Mommy Moves

There is a lot of advice out there for moms-to-be and a lot of moms willing to give it, sometimes too willing. So when I found out I was pregnant 4 months ago, I started having an interesting, aggravating conversation. It went something like this:

Them: How are you feeling?
Me: Great! No morning sickness and I am still workout out 6 days a week, teaching classes and running.
Them: Really!!!? Are you sure that is ok for the baby (in a tone that shows they think I should be a couch potato instead.)
Me: Yes, I am sure, as you know I am not only a personal trainer and class instructor, but I am certified in pre-natal fitness. Working out is good for the baby. My doctor agrees.
Them: Hmmm, well ok, as long as you take it easy….
Me: Thanks for your permission for me to work out since you are the expert! (I think, but don’t say this.)

The facts are that pregnancy is not a time to start a NEW fitness regimen if you DON’t normally work out, but if you DO stay fit and get pregnant, it is more than ok to keep it up. This is not the time to train for a triathlon, but if you are a fit person you should check with your doctor and in most cases continue she’ll recommend doing what you were doing before, just watching you don’t get too out of breath. If labor is the hardest workout you will ever have, doesn’t it seem counterintuitive to quit training 9 months before? It is not until the 2nd and 3rd trimester that you should even do anything much different, like not lying on your back for abs workouts. But instead of lecturing or giving advice like so many others out there, I am just going to tell you what I am up to!

16th week:

Sunday – Teach 1 hour cardio sculpt class doing 80 percent of the workout and talking/walking around checking member form the other 20 percent.

Monday – Walk 30 minutes to work, 30 minutes home. Teach chisel class for 45 minutes focusing on abs glutes and arms.

Tuesday – Walk 30 minutes, was planning to ran 30 minutes (shorter and slower than my old 45 minute route.)

Wednesday – Taught Buns, Legs and Thighs (BLT) class at Crunch, followed by Cardio Express for a total of 60 minutes. Walked 30 minutes to work but only 10 mins home and took the subway because it was raining and I was late.

Thursday – Walked 30 mins to work and 30 mins home, ran 30 mins in the park after work.

Friday – Did my own fitness DVD “Booty Camp” because it was raining out and did not walk to work because I worked from home to make an ultrasound appointment. I am waiting for my pre-natal yoga DVD to arrive in the mail or normally I would have done a 9am yoga class at the gym.

Saturday – Day off from working out, walked around the neighborhood doing errands.

I feel great, have a baby bump, but my arms and legs are not gaining weight. Yes, my jeans don’t zip but at least I think I will keep wearing the same jeans with a belly band until November!

So don’t take my advice, but maybe follow my lead and keep up your Mommy Moves! Visit my website www.nikkifitness.com for recent prenatal and post-baby fitness articles I have appeared in.

Fitness - Fit it in!

Nikki
Crunch Manhattan Group Fitