exercise too much?

kr1814

Hey everyone....I have always been a workout fanatic and I am trying to figure out if I am doing too much.  I have read that the 140 heart rate is actually a myth..that many websites say that's what you should stay under but I went on a OB/GYN association site which stated that if you already exercise that as long as you stay under your age limit HR you should be ok.  So mine says I should stay below 150.

 Here is my dilemma....I have always been a runner, I run races, marathons, etc.  I am in decent shape.  I suffered a bad back injury a few months ago and have stopped running, and have been doing lots of elliptical, waking, recumbant bike and weights to keep my fitness.  I usually workout about 5-6 days a week.  Weekdays I do about 1 hr to 1.5 hours  of cardio and weekends I may workout even longer.  I am keeping my HR below 150 the whole time..do you think I could be overdoing it even if I am keeping my HR within range?  I do eat to compensate for my activity.

 Here is what I did yesterday: 

 1.5 hours elliptical

20 min bike

30 min weights.

 I see my doctor on Tuesday but I am just curious what you guys think.  

IncogNeato

I don't think it's harmful but it might make you even more tired. If it does, I would just shorten the cardio until you feel better. I've been doing about 40 minutes of cardio plus some weights most days of the week and feel fine. Everyone's different. My intensity has decreased, mostly because I just don't feel like kicking my own a$$ when I know I'm not getting any fitter, KWIM? :-P

I, personally, think staying fit during PG can only help in the long run.

atdowns

Well for me I'm on a hard core regimen of not exercising since i"m high risk. It's making me a little nutty but i'm managing, I stick with the treadmill and walk and walk and walk some more LOL

my first pregnancy i was still training(martial arts) throughout and here's what the docs told me (each doc's oppinion varies) dont work to the point where you're out of breath, remember you're breathing for two. So if you cant maintain a conversation you're pushing too hard, pull it back. also you shouldnt be working out tot he point where you have to grunt and push through it. This is your body telling you to stop, listen to it!! and my doc told me to cut the weights to multiple reps of light hand weghts only because again that grunting thing. As a rule if youhave to bare down to do it, you shouldnt be doing it pregnant. at a certain point.. I wanna say around 12 weeks or so he told me no more on the back work and no more ab specific work.?

basicly ti comes down to listen to your body. you need more oxygen so dont push yourself to be huffing and puffing, if you cant keep a slow steady breath back of a bit. and dont work past your body's endurance level.. which is DROPPING FAST!! you'll notice that you just cant go as far or as long as you shuold be able to.. DONT PUSH IT this is your body's way of turning on you to protect baby. look at working out as a relaxation and a way of keeping super excessive weight from plowing on. your heart is getting all the workout it needs right now because of all the extra blood you're pumping and your metabolism is to whacked you couldnt effect it now if you waned to! LOL ?

now ofcorse I know as I post this others will tell you about how they ran a half marathon while their water broke, and they know lady who lifted the refridgerator ni her fourth montha nd baby came out fine.. I'm not talking about the super women out there, just what was recomended for me (a martial artist who trains 4 days a week, cardio trains two and weight trains three I'm fit and a bit of a workout lover)

I just remind myself that the working out I've done is all for this time in a way, being fit wil make pregnancy and delivery easier on my system. But this isn the time to develop that fitness or even worry about maintaining it, I'm developing a person and maintaining it, that's quite enough work out for me LOL

and ofcorse the rule is only workout if you were working out before. never intensify a workout or begin a new one while pregnant. If you were a couch potato three months ago, try a stroll around the neighborhood or some prego yoga, maybe a light swim but dont try to become an athlete... wait til you're chasing a toddler, that's more exercise than anyone needs! LOL

MK&Z

I think you're fine with what you're doing. As long as you're listening to your body's signs of when to stop or slow down and you're not getting your heart rate too high then keep on going. Your doctor might have a different opinion though.

Rochell

I would be careful with weight lifting - not too much weight

 

just listen to your body, heart rate, stay extra hydrated and everything should be OK 

wmramsel

I am in the same boat with you!  I was training for the Marine Corps before I got my BFP and my doc knew that I was training pretty intensely.  I was running twice a week with situps, pull ups, and push ups, and then swimming twice a week with the extra too.  I would basically push my body as hard as possible.  My doc told me to do a half hour 4 times a week.  When I run, I should be able to hold a conversation and when I swim I shouldn't be out of breath.  I have been traveling so I haven't exercised at all so far, but I plan to basically stick to what she told me.

I would watch the weight lifting, ask your OB what a maximum weight you should lift is and I'd be careful with the length and hydration.