Pregnant, not powerless— a phrase I have taken to heart since becoming pregnant back in August. Every time I tell someone that I’m working out or doing anything physical, I’m met with a “is that ok? I mean, you’re pregnant”. Since when did pregnancy become a disability? Because the last time I checked, I’m doing a pretty amazing thing—I’m growing a human over here!
Exercise, in any capacity, is important and encouraged while you’re pregnant. Now, if you’ve never lifted a weight in your life, should you go out and try to bench press 200 pounds when you’re 8 weeks pregnant? Meeeeh, that’s probably not the best idea but staying active is important.
If you have been consistently exercising pre-pregnancy you may need to adjust your routines and your exercises. Your body is no longer able to do the things it was before, and that’s normal. There is so much information out there on exercising when pregnant, but the first person you should talk to is your OBGYN. They can help you determine what’s going to be the best option for you and your nugget.
Now to get real personal, my husband and I used the incredible wonders of modern day medicine to get pregnant—IVF. We were incredibly lucky to have our first round be successful, but let me tell you…it’s a scary process.
So once we got that call, I thought “awesome! Back to my regularly scheduled programming”— this included Sweat Fixx 4-5 times a week and hiking with the pups. Since I was such an active person pre-pregnancy, I didn’t realize how much things would change once I was exercising for two! When I started to slow down in the middle of my first trimester, I got down on myself. I felt frustrated that I was no longer able to row as fast, lift as heavy, or even work out at all.
Talking to a friend of mine who is also pregnant, she helped me realize that it’s okay. I started to accept that my body was going to change, my abilities were going to change, and my thought process would have to change. I started to adjust my expectations AND my workouts. If I wanted to and had the energy to work out, great! If I needed a rest day, totally fine! Acceptance is KEY! Even on days when you can barely get out of your own way, let alone think about exercising, just remember you’re doing something pretty bad-ass.
WaterRowers are a great low impact cardio option during pregnancy. Not only are you able to work on your breathing while you get a full body workout, you also take most of the pressure off your ankles, knees and other joints that tend to get stressed the further along you get into your pregnancy.
No matter what form of exercise you choose remember to be patient with your body and appreciate the amazing transformation it is going through. You are pregnant, not powerless… stay active & enjoy the journey!
Disclaimer: If you have questions about IVF, working out pregnant, or just want to vent about the wonders that happen to the female body when creating life, give me a shout!