https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 01:56:36 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-bees-who-worked-out-during-pregnancyquestions#post-669470 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 20:05:22 +0000 heartonastring 669470@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My answers will probably be pretty similar to @blackbird's since we're both crossfitters.</p> <p>-How hard were your workouts? Did you do them till the end?</p> <p>My workouts are quite intense. Generally one hour in length and including heavy weight lifting (dead lifts, squats, push presses, bench presses, pull ups etc.) and high intensity conditioning (wall balls, ball slams, rope slams, sprints, box jumps etc.). They're the kinds of workouts that, pre-pregnancy (before I scaled back the intensity) make me feel like puking on the regular. I've scaled back the weight a lot and the intensity somewhat.</p> <p>I'm 38 weeks today and still working out.</p> <p>-What exactly did you do for workouts?</p> <p>I guess I pretty much answered this above :)</p> <p>-did you really follow the heart rate rules I've read online (not above 140) or did you just make sure you weren't overdoing it?</p> <p>Not in the least. They're outdated and don't make any sense when you take all the additional blood volume into account. I use the talk test to make sure I'm not overdoing it.</p> <p>My midwife is 100% on board with the intensity and frequency of my workouts and has told me to do as much as I can for as long as I can.</p> <p>-how often did you go?</p> <p>First and second tri: 3-4x/week. Third tri: 2x/week.</p> <p>-how long was each workout session?</p> <p>An hour.</p> <p>My workouts have been among the best times of my pregnancy. They give me so much energy and increase my confidence In my body and its capabilities. I've also been lucky to have a very easy pregnancy and I think staying active has a lot to do with that :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-bees-who-worked-out-during-pregnancyquestions#post-669456 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:55:55 +0000 blackbird 669456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The HR monitor on the machines aren't very accurate anyways! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-bees-who-worked-out-during-pregnancyquestions#post-669431 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:44:47 +0000 JoJoGirl 669431@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>-How hard were your workouts? Did you do them till the end?</p> <p>I ran a 10K at 8w and did crossfit 3x/week until 24 weeks, plus barre workouts and cardio the other days (I typically work out 5-6 days/week). I had to scale back first at 23 weeks because of preterm labor (dropped crossfit) and then again because of diastasis. I'm now 32 weeks and do elliptical 5x/week, barre 2-3x/week and strength 1-2x/week.</p> <p>-What exactly did you do for workouts?<br /> Oops, see above.</p> <p>-did you really follow the heart rate rules I've read online (not above 140) or did you just make sure you weren't overdoing it?</p> <p>Sweet jesus no. Use the "talk test" and make sure you can breath. I wore a HR monitor and in some of my CF workouts I spiked as high as 170. I probably shouldn't have done that and wouldn't recommend it, but 'listen to your body' when it comes to heart rate.</p> <p>-how often did you go?<br /> I'm still trying to go 5-6 x/week although many of those days are 'light' now, say 30 mins on the elliptical and nothing else.</p> <p>-how long was each workout session?<br /> Up until 24 weeks, 3x/week I'd do an hour of crossfit and THEN get on the elliptical for a half hour. I had to scale back after having contractions at 24 weeks. STAY HYDRATED. And back off some - I should have backed off my weights a bit and drank more water, other than that, I think what I was doing was fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-bees-who-worked-out-during-pregnancyquestions#post-669426 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:43:40 +0000 tlcbaby 669426@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree that the 140 rule is out of date. My midwife said to stick to workouts/movements I was comfortable with pre-pregnancy and just listen to my body. I am a runner and my speed naturally slowed down, as did my distances, as my pregnancy progressed. Once running became uncomfortable, I gave it up for walking and swimming. If you listen to your body, you'll know when you are doing too much.</p> <p>I was also doing CrossFit pre-pregnancy so I felt comfortable lifting heavy weights, but if I felt sore after a workout, I would lift lighter weights at the next class. </p> <p>Pre-pregnancy I worked out 6 to 7 days a week, now it is more like 3 or 4 in my third trimester. I also drink plenty of water and make sure I have a snack nearby in case I start to feel like I need some food.</p> <p>I think what you are doing sounds just fine - just do what feels comfortable to you and you should be good to go! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-bees-who-worked-out-during-pregnancyquestions#post-669424 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:43:31 +0000 Silva 669424@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>-How hard were your workouts? Did you do them till the end?<br /> Pre baby I ran 4 miles 3 or 4 times a week. Until 18 weeks I kept this up, although some weeks I only got out a couple times. I started yoga weekly at 12 weeks. After 18 weeks running started to hurt, so I switched to walking briskly 3 or 4 miles a week 4 times a week<br /> -did you really follow the heart rate rules I've read online (not above 140) or did you just make sure you weren't overdoing it?<br /> I just listened to my body. When things hurt I slowed down. Plus, I got out of breath pretty easily, so I slowed down naturally<br /> -how often did you go?<br /> See above<br /> -how long was each workout session?<br /> Running was about 40 mins each time, walking is about an hour. I aim for 4 hours of exercise a week.</p> <p>What you are doing sounds totally fine. My providers said over and over again the best thing you can do for your pregnancy and delivery is to exercise. So good work! