Fit Pregnancy

Now that I am on medication for throwing up and I have the okay from the doctor, I have started working out again this week. I am now 17 weeks pregnanut and I am just starting to enjoy being a mommy to be. Exercising for just a half-hour a day is one of the best gifts you can give yourself and your baby. Pregnant women who work out regularly have a lower risk of gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced high blood pressure and excess weight gain, plus fewer aches, more energy and, after delivery, a faster return to their prepregnancy shape. What’s more, new research shows that babies of exercising moms have lower rates, years later, of obesity and diabetes. So how could I not want to work out.

This week I have successfully gone to the gym for an hour each morning 4 days this week and I am planning on going again tomorrow morning to try out a dance workout class. I have been going to the gym with a new friend of mine Janielle at 7:00am. It makes for a fun, easy, and wonderful conversation filled workout. We have quickly become good friends due to the fact that we have a ton in common and we are both really really good looking :) I've noticed I have more energy during the day, I have been sleeping better at night, and I feel better about my body and the health of the baby.

Here are some guidelines that I found online to dictate how I plan to workout throughout this pregnancy:

Make the most of your 30 minutes

A half-hour a day is ample time to fit in your weekly dose of cardiovascular exercise, strength training and stretching. Here are some tips for organizing your workout:

On three to five days per week, do a purely cardio workout. Try walking, swimming, the elliptical trainer or stationary bike. If you can’t fit in 30 minutes all at once, break up your workouts into 10- or 15-minute increments; you’ll still get the benefits.

Twice a week, do a 10-minute, total-body strength circuit. Repeat the circuit (if you feel up to it) for a total of 30 minutes. Susie Shina, a trainer with prenatal expertise in Atlanta, recommends doing each exercise for 60 seconds using bands, dumbbells or simply your body weight (e.g., squats and push-ups).

Don’t forget to stretch. Finish your cardio or strength workout with a few minutes of simple stretches, focusing on your chest, lower back and front and rear thigh muscles.

Don’t waste any time commuting to the gym. Pop in a prenatal Pilates or yoga DVD and work out at home.

Wish me luck!