What do you do for exercise?

Manada

My mom, the midwife, and The Bump's checklists are all telling me to exercise...  I guess I'd better start doing that, but honestly, I'm not sure how! 

The Infertility process and the winter really killed any exercise routine I had...  we have a pool in our building, so swimming is definitely on the table, as is gentle cardio in the gym I guess... and walks with the dog -- but none of those really feel like serious exercise to me, are they good enough?  Do I need to get sweaty? 

In a past life (ie. 3-6 years ago) - I was a half-marathon runner, a long-distance cyclist, etc..) --- but a couple of injuries and life took over and now I'm way out of shape and carrying more weight than ever.

What do you guys do?  What's your routine?     

drjwj

I didn't do anything the first trimester.  Since then I haven't been nearly as active as I was (but it sounds like you are way more fit than I was!) but prenatal yoga and dog walks has kept a lot of the aches and pains away.  I LOVE my prenatal yoga!  Once I graduated from the RE to the regular OB he said I could do pretty much anything, just start slowly, but I am too chicken!

ld08271

I was told that I could continue the same level of fitness before I got pregnant, with some modifications, but nothing new. If you didn't have a pre-pregnancy work out routine, brisk walking is awesome exercise and you don't need a gym for it! 

Since I was jogging before pregnancy, I have continued at a "walk/jog" pace. Now it's more walking then jogging when I go out but I still break a sweat. I slow down when things get uncomfortable. Just do what feels right. 

Manada

@drjwj - I'm not fit at all anymore!  I was at one point, and that definitely influences the way I think about exercise - but part of what I'm struggling with is I'm not in shape anymore, so I'm really starting out from a place where I'm not sure how hard to push, or if just moving around is okay. 

Sounds like yoga and walking the dog is good for you though, that helps me get an idea of what reasonable might be in this circumstance.   Thanks! 

maggie713

Great question! I've been thinking the same thing!  I had been doing less intensive cardio before this latest round of IVF, and doing hot yoga - which I loved!  But I don't think that getting that hot is good for me right now.  I've been thinking of a prenatal yoga class, and walking.  I have to do something though.  I know that exercise will help everything through this crazy fun process! 

PhillyJ33

I used to run and work out regularly- that has gone out the window! I normally take long walks. Lately, with the snow and ice, I missed a lot of that but hopefully I can get back in gear soon.
It's hard- I was exhausted in the first tri, it was crazy weather my second tri and now I am exhausted again and my legs already hurt without the walks! I am done by the time I get home from work! I hope it works out better for you!

Manada

Hey @maggie713, we have basically the same EDD (we're officially the 29th, but it really depends on who you ask)!

This conversation is very helpful though!   I'm actually feeling a lot better about the whole exercise thing to know that others are also walking and taking it gentle, I was having some serious "healthy pregnancy" guilt for the fact that I'm totally not a jogger anymore or anything. 

rox825

My plan is walking several times/week with dogs, yoga once/week, and strength training twice/week- I did get a personal trainer for that though and she knows that I'm pregnant so she's teaching me exercises that are safe to do throughout and that are low resistance.

HeatherHam10

I do 45mins of cardio about 5x a week sticking mainly to elliptical and bike. And do weights usually 2-3x a week. Still gaining weight like crazy though

MJC1116

Short Answer: Teach 2nd grade

Long Answer: I was a competitive swimmer in my glory days training to qualify for Olympic trials... now, I get winded walking from my car to my classroom. I was on bed rest for a portion of my 1st trimester, then like others, felt too sick to work out. Now in the 3rd trimester I am completely useless and panicked about labor with such flabby muscles (if I can even call them that). 

My doctor did tell me in the 2nd trimester that I should get my heart rate up for 30 minutes 3 x a week. I tried, but between working full time and taking care of DD, I just don't have the time or energy when I get home. So I try to walk around school more. 

xtina78

I was also too sick during first tri, but now am doing prenatal yoga 2x per week - it's not intense but I think is really helpful for minimizing aches and pains, and our yoga teacher teaches us a lot of positions that are supposedly helpful for labor as well as breathing techniques. I also walk the dog 1-2 miles per day and try to do ellipitical at least 1x per week. The fastest my HR gets is on the elliptical and I try to keep it around 120-130 which is about 20 less than I would aim for before I was pregnant. In my opinion, every little bit helps and you don't need to be breaking a sweat!

ang2016

I've been swimming laps 3x a week and I get winded doing it! I did Zumba before I was pregnant but I was nervous about all the bouncing (because I'm crazy) but I feel safe in the water! If spring ever comes to thr frozen tundra where I live I'll take our pups out for some strolls!

