Questions for the educated crowd

[Monica11]

Hello all. For those of you who have been though a pregnancy, I was wondering if you could share your pg and post-pg fitness experiences. As I huffed and puffed today on a puny 4-inch step and lifted little baby weights, I thought about how good it will feel someday to really push myself again, with a really awesome endorphin-inducing IMAX workout or an all out Legs and Glutes torture session. I'm a big believer in letting nature take its course and not not fighting the process--if it's really 9 months up and 9 months down, I can live with that. But you hear so many different things, it's hard to know what to expect. So as I look forward to the next 6 months and beyond, I wonder how others fared. How much muscle tone could you maintain throughout pregnancy? I know there're lots of reasons to keep exercising in pg (minimize aches and pains, etc), but are my light weight workouts doing me any good at preserving my pre-pregnancy fitness levels? As for post partum, I've read that although breastfeeding helps you lose weight at first, it makes it harder to lose those last few pounds. Is that true? How long did it take you to return to your pre-pg fitness routine, even if you still carried a few extra pounds?

Looking forward to hearing your collective wisdom!

 

[christy g]

During the pregnancy I was much the same way. Short step and little weights and wishing I could get the cardio high I use to get. Just do what you can and don't push too hard.

After I delivered, I started working out at about 4-5 weeks post-partum. Dumb decision! I was anxious to get back to "normal" and ended up doing more harm than good (extended bleeding and infections). So, learn from me, take your time getting back into exercise. I worked out on and off up until 6 months...not pushing myself too hard but just easing back into it. At 6 months, I stepped it up a notch and started working out 6 days a week and it worked wonders to blast off the last 10 pounds. At 9 months post-partum I was at my prepregnancy weight and size and with out changing my diet too much. I was (and still am) strictly nursing. For the most part everything is pretty much pre-pregnancy condition. I think I ended up losing some muscle mass and even now I can tell that I have jiggly areas (like my arms). But, I can live with that for now since I know it will come off eventually, hopefully once I quit nursing.

Best of luck!

 

[howzitbn]

Hi there. I had my first child 8 months ago. I gained 26 lbs during my pregnancy and had all but 2 lbs off by my 6 week check-up. I have since lost it plus a little more. I've gotten "skinny" comments since probably 2 months post partum. It has to be due to exercising during(up to the 36th week)and after my pregnancy and to breastfeeding. I modified A LOT during my pregnancy. The CTX series (mostly just cardio portions which avg 30 min) and Push Pull became my favorites (skipping abs and laying on stomach..I did have to lower the weight on most exercises). I had a c-section, but was able to ease into exercise at 5 1/2 wks post partum. Once again, I used CTX (cardio only, no abs for quite a while) and also walked on the treadmill. Both during pregnancy and after, I listened to my body (sleep took priority/still does). There were/are weeks I workout 5 days and some none at all. Strength didn't take too long to come back, and I've since upped my weights past what I was using pre-pregnancy. (Must be from carrying my 23 lb son and all his loot...hehe). I'm still mushy/soft in some places, but am hopeful that it'll tone up after I stop breastfeeding.

That's awesome that you're still working out!! I definitely think it helps during pregnancy and after.

Tana