Recommended Workouts for 2nd Trimester??

[cyclinggirl]

Hi, I'm new here.

This is for expectant and recent moms. I'm 3 months along and wondering if you can recommend some videos that you use(d) to keep fit while pregnant. Before my pregnancy I was quite fit (competitive cycling, running, bosu + hand weights, walking, yoga) until I had a hip injury in the winter and could barely walk. Thankfully, that helped slow me down and coincided with learning I was pregnant. I had a miscarriage last spring and really wanted to be safe and gentle with my body this time. So as my hip improved I was able to do some light pre-natal yoga, walking, and a handful of pre-natal workout DVDs. Some of them were too gentle and pretty boring, but I did them anyway b/c I wanted to be safe.

I'm feeling stronger and less ill (had nausea + indigestion) and have been working out with weights over the last several weeks. I love the way it feels and can't believe it's been 10 years since I lifted heavier weights regularly. I've been keeping OFF my racing bike and have done a couple of rides on my hybrid, which is slower and has more stability. I talk out loud while I ride to keep my activity and heart rate level in a safe place (sounds goofy but I talk to my mom and grandma, they both died last year. It's been cathartic actually, feels good to be able to include them this way...both always wanted me to be a mom.) ...sigh.

Probably too much info, sorry. I'm extremely sentimental right now and miss both of them dearly.

Anyway, I'm wondering what you ladies can recommend for someone who likes to "feel a workout" but also wants to be safe. I'm looking for a workout that will help define my arms, shoulders, back, and legs. I ordered Cathe's Pyramid upper and lower body 1. I'm hoping it's a good choice. I'm sure I may have to modify some of it, but I love her workouts on Fit TV, she's an awesome person to follow!! Very motivating for me.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and recommendations. I appreciate it!!

-s

 

[emackay]

Welcome

I tend to lurk more than post, but I am also about 3 months along (11 w, 2 days). During the past year and a half I've had 2 miscarriages; I also had an injured right foot before this pregnancy, so I have a fair idea of where you're coming from. Cathe has been my dvd diva for about 2 years, before that I was swimming a couple of miles a day.

No morning sickness for me, but a near constant state of fatigue is finally drawing to a close. Hopefully, I will have some more ooomph this trimester. So far, I have been able to do all of Cathe's weight workouts (including the pyramids). I really like Muscle Max and the Gym Styles, too. The GS series is great b/c I can add on an upper body before/after 1/2 hr. of cardio. With the pyramids, make sure you do the benchwork on an incline now - like chest presses, etc. After the first trimester being on your back for more than 30-60 seconds is a no-no. On other days I do one of Cathe's Kickboxing dvds. You can modify them depending on how you feel (kick lower, no jumping, all jumping, whatever - and there are lots of pre-mixes). Kick Punch & Crunch, Kick Max, and the CrossTrain Express KB are all goodies.

This trimester I plan to dig out some of her low impact step, too - like Low Max. I plan on doing the step only premixes (and maybe some of the blasts - we'll see).

My doctors have all said (for me - I don't know your situation) that exercise can not hurt anything and that my losses before were just flukes. Basically, if it hurts, don't do it. Cathe posted a great summary of prego-exercise rules at the top of this forum if you want to take a peek. There are some great books out there too - Fit to Deliver, one by Julie Tupler ...

Best of luck and if you have any questions let me (and the other ladies) know.

arancini

 

[cyclinggirl]

Hi Arancini,

I'm so sorry to hear of your losses, two in such a short time must be tough for you. But it sounds like you're doing amazingly well and taking good care of yourself. That's wonderful.

Thanks for the info, tips, and the book - all those workouts look great! Despite your prego fatigue, you're getting in some tough workouts. Fatigue stinks, I've had that off and on too, so I'm impressed with your ability to push through it.

I'm going to keep you and your wee one in my thoughts and prayers for ongoing health and a smooth uneventful pregnancy that ends in an easy and joyous delivery.

Take care, and thanks again!

-s

 

[jennifersmom]

Hi Ladies,

I am 26 weeks along,this is my second pregnancy. I took advice months
ago from another post. I was asking the same question as far as
videos for the second trimester when Cathe's might become too
hard as the pregnancy advances. I purchased and LOVE " The Perfect
Pregnancy." You can go on line to look at reviews. I still use
Cathe's but at about 20/21 weeks along it became more difficult.
I have tried so many tapes last time and this time too. I do like
Leisa Hart's " Fit Mama" but I feel like I am actually getting a
workout when I use The Perfect Pregnancy Work out because weights
are used. The person who recommended had best results getting back
into shape using this workout and it was her third pregnancy.
I hope this helps!

Good Luck Ladies,

Jennifer Claire 12/24/05
? 8/10/2007

 

[cyclinggirl]

Hi Suzanne,

Thanks for the reply! I have both the DVDs you mentioned. I bought the Perfect Pregancy workout early on and loved it, Karyn Steben is amazing! But grew a bit bored with it after a while, probably b/c I didn't have a good rotation of DVDs to use. I haven't used in 6 weeks or so. I agree that it's an excellent workout and you do feel it. I'm glad to hear that your friend used it to get her body back -- I'll remember that!