ball.and.chain

For me, it's prenatal yoga once a week (I'd prefer twice or more, but I can't fit the classes in) and I walk on the treadmill twice a week (fast enough to get my hr over 120).  It's not as much as I'd like to be doing, but I don't have as much energy as I used to (though way more than in first trimester!) and I just have a hard time getting up extra early to go to the gym when I know I don't have to, or heading to the gym after work when I just want to put PJs on and get on the couch.  Honestly, any exercise is going to be better than no exercise, so anything you can do to get your body moving is probably a win!

anations

I was told not to run the first 8-9 weeks and I really couldn't do much first tri due to being so incredibly sick. I did triathlons for 5 years prior to pregnancy and regularly worked out 7-13 hours per week (don't think I'll ever see that again!). Second tri was a little better. Stationary bike/elliptical/swim/walk the dog 1-3 times a week and some weights or a prenatal fitness DVD and prenatal yoga. If that sounds like a lot, it is not. Hardly ever did all of that in one week. Lucky to accumulate 1:30-2 hrs/week. I was sad my body couldn't handle running, it was my favorite, but the little guys come first! We do what we can. Ex is tough now, everything is super light and I stop when I get pulling pains down bellow. Now I'm getting huge and have to see how long I can even do what I have been doing!

katekat8721

Almost 26 wks with twins. At this point making up the stairs without being winded is a victory lol. In the summer I will be floating in my parent's pool, I can't wait.

2MamazInSeattle

I've done prenatal yoga 2x/week since bfp, and 3-mile walks about 2x a week with some hiatuses for m/s and Seattle rain. I definitely get winded sooner but honestly its more about keeping aches and pains at bay than anything. The yoga mellows my mind for sure and keeps me connected to my baby and my body which has been good for mental health and PAGL brain too!

Ironmom2be

My previous pg with DD, I ran up until 34w. (last summer when it got really hot!) but this time, I ran (jogged) last week and had some light spotting afterwards, so now I'm paranoid I won't run again until after my u/s next week. Yesterday I swam about 1600yds and did yoga after work (20mins) this morning I walked 45 mins on our treadmill. I NEED to workout to feel sane (not to mention not feeling like a complete slug) so walking, swimming, yoga and elliptical until after first u/s. Then I'll get back to running 3-4days week. 

Good luck, I'm also a cyclist. I have an indoor trainer that I put my bike on and ride through the winter. I can't wait to get back to cycling competitively again...I MISS it. Hope you find something you enjoy and keeps you interested!

PrincessPix

This may be a stupid question, but how long after your BFP did you start exercising again?  My RE still has me on "limited/light" activities... I feel like a giant lump sitting around all the time, as I was pretty active before. 

The snow is starting to melt & it's been getting warmer, so the dogs and I are itching to hit the pavement!

FutureMrsW9

I've done yoga a couple times and taken a few light walks, but honestly that's really it.  I wasn't allowed to do much during IF treatments, so I kinda fell off the bandwagon and honestly haven't been able to truly pull myself back on, though I know I really should.  Luckily, my weight hasn't gotten out of control.  Hopefully it'll start to warm up in the Northeast and I can get back outside and go for more brisk walks or something just to get my heart pumping.  I do have anemia now, though, so I get winded crazy easy, so I can't do anything too intense.

4legsRbest

I am just now getting back into my pregnancy workout routine at 11 weeks (yikes!). We do have a home gym, so that really helps me fit it in at awkward times. I mostly walk on the treadmill or treadclimber, we also have  spin bike that I will ride for a bit. I am a fanatic about my legs and toosh, so there is always strength/weight training that isolates those areas. I try to do something for at least 45 minutes a day every day. I have a slew of pregnancy videos left over from my DS I will pull out soon. I really liked those.

Bascially, do something to get your heart rate up a little, and don't ignore the major muscle groups that you will need to help carry the extra weight and that are heavily involved in labor (think mid-section, butt and legs). I won't run while pg. I know lots of people do it - it is just beyond my comfort level. I also don't feel super comfortable exercising outisde near traffic when I am pg (where I would usually run/walk/bike)- I have a fear of being hit by a car. Crazy, I know, but it haunts me when I am pg.

ETA: I see you are carrying twins also! I think this is what has made me extra careful. I just wonder how much pressure and bouncing my cervix can handle as the babies get bigger! You will need to make sure your MW is monitoring you well and that your exercise regimne takes 2 babies into account also.

Lizarella82

@4legsRbest- how do you like your Treadclimber? We've been thinking of buying one for a while because Dh refuses to run with me.

