Have A Healthy & Fit Pregnancy!

Exercise and pregnancy DO go together. But pregnancy can change the type of excercise you do.

While pregnant, maintaining a healthy diet is important. However, a “fit” pregnancy is just as critical.
We want to stay as active as possible (within your personal physician’s guidelines).

• Finding a regular exercise schedule throughout your pregnancy can help with nausea, mood swings, fatigue, and those lovely aches and pains.
• In addition, a fit pregnancy will help ease the process of labor and get you back into pre-baby shape much quicker.
• Besides, you’ll need that strength and stamina once the baby arrives!

Although we want to maintain a fit pregnancy, it’s important to be safe by choosing the right exercise for you and your pregnancy.

• You’ll want to avoid high impact sports like horseback riding and snowboarding.
• You’ll also want to steer clear of sports where people or equipment will be hurled toward your stomach (aka your baby). This is not the time to join that dodge ball league or start those tennis lessons.

As you move into your second and third trimesters, balance, coordination and size become obstacles that you need to take into account during your activities.  Most people remember me from my 1996 Olympic Gold Medal winning balance beam routine.
Yes, I could flip around on a four inch wide piece of wood in front of the world but put me in high heels and I’m one clumsy woman!  As my tummy grew and my balance shifted I became even more uncoordinated than usual. I had a couple of close calls simply walking down stairs or slipping on wet tile.
It doesn’t matter who you are, pregnancy is going to affect you in ways you never thought possible.

• Make sure to hold on to hand rails (or your husband) when going up and down stairs. This is really important when you get to the point where you can no longer see your feet.
• Another place to be particularly careful is in the middle of the night. By the time you’re in the second trimester you will regularly be getting up 3-5 times per night.  
• Make sure to keep a clear path to the restroom. 
• Pick up (or better yet have hubby pick up) dog toys, children’s toys or anything that you may trip over at night. Use a night light to light your way and don’t be embarrassed to use the wall for support. 

It’s all about keeping you and your baby safe.
Some of my favorite workouts during pregnancy were

• walking,
• swimming,
• elliptical machine
• and my prenatal fitness DVD.

It’s important to remember that there are certain precautions you need to take during your pregnancy.
Talk to your doctor about these precautions before beginning or continuing any exercise regimen.
Tags: exercise, prenatal workout

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