4 Great Ways I Have Exercised While Pregnant

There are SO many resources out there. It can be overwhelming! And on top of that, when you are pregnant a lot of Dos and Don’ts are thrown at you! It can be hard to know what is safe to do while exercising! While I am not a medical professional and absolutely recommend you ask your doctor before trying new things, I do want to share what has worked for me during this pregnancy!

Indoor Cycling

This is new to me! I started cycling at the beginning of this year and actually decided I love it! I went to a CycleBar class and couldn’t stop going! The energy, the pace, it is just very fun to me! I actually ended up purchasing a stationary bike for my house and use the Peloton App to get killer workouts in! One of the reasons I have continued to cycle during this pregnancy is because it is low impact and full body! I get to control the intensity of the workout while also getting my heart rate up! Even when I was dealing with a Previa, I still had the go-ahead to cycle. Here is the bike I have at home! And the mat!

pregnant — This girl taught spin classes until she was in her 3rd trimester! Talk about motivation!

Walks

This one may be a no-brainer, but I try to go on a walk every day! It is low impact and just loosens things up! I have noticed benefits for both early morning and late evening walks! Early morning helps wake up my body and sets the tone for movement in my day. Evening walks tend to be after dinner and does wonders for digestion (especially while pregnant!). On days when I just don’t have the energy to do a heart-pumping workout, I walk! It is also a great family activity!

At-Home Workouts

I have been a fan of at-home workouts for years now but I found a YouTuber that I love this past spring and I do her workouts ALL THE TIME! One of my favorite things is that she doesn’t talk in her workout videos! I also really love that she shows modifications for most moves which has been great as my pregnancy goes along! She has all different kinds and lengths to choose from! Huge fan, you should check out her page! Bonus: I love at-home workouts for so many reasons, the convenience, the chance to set a good example for my kids, and no judgment from others!

Yoga/Stretching

I am sure that this one is obvious why it is so good while pregnant! Everything is expanding and shifting and that can be a tough transition! To help relieve some of the aches and pains, I slow it down and work on flexibility! SO many benefits for delivery and recovery as well! Sometimes I will do some guided workouts on the Peloton app or Beachbody but sometimes I also just do what feels good! If freestyle freaks you out, there are a ton of guided options free on Youtube!

Moral of the Story

It is always a good idea to move your body, especially during pregnancy! You will thank yourself when delivery and postpartum comes around!

Tips

This is not the time to try something drastically new. If you have never ran before, pregnancy is not the time to try it. Now if you ran all the time before becoming pregnant, go for it!
Do what feels good, don’t give up movement just because your usually HIIT workouts aren’t fun anymore! Find a style that works for you in this season!
Give yourself grace! Just because you are used to hour-long workouts before pregnancy, doesn’t mean you will feel like busting those out now! A 10-minute workout is so much better than nothing!
If you are at a loss of where to start, find a guided program to help! Especially if you are a first-time mom, you need to know what is safe and what is not!
Have fun! Working out should not be a punishment for eating too much, or gaining weight. You are growing a human, you are supposed to expand! But find ways to move your body that you enjoy! Make it more fun by reading on the treadmill or listening to your favorite podcast while doing a lifting circuit!
Need some tips because you HATE working out? Here ya go!

Favorite Maternity Workout Clothes

Okay, so now I will share some of the clothes that I enjoy working out in. Nothing is worse than wearing uncomfortable clothes! I really like these sports bras. They give good support and don’t pinch! Don’t be afraid to size up to make room for those growing tatas. I am obsessed with these biker shorts! They are extremely soft and so comfy! I wear them constantly! Oh, and they are way cute! Here is another great biker short option! Some days, I just leave the bump out, but I also love these tanks (I sized up).

I hope these items help get you moving! Comfort is key while pregnant!!