@maggie713- definitely ask your OB/RE about the hot yoga- I was STRONGLY advised to stay away from it not just in IF treatment but especially during pregnancy.

I run/walk at 15 weeks, trying for ~2 miles 3 times a week. I just now am feeling like doing anything other than walking ( yay second tri), so I'll probably start with my pregnancy workout DVDs this week. I get winded pretty easily already, though that may be because of all the hills in our neighborhood where I run. Just trying to do whatever I feel like on any particular day, and try not to let a day go by without at least some vigorous housecleaning or dog walking. I can definitely feel my legs straining and I know it's only going to get worse so I've really got to try and get more strength training in my routine.

4legsRbest

Lizarella82 said:

@4legsRbest- how do you like your Treadclimber? We've been thinking of buying one for a while because Dh refuses to run with me.

 

OMG - I love it, really. It is much more of a workout than it looks! My DH stopped running a few years ago due to a serious disc issue he has been battling and as I get older and am constatly fighting stress fractures, sore knees and IT band issues, I have all but given it up. I no longer enjoy it and try not to do anything I don't enjoy

So, I have a little older model - we bought it in 2009 and my only complaint about it is that the handles aren't very ergonomic, but I have gotten used to it over time. The newer models delat with that issue so I think are a bit better. We have bought and sold treadmills, time and time again, but this is my one MUST have in our gym. I woudl like to upgrade but the price tag is too high right now. You really can't go wrong on one of these, IMO. You have to get the Bow.flex brand though. My work's gym has a knock off and it is not the same at all.

Sk8terWoman

Pre-pregancy I had a pretty vigorous exercise routine.  I skated 5 days/week for about an hour, went to the gym and did cardio (elliptical) and weight training 4 days/week and then ballet 1x/week.  I also walked the dogs everyday for about 25 minutes.

My current routine is:  gym (cardio and weights) about 3x/week, ballet 1x/week and pre-natal yoga 1x/week and walk the dogs almost everyday for 25 minutes. I also wear a heart rate monitor to track my heart rate, and keep to 140 max.

My OB advised me to continue to do any exercise I did before, but was concerned about skating due to the falling factor.  Although I've only ever fallen on my chest once in skating, I decided that it wasn't worth the risk because of the other kids at the rink plus my balance is different.  I stopped skating at 14 weeks.  If you are just starting out exercising, I think light cardio is good as well as some weight bearing exercises.  Keeping the routine is tougher now, but I like that I have classes to go to so no excuse not to go. 

marnief

Pre-IF I was running or walking 4 miles on the treadmill 3-4 times per week.  Our IF journey coincided with moving into our house, and there was a lot going on, so then it was walking 4 miles (with the occasional burst of jogging) on the treadmill 4x/week.  My first 8 weeks of pregnancy, I was not allowed to run because my RE was worried about cysts that could rupture.  I had no m/s but was very tired through first tri, so my speed declined on the treadmill, so I was walking about 2.5 miles 4x/week.  Now I'm a little bit faster in 2nd tri, so I'm hitting 3 to 3.5 miles at a time (still just walking).  I have a prenatal yoga DVD and a prenatal pilates DVD, but I haven't done them yet.  I need to start incorporating those...I just really like walking and I feel like I'm not good at the other stuff, and I hate gym classes, so I have nobody to give me feedback on form.  Need to try the DVDs sometime when DH is home so he can watch and comment.

curlylocks3

I planned to go back after my first OB appointment and it wasn't long after that that my awful nausea and vomiting kicked in. I probably did nothing from transfer- 13 or 14 weeks when I slowly started reintroducing the elliptical, bike and stairmaster (used to rotate between all). My OB's policy with twins is to stop going to the gym @ 20 weeks- she said I could do yoga but I really don't enjoy that so I asked about swimming instead. I started doing that 2-3x/week and had to take this week off from any exercise due to cramping but if that calms down I will start swimming again next week. Its been really relaxing and soothing on my whole body and I've really enjoyed it. 

LSN8308

The weather and being out of the 1st trimester is definitely getting my energy levels back up because i stopped exercising about 5 days before ER, and im 16 weeks today with twins. but IF brain has still kept me freaked out. i do feel so much better when i find something to keep me active, especially since my back lately has been so idk compressed feeling? i've done some pregnancy yoga videos from youtube about once or twice a week but thats about it. im just still so scared that "something" will happen if for some reason i am not reading into the symptoms properly for how to balance a healthy workout routine.

i can't wait until we move into our home next month, theres a park 2 blocks away with a trail right along a pretty river and if weather permits ill definitely be taking advantage of that and aiming to mostly strengthen my legs again.