Advice Needed on Exercise Coinciding with Trying to Get Pregnant

After losing weight I immediately got pregnant. I lost like 30 lbs in a month or so and was pregnant like the next month. Go ahead and loose all you want and even more. You will appreciate the extra room you have to grow. That way you don't have that far to get back.
Be blessed. We are trying for another again as well. It will happen!

There is a program on WW that is for while you are trying to get pregnant and while you are pg, so you won't over gain, etc.
Also, I know several who did tread mill or running the whole time they were pregnant and soon afterwards and felt wonderful, had great deliveries and looked in shape very soon afterwards. But they were running consistantly before they got pregnant.
V. B.

Hi J.!
You've already gotten a lot of good responses, but I wanted to chime in. While I've never had any weight issues, I am a runner and I now have a 5 month old (I'm also 33). I *was* marathon training while trying to conceive - and conceive we did. Don't let anyone tell you you can't exercise while pregnant - it's not true; just keep your doctor informed about everything you do. My doc. was very pro-exercise, which was great. If you get into a good routine now, you can keep doing it at some level once you get pregnant. The important things to remember when you're actually pregnant are not to overheat and not to push it so there's no oxygen deprivation to the baby; and your body will let you know what it can and can't handle. I ran a 22 mile training run when I was 8 days pregnant (before we could confirm) - after that, mileage dropped significantly - especially in the first trimester (I was SO hormonally tired), but I ran through the 7th month (my son was a month early) and even did one race at 5 months pregnant (at a conservative pace, of course). I felt great - I just slowed down. And it doesn't sound like you're wanting to do overkill on your mileage, so there shouldn't be any problem with doing so much that you'd lose your period - that would likely not even happen until you're at least at 40+ miles/week (again - different for everyone).
As far as weight gain - everyone is different, but as long as you eat healthy foods, and don't "eat for two" - (people seem to think you need to eat for two adults), you should be fine; you need to eat for you and maybe 300 more calories for the baby once it starts getting bigger, if I recall correctly (you can research that). Ultimately, as far as the running/exercising goes - do what makes you feel good. If you're less stressed and happy, I'm sure your chances of conceiving will be that much higher and that much more fun! :)
Good luck!
-Christina

Obviously, talk to your doctor. But don't let anyone tell you that you can't exercise during pregnancy. I did aerobics 4 days a week before getting pregnant and continued as much as possible through my pregnancy (obviously modified for my condition). I did aerobics until the beginning of the 8th month and then I just did floor exercises and walking for 6 weeks. The last 2 weeks, I didn't do anything because I was huge (9lb 5 oz baby). But, you can definitely WALK on your treadmill through your pregnancy.

There are studies that indicate it is harder to get pregnant while you are carrying extra weight. So, you may want to exercise for a couple of months for starting to try. Establish a good routine that you can stick with during your pregnancy. Further, waiting the two months will allow you to track your ovulation date - if you want to be clear on when you are ovulating. This will increase your chances of getting pregnant sooner.

L.

You are doing the right thing. You don't want to be pregnant and totally out of shape. Especially if you are feeling bad about yourself right now and how you look... Once you get pregnant, your body will change so much that you will probably feel even worse. I'm not saying that to be discouraging (I have a 19 month old and a 3 month old and I plan on having 2 more!). I love being pregnant, but my second pregnancy was so much easier because I was in shape and kept working out the entire time. I am a member of Stroller Strides (something you will probably want to look into once you have your baby). I worked out 3 days a week for my entire pregnancy and even worked out the day I went into labor (past my due date!) Labor was super easy and a very quick recovery. My Stroller Strides instructor is due any day and is still teaching our class (and still outperforms me!) So it can be done. And the best part is, that exercise naturally fights morning sickness! Just keep it up even if you start feeling sick. Always listen to your body though about how hard you push yourself during a workout.
Feel free to email me if you have any questions!
A.

