Fit Pregnancy – How to Stay Fit During Pregnancy

From the moment you find out that you’re pregnant, your life will begin to change. You will no longer be able to do certain things and you’ll be advised against some others. Since your entire body will be going through serious physical changes, you will need to find a way to adapt some of your favorite activities to your current condition.

That’s why if you’re wondering whether or not to start – or continue – to work out in your pregnancy, the short answer is yes. However, you will need to approach this activity with ease. If you’re an already active individual, you will need to adjust your regimen to suit your condition. If you’re just starting out, you will need to take things slowly and avoid putting any additional strain on your body. 

With that in mind, here are some useful tips on how you can have a fit pregnancy and how you should exercise the right way.

Fit Pregnancy – Stay Fit During Pregnancy

Nourish your body both pre- and post-workout

During pregnancy, it is true that you will be eating for two. Now, this doesn’t mean that you should eat double your usual serving portion. It just means that you will need to increase your nutrient intake in order to ensure that both you and your baby get enough energy. This is particularly true if you’re about to work out. So, about an hour before your workout, make sure you treat yourself to a healthy, sustainable meal. After the workout, have a balanced snack – carbs and protein-based – to allow your body and muscles to recover properly. 

Get moving even if you don’t feel like it

There will be days when you just don’t feel like getting out of bed or moving at all for that matter. On those days, you can skip your normal exercise, but make sure you get active for at least 30 minutes. This will provide you with enough physical activity for the day, but it won’t feel like you’ve actually worked out. Alternatively, you can also do some relaxation exercises and light stretches. Familiarize yourself with all the pregnancy workouts to ensure that you avoid making any potential mistakes.  

Find your motivation

Being able to find the right motivation to workout can be difficult even when you’re not pregnant. That being said, do know that you’re bound to experience the lack of motivation to work out sooner or later. When you happen to find yourself in this state of mind, you’ll need to find a way to snap out of it. You can do so by having supportive friends and family members who will join you for your workout when you need that extra push and keep cheering you on. You can also join various online pregnancy workout communities and find your inspiration there. No matter which course you choose to take, make sure you find something that will keep you pushing forward. 

Focus on exercises that will prepare you for childbirth

When choosing the right type of exercises for your current condition, you should be focusing mostly on the ones that will prepare you for childbirth. Since your belly, pelvic and lower back region are the parts of your body that are most heavily affected by pregnancy, you should focus on core exercises that will help you strengthen them. Aside from core exercises, make sure you do Kegel exercises as well. Strengthening all of these muscles can significantly help during childbirth, because the more powerful they are, the easier it will be to push your baby out. 

Take it easy

As mentioned earlier, the last thing you want to do to your body is expose it to additional strain. What this means is that you need to make sure that anything you do, you do slowly and carefully. That’s why many experts suggest that, when working out, you should work out smarter not harder. Low impact exercises are a great choice, as they allow you to truly get those muscles going without making any sudden moves and risking an injury. Be kind and listen to your body

In the end, you need to be aware of the fact that your pregnant body is a freakin’ superstar! In this delicate state, you should be paying more attention to your body and what it is trying to tell you. What this means is that it would be best to stop exercising and contact your doctor as soon as you feel even the slightest discomfort. Of course, anything you do you should be doing in consultation with your doctor. 

So, if you’re looking for ways you can stay fit during your pregnancy, keep some of these tips in mind. Find the type of exercise that works best for you and make sure you take things slow.