Prenatal Exercise
I have never particularly enjoyed exercising.
However, I love:
- The long-term results – health, fitness, and lack of weight gain!
- The immediate benefits – endorphins and better sleep
- The fact that the more you do it, the more enjoyable it becomes.
Here is my absolute favorite form of exercise:
I love riding my bike. I finally got a tire pump and I can’t wait to ride this weekend!
Walking is always good, too. I walked constantly with Christian from the time he was a week or two old.
I’ve completely slacked off on exercise since I started getting sick in the first trimester, but it’s definitely time to change that. I do have a gym membership, but there’s no child care, so a realistic aim is probably twice a week.
I also own this DVD:
I’d never heard of Summer Sanders, but she’s an Olympic medalist, and so far I love these workouts. The options for each trimester include full-length (about 1 hour) and express (about 30 minutes) and incorporate cardio and muscle work, using a resistance band.
So there’s my pregnancy fitness plan… I want to be in better shape than I was with my first pregnancy. Now if I can just stick to it!
Thank you for the wonderful reminder! I’m in the middle of 1st trimester yuckies and I’m really feeling the effects of not exercising. Maybe I’ll try a ten minute walk tonight just to get moving.
Good for you! I’ve heard it actually makes you feel less sick overall, but I never really tested that theory. 
And congratulations! I’m so happy for you. 
Anna, I feel like it just hit me that you are pregnant with your second child. I knew, but it just hadn’t sunk in yet. And to think that just a few years ago, I would visit Hope Road to read some excellent posts on singleness! I go back and read through you archives and am reminded of God’s faithfulness. He is so good!
He is indeed so good! Thanks for being such a faithful reader!
It’s worth it…I find that exercising during pregnancy helps me sleep well and it’s easier to get back to workouts after the baby. Plus…it gets us out of the house when I (we) go for a run:)
I know, I didn’t exercise enough when pregnant with Christian and I think I would have lost baby weight faster if I had.
I’m expecting too and like you can relate to the I’m-too-sick-and-tired bit from the first trimester. I haven’t worked out in a while (unless you count chasing around a 2 yr. old)…You just motivated me to get moving again!
I hope I’ve motivated myself too 
Yes, I love how exercise makes me feel after but I procrastinate about finding the time. I also like DVD’s because I can do them at home {I’d never get to it if I had to spend the extra time driving to a gym}. When I was pregnant I really liked Gabrielle Reese: The Complete Fit and Healthy Pregnancy because there was a different workout for each month so it kept me from getting bored and each workout was about 30mins so I could easily fit it in.
Okay, that DVD sounds really good! I need to look it up.
Anna,
I hope you find a plan that fits you! Exercise truly can do wonders but just remember that there is no right way for everyone. Find what you love to do best and then you’ll have more insentive to stick to it!:) Biking sounds awesome…so many people bike everywhere around here in NYC…I love being in a biking city and hope to own a bike myself at some point!:)
Thanks, Susanna! (So good to hear from you!) I really admire your commitment to exercise and running, especially with all of the craziness of the past few months in your life. A healthy mama definitely benefits the entire family.
I really enjoy reading your posts. =) I will keep this DVD in mind for my next pregnancy! I definitely didn’t exercise enough when pregnant with Linus.
Y.O.U. can do it!!