For right now you are doin the right thing by working out. But once you get pregnant you can still workout but limited. While I was pregnant I started water aerobics it did wonderful for my body and I walked everyday either on a treadmill or in the park. Just make sure you are watching what you eat and add more to your workout routine until you get pregnant it will show greater results. Like the Bally's ball it come with a workout map that targets different areas of the body and you can this without ever leaving home and paying a gym membership. Good luck and God Bless

Sometimes extra weight can cause issues for you to be able to get pregnant. I would focus on getting into shape and losing the weight. Then you will feel better because you are in shape. This will in turn help you because when you get pregnant, you can continue your exercise. I know that many people say it helps them when they are pregnant to be able to exercise (just maybe not to the extent you do when you aren't pregnant). Once you have the baby, it will give you the confidence that you can take the "baby weight" off again because you have done it now. Good luck in your endeavors and I wish you the best.

Hi J.,
For what it's worth, here are my words of wisdom...work out, work out, work out!! Ok, that seems a little intense, so let me tell you what I mean. When I got pregnant, I was in the best shape of my life and I had a much better pregnancy for it, I think. Being healthy, in shape and practicing good nutrition will help you avoid things like morning sickness and the aches and pains of being pregnant. My pregnancy was a breeze compared to so many women I know and I chalk that up to being in shape and healthy. Plus, when you're in shape when you become pregnant (and then exercise throughout your pregnancy) you'll gain less weight and it'll come off easier after the baby's born.

Something to think about...who knows how long it'll take you to get pregnant? When I told my doctor we wanted to try to get pregnant, she said to plan on it taking a year to conceive. It didn't take that long, but I was glad she said that. Why not keep up your workouts while you "work on" becoming pregnant and then carry them through your pregnancy? I did yoga throughout my entire pregnancy (up until about 2 weeks before I delivered...it's hard to do anything at that point) and I think my labor and delivery were much easier because of it.

There is no reason why you shouldn't exercise during your pregnancy (unless you're high-risk or your doc says not to). You'll feel better and your body will be strong enough to carry you through the difficult, yet amazing months ahead.

Good luck!
Hilary

In general, my doctor advised me to continue my pre pregnancy exercise regimen - minus roller blading effective immediately, and exercises flat on the back at 4 months. That would mean, in your case - walking a few miles every day - would be completely logical, unless you started experiencing complications like bleeding or preterm labor that gets even the most active put flat on her back for the duration.

Couple that with "what to eat when you're expecting", and you might only gain 10-15 lbs during pregnancy - which is what I did with my second. Delivered an 8+ lb baby and walked out of the hospital at my pre pregnancy weight. (not size, but weight).

Keep on exercising! It's great to be active while pregnant and it can help your chances of fertility! Losing just 10 percent of your weight before getting pregnant can greatly improve your chances and you will definitely feel better throughout your pregnancy if you remain active. You can exercise till the day you give birth if your pregnancy is normal and it can help with all the aches and pains, make sure you're doing some strength training as well. Good luck on both ends!

i did a "low impact" exercise class at my hosiptal while i was pregnant. It cost $25/mo and i went twice a week for an hour. In addition, I walked daily, 1-2 miles. I also had the easiest labor ever!!! It was my first and went so smoothly. I give all the credit to eating right, and exercising. AFter my son was born, i continued the exercise class per dr OK. I began running again and lifting weights. I believe you are on the right tract to becomming more healthy and, thus, having a healthy pregnancy and baby :) Keep it up!!

Keep on exercising!!!! It will probably be easier to conceive with a healthier body also. If you do happen to conceive before you've achieved your weight loss goal then you'll have to modify your routine somewhat. If you are in better shape before becoming pregnant then you'll have an easier pregnancy and recovery and you probably won't gain as much weight as you would if you didn't exercise at all. there is no reason you can't try to conceive while trying to lose weight and get more fit. Best of luck!

I was married for 10 years and 6 of those years were trying to get pregnant. I finally decided it just wasn't in the cards for me to have a baby. I was overweight at the time and started Weight Watchers and lost nearly 35 lbs and then guess what happened?! I got pregnant! My ob/gyn said my body probably just wasn't ready for a baby until I lost the weight. I still had more to lose and she told me that I could stay on the Weight Watchers program while pregnant because it's a healthy way of eating. Weight Watchers won't let you continue the meetings I don't believe while you are pregnant though. This also helped me gain only 20 lbs. while I was pregnant. I'd say that if you're trying to get pregnant while overweight, just start on an exercise routine and start eating healthier. You'll feel better in the long run and after you get pregnant and have the baby you can keep up your exercise and eating routine. Now after I had my daughter I'm still trying to lose weight I had on me before I got pregnant but that's another story! Good luck!

