https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:17:09 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exercise-while-pregnant-i-need-some-motivation#post-1415007 Tue, 11 Feb 2014 14:45:18 +0000 mrsjyw 1415007@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@merbaby14: I fell off the wayside with my first pregnancy and didn't workout regularly. With the next one, I'll probably avoid / be too tired to swim during first trimester, but I'm going to keep it up for second/third. Im not concerned about chemical levels at our pool. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exercise-while-pregnant-i-need-some-motivation#post-1413367 Tue, 11 Feb 2014 02:05:40 +0000 SupernovaJ 1413367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i realized that being inactive made my pregnancy exhaustion worse. i also dreaded the thought of starting from ground zero after having the baby - being more exhausted than ever, having lost all my stamina, muscle strength, etc. mentally it's almost impossible some days to get myself to the gym but once i'm there and finish my work out, i'm so glad i did it. if you were active prior to pregnancy, i think it's one of the healthiest decisions you can make - to stay active during pregnancy. it'll allow you to have healthy weight gain and will also help you to blow steam and keep those hormones in check. growing larger than you've ever been also isn't easy - no matter how much self confidence you have. on some days, working out is the only thing that keeps me sane (thank you endorphins) with all the emotional ups and downs.</p> <p>i'm 32 weeks now and i was running on a treadmill till 28 weeks but it started to strain my back and i've now switched to the elliptical. intensity wise it's the same but much less impact all over. i ran a couple of half marathons in the few months prior to conceiving, so i'm still running 5+ miles at a decent speed but i've cut the intensity a lot from before, obviously. i think your body knows just how much to push yourself.</p> <p>when i'm lazy and i can't get my butt to the gym, i do stairs for 30 minutes in my building, or do a "cafe mom" work out video on YouTube (there are tons of other options, too). i'm not much of a yoga person but i hear it's SO great for pregnancy. i was always more into pilates but it's too much core work. if my gym had a pool, i'd definitely do water aerobics and swim laps. such a great workout! i also try to squeeze in weights whenever i can - during commercials, while brushing my teeth, etc. i have free weights at home and i'm always doing squats or arm exercises here and there. it all adds up. lastly, allow yourself BTN days - "better than nothing" days. you don't have to run crazy miles or do 2 hours of yoga a day. i aim to run 3 times a week and the other days i'll just go for a long walk, do more errands than usual, stairs, a weight workout, stretching, hiking, etc. when your baby arrives, you'll be so glad you stuck with it! all that effort adds up. good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exercise-while-pregnant-i-need-some-motivation#post-1413113 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 21:35:04 +0000 anandam 1413113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@NorCalWayfarer: I forgot to say I've also done some 10min workouts I found on YouTube and really like - if you search "Fitsugar" and "prenatal" they should come up. There's one with Heidi Klum's trainer that I like, and a legs/butt one, and an arm one. When I'm really motivated I do all three for 30min total, but usually even my laziest self can get up for just 10min in my living room. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exercise-while-pregnant-i-need-some-motivation#post-1412942 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 20:08:15 +0000 NorCalWayfarer 1412942@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaCate: @anandam: I am NOT a Zumba person, but maybe I can find some other cardio or yoga/pilates classes :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exercise-while-pregnant-i-need-some-motivation#post-1412929 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 20:00:45 +0000 babypugs 1412929@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did yoga once a week and did the Mom's into Fitness DVDs...they were great! I was back to my pre-pregnancy weight with no pooch within a week, so I highly recommend them! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exercise-while-pregnant-i-need-some-motivation#post-1412882 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 19:36:30 +0000 anandam 1412882@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ditto @MamaCate - I've really enjoyed salsa classes most and am motivated to go because I actually like it. Prenatal yoga has been kind of eh for me - it feels really hard not to overstretch and I'm hesitant to injure myself. Not convinced it's good for everyone. I started Tai Chi last week and it's certainly not cardio, but I think it has similar mind-body benefits to yoga and feels better to me.</p> <p>@merbaby14: I've been using this as an excuse and I think it's probably not valid. An hour or two a week probably won't cause much harm, but the exercise is probably very beneficial. I just need to get up the motivation to shave my bikini line. Can't even see it anymore! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exercise-while-pregnant-i-need-some-motivation#post-1412741 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 17:59:56 +0000 MamaCate 1412741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@NorCalWayfarer: I did Zumba at the gym once a week through most of my pregnancy plus cardio on the elliptical and treadmill and it went really well. If you haven't tried Zumba it might be a good option--it feels more like dancing so you can pretend you aren't working out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exercise-while-pregnant-i-need-some-motivation#post-1412723 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 17:52:18 +0000 NorCalWayfarer 1412723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: I haven't done Cross Fit before pregnancy so I don't think it' something I'd want to start now. I wish I was that fit though!! Maybe motivation to start after the pregnancy to lose the baby weight! