jeanniecheek
New member
Hi! I just wanted to share what my fitness experience has been so far, in case it helps anyone else along their journey!
Prior to pregnancy I would consider myself somewhere between fit and very fit. I ran half marathons, did yoga 3-5 times per week, weight training at orange theory fitness, regularly hiked and biked and moved my body around. I’ve always been slim and athletic and have the “mesomorph” body type - i.e I build muscle easily.
Going into this pregnancy, I though “I’m definitely going to run right up until the day I go into labor!” “I’m going to do yoga every day!” “I’m going to do everything I can to minimize diastasis!”
Well. First trimester I managed to continue 3 miles runs 2-3 times per week until week 9, when I just kind of...couldn’t. It was too hot, I was too exhausted, and it didn’t feel right for my body. It took me a few weeks to start feeling like I could move again.
Second trimester started out with lots of activity, including running, biking, ocean swimming and yoga. However, by as early as week 16 I started developing cramps in my right leg that completely stopped me in my running tracks. I started taking magnesium and took another couple of weeks off running. I was able to return to it pain free for about two weeks and then...BAM, pelvic pain combined with digestive issues...as in, every time I tried to go for a run I had to poop so badly it was an emergency!
Meanwhile, I was still doing yoga, but finding that I was coning/tenting in a lot of positions. I also went on some camping and hiking trips and found that my cardiovascular fitness was very different than pre pregnancy! I had to stop frequently, and wore a belly support band.
I started seeing a chiropractor for the pelvic pain and it helped tremendously, but I also had to stop running. My last run was at 25 weeks and it was 3 miles in 45 minutes; more walking that running.
Our most recent hiking trip included stops every 1-4 minutes that we were going uphill so I could sit down and rest. I get light headed very easily these days. And so so so so so so so so out of breath!
At 27 weeks I am now doing pregnancy yoga and very light weight training (squats with a 10 lb dumbbell for example) and this feels just right for what my body can handle!
I absolutely thought I would “last longer” into my pregnancy still doing my regular activities, based on all the women I had seen who were still super active right up until birth. I counted myself among them...but we are ALL totally different! There is simply NO WAY I could be running half marathons right now, as I’ve seen other women do right up through their third trimesters, and that’s OK!
For reference, I’m 5’2, starting weight 107 current weight 123. I love my bump and feel great about my pregnancy body, even though it doesn’t do all the things it used to
. It does a lot of other amazing things now!
Anyways, this was long but I hope someone finds it useful. I know I am always wondering what “normal” is and seeing a lot of women managing much more than I am, so I thought I’d share my story, so far!
Prior to pregnancy I would consider myself somewhere between fit and very fit. I ran half marathons, did yoga 3-5 times per week, weight training at orange theory fitness, regularly hiked and biked and moved my body around. I’ve always been slim and athletic and have the “mesomorph” body type - i.e I build muscle easily.
Going into this pregnancy, I though “I’m definitely going to run right up until the day I go into labor!” “I’m going to do yoga every day!” “I’m going to do everything I can to minimize diastasis!”
Well. First trimester I managed to continue 3 miles runs 2-3 times per week until week 9, when I just kind of...couldn’t. It was too hot, I was too exhausted, and it didn’t feel right for my body. It took me a few weeks to start feeling like I could move again.
Second trimester started out with lots of activity, including running, biking, ocean swimming and yoga. However, by as early as week 16 I started developing cramps in my right leg that completely stopped me in my running tracks. I started taking magnesium and took another couple of weeks off running. I was able to return to it pain free for about two weeks and then...BAM, pelvic pain combined with digestive issues...as in, every time I tried to go for a run I had to poop so badly it was an emergency!
Meanwhile, I was still doing yoga, but finding that I was coning/tenting in a lot of positions. I also went on some camping and hiking trips and found that my cardiovascular fitness was very different than pre pregnancy! I had to stop frequently, and wore a belly support band.
I started seeing a chiropractor for the pelvic pain and it helped tremendously, but I also had to stop running. My last run was at 25 weeks and it was 3 miles in 45 minutes; more walking that running.
Our most recent hiking trip included stops every 1-4 minutes that we were going uphill so I could sit down and rest. I get light headed very easily these days. And so so so so so so so so out of breath!
At 27 weeks I am now doing pregnancy yoga and very light weight training (squats with a 10 lb dumbbell for example) and this feels just right for what my body can handle!
I absolutely thought I would “last longer” into my pregnancy still doing my regular activities, based on all the women I had seen who were still super active right up until birth. I counted myself among them...but we are ALL totally different! There is simply NO WAY I could be running half marathons right now, as I’ve seen other women do right up through their third trimesters, and that’s OK!
For reference, I’m 5’2, starting weight 107 current weight 123. I love my bump and feel great about my pregnancy body, even though it doesn’t do all the things it used to
. It does a lot of other amazing things now!Anyways, this was long but I hope someone finds it useful. I know I am always wondering what “normal” is and seeing a lot of women managing much more than I am, so I thought I’d share my story, so far!
