Pregnancy and weight loss can be tricky. Many doctors tell you to avoid losing weight and, in fact, are in favor of women gaining weight. It’s important for you to know that you can stay healthy and trim while pregnant without jeopardizing your baby’s health.
Women often times worry about gaining weight while they are pregnant. There are some doctors who believe you can never gain too much weight and give the bad advice of gaining 40 or more pounds. Others understand that women are healthiest if they only gain the weight from the baby itself and the afterbirth. That means, you should only gain about 20 to 30 pounds during the entire pregnancy.
Young pregnant woman in tree pose yoga stance in living room
As important as it is to stay healthy and active during your pregnancy, there are times when it may not be the best option. Consider your previous health and listen to your healthcare provider regarding exercise. For example, I have two serious heart conditions, so when I was pregnant, I was not allowed to get my heart rate up, so that made exercising difficult.
If during previous pregnancies, you have had a baby earlier than 37 weeks, or if you are showing signs of preterm labor, speak to your healthcare provider before beginning to exercise.
In some cases, exercise may cause a miscarriage. If you have previously had a miscarriage, you should speak to your doctor about whether or not exercise is right for you.
Having more than one baby may increase your risk of labor complications. Placenta and heart problems are also things to consider.
If you are in a pregnancy where you are confined to bed rest throughout your pregnancy, you may consider a bed rest fitness routine. Darline Turner-Lee offers a wonderful Bedrest Fitness DVD for women who are pregnant and are confined to the bed.
Yoga can also be an excellent way to stay in shape and to keep your muscles strong during the pregnancy. Yoga is gentle and can be modified as you become more pregnant. It can also help you to relax and may improve your overall sense of well being and your sleep.
Pregnancy can be difficult. As the pregnancy progresses, you may feel like working out less and less. You may also get less sleep, which may mean you have less energy throughout the day.
It’s important to fit in as much physical activity as possible. You’ll most likely find that this will help you get through the labor and delivery of your baby easier. If you feel like you never have the time or energy to fit in an appropriate amount of daily exercise, you can make a few lifestyle changes that will help you greatly.
For example, take the stairs whenever possible. Don’t choose the closest spot when visiting the grocery or department store. Park far away and take the extra few minutes to walk. If you have errands that are within walking distance of your home, walk instead of driving!
If you can’t go to the gym to work out and walking outdoors isn’t necessarily a possibility, buy or rent a DVD for at home. If you are walking outdoors or doing outside activities, make sure you always have plenty of water. Dehydration can be a real problem during pregnancy and you can easily become dehydrated without realizing it.
Don’t think you have to go to the mall or gym or take a walk outside for exercise. You can walk up and down the hallway of your home or the sidewalk in front of your home too. You can even walk to the end of the driveway and back. If you have trouble managing time, make sure you schedule in your workout. Make it an important appointment just like anything else.
Use a push mower instead of a gas mower, get up to change the television station and spread your cleaning out throughout each day, instead of packing it all in at once.
Making these little lifestyle changes can be very beneficial to you and wearing a pedometer will help you keep track of your steps. When I wore a pedometer, it became sort of like a contest with myself to see if I could walk further than I had the day before. It was fun and exciting to watch my progress and to blog about it online. Do what works for you and you’ll succeed with the knowing and understanding that you are taking care of yourself and your baby.