Exercise and Pregnancy

[joannabeske]

Hi ladies!

I just got my BB DVDS(they are my 1st DVD workouts) and just finished previewing them. I love them! Last week I found out I was pregnant. I had my first doctor's appt. yesterday. I asked my dr. about exercise during pregnancy and she only reccommends walking. I am bummed. I want to continue doing my videos(with modifications of course!) What do you do during your pregnancies? She also told me not to let my hr go above 120 beats. I had read 140 somewhere else.
Help!

 

[Hotspur]

Hi Joanne,
Is this your first pregnancy? If so, she's probably saying that to make sure your body doesn't miscarry easily like some women. I don't blame her in a way. With my first pregnancy, my doctor recommended walking, too but I ignored her and did low impact aerobics to moderate aerobics. I'm on my second pregnancy and my doctor said to go ahead and continue what I've been doing but take it easy when I get tired or whatever. Your doctor wants to get to know your body first which I don't blame her. If you really want to do aerobics, I recommend Kathy Smith's pregnancy workout and Gin Miller's early step aerobics. If you are not a high risk carrier then I wouldn't worry. How far along are you? It might be better for you to do aerobics in the second trimester just to be on the safe side. I didn't do Cathe with my first but with this one, I'm doing Cathe among other workouts. If your body is used to working out, I don't see why you can't continue working out but lower your impact even for now. Let me know what's going on with you! And Congratulations!

 

[emy]

I'll just jump in here and let you know that you can workout and do your videos during your pregnancy UNLESS you have a situation that would merit only walking. But, if you are having a normal pregnancy, by all means you can do more than walking!! (Although on some days that may be all you have energy for, as so many of us can attest to). Also, I have read in several places, including in Expecting Fitness by Birgitta Gallo, that the previous recommendations for limiting your exercising heart rate are outdated.

Here is a quote, "Some of the rules, such as keeping workouts to less than fifteen minutes a day and maintaining a heart rate below 140 beats per minute are, in retrospect, ridiculous. Years of research have led to revised guidelines that acknowledge exercise as a top priority for pregnant women."

According to ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) guidelines: limit exercise intensity and lower target heart rate only if the woman has risk factors that could compromise her pregnancy.

Please note that the guidelines also say: exercise should be halted if the woman is fatigued, because she has less available oxygen with which to do aerobic exercise, it is also not recommended to exercise to exhaustion.

I hope you are having a healthy pregnancy, and if so, enjoy your workouts!

 

[joannabeske]

Hi!

Thanks for info. I am 6 weeks pregnant.

 

[u2girl]

Hi,

I know that everyone says listen to your body. I found out that I was pregnant and was told that as long as I worked out previous to pregnancy, there should be no problem with continuing. Well, I did Body Sculpt and I felt it was tough, and I slowed down. Later on that day I started bleeding and although I don't know for sure, I believe I miscarried. I am not trying to scare you, but just take it easy. I didn't want to gain alot during my pregnancy so I decided to continue working out, but personally it was not worth the heartache and pain of losing my baby. I just wanted to add my 2 cents. According to the doctor, it was more than likely not for that reason, but it seemed too coincedental for me.

DO NOT OVEREXERT YOURSELF BY ANY MEANS! B& B may be too much, only you can decide that. ERR on the side of caution.

U2girl