I think at the time I stopped using it I had a desire to focus on my lower half. So I shifted to a prenatal pilates DVD that helped to gently whiddle away some of the thigh/butt challenges I had without taxing me too much - I had a nagging fear of a miscarriage at the time, so it worked out well.

Now I've crossed the threshold into a better place (mentally and physically) and I probably should re-visit the Perfect Workout. I know I'll love it when I'm further along, I'm barely showing now so my tummy isn't a problem...yet. That's why I wanted to know which of Cathe's DVDs might work for another month or so.

Which one's (of Cathe's) do you still use ocassionally?

For other mom's out there, I also like Leisa Hart's Fit Mama DVD. The yoga fat burn, stretching, and kegels are great. I improvise in the salsa cardio section...I tend to like street/hip-hop dance styles more than salsa...I feel it a little bit more. It's a fun workout without weights.

Does anyone else out there have any recommendations?

Thanks for the help!

-s

 

[AZFirmie]

I didn't use many prenatal workouts, other than Crunch Yoga Mama (great stretches!). In my second trimester, I modified a lot of workouts so I could do them. I did Cathe's Basic Step and Body Fusion DVD. Another step workout I liked was Kari Anderson's Go. I also did Keli Roberts' old Ultimate Step, and Kathy Smith's Great Buns and Thighs step.

Other workouts I used--Firms (mostly the "6-pack" workouts, and Super Body Sculpt), old Claudia Schiffer Perfectly Fit videos, Margaret Richard's Getting Better (VHS only), Leslie Sansone. I just modified as needed, and stuck to low-impact and lower-intensity cardio as I got further along.

By my third trimester, my balance was awful and it got tough to be on my feet for long. My hips got sore too, so I'd just take short walks during the day and do weight workouts at home.

BTW, my baby's 5 months old and I have 5 more lbs (from 32 gained) left to lose. So apparently, I did something at least semi-right!

 

[jennifersmom]

Just a follow up to my last post and to respond to the question
as to what other videos to use.

I love Cathe but like I mentioned felt I start to work too hard.
I don't like the feeling of my heart pounding, sweating when pregnant.
My legs and arms have stayed tone from using my Quick Fix DVD with
Minna Lessing(sp?) and also Leisa Hart's " My Personal Trainer."
They are effective in my opinion. You can also modify Cathe's
easier workouts like her Wedding get in shape video or the low
impact. I just don't like to have to modify so I do the vidoes
I know I can perform all the way through. I used Leisa Hart's
" My Personal Trainer " which was also called " Gym in a Box"
everyday for my last trimester w/Jennifer. I attribute the
weight gain of 23lbs. and it coming off a few weeks later to the
exercises in that video. Each segment is broken into 10 minutes
and I would and still do the abs section on an exercise ball or
inclined bench. Good Luck!

 

[Marnie]

hi there and congratulations! sounds like you are taking good care of yourself. i am almost at 12 wks too, and i've found the prenatal workouts out there are too easy. so i have stuck with my cathe i've just modified a bit when fatigue really sets in. i absolutely love the pyramid workouts and find i can still do them. i also love muscle max, the gym series, pure strength, MIS and supersets. i love my cathe workouts! i refuse to stop doing them, i have just eased up on the weight a bit. my doctor knows i'm a runner and weightlifter, and she basically told me to maintain my fitness now and not go for major fitness gains. so, that's what i'm doing. i'm careful about my heartrate and i'm not pushing it too hard, but i don't feel satisfied when i do an easy workout. the workouts i do avoid are high impact aerboics. i just do my runs for cardio.

i too have the "perfect pregnancy workout" but i got bored with it, so i mainly stick with cathe.

best of health to you!!!

 

[Shopahollic]

Congrats to all you pregnant ladies. My baby will be 1 this sat. I used alot of firm workouts when pregnant. I also liked gay gasper workouts. My facorite cathes while pregnant were lowmax, body fusion, wedding tape, and rythymic step. I also used my christi's more. I kept away from the high impact ones like imax 3.

 

[cyclinggirl]

Thanks to everyone for the great responses. It's nice to know that there are moms and moms-to-be out there who are also determined to get a decent workout without overdoing it. I appreciate all the recommended videos, a couple of them (non Cathe) I had read about but wondered if they were any good, so it was great to get your feedback.

I just received Cathe's Low Impact Step w/Total Body Sculpting and Drill Max, plus I have the pryamids. I plan to do the segments that I like that aren't too jumpy or are easy to modify, and create my own mix and match. Now I have enough DVDs to work with that I can keep things interesting without getting bored. And thanks to you, a few new video suggestions in case I eventually get the urge for something new.

Best of luck to all the expectant moms, hope you have a healthy delivery! And congrats to the new moms, hope you reach your fitness and weight goals quickly. You're our role models -- you rock!!!

-s