First Pregnancy, Scared about Fitness Level

[Aspen]

Hey there,

For several years, I was in very good shape. I lost over 70 pounds in 1999. I was strong and in really good physical condition until late 2001, early 2002.

Over the past year or so, I've been going through some really tough personal issues. I've put on about 30 pounds from lack of exercise and lack of attention to my diet.

I'm now 28 years old, and I just discovered that I'm pregnant for the first time. I'm at the end of my 10th week, and I am just wiped out. I've been very ill through the whole thing, so far. Morning sickness and a weak immune system have made the first part of my pregnancy just MISERABLE.

Well, I'm now starting to have the symptoms of the first trimester ease up on me. Before getting "sick," I was starting to ease back into a regular exercise program, and I'd like to get back into it now that I'm not throwing up every two minutes.

I know that I'm not supposed to try to "lose" weight, and that's not my goal. I want my body to be healthy for this baby, and I want my body to be healthy enough to get back to a decent fitness level without irreparable damage to my figure...AFTER delivery.

I'm terrified that because I'm not in good shape now...that the pregnancy will just destroy what figure I have left.

SO...those of you who've been through this:

I'd love to hear any advice you have.

 

[Stebby]

Hi, Aspen! Welcome to this forum, which I found to be a huge help and reassurance during my pregnancy. We already know each other ... I'm BD on most of the other forums I visit.

I had the same fears as you about losing my figure. It wasn't as bad as I thought. My "best" weight is 133. When I got pregnant I weighed 140. My highest weight was 182. In the first 3 weeks after delivery, I dropped to 158, and I've basically stayed there since early September. I don't look too different from how I looked at 140, though -- my tummy has gone down to almost normal. I have a bit of extra padding on my tummy, hips and thighs, and my boobs are D instead of my normal B. (I think my boobs are good for 5 lbs of my current weight!) Anyway, I have the same basic shape as I had before; pregnancy didn't drastically alter it. I am finally getting my motivation back and am cleaning up my eating, and my clothes are just starting to feel looser again. I know I will get back to my "best" size and shape again.

I exercised through my whole pregancy. I really recommend this, if you can do it. Even walking will help. Take it easy, and feel free to change your plans if your body isn't up to it. I found that some days I was able to exercise hard, and other days I just didn't have the energy. I also tried to eat well, although I didn't try very hard to control my weight (if I do this again, I resolve to try to keep my weight gain within recommended guidelines). The big payoff came after I had Kim (C-section, August 14) -- I was back on my feet after 1 day, and going for walks after 4 days (the doctors had told me it would be 2 weeks before I could be up and around, and I would need my husband to do everything for the first 4 days). I was back to full activity at a high intensity level by 6 weeks after Kim's birth. I am sure that exercising during pregnancy made this possible.

Good luck, and I am so glad you're starting to feel better. The second trimester was my favourite.

Have fun!! I'm sure we'll talk more here. If you can look up some of the old posts from the last year on this forum (I'm not sure how far back they go), you will probably find a lot of people with the same concerns and you will find comfort in their words.

All the best.
Stebby/BD

 

[Aspen]

Thanks, BD!!

I'm not really out to improve my figure during pregnancy. That would just be horribly unrealistic and unhealthy, I think.

Mostly, I just want to maintain without making it worse...and exercise as much as I can without hurting myself or the baby.

My energy is SO LOW, though. Just walking is such an effort, sometimes, and that is so frustrating for me because I used to be so active and healthy.

it's frustrating.

 

[Stebby]

Aspen, I know you're frustrated, and I know how bummed out you must be to have lost conditioning. Maybe you can set really small goals, like going for a 10-minute walk every other day to start? You will likely find that your energy level picks up by week 13 or 14. Just a suggestion, but remember that you have to start slowly to get back into things!

I think your goals are very realistic and if you just keep your eye on them and try not to let a week go by without working on them a little bit, you will succeed.

Do you have any books on healthy eating during pregnancy and nursing? There are lots of good ones out there and I found they helped me to focus on health rather than my weight issues.

 

[EricaH]

Hi Aspen,
Sorry that your first trimester has been so miserable!
My advice would be to ease back into your workouts (as your morning sickness will allow), but don't push hard. When you are pregnant, your goal is just to maintain fitness and not improve it.
I just had my 4th baby by C-Section on 8/13/02. I stayed very active during my pregnancy and I have to say that my fitness level has improved since my baby was born. The pregnancy didn't negatively effect my figure or fitness level.
You'll do fine! Just take care of yourself and enjoy the pregnancy (except for the morning sickness of course) - it is such a special time in your life.
Erica

 

[tchersue]

I had another reply for someone a bit higher up that would help you as well...

Please read my article in this month's Pregnancy Magazine -- "Image of a Mother" -- we women are sooooo hard on ourselves. Do your best now... that's all you can ever do. Weight will come off... weight might come back on... it's just one of those things. You know you can lose it later. You've done it before,you can do it again -- you know what you need to do, and you CAN do it.

That being said, I firmly believe that pregnancy may be the best time to exercise and treat ourselves to a wholesome diet... you won't get skinny, you may not appear any more fit as Mother Nature gives you a little extra padding so that you can nurture that new little life inside of you... but you can feel better, you can feel healthier, you can feel more empowered, you can feel stronger, you can give your baby more oxygen... and all of these things are very, very good.

I repeat as I have in many other posts to women worrying just like you... I lost 43 pregnancy pounds in 4 mos. after my first pregnancy and 38 pregnancy pounds in 3 mos. after my 2nd (8 mos. ago). I'm currently working losing the 20+ pounds I gained prior to getting pregnant with number 2... after plateauing for 4 mos. after I lost those 38 baby pounds, the scale is finally moving in a downward direction again, and now I've lost more than 45 lbs. total. I exercise consistently but not fanatically, and I am trying to make my portions smaller and to eat better "fuel sources" (i.e. whole grains, lean proteins, etc.)... it'll happen for me, and it'll happen for you, too

Take care of you...
Susan
Healthy Moms (R) Certified Perinatal Fitness Instructor & Contributor to Pregnancy Magazine

 

[gina]

Hi Aspen. This is only my first pregnancy, so I haven't been through the whole process yet. But I think that even though you had only started exercising more regularly in recent times, that a lot of your fatigue or decreased energy is part of the pregnancy. I was very short of breath and dead tired the first trimester. Like another poster said, by the second trimester, you will have more energy and feel better.

I also found it easier to eat well at that (this!) time. During the first trimester I mostly just wanted bread, noodles, cheese and kielbasa -ugh!- from time to time. I could eat fruits, but they weren't super appealing. Now I am able to look at meat and salad. And as I am able to eat better, I feel better about myself even if I am gaining weight. That said, let me tell you that I do struggle to feel good about myself whenever I put on a few pounds. Not like I have this all under control!

In sum, I think it will get easier for you to feel less anxious once you get well into the second trimester. And others have told you that they've gotten their bods back--so can you!

Gina