IMHO, you should try to lose at least some the weight before you try to get pregnant. Recent research shows that mom's weight and weight gain while pregnant has long-last effects on her child(ren). Also, most women don't lose all their "baby fat" - after post-pregnancy weight loss is over, most women are at least 5 pounds heavier at the end of each pregnancy than they were when they got pregnant. I think that if you are having a hard time taking the weight off now, it's probably going to be considerably harder to lose the weight after you've had your baby.

You CAN exercise while you're pregnant, as long as you do it in moderation. And most doctors will tell you (as long as there are no complications) that you can continue to do the same exercises you did before you got pregnant. So if you ran before, you can run while you're pregnant (I had a friend who still ran marathons while pregnant), but if you didn't run before, it's not a good idea to start running while you're pregnant. And you should avoid high-impact exercise (like aerobics & horseback riding) and playing sports that might cause traumatic injury (like touch football or basketball). Personally, I worked out until the week before my daughter was born - 35 minutes on the elliptical machine three times a week, plus light weight lifting (only until I was 8 months pregnant and my belly started getting in the way), and swimming laps for 30 minutes twice a week. Plus I walked and walked and walked, and I'm convinced that all helped me have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Whatever path you take though, good luck, and we'll all be here to offer more advice any time. :) -- C. --

The best thing to do for your baby and yourself is to get in good health. Continue to excersize for now, and once you find out that you're pregnant, your doctor can put you on a schedule of weight gain/loss that needs to happen for your individual self.

You can exercise while you're pregnant. The general rule I heard (a few years back) was that as long as you are continuing an exercise routine that you've done for at least 6 mos., it's completely safe to do so during your entire pregnancy. I exercised through both my pregnancies - cycling mostly with my first son up until a couple days before he was born. With my second son, I was mostly at the gym and did weights (heavy ones even up through my 7th month) and the stair machine. I was on the stair machine on the day my 2nd son was born - in the early part of labor - he was born <12 hrs after I finished working out. Having an exercise routine during pregnancy is healthy for both you and your baby. And, you will rebound much more quickly - I was back cycling when my 2nd son was 5 weeks old.

So, I do highly recommend you keep it up and keep in mind that if you want to lose weight, you also need to be on a good diet - that's also important for a healthy pregnancy.

In general, it takes at least 6 months of doing a routine for it to become permanent, so IMHO, it's reasonable for you to target TTC 6+ months from now. But, I do not think you would want to be too aggressive about increasing your exercise routine while pregnant (if you increase at all) - in particular if you're considering that we're not that far away from the hot weather and it takes some time for your body to optimize performance and not be stressed during exercise. Research does show that the blood flow to the fetus does decrease during exercise - the research suggests that it would take extreme exercise or exercise of long duration to really cause damage. But, I think what is "extreme" or "long" is likely very individual.

The most important thing IMHO, though is the nutrition - that's important even before you conceive to lay the groundwork for a healthy pregnancy. To ensure your baseline nutrients are optimal, I would recommend you get your family doctor to run B12, Folate and Ferritin. Also, if the weight gain seems unusual (i.e.., you never had the problem in the past with similar eating habits), then make sure they test your Thyroid: TSH, Free T3, Free T4, TPO and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies.

And, finally, please do continue on the path you're on. Even if you don't develop a very aggressive exercise routine and do get pregnant, regularly walking (2 miles a day) is really great exercise. The big thing is to just keep moving and not use exercise as an excuse to not eat properly (cravings are usually due to nutritionally deficiencies).

Hi J.,

What an exciting time, preparing to get pregnant! I would continue to do what you are doing, making healthy lifestyle changes. To be honest, that is really what matters and not so much your weight. You want to be living your best, healthiest life when you get pregnant and become a mom, it will give you the strength for motherhood.