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exercise-while-pregnant-i-need-some-motivation#post-1412707 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 17:39:54 +0000 Corduroy 1412707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did CrossFit pre-pregnancy and continued with CrossFitMom.com workouts until my due date. After I delivered the nurse asked me for my exercise routine. </p> <p>One caveat: I have no idea if it's true but my mother swears my long labor was due to my exercising during pregnancy. All I know is that I wouldn't have gotten through it unmedicated if I hadn't worked out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exercise-while-pregnant-i-need-some-motivation#post-1412675 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 17:23:13 +0000 tigger223 1412675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love my Summer Sanders workout DVD - I did Jillian Michaels before getting pregnant, and the Summer Sanders workout is super low key compared to that, but it's much more appropriate for pregnancy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exercise-while-pregnant-i-need-some-motivation#post-1412661 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 17:19:42 +0000 merbaby14 1412661@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjyw: Im so glad you brought up swimming - I'm hoping to start incorporating it into my routine. Have you or anyone else had concerns with a highly chlorinated pool? I'm would be swimming at a YMCA and they use so much that the smell is soo strong - should I be concerned about the chlorine fumes at all do you think? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exercise-while-pregnant-i-need-some-motivation#post-1412600 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 16:55:57 +0000 lemondrop 1412600@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With #1, I walked the dog for 30 minutes a night, and that's about it. For #2 I knew I'd need a little more motivation, so I signed up for a fun "run" for later in my pregnancy to keep me working towards. I spent time on the elliptical and treadmill going at a fast walking pace several times a week. Since this run was family friendly and not timed, I knew I could just go at my own pace and be fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exercise-while-pregnant-i-need-some-motivation#post-1412522 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 16:27:08 +0000 NorCalWayfarer 1412522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@TemperanceBrennan: @mrsjyw: I really need to get back into swimming! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exercise-while-pregnant-i-need-some-motivation#post-1412510 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 16:24:06 +0000 mrsjyw 1412510@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Swimming! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exercise-while-pregnant-i-need-some-motivation#post-1412501 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 16:20:16 +0000 TemperanceBrennan 1412501@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like a broken record today because I've already talked about swimming twice in posts, but I see several pregnant ladies swim laps at my pool and a few have even done the water aerobics classes regularly until right before they gave birth. Seems like it would help keep you active without straining joints. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exercise-while-pregnant-i-need-some-motivation#post-1412482 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 16:13:04 +0000 Smurfette 1412482@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I walked or the elliptical a ton. I still lifted weights. I miss the days where I could go to the gym after work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exercise-while-pregnant-i-need-some-motivation#post-1412479 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 16:12:28 +0000 bushelandapeck 1412479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@septca: I agree. Losing the baby weight with #1 easily is definitely my motivation for working out this time around. I am actually working out more now that I am pregnant than I have been the last 18 mos since LO was born. I also ad a med-free birth and I think working out helped a ton with the stamina I needed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exercise-while-pregnant-i-need-some-motivation#post-1412473 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 16:10:04 +0000 septca 1412473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I walked a ton (at least 4 miles a day) and did prenatal yoga 1-2x/week as soon as I felt up to it.</p> <p>My motivation was that I wanted to have a natural childbirth and my MWs required that amount of exercise (30-60 minutes of cardio/day + yoga) as part of their practice. Your motivation can be my 45+ hour labor, during all of which I remained physically strong and never asked for meds. </p> <p>My motivation to get that same amount of exercise during my next pregnancy will be that I lost all of my preg weight + 5 pounds by my 6 week visit. That is *serious* motivation to stay fit during pregnancy. :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exercise-while-pregnant-i-need-some-motivation#post-1412454 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 16:00:06 +0000 Mae 1412454@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like yoga :) I've been too lazy to do anything else. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exercise-while-pregnant-i-need-some-motivation#post-1412453 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 15:59:55 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 1412453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My motivation to you is simply: it is hard as hell to lose excess weight post baby =) excess means, all that fat you actually did not need to sustain the pregnancy.<br /> I liked to walk on the treadmill at a brisk pace and an incline. It really kept my booty and legs toned up!!<br /> Also: I liked the elliptical because it was less trauma to my pregnant knees.<br /> I also like Suzanne Summer's pregnancy DVD, but I only did that on my lazy days. I gained 30lbs which was too much for me personally, but I ate like a whale:) and I only started working out the last 11weeks. So, I'm happy with it. I lost it all within 8w.<br /> Also, according to my OB, my pushes we're super strong and my labor was 8h from start to finish.<br /> So, do it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exercise-while-pregnant-i-need-some-motivation#post-1412450 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 15:59:01 +0000 bushelandapeck 1412450@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>6w over here and I am thoroughly unmotivated but I do try to go to the gym a few times each week to do some cardio and weights. I find it does give me more energy and makes me feel better when I go. When I was pregnant with LO #1, I went to the gym almost daily and did prenatal yoga. I hope to start the prenatal yoga again when I'm closer to 18-20 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exercise-while-pregnant-i-need-some-motivation#post-1412430 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 15:52:54 +0000 NorCalWayfarer 1412430@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was pretty active before getting pregnant, although I cut back the few cycles before getting KU due to an early miscarriage. I did a little bit of yoga the first 6ish weeks while pregnant, but then was just way too exhausted to do anything other than work and sleep. Now I'm 19 weeks and ready to get back into exercising. Any favorite exercise programs to do while pregnant? Any tips/suggestions? </p>