Struggling to start over during pregnancy

jshrop

Hi everyone! I'm a 31 yo FTM (only time fx) and I am struggling with how much weight I've gained and how gross I feel like I look. About 5years ago I did P90X, lost 60lbs total and looked (and felt) fantastic! Over the past 5 years I've put about 10-15 lbs back on BC I just didn't remain consistent.

I became pregnant in September completely by accident. DH and I had no plans to have kiddos, but now that we are, we are so excited to have her. However, this pregnancy thing sucks, like really, really big balls. I am not a fan of about 90% of it. I have gained 19lbs at 19 weeks and it's so disheartening. I feel incredibly bloated and gross. I'm trying not to be so self-conscious about it but I am struggling.

I've decided to put my foot down and get off my ass. I know I'll feel better if I just start back to working out and going to the gym. My question is where to begin? I read through some old threads and stumbled across someone who said they did the strength workouts from P90X as their strength routine through the week. Has anyone else tried this? Is there anything I should be careful of when starting? I've been given the okay to workout by my OB as long as heart rate stays below 140. So, I'm thinking P90X strength mixed with modified cardio workouts (like swimming or walking) on the Kempo/Plyo/cardio X days. Does anyone have suggestions, concerns, or all around anything to say about this? I figured you all were the experienced ones and that's why I'm here.

Also SS awards are given frequently on our BMB so I'm sorry if it falls under that category here and will take any appropriate lumps that are doled out

ajbook

I would start slow.  Walking, slow running, spinning/cycling.  Weights were really helpful for me.  My heart rate didn't get super elevated, and I could see positive changes in my body as I gained muscle.  Even body weight exercises help: squats, lunges, pushups (until your belly is too big ).

Good luck!

zbeesma86

start slow, listen to your body, and stay hydrated.

good luck!

saturnjac

I completely understand how you feel, I had my second baby in September and he was a surprise. Honestly, I was so afraid of the weight gain because I'm a yoyo with weight anyways. But I can promise that if you've had the willpower to do it before, you will do it again. I feel like nothing is more motivating that's having a baby! Good luck and just know a beautiful gift comes at the end if all this pregnancy crap!

KLP1982

It's great to head back to the gym but go easy on yourself! Your body is not going to be able to do what you were doing before you got pregnant. I ran a marathon literally weeks before getting pregnant. A couple months after getting pregnant- it became difficult to run even 6 miles! It was frustrating at first. Now I'm at about 30 weeks and my routine consists of weight lifting on the machines and cardio of walking or an easy pace on the elliptical or stair climber. I have never tried P90X but I've heard great things about it. But be careful doing free weights, etc- the ligament loosening is NO JOKE I hurt myself in second trimester doing walking lunges and have stayed away from those exercises ever since. Good luck!

queenieM

Hey your story is similar to mine! I lost 75 pounds over the past few years, mostly by using P90X and Insanity. I am 18 weeks along, so not far behind you. We planned the pregnancy, but that doesn't mean that I'm not having a hard time dealing with gaining weight and not exercising like I have in the past. I've done some p90X videos (kenpo is a good one, you can go at your own pace to keep your heart rate down). The strength ones should be fine as long as you're not lifting heavy weights. I don't use anything heavier than 8-10 lbs. so far I've been walking a lot, doing yoga videos and some prenatal cardio and toning videos from YouTube. What I Ike about them is they're pretty short (10-20 minutes mostly) so I find that easy to work into my day. Sometimes I think I need more motivation though! It's hard because I've been sick for over a week now - I just want to get over this cold and sore throat so I can be healthier and more active! If you want someone to chat with about this, don't hesitate to message me because I completely understand how you're feeling!

PaoPao820

@jshrop - 

I am going through the same thing as you!! I didn't lose that much weight but the struggle is the same!  I've yo-yo'ed with weight and went through an extremely difficult time in recent years where I gained almost 40lbs in a shorter amount of time.  I got to a point where the weight was depressing me and decided to make a huge lifestyle change and get healthy and go back to the gym like I used to in college.  I lost 30lbs in 2.5 months, it all just slipped away when I started eating healthy and working out 6-7 days a week (nothing super hardcore either).  But then just as I was working on the last 10lbs, I found out I was pregnant... we were trying but didn't expect it to happen a month after stopping birth control.  I allowed myself to indulge a bit food wise while still working out 4-5 days a week but going into the start of my second trimester, over 6-7 weeks (thanksgiving to after the new year)  I started feeling very unmotivated and lethargic and I stopped working out and I gained a lot of weight... I think by 24 weeks I was at 25lb weight gain... almost all of what I had lost.  I started working out again but haven't lost any of the weight and haven't gained any over the last 3 weeks but it's been such a struggle because I feel like a cow.  Especially going to prenatal yoga classes and feeling like nothing looks good on me and seeing all these perfect bellies at earlier weeks than I am and I just feel deformed with mountain ridges on my belly.  I feel your pain!!  It's also a struggle to eat healthy during this period because sometimes you crave and you don't know what it is and sometimes you crave specifics and it might be an entire baguette with butter!  I say take it easy and start off light and work your way up but do it how you feel comfortable.  I still do 30-45 mins of cardio but the weights I've had to tone down a bit because I get very winded and struggle.  Body exercises just using your body weight are great.  If you ever want to gripe about stuff, feel free to send a message.  I'd be happy to listen and gripe with you!

crossfitkiwi

@jshrop - hi from June 14

The advice about starting slow is good. If you can get outside go walking, ideally throw in a few hills or stairs to get your heart pumping a little. Otherwise hit the gym and do cycling or the treadmill/elliptical.

Please be careful with abdominal exercises! Pretty much all traditional core exercises (sit ups, planks, russian twists, even pushups) are not OK and can cause issues with your abdominal muscles separating (more info here: https://www.befitmom.com/diastasis_recti.html).

I'm dealing with a 4 finger gap already at almost 25 weeks from doing core exercises I thought were safe but turned out not to be but I'm seeing a physical therapist and hope to prevent the problem getting worse.

Some of my favorite safe exercises I'm doing now are:
Wall sits (while doing kegals!)
Lunge back to knee lift
Walking lunge steps
Ballerina toe touch
Air squats
Wall press ups
Tricep dips
Leg kick backs

A lot of these can be done with or without dumbbells. Yesterday I created a 'crossfit style' workout which was something along the lines of...

3-5 rounds depending on fitness:

20 air squats
20 leg kick backs (10 each leg)
10 tricep dips
20 lunge kick backs (10 each leg)
20 ballerina touches (10 each leg)
10 tricep dips

Hope that helps! Also don't underestimate the impact of diet and water intake on how you are feeling. I know as soon as I have too many treats / not enough water I start to feel depressed and puffy. It only takes a day or so of eating cleaner and drinking water and suddenly my whole outlook changes.