In regards to exercise, I am a pre and postnatal exercise specialist. I also hold my Master's degree in Exercise Physiology and more importantly am a MOM :) I have a few recommendations for you. First, continue what you are doing and when you feel confident that you have made enough positive lifestyle changes, eating healthy whole foods and a consistent exercise routine, go ahead and try to get pregnant.

The guidelines for exercising while pregnant have changed since 2002. Some doctors don't keep up to date on the new ACOG guideline, so it is important as women that we are aware. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp119.cfm

When you become pregnant, as long as there are no pregnancy complications, you can continue on your previous exercise routine. It would be most beneficial to adjust your routine to your changing body, changing needs, etc. That is where I come in :)

Stroller Strides is a phenomenal program for pre and postnatal moms. The instructors are certified to train pregnant moms and all exercises are tailored for your safety and maximum benefit. Some Stroller Strides locations also offer Fit4Baby, a program devoted entirely to the pregnant mom, no kiddos allowed! Fit4Baby not only provides a great workout but also essential education about your body during pregnancy. I can't recommend enough that you continue to exercise most, if not all, days of the week as it will help with pregnancy symptoms, preparation for labor, and help with recovery....make you Fit For Motherhood :)

You are more then welcome to contact me with any questions you may have. As with all Stroller Strides/Fit4Baby locations, your first class is free. I know at my Stroller Strides/Fit4Baby location, they are currently offering the first week free and some HUGE discounts on membership in January. See what location is closet/most convenient for you at www.strollerstrides.com.

Good luck and congrats in advance!

M. :)

I would go ahead and start exercising all the while trying to get pregnant. Once you're pregnant, of course you won't want to continue to lose weight, but you'll be able to continue to exercising. There are guidelines to follow (like not getting your heartrate above a certain level or getting overheated) that your doctor will give you as well as certain types of exercise to avoid when you get further along since your sense of balance shifts and you certainly don't want to get injured. I think walking is one of the best exercises for a pregnant woman, so I'd say go for it! If it were me, I'd go ahead and do both for now and once I was pregnant discuss the exercise program with my doctor.

Be as healthy as possible! As long as you don't let your body fat get too low you should be fine. I ran 45 minutes a day and lifted weights for 30 minutes a day every day BEFORE I was pregnant, then all the way through my first pregnancy. My little girl was as healthy as could be. :-) Also, you'll lose weight if you monitor your diet...it doesn't have to be all working out. You'll be just fine. Blessings to you and your husband!

I was working out 5 days a week - running 3-4 miles, kickboxing, spinning class, weights, and yoga - before I got pregnant at 35. After I discovered I was pregnant and per my dr's advice, I continued the yoga and changed to walking ~1 hour daily. It helped with weight gain, flexibility, and birthing. As long as you are exercising and in shape before you get pregnant, it is usually safe to do some type of exercise while pregnant. Keep exercising!

There is no reason you can't workout while you are trying to get pregnant and you can certainly workout while you are pregnant. You will have to modify the types of exercises you do once you are pregnant but staying fit will actually help you during the delivery. I am just a walker but my best friend when to the gym and worked out on the elliptical the whole time she was pregnant. I also took a pilates class while a women who was pregnant. Just listen to your body and talk with your doctor. Good luck with your work out routine!

There is absolutely no reason why anyone should lose control of their body when they get pg. Getting pg doesn't mean you get sit on the couch and do nothing but wait to deliver. :) Continue on your exercise plan and you can continue to exercise once you get pg. There will be modifications for sure, but you should continue to exercise throughout your pregnancy.

My best friend taught yoga up until she delivered her first. My co-worker ran on the treadmill until her 35th week. I'm into sports, so obviously, I had to quit those, but I simply modified my routine. My co-worker's daugther is now almost 4 months old. She had a SUPER easy delivery and she's already below pre-pg weight. My son is 4 years old and as soon as I was given the green light, I was back doing low impact stuff and was back playing my sports shortly afterwards. I also do core exercises 2-3 times a week which got rid of ALL of the pg pudge tummy.

My point is that you should establish good exercise habits now. It'll make you feel better while trying to conceive, it'll help you during pregnancy, it'll help you during delivery, and it'll help you afterwards.

