Fitness Friday....Exercise as the Belly Grows!

Let's pause again for these amazing running moms......running while pregnant! 

While I would love to say that as my belly hides more and more of my toes when I look down, that my running is still easy breezy, it is in fact not the case!  Some mornings I wake up and I feel like it has grown double its size overnight!  As the belly grows, I make changes to my run to stay comfy as well as my weight workouts.  The name of the game this time around is going with how my body feels as opposed to strict guidelines.  I remember with my last pregnancy, I was a slave to my heart rate monitor.  I carefully watched as the numbers ticked by making certain not to pass 140 which was what my doctor had told me.  This time the monitor will be reserved for after the baby comes...to make sure I'm working hard enough! 

Looking for some tips on exercising during pregnancy?  Check these out!

Here are some from Baby Center:  

• 1. Check with your healthcare provider first
• 2. Take in extra calories
• 3. Steer clear of dangerous sports 
• 4. Wear the right clothes
• 5. Warm up
• 6. Drink plenty of water
• 7. Don't lie flat on your back
• 8. Keep moving
• 9. Don't overdo it
• 10. Don't get overheated
• 11. Get up from the floor slowly
• 12. Cool down
• 13. Make it a habit

More from American Pregnancy Association:

• If you are just starting an exercise program as a way of improving your health during your pregnancy, you should start very slowly and be careful not to over exert yourself. Consider a prenatal yoga class that is specifically designed for pregnant women. Shop Yoga for home
  
• Listen to your body. Your body will naturally give you signals that it is time to reduce the level of exercise you are performing.
  
• Never exercise to the point of exhaustion or breathlessness. This is a sign that your baby and your body cannot get the oxygen supply they need.
  
• Wear comfortable exercise footwear that gives strong ankle and arch support.
  
• Take frequent breaks, and drink plenty of fluids during exercise.
  
• Avoid exercise in extremely hot weather.
  
• Avoid rocky terrain or unstable ground when running or cycling. Your joints are more lax in pregnancy, and ankle sprains and other injuries may occur.
  
• Contact sports should be avoided during pregnancy.
  
• Weight training should emphasize improving tone, especially in the upper body and abdominal area. Avoid lifting weights above your head and using weights that strain the lower back muscles.
  
• During the second and third trimesters, avoid exercise that involves lying flat on your back as this decreases blood flow to the uterus.
  
• Include relaxation and stretching before and after your exercise program.
  
• Eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables and complex carbohydrates.
  
  Also check out a fellow Fitfluential rocking Momma Michele who is killing the running through pregnancy #2!!!
  
  Long and short is....there are many benefits to exercising during pregnancy!  Be safe and listen to your body!!