12 Reasons to Exercise During Pregnancy

When I talked about getting back to a workout routine once I can do it without getting sick (all day sickness stinks!) people acted like I was a crazy person. I know that rest is a good thing during pregnancy but exercise is as well. Honestly, I think there should be a health balance of rest and exercise during a pregnancy. There are multiple benefits of staying active or getting active during your pregnancy. I am slowly getting back to more activity and it is going well. I think it may be about time to step it up a little bit.

Granted every person and pregnancy is different and I won’t tell you to go out and get moving without the supervision of you OB/GYN. They know what is best for you. I had to wait a while to get the okay to get started with working out again; in all reality during the period I had to wait (for medical reasons) I would not have been able to do anything. All daily activities were hard to do because I was so ill. Now most of my illness is in the evening through the night so during the day there is no reason I don’t try to move a little bit. Now you may be wondering what the benefits of a prenatal workout are so here are a few things I dug up and that my doctor told me.

• Improved posture: The extra weight you gain up front can cause you to have curvature in the spine and cause compression in your back increasing back pain and discomfort
• It can increase strength and stamina and that can help you through labor and delivery
• Enhancement of circulation and flexibility
• Reduced risk of gestational diabetes
• Just an all around feeling of well being
• Can help you sleep better at night
• Calcium absorption can increase
• Fewer varicose veins and stretch marks
• Less risk of abdominal separation
• Your body will bounce back quicker after you deliver
• Stress reduction
• Improved self image

Be sure to consult your physician before you start a workout regimen. Even if you have never worked out in your life starting during pregnancy is still okay for most people and a good idea!

Last Day of Summer!

Back to School for Miss Emma Kay tomorrow. She is pretty excited to go back and to wear all of her new clothes. Well the tops, she is one of those kids that swears all pants, shorts, underwear and shoes are uncomfortable. So far there has been no way to successfully convince her otherwise. Personally I am not ready for her to go back. I enjoy having her around the house. But can’t keep her from education. So back to early nights and even earlier mornings. We spent the day doing what she wanted, it consisted of Chinese food, the arcade and then pizza for dinner in a few here.

Tomorrow I am going to try to hit the pavement in the a.m. after she goes to school. With neighbor kids back in school there will be fewer people out and about so I can have some privacy. The possibility of puking on the side of the street in front of the neighbors is pretty mortifying. Plus seeing how it goes seems like a good idea to me. Won’t know unless it is tried.

Surfing the internet or “googling” as the kid calls it, late last night I stumbled upon a full Les Mills pregnancy brochure. Pretty awesome (well, I think so). it gives you modifications for pretty much all the basic LMP moves. it will certainly come in handy! If you would like to check it out you can do so (HERE). It is showing lunges as being allowed, just not walking lunges. definitely checking with the doc on this when I go in on the 10th. The brochure is getting printed up and taken to the doctor with me. Sure will make explaining everything much easier!