Stay active throughout the entire process and whatever you do, don't lose control of your body. That's very preventable.

GOOD LUCK!

Dear J.,
I am not an expert, however, I have heard that maintenace of your exercise program is fine, but you shouldn't increase the intensity. I really don't think you will have to worry about that though - the changes in your body will increase the intensity of your workout even if you don't change a thing. Check with a doctor, but I say to listen to your body. I found that when I was only about 2 months pregnant I could no longer do pushups, but I could do situps much longer.
The "old wives" scared me into quitting my exercise. I do regret it.
As for getting in shape or waiting, I can't tell you. The healthier you are, they better it is for you and your baby. Some women get pregnant right away and for some it takes longer. Of course, with each year, your fertility drops and your eggs get older. Even though both my Aunt and my sister had children in their forties, you never know.
Good Luck! :-)
Jen

I would go ahead and try to get pregnant while continuing normal exercise. I would discuss this with my obgyn, too. You're going to gain more weight while your pregnant anyway. Why not lose it all after the baby is born?

I was told anything you do before you get pregnant you can do after as long as you are already accustomed to doing it. Of course I"m sure that doesn't mean water skiing or anything that hardcore lol but as far as jogging and whatever else I"m sure it's fine just ask your obgyn.

I was overweight with my first, and am overweight now and trying to conceive. I spoke to my OB and asked her if I should try to get into shape before conceiving again and she said that my weight would not be a problem. That could be because I already had one while over weight, I am not sure. I had no complications while I was pregnant and had a very healthy little girl. My doctors say that you can be as skinny as a rail or overweight and have exactly the same risk for complications. (I know some moms won't agree)

What I have been doing is increasing my exercise and doing weight watchers to prepare for the pregnancy. These are both things that I can do while pregnant safely and still be healthy. You just have to consult your OB about how much exercise is ok, but walking and yoga should be fine. Weight watchers is great as well, you just increase your points to allow for your pregnancy.

My advise would be to go ahead and start trying to conceive at the same time you are trying to get back into shape. Good luck!

Hey! I don't know how much help I can be because I've got the SAME exact question!! I have a 2 yr old, and gained 65 lb. with that preg. and have been wanting to get back into shape, but we are SO ready to try for our 2nd. I've been cuttin back a little because I remember my midwife saying that exercise while preg. was good for the body (and helps combat nausea) but obviously nothing working the abdomen. I pretty much have decided that long walks in our neighborhood feel "safe" but I cut out the abb and heavy cardio workout. Upper body lifting should be fine, but that's an assumption, and I'm not a Dr. I wish I could be more helpful, but I will be watching your post for any responses from someone more knowledgeable since I'm needing the same advice! It's encouraging to hear that you and your hubby are seeking the Lord in your marriage! Way to go, He never disappoints!

I would definately loose the weight you want to before you get pregnant. You never know how much you wil gain wiht your pregnancy and the less you have to loos after the baby the easier it will be. You could loose 30 pounds in 6 months. That is 5 lbs a month. This way you don't have to wait so long. Put yourself on a strict 1200 calorie diet w/ a carb intake of 100 grams a day and continue your workout program. My daughter I gained 65 lbs and lost it all by her 1st brithday to get pregnant a few months later with my son who is now 14 months. I ganied 40lbs with him and did the same thing afterwards. If you are working out before your pregnancy you can continue while you are pregnant. Your body is used to it already. Good luck, IO know weight is a frustrating battle that seems to go on forever.

I see you've already gotten a lot of responses and I haven't read them, but I want to give you my story, as I'm in the same boat as you. My husband and I got married in June 2006 and I was at my heaviest at our wedding (over 200 pounds!!). Later that year, a friend of mine who was pregnant at the time started having very bad complications, which was a real wake up call for me because eventually we want to have children and I know I have to lose weight before that can happen (I needed to lose 60 pounds to be in a healthy range). In 2007, I started counting calories and within the first 6 months of the year, I lost 45 pounds! What you want to do is not impossible. I encourage you and your husband both to be in this together (I couldn't have done it alone - my husband is my biggest motivator as I am to him).

