Hello, I wanted to find out any recommended workout ideas for training while pregnant. How hard can you train?
I am 12 weeks, swimming twice per week, trying not to exceed a 150 pulse.
Thanks!
I swam until the week before my son was born. The only reason I didn't swim that week was that it was Christmas break and the pool was closed. I competed up until I was about 6 months along. Granted, I was slow, but I did still dive in off the blocks (which probably wasn't a good idea, and I wouldn't do it again if I had the chance). My obstetrician told me not to let my heart rate get over 140 beats a minute, but once he left the room the nurse-practioner told me the OB didn't understand that I was accustomed to swimming hard, and I shouldn't worry about my heart rate, so much as just not work myself to exhaustion. I took her advice and quit taking my pulse, and just backed off when I felt I was doing too much. I also kept doing step aerobics the entire time, although I did gradually step down from two risers, to one riser, to no risers, to the floor. I kept doing situps too. It really all depends upon what you were used to doing beforehand, I think. Now is not the time to BEGIN an intense workout schedule, but you also don't have to go to the opposite extreme.
Meg
I swam until the week before my son was born. The only reason I didn't swim that week was that it was Christmas break and the pool was closed. I competed up until I was about 6 months along. Granted, I was slow, but I did still dive in off the blocks (which probably wasn't a good idea, and I wouldn't do it again if I had the chance). My obstetrician told me not to let my heart rate get over 140 beats a minute, but once he left the room the nurse-practioner told me the OB didn't understand that I was accustomed to swimming hard, and I shouldn't worry about my heart rate, so much as just not work myself to exhaustion. I took her advice and quit taking my pulse, and just backed off when I felt I was doing too much. I also kept doing step aerobics the entire time, although I did gradually step down from two risers, to one riser, to no risers, to the floor. I kept doing situps too. It really all depends upon what you were used to doing beforehand, I think. Now is not the time to BEGIN an intense workout schedule, but you also don't have to go to the opposite extreme.
Meg
