Something I've come to learn about being pregnant in India is that it must be extremely uncommon for an Indian woman to exercise while pregnant. Even though I exercised at the gym regularly for 5 months before becoming pregnant, the nutritionist there urged me several times to stop going immediately. At first, even Dr. Kapur encouraged me to stop my exercise program. (I had to email my doctor in the States to get permission!) And once it became obvious that I am expecting, not a week goes by that at least one woman at the gym will approach me while I'm working out to ask me all sorts of questions. Most of them are very surprised that I'm allowed to work out. The first question they all have asked so far is some variation of, "It's okay for you to be exercising?" This is always asked with a look of surprise. When I say that yes, I feel terrific, then I get a barrage of questions: "Did you exercise before pregnancy?" "Your doctor said it was okay?" "How often do you come?" "How far along are you?" "What is your maximum speed on the treadmill?" "What is your maximum heart rate?" "Are you doing weights?" They all seem very satisfied with my answers, and several younger ladies told me this encourages them for when they become pregnant. I feel like Hazel and I are helping to educate Indian women, one workout at a time. :)
So just in case you were wondering, I go 3-4 times a week. I do a 5 minute warm up of stretches, the stepper, and 15 girl-style push ups. I do 10 minutes on the bike, then 20 minutes on the treadmill. I did have to slow down my speed this week from 5.3 mph to 5 mph. That puts me at walking about 1.5 mile. Then I do a few light weights, followed by stretches. The purpose is that hopefully my labor, deliver, and recovery will be slightly easier, but who knows. I have noticed it helps my mood when I go and so far, I've had very few back pains, and I swell slightly on my fingers/toes only when I get hot. But of course, this could all change in my remaining 2.5 months!
Did any of you exercise while pregnant, and do you think it helped?
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I was taking aerobics classes when I found out I was pregnant and that Had. to. stop. immediately. I had to beg for permission to walk in my park. But only after the first trimester. Well after the first trimester it was HOT. So no I did not exercise. I'm sure it would help!
I just walked. That's it. Wish I'd done more like you. I'm with you on exercise being a mood lifter- like chocolare but minus the calories!
I walked everyday-- only about a mile but I think it helped. I also think it helped me lose weight after having Kai. I was so used to getting out and doing something, that I started up again about a week after having him. That paired with breast feeding, and I went from about 180 to 120 in four months.
My friend cathy was still running like 15 miles a week at full term. God bless her. She said she got a lot of really really strange looks from people.
Well, so far I walk and do stretches... I walked WAY too much last week in T-land I think, and my feet swelled like CRAZY! I took a pic of my ankles after the plane ride too - man is it gross!!
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