Here's what I recommend you do:
1. Go to this website and use their free tool to figure out how many calories you need to eat every day in order to reach your goal weight by a date you select. http://caloriecount.about.com/
2. Then, begin logging all of your calories using whatever method works best for you - either online (using the website above or a similar one) or with a notebook or notepad in your purse.
3. On days that you exercise, add an extra 100-200 calories.
4. Weigh yourself once a week

I can practically guarantee that you'll notice a HUGE difference very quickly. And, before you know it, you'll be at a healthy weight, pregnant, and in great shape! Good luck!!

Hi J., you can defiantly exercise during pregnancy. Anything you were doing prior to getting pregnant you an still do while pregnant. I didn't start running until after my kids were born but my running partner got preg. while we were running about 7 miles a day and kept it up as long as she felt like it. She said it made her feel better and not be so sick. Just check with your doctor but everything should be fine as long as you were exercising before preg. Good luck and God bless you and your family.

I am an occupational therapist, and a big believer in exercise. You can keep exercising, within reason, while pregnant, in fact the baby books I have read encourage mild to moderate exercise while pregnant - makes for easier labor, I have read. I would keep exercising and talk to your OB Gyn when you become pregnant.

You can excercise while you are pregnant. Eventually you will have to slow down, but if you keep exercising the same as you were before you get pregnant than you can continue the same exercises. I just wouldn't try anything new unless it is lower impact. Doctors want you to walk and stay active your whole pregnancy unless you have complications. My advice would be if you are concerned about where you are now, workout until you feel comfortable with you and then get pregnant and continue your routine. Don't give up on the routine!!! A teacher at our school was a runner and just gave birth in December to a little girl. She was running while she was pregnant up until like 4-5 months pregnant. Get to where your cardio is good and you are not over exerted when you get a good workout in and then try. Good luck!!

Exercising and eating healthy foods are an excellent thing to be doing while you are pregnant, so if you want to get pregnant go ahead and start trying WHILE you are being healthy. If you get pregnant ask your OB how many calories you should be eating and make those healthy ones. Be aware though, it's hard to lose right after having baby so you'll have the prepreg weight AND baby weight to lose (I gained 50 with my baby and it took a year to lose 45, almost 2 years latr I am still working on the last 5). You absolutly CAN and SHOULD exercise while pregnant- it promotes oxygen to baby and prepares you body for the workout of giving birth. You do have to choose your workouts carefully after 1st trimester (no ab work) and you should keep hydrated. But unless OB says no (ie high risk pregnancy) then go for it. I was running 2 miles a day while trying to get pregnant and kept that up until 3 months pregnant, then did pregnanyc video workouts.

My sister ran 7 miles every morning up until her 9th month through 3 pregnancies. Just get into reasonable shape before you get pregnant and your doctor will probably let you continue. Two years ago, I walked the breast cancer 3-day with a girl who was 5 months pregnant. Other than extra pitstops, she did great. The 3 day is a 60 mile walk done by walking 20 miles each day for 3 days. Her doctor didn't have a problem with her doing that at all.

As to losing control of your body, everyone is different. My butt got big in the first 2 months and my stomach caught up later. I have friends who just had a volleyball under their shirt and were back in their skinny jeans 3 weeks after delivery. It's really a matter of genetics. Ask your mom how her pregnancies went and then ask your father's mother about hers. That will give you some idea what to expect.

Good luck and have a healthy pregnancy!!!

D. Kimbriel
Grandma to 2 beautiful boys.

Hi J.!
Welcome to the site, I hope you get to join the mothers clan soon. Now, when it comes to looking good and feeling good, it's really a toss up because the clothes you'll be able to fit into will be even more limited if you become pregnant and if you're like me, you'll feel miserable every time you gain more weight. When it comes to health, I would totally focus more on getting into shape first because it's so much better for a baby, plus, you don't want to gain more weight on top of already unwanted pounds because you'll have further to go after a baby, I still have nightmares of never shedding my extra weight. I wish I had the time now that I did before my baby was born to go running. I would just run run run until you find out you're pregnant, then just walk.