wieght and exercise...

ok well i had just lost about 20kg (stacked on from first pregnancy) and fell pregnant. i was planning on keeping up my classes at the gym but went to yoga and they said come back at 12 weeks so i got a little freaked out and didnt really go back, i mean if yoga had a risk what was pump gonna do. (plus tired/nauesous etc). anyway, i have just noticed that my jeans are starting to feel a little tighter and it fills me with dread!!! being pregnant coupled with not doing anything for 12 weeks is gonna do that i suppose.

i am starting a pregnancy aerobics class next week and am just wondering if i can expect to sustain my body weight now. (not baby/ boobs weight) but more like butt, legs and arms etc. i know i am gonna put on weight i just dont want to put on a MASSIVE amount like i did last time. it took 2 years to get it off!

Ok, I don't know why they told you to come back at 12 weeks. I'm sure they had a reason I just don't know what it is.

Generally speaking you can still continue with any sport or exercise you done prior to falling pregnant, you just have to be careful about body temperature (having excessive heat even for short periods of time can do damage to an unborn baby), and also with the sport / exercise you are doing.

Prior to my first preg, I was into alot of sport and activity. I had to give hockey up - too much risk of physical contact, even if I had wanted to risk it I wouldn't have been allowed as insurance wouldn't cover me, so the club couldn't allow me to play without insurance.

I did continue with body balance (combination of yoga, pilates, etc), however my instructor was pregnancy trained and the positions I used varied from the rest of the class at different stages of my pregnancy (I also had to be careful about overheating).

I also continued with swimming and aqua aerobics without and issue.

Your best bet is to find out if there is someone at your gym (personal trainer, etc) who is qualifyied to deal with pregnant women. You can always ask you doc, although alot of them don't seem to have any REAL knowledge in this area, but if they don't they may be able to refer you to a sports therapist who is trained in pregnancy.

I forgot to add, that you can certainly follow a healthy eating pattern to reduce excessive weight gain during pregnancy. It is worth paying attention to and minimising excess weight, however try not to stress to much about it.

I know, I lost 30kg after my first pregnancy, however, even whilst being careful still gained 20kg with the second (of which I have about 8kg left to lose, 10months after having my second).

Another good idea is a yoga DVD for pregnancy. It's cheaper, you can get up and do it every day, and it definitely will keep you toned. Also don't worry about the weight now. If you eat everything in moderation it will all be fine. I understand though, I hate putting on weight and I feel gross even though I know it's pregnancy.
Just keep healthy and don't eat what I just ate (meat pie followed by chocolate.......:lol:)

Pump is fine up to 34weeks - make sure you tell your instructor you're pregnant and they'll tell you the relevant things you need to know. Not sure why the yoga class turned you away, some instructors don't have antenatal qualifications though so maybe that's why?

Swimming is fine, aqua aerobics is fine, pregnancy aerobics is fine, step is fine (again, tell the instructor you're PG) unless you get SPD symptoms... There's loads you can do, worry not!

Bx

Hollo,
I am sorry that this Yoga teacher said this to you - Yoga is safe and wonderful in pregnancy and a qualified, experienced teacher modifies poses for you, as mine does for me.

Other forms of exercise are also just fine and very, very beneficial, not only for keeping your weight gain down to a resonable amount , but just that it makes you feel great and you do have MORE energy. There is a lot of worry out there about exercise and pregnancy and it comes down to DOING what you were used to pre pregnancy and modifying it as you get bigger.

Obviously, contact sports are not a good idea, but going to the gym, swimming laps or doing classes are fine if this is what you USED to do. Drink heaps, wear as little as possible as you will get hotter than others and eat a snack straight afterwards. If you ever feel just too tired or dizzy, stop.

Even better is to excerise OUTSIDE especially in the cool morning air. Try fast walking, do yoga out in your backyard!!

I have been a long distance runner for many years and more recently a triathlete. I still run 30-60mins most days of the week and swim 3 times a week, yoga class once a week and light weights at home. May sound a lot to some, but a huge reduction for me. i am now 20 weeks and will probably be shuffling by 35 weeks, but I love getting out there !! Last pregnancy I put on 12/13kgs but was very slender to start with, and lost all but 1-2 kgs in a matter of weeks!! Breast feeding and running again helped as did a very supportive husband.

My point is, please don't be too worried - if you body is healthy and used to exercise before pregnancy and if you have had no major problems, go and enjoy yourself !! Just LISTEN to your body.

I hope this helps you and you start to feel great again about your body...congrats on making it to the 2nd trimester!!

thanks everyone. i dunno why she turned me away too, its a bit of a bummer really cause i was all geared up to keep going to the gym. you know how they say do what you could do before being pregnant... well since i have now done nothing for 12 weeks am i back at square one or can i go back to pump??

Hollo, I had extreme tiredness and nausea for the first 10 or so weeks so I stopped going to the gym completely. I am back now on a special program and doing what I would normally do so it's not too late to go back. Just make sure you don't try to do the same weights you were doing before you had a break! There are also some exercises you won't be able to do eg. shoulders so let the intructor know you arepreg before you start the class.