Getting Winded and Exercising...HOW?

alicatb · July 2009

I exercised almost every day, running, etc. before I got pregnant. I quit when I first found out and started up walking and swimming for a few weeks. At 61/2 weeks, I started feeling so nauseated that I couldn't work out. Now, I am feeling nauseated and winded by anything I do??? How do we work out...anyone else getting this winded feeling all of the time this early?

Colie712 · July 2009

ME! from week 4-8 I was so nauseated I couldn't work out it just made things worse. I was a pretty decent runner (5k's, played team sprots, etc) and I couldn't get past a mile w/o a possible barf. I just started walking. I figured it was better then nothing and very very very light weight lifting. I am starting to feel less nausea so I may try to pick up my workout a little in a the next few weeks. Just remember to keep your heart beat around 140 and my doctor said NO AB EXERCISES! lol...

alicatb · July 2009

My doc said ab exercises until 20 weeks...you heard before that? Thanks for the post!

A&AinMN · July 2009

I would think it would be no ab exercises until AFTER 20 weeks...I'll have to ask my doctor when I see him.

I'm with you on the getting winded...I don't understand it! How is it that I could be so winded this easily SO early? I'd totally get it if we had a huge belly in front of us, but I'm not even showing yet! I've heard its just from the extra blood our body is producing/pumping and that our hearts our beating faster now than before.

liza0828 · July 2009

I'm in the same boat. I can't believe how fast I get out of breath. I'm glad to hear that others are experiencing this! I've been starting to exercise in small increments. We have an elliptical machine, and instead of doing 1/2 hour, I'll do 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the afternoon, etc. I'm also trying to take an evening walk every night. I'm hoping this will pass...

MrsTiu2006 · July 2009

I was the same way. My doctor told me it was normal to get out of breath during exercise especially in the 1st tri.

premiumgal · July 2009

I'm surprised about the restriction of the ab exercises. What is the reasoning behind that?

liza0828 · July 2009

premiumgal:

I'm surprised about the restriction of the ab exercises. What is the reasoning behind that?

Laying on your back can diminish the blood flow to the uterus. I heard you didn't need to worry about this until the 2nd tri though.

MixiePixie · July 2009

I'm in the same boat, except instead of getting winded I get tired very quickly. before I was pg I would work out an hour or 90 minutes at time, running, lifting, etc. Now I can manage 45-50 minutes. I can't run because my boobs have gotten bigger so it hurts to run so I am just walking. today I lifted and did some cardio and lasted only 47 minutes. I guess it's better than nothing, though.

bekahsch23 · July 2009

I think it is so funny that depending on the doctor, you can get totally different recommendations! My doctor told me that I can continue to exercise without restrictions and just try to not hold my heart rate at 170 or above. Also she said after 20 weeks no laying on back with exercises.

?As far as the getting winded thing- I do a bootcamp and as soon as I was pregnant- like 6 weeks- I was winded while running. It hasnt changed any and I am 12 weeks. ?It totally sucks when your legs feel great, but you cannot breathe. So, I just run slower. I think it has something to do with your diaphragm, but I could be way off. Anyway, any exercise is better than none to get your body ready! Good luck.?

Kiki-licioius · July 2009

I get this way as well. I learned to just tone it down. An hour long walk is better for me than to try and gut it out for 30-45mins on cardio equipment in the gym. Maybe you should try lower impact and just increase your duration.

mom2binKC · July 2009

Breathlessness is pretty normal, I think. I was getting winded just walking up a single flight of stairs. I think it has something to do with your body trying to manage its rapidly increasing blood supply. It gets better in the second tri, in my experience. I am already feeling much better. I was able to walk/jog for 2 miles yesterday, and then do some weights. I use a heart rate monitor to keep an eye on my HR, which my OB said to keep under 150 (though I'm not worried if it creeps a little higher--I've heard that guideline is a little out of date).

Here is a good link to adapted ab exercises for pg women to do once they are advised not to lay on their backs for extended periods:

https://www.progressiveparent.com/Pregnancy_postnatal_exercise/pregnancy-exercise-abs.htm

melody921 · July 2009

Me too! This can be so disheartening. I used to run/walk multiple times a week, doing a few miles at a clip and feeling great. I sort of fell into a lazy mode when I got the BFP, and when I went back to the gym at 5 or 6 weeks, I felt like even 15 minutes of walking on the treadmill at a slight incline was killing me. I've found I do better to just walk outside. I figure I don't need to set a speed record, I just need to move.

astromeria · July 2009

I've read the windedness is because of the extra progesterone in your system. Apparently it makes us get winded really easily. I think that may have been one of my first pregnancy symptoms -- climbing the one flight of stairs to my apartment left me gasping for breath. Now I just go slower, on the stairs and at the gym.

artsychemgirl · July 2009

Laying on your back can diminish the blood flow to the uterus. I heard you didn't need to worry about this until the 2nd tri though.

Ditto.

Want a personalized experience?

Getting Winded and Exercising...HOW?

Re: Getting Winded and Exercising...HOW?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards