The Pregnancy &
Exercise Myth
By Dana Wikoff
Before getting pregnant with my first child, I went to
the gym every morning at 6am. I loved taking a Body
Pump class and a Spinning class a few days a week.
When I found out I was pregnant, I was terrified of
working out so I stopped going to the gym immediately. I also stopped paying attention to eating healthy
and gave into cravings, which usually was a whole box
of macaroni and cheese. So needless to say, I gained
over 60lbs!
I wasn’t worried because I thought it would all just
fall off when the baby was born. That is a myth. I was
shocked to arrive home from the hospital having only
lost 15lbs. I was at home with a newborn, tired all the
time, and weighing over 200lbs. After dealing with this
situation for a few months, I began working out and
eating healthy; slowly, the weight came off.
When my first child was 7 months old, I was pregnant again! This time, I knew I had to do something different.
I began researching how to have a healthy pregnancy while exercising. I was shocked to learn that not only
could you continue exercising while pregnant, but most doctors recommended that you should exercise! Not
only is movement ok, but it is very good for both the mom and baby!!
Exercise during - Additional energy
- Relieves back pain
pregnancy has
many benefits
such as:
- Prevent excess weight gain
- Helps you sleep better (dang…wish someone would have time me that!!!)
- Increases the blood flow to your skin
- Prevents wear and tear on your joints
- Helps with constipation
- Prepares your body for birth
- Helps your body bounce back quicker after having your baby
- Helps lower risks for pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes
Most exercises are safe during pregnancy. If you were exercising pre-pregnancy, you can continue your routine through the
first trimester. It is recommended to lower your intensity during the second and third trimester. Try to concentrate on maintaining, not improving your fitness.
If you were not exercising before pregnancy, it’s important to take things slow. Of course, please discuss with your doctor before starting any exercise routine. It is also a great idea to look for a personal trainer who has experience with pregnant clients.
After learning about this research, I exercised during my second pregnancy. Not only did I manage to only gain 30lbs while eating enough desserts for 3 people, I never suffered horrible back pain, I was able to keep up with my first born and I was back in
my skinny jeans less than a week after she was born. So continue with your exercise regimen; your body, baby and skinny jeans
will thank you!