Working Out While Pregnant (Emotional Post)

I've talked a lot about this while being pregnant, but honestly I've just talked about what workouts I do and when/how often.  What I haven't talked about is how I feel about it.  So this post is going to be geared to my workouts and the emotional benefit I get from them.  As I was running the past few weeks, I have just felt so blessed.  Words cannot describe it.  I know a lot of women cannot be active during their pregnancies because of complications.  I have never felt so lucky as when I'm pregnant that I can continue to run and exercise.  This in itself is a gift from God.

For as long as I can remember, I've been active.  My dad started me running races at an early age and I quickly fell in love with it.  Although sometimes when you ask me, I'll tell you I have a love/hate relationship with running.  :)  I can remember playing sports my whole life; tee ball, softball, swim team, track, basketball, volleyball, etc.  I love sports and always have.  When I grew out of sports, a time in my life I like to refer to as post college, I struggled with how to accept that.  I quickly began to compete (mostly with myself) in races from 5Ks to marathons.  It was then that I began to realize that God gave me this gift.  He gave me the ability to run, keep myself healthy, and stay active and fit.  He didn't put us on this Earth to become lazy slobs.  He gave us these bodies; these bodies that can function like nothing else.  These bodies that work at such a cellular level that only He will ever know.

It was then that I knew I wanted to help others try their best to keep their bodies in good condition.  Working out can help you live a longer life and spread the Good Word to those more that many more years. :)

Anyone who has attempted to help others with this or something similar, knows that it is not the easiest thing to do.  You can only help those who want help.  That's been the hardest part to swallow in all this.  You see people everyday that you just want to help, but unless they are willing, you can't do a thing for them.

Part of the reason I started this blog was to help people through the internet.  I know a lot of people are afraid to take that first step into the gym and finding a workout from the internet to do at home can be just the thing that got them working.  Everyone is different.  So if you are one of those people, I'm proud of you.  Do what you can and always know that you can email me if you need to.

Also keep in mind the famous quote that I'm paraphrasing here; no matter how far or fast you are running, you're lapping everyone on the couch; no matter how heavy the weights are that you are lifting, you're lifting more that the TV remote and a potato chip.

35 Week Pregnant Workouts

Today's post is going to really be an explanation of the workouts that I've been doing throughout most of my third trimester.  I've been trying to run as much as I can, but as it has been so cold and spring is refusing to show up, I have been forced to stay inside and do my workouts.  I am still teaching my spin class at this point, once a week, and feeling really good while doing so.  I have been getting on the treadmill dreadmill, but can't do as much on it as I can outside.  I have come to the conclusion that it shortens my stride and just flat out hurts my body.  It hurts my side, abs, legs, EVERYTHING.  I can't go as fast or as far.  :(

My dreadmill workouts have pretty much been as follows:
1-3 min - warm up walk - 4.0mph
3-4 min - jog - 6.0 mph
4-5 min - walk - 4.0 mph
Repeat this pattern for as long as you'd like.  I typically do 30-45 minutes, depending on how I'm feeling that day or how long I have.

My spin routines have really consisted of many more hills and jumps rather than sprint intervals.  I still throw sprints in there for the clients, but I have to take it easy on the sprints because it hurts my sides.  So I just cruise on the sprints.  I have found a very helpful website spinclassroutines.com that has LOTS of spin routines.  If you like spin, whether you teach or just want a routine for yourself, check out this website.  I love it!  Also, they give you playlists on Spotify if you use that.  Totally worth it!

Now to my favorite, running outside.  :)  It has been getting a little nicer so I've been able to get back at it.  If you're pregnant, do what you can. Run/walk/run/walk.  Personally I've been trying to get my running in and then cool down with a walk.  I just do what I can, like I said.  If there is any time in my life I've learned to just do what my body tells me, it's during pregnancy.  If my abs start hurting, I just walk until I feel like I can run again.  I don't try to do anything for time, just get the miles in.  :)

An app that I have raved on before is the Nike Training Club.  I still do a lot of the "Get Focused" workouts at this point, but I have to either modify the moves or if something is just not gonna work, I'll sub that move with lunges into bicep curl or lunges into shoulder press or something like that.  Just be smart at the amount of weight that you choose to use.

For anyone trying to stay fit during pregnancy and using my blog for assistance, I hope this helps.  :)  I'm sorry it's not the greatest post, but you catch the drift...