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-bees-who-worked-out-during-pregnancyquestions#post-669413 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:34:04 +0000 Anagram 669413@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>okay, good...This thread is making me feel a lot better! My husband will start coming over and looking at the machine (to see my heart rate) if I've been on the machine for a while---he's a first time daddy too, and just wants to make sure everything with the LO is okay. But I'm like...I feel FINE. A higher heart rate is okay. But I didn't really have any justification until right now.</p> <p>Thanks alll! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-bees-who-worked-out-during-pregnancyquestions#post-669403 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:30:16 +0000 MamaBehr 669403@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would say listen to your body. When I was working out too hard, I knew it!! With my first pregnancy I worked out pretty close to the end, but I stuck to walking on the treadmill on a pretty intense incline. </p> <p>I didn't work out too much with my second pregnancy, but I am now in a "Baby Bootcamp" where pregnant (and noot pregnant) women come and workout. There are numerous women who have worked out up to their due date. There was one hardcore woman who worked out PAST her due date (she was SOOO beast!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-bees-who-worked-out-during-pregnancyquestions#post-669395 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:27:23 +0000 kml636 669395@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The 140 rule is outdated. I think they are more worried about core temperature, etc. I think 30 mind on the elliptical is perfect! As long as you feel good, I say go for it and my dr did too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-bees-who-worked-out-during-pregnancyquestions#post-669375 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:05:47 +0000 blackbird 669375@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My work outs were probably harder than most. I did Crossfit and played softball and volleyball. Pull ups, rope jumping, weight lifting, cardio, etc. 3-4x/week and them about twice a week in my third trimester. About an hour each time. This was a big scale back for me, but I was doing all these things pre pregnancy </p> <p>My doc gave me a heart rate rule of 150 and lift no more than 40 lbs. I listened to neither and just made sure I was never totally out of breath and that I wasn't straining under the weight or doing heavy full body movements that strained my stomach. </p> <p>Your work outs sound plenty light to me and you are listening to your body-which is the most important thing! You'll know when it is too much. Your body will tell you. And if you tbink they're easy, I can't see how they aren't fine! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-bees-who-worked-out-during-pregnancyquestions#post-669314 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 18:32:33 +0000 hilsy85 669314@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>-How hard were your workouts? Did you do them till the end?<br /> Pre baby I ran on the treadmill/outside for about 2 miles at a time. I stopped running midway through my first trimester, and stuck to the elliptical.<br /> -What exactly did you do for workouts? I did the elliptical at level 7-9 for 20 min, and also walked briskly either on the treadmill or outside, for anywhere from 15-45min. I tried to work out 3x a week.<br /> -did you really follow the heart rate rules I've read online (not above 140) or did you just make sure you weren't overdoing it?<br /> -how often did you go? I never got a heart rate monitor, I just tried to make sure I was never too out of breath.<br /> -how long was each workout session? Total, 40 min if I was at the gym...I would sometimes walk outside for an hour or so. </p> <p>It sounds like what you're doing is totally fine! The general rule of thumb is not to start any new activities, but you can continue doing activities that you've done before. It sounds like you're being cognizant of your limits! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-bees-who-worked-out-during-pregnancyquestions#post-669309 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 18:28:55 +0000 Anagram 669309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Okay, so Bees who worked out during pregnancy, I have some questions!</p> <p>-How hard were your workouts? Did you do them till the end?<br /> -What exactly did you do for workouts?<br /> -did you really follow the heart rate rules I've read online (not above 140) or did you just make sure you weren't overdoing it?<br /> -how often did you go?<br /> -how long was each workout session?</p> <p>I ask because...I *just* started getting back into working out, and I'm at 24 weeks on Thursday. Until week 17, I was just too sick, and even after week 17, my nausea wasn't totally gone, so working out has been a no-go up until the last couple of weeks.</p> <p>My doctor never told me any heart rate rules, but I keep reading online that 140 is the magical number. The machine in my gym (I've heard the monitors ON the machine aren't that accurate) says my heartrate is about 150 even when I'm just doing level 1 on the elliptical and I don't feel like I'm working hard AT ALL.</p> <p>Pre-pregnancy, for cardio I would usually do the elliptical at a level 8-9 for about 40 minutes, then go do weights. Sometimes I would do the bike, but I never do the treadmill because I have ankle issues and the treadmill (even walking) is too high-impact for my messed up ankles.</p> <p>So now, I tend to do the elliptical for about 30 minutes at a level 5. My heart rate is definitely higher than 140, but I'm never panting (can always just breathe through my nose) and I don't feel like I'm overdoing it. I sometimes do the weight machines afterwards, and just don't do any ab exercises.</p> <p>Does this sound reasonable? Sometimes my husband goes and thinks I'm doing too much, but I think 30 minutes on a level 5 on the elliptical is easy-peasy compared to what I used to do.</p> <p>Thoughts? Suggestions? </p>