My colleague and expectant mother, Kim, is writing this week….
Til next time
P
I run a marathon everyday…
And that’s without lifting a single foot…but don’t be jealous… I am 31 weeks pregnant.
So, I’ve been thinking about what to write for a few days now. Exercise and pregnancy. Do they really go hand in hand (or should I say hand in belly)? Absolutely! I currently exercise 3 days a week with a group of other expecting Moms through a prenatal exercise group called Bare, Fit, and Pregnant (I know, I love that name). I’ve been going since April once the initial nausea and extreme fatigue of my pregnancy slowed down. Oh, did I say I exercise 3 times a week? Let me rephrase that. I’m supposed to exercise 3 times a week.
Excuses for not going:
1.) I’m tired
2.) I’m tired
3.) I’m tired
4.) My stomach is too heavy – no, seriously!
You get the idea. I do run a marathon everyday, you remember.
Benefits of exercising during pregnancy:
1.) The camaraderie and support when you join a group like the one I am in is amazing. And as a first time Mom-to-be, you want all of the information you can get. And you don’t feel weird asking what you think are stupid questions. Because guess what?! Everyone else there is thinking the same thing. It’s great.
2.) Strengthening your core (abdominals & back) and legs, which help you not only prepare for labor, but it also helps you get back to your pre-pregnancy weight faster afterwards. It really is a win-win situation.
3.) Sleep better at night – this is HUGE!
4.) Helps to maintain a healthy weight gain – ‘WHAT?!’ you say. ‘Weight gain?’ A little counter-intuitive to the other blog posts you’ve been reading. But yes, I get to gain weight on this journey, unlike any other time in my life. Unfortunately I’ve gained more than I would like to have at this point, but without the exercise it would be even more.
Costs:
You get tired – but you already are tired, so really, this isn’t a ‘cost’ is it?
So there you have my two bits on exercise and pregnancy. My goal for the next 9 weeks is to just keep plugging away, know my limits and have fun. Until next time…Kim
