fittest I’d ever been. I’m nearly 14 weeks and recently been trying to get back into the gym after a horrendous first trimester (I gained 4 pounds because I eat lots of due to horrendous nausea, albeit I did eat healthily but maybe too much bread)

I’m 5ft 1 - rather short and so I am just conscious of ‘unecessary’ weight gain that I put on the first trimester due to my excessive eating…. I’m not about to go on a diet and in fact since sickness subsided I’ve eaten less naturally and more healthily but my once waist 26 jeans are getting very snug. I want to go and use the stair master at the gym to work my thighs and bum (these seem to be looking much softer and fatter) and maybe do some light squats…. Is it completely pointless though?

In short I’m feeling stressed and overwhelmed that lots of my clothes are becoming tight, because I was tiny before ‘fitted’ clothes looked good and now all I want to wear is trackies and lounge around and it’s just not me.

I know it’s natural and once the baby is born I really won’t care and it’ll all be worth it but I can’t help but feel self conscious currently especially when there isn’t an evident ‘bump yet’

You could safely do very light weights but you would find it more rewarding and safer to do pregnancy yoga or Pilates.
Your own body weight will keep you toned and you can do most movements for yoga at least.

Your body is already producing more blood and then there’s the baby. By 20 weeks I’d gone from a size 8 waist to a 12, it just gradually got “thicker” and then you go pop and have a small bump around the 20 week mark.

By all means focus on a healthier diet if you are feeling better after your first trimester. I tried to avoid sugar as much as possible and I think that helped to not add unnecessary pounds. It also staved off hideous heartburn so it was easier to avoid dessert and sweet things when the consequences meant a daily dose of Gaviscon.

Try not to fixate on the scales. My DD1 was 6lbs but I’d lost 1.5 stone overall leaving the hospital after 5 days. Could.Not.Stop.Peeing !