Exercise/working out

wanderlust508

I'm sure this question has been asked a million times (and I probably asked it myself the last time I did IUI).  But I'm just curious what you ladies do.  How active are you on a regular basis (before you did any fertility treatment)?  What modifications, if any, did you make to your exercise routine during the 2WW after IUI?

At my baseline, I was moderately active.  I liked to run outdoors (about 3 miles 3x/week).  If I wasn't running, I would do the stairmaster at the gym (about 45 mins 3-4x/week) combined with pilates/light weights.  My RE advised me after IUI to stick to "moderate paced walking" and swimming.  But to avoid any high impact exercise like running.  I have done that but yesterday I did 30 minutes on the stairmaster at the gym (at a lower intensity than usual but I still sweat and felt the burn since I haven't been working out intensely lately).  It felt SO GOOD!  It occurred to me that maybe that was more intense than I should be doing.  But walking just doesn't cut it for me in terms of feeling like I got in true exercise and I'm just not much of a swimmer.  Oh yeah, the RE had also said no pilates ("nothing that could be twisting/strenuous on the midsection").  My abdomen feels all flabby since I haven't done any core exercises.  Argh!  I hate all the restrictions.  What is everyone else's take on exercise during 2WW?  

wanderlust508

@amlrunner - Thank you, that helps to get a perspective from someone who is active.  I haven't been as active as you by any means!  No marathon training here.  But it just feels like such a shock to my system to go from regularly sweating and doing something active on most days ....to just sticking to walking my dog around the neighborhood.  I definitely feel more unhealthy and although I haven't gained more than 2-3 pounds, I feel more flabby.  Also exercising just keeps me more mentally sane!

I think my game plan from now on will be to do my normal exercise routine in the 1st 2 weeks of my cycle.  Take it easy on the day of IUI and a day or 2 after.  Then exercise at a lower intensity/duration for the rest of the 2WW (but still on most days).  It's just so hard to completely give up something that's been a part of my routine and makes me feel "human"!  Good luck to you on your marathon training, that's awesome!

aves0708

I exercised/ran very regularly before we started TCC, then I slowed down a bit thinking that maybe my workouts were too intense and that was what was delaying my ovulation (this was  not the case).  Well slowing down turned into barely working out, and then after a year of no success I found my motivation for working out again.  It helps relieve stress from all this IF stuff.  During my first treatment cycle I asked my RE if there were any restrictions on my workouts(before and after IUI) and she told me I shouldn't change anything, but every doctor is a little different.  This next treatment cycle I plan to continue my workouts as normal. 

csy2947

I have been going through the same thing, I love hot yoga and jogging and have felt like I have to stop in my tracks every two weeks and its so frustrating and makes you feel gross and even worse about yourself!

These last couple of cycles I have decided to adopt a, 'hey, crackheads get pregnant all the time' mantra. Like, seriously, if its going to take its going to take and like @amlrunner said...our health is just as important to the process as the delicate implantation thing. I think I've even decided to not stop hot yoga this 2WW...I'm so sick of dramatically changing my lifestyle for what ends up being no reason and then spending the next two weeks trying to make up lost ground. I say jog AND go to piliates and with every crunch, think of the crackheads!

Although...I will say I am not on IUI...I am on TI, I think there might be more strict restrictions with IUI

wanderlust508

@csy2947 - LOL at the "crackheads" comment!  Yeah I think they defnitely are more likely to give recommendations to slow down on working out if you've done IUI (and even more so if you're in IVF).  I LOVED hot yoga when I was doing it.  And as much as I love to jog, I think I will give it up during the 2WW.  But I will replace it with the stairmaster and elliptical machine at the gym (and as much walking as I can get in).  Only because my RE specifically said no "jarring" activities that involve jumping (i.e. a boot camp class) or running because those are too high impact.  So I think I'll obey that but make a point of still finding my activity elsewhere!

tweetyknicks

EastBayBride508: that sounds reasonable

I did powerlifting, bike sprints, and jujutsu.

For lifting, I cut the weights to no more than 80% of my max lifts or the maximum weight that doesn't cause discomfort (whichever is lower, and it is usually the latter). I also had to cut out heavy squats because Prometrium or Bravelle gave me a persistent lower back ache that got worse when I had to stabilize my lower back. For the occasional circuit training I used similar guidelines.

I completely cut out bike sprints and just rode for 30-45 minutes at a sustained heart rate of 140-150 bpm. For me that is a moderate pace.

For jujutsu, I cut out all rolling and falling to avoid jarring my innards. That leaves me with joint locks, strikes, and occasionally throwing someone else. (Technically I'm just getting in the way as they fall over. I'm not picking them up.)

The best guide with injectables so far is don't do it if it is uncomfortable. (My activities were less restricted when I was trying Clomid and Letrozole because ovaries are not as swollen.) I also put more effort into finding time to walk.

Pintobean39

I never did an IUI only injections with TI. My RE told me I could do what I wanted until it got painful. I was going to the gym 5 days a week running/walking for an hour a day. I prob only ran 2 miles in that time. I did fine until a few days before ovulation my last cycle when I had 19 follicles and 5 were mature and I had to take 2 weeks off. Once I started IVF I quit completely and I'm only 1 week out from ER and still not up to doing much but light walking. I'm hoping next week I can start back up again because these treatment are not helping my body any.

BunnyBerry

I always thought that if the doctor didn't call for pelvic rest or reduced activity, then it was fine to exercise. As far as the crackheads who get pregnant, I wouldn't want to have their odds of conception or of a healthy pregnancy, so that probably wouldn't be part of my decision making factors!

masterofallcheese

I'm on injections plus TI and my normal activity is run on treadmill or elliptical once a week, tennis twice and light weightlifting twice a week. It keeps me sane and makes me feel less guilty for eating so much (medicines + insulin issues). I haven't made any changes except being more attuned to how I am feeling; I am less likely to push myself to the limit as before. I'm glad you broached this subject - I plan on asking my RE at my next appointment.

Sha259

My RE also gave me no restrictions during our IUI cycles. Before TTC I worked out 6 days a week. Current during TTC and during IVF (at least until 7+ days into stims) I will be working out 6 days a week. The only thing I noticed was that I am a bit more tired during my workouts while I am on meds, but I can still complete them, and I just pace myself.

I agree that your life cannot stop just because you are TTC. And i think of all those women who were pregnant and didn't know it yet, obviously they aren't changing their habits until they find out they are pregnant. 

Key has always been listening to your body. If it says slow down, do so, and if it says stop, then stop!

But if you are in doubt, definitely ask your RE.

jaco0207

You will have to do what feels right for you. Up until a few months before my wedding, and TTC, I was very active. A month before starting IUIs I started the T25 workout program. I decided to stop doing it because it was VERY high impact. Also when I had cycles where I had 4-6 follies, I was pretty sore, so jumping around didn't feel very good.  However now that we are only doing TI, I think getting & staying healthy is my biggest priority, so I am starting to run/bike/walk again, even during the TWW.