Exercise Question

Dimples0101 · July 2014

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but does anyone do or know of a safe exercise for your love handles while pregnant? I know you aren't supposed to work out your abs, but does that include the sparetire I just noticed in the mirror?

hiketheworld · July 2014

Prenatal yoga, walking or swimming are good exercises. Of course you should talk to your dr before starting anything new. You don't want to jump into any fitness activity totally out of the blue.

That said, be nice to yourself! You are making a human! I've noticed that I feel like I'm getting more side/back fat but I think it's mostly because my stomach pulls my skin and fat in such a way that makes it look roll-ish in the back since its so tight in the front.

Lilwatz · July 2014

Also, you can't spot reduce fat ever. You lose it where you lose it. So you cannot workout just to lose your love handles.

MrsLillyG · July 2014

You can't spot reduce fat but you can spot tone your muscle groups. My doctor said I could do any ab exercises where I am not lying on my back. You can get rid of fat by doing cardio (all kinds-running, walking, aerobics, bike, swimming, aerobics, etc) or by weight training. Weight training will increase your muscle mass and when you have more muscle mass, your metabolism runs faster. That said, if you weren't working out before you were pregnant, its not super safe to start going crazy now. you have to listen to your body and stop or lax a workout if its too much. One workout I do that specifically spot tones the side abs is to hold a weight in my right hand, then I lean down and up to the right side.and then reverse. I do 3 sets of 10 (used about 20-25-lb weights before pregnant and now 10-15)

mb314 · July 2014

You can definitely do core exercises so long as you're not on your back and aren't doing crunches and aren't over doing it. Last time, I did planks pretty much until 8 months (I switched to doing them with a ball when my belly got too big). I did other back/core exercises too that helped over all. This time - ugh, I just don't have the time to exercise (boo).

ckwick · July 2014

To reiterate some previous posters, you cannot really spot reduce. You can burn fat and build muscle, but can't just target that love handles and slim those down by doing "abs" . Really in that situation cardiovascular is what will burn the fat and building muscle will give you shape and help keep your metabolism faster (which in turn burns more calories- it's a Beautiful cycle) . Eating clean makes the world of difference, too! Of course, given you're pregnant, you'll only get so far. I'd focus on your cardiovascular health and maintaining strength in addition to eating clean to assist being in shape for the third trimester, labor, and for a postpartum jumpstart on your recovery, then worry about actually leaning out your body once you've recovered from delivery. Once you're healed, you can do HIIT and other crazy exercises to improve your body composition in no time!

Good luck and love yourself!!

marajay6 · July 2014

Ladies above have given pretty decent advice. You cannot spot reduce fat. To get rid of fat, you need a calorie deficit that is obtained by either burning more calories (cardio is great for that!), eating less calories, or a combination of the 2. However, a calorie deficit is generally not a good idea while pregnant.

Do exercises to help maintain and maybe slightly build improve muscle tone. And as people have said above, ab exercises are ok with some limitations. It will help you feel better about how you look. But it is normal (and oftentimes healthy) to put on a little bit of extra body fat during pregnancy.

kstirton · July 2014

Google it!

Love4Science · July 2014

My guess is that if this is a "new" problem (and you didn't have noticeable love handles before), it's due to either the way baby is sitting in your body or your eating habits (in that you're eating too many calories).

I gained 4 lbs in 2 weeks at the end of June (thanks to the junk people bring in at the end of the school year). I was not OK with this, so I've altered how I eat. I've noticed that something as simple as cutting out most desserts (I still eat it 3x per week though but never during the day), watching my bread and juice intake, and switching to high-fiber raisin bran in the morning (instead of other cereal) has really helped. I also only eat when I'm hungry, not just because it's lunchtime. Changing these little things, I've managed to not gain any more weight over the last 2 weeks and the love handles that were starting to make an appearance have disappeared again.

Also, you have to exercise in a way that raises your heart rate a little (but not a lot!!). I swim 3x per week for 30 min and do yoga 2x per week for an hour. But check with your doctor about this. I was really active before, so this is actually a decrease in activity for me.

But as PP said, you can't spot tone. Cardio is your friend.

bustarmu21 · July 2014

Speaking of exercise, what about to tone the butt and thighs? Haven't had a chance to ask the doc....I'm not super concerned but wondered if there's something I could do - have heard not to do lunges or squats from a friend who is also pregnant

Sarahbeth612 · July 2014

bustarmu21 said:
Speaking of exercise, what about to tone the butt and thighs? Haven't had a chance to ask the doc....I'm not super concerned but wondered if there's something I could do - have heard not to do lunges or squats from a friend who is also pregnant

I would double check on that. My OB said squats are fine but as with anything, don't overdo it. There are modified how tos for prenatal squats even.

Not sure about targeting love handles specifically though.

Dimples0101 · July 2014

I should have clarified in my OP. I didn't mean going to the gym to only work on love handles. I have been going to the gym 4-5 days a week for months, but I only do cardio and weights. Nothing for abs.

Thanks for the advice ladies!

ETA- hit post too quickly.

absolutelymaybe · July 2014

Chill, woman! You are making a baby! Attack on the lovehandles can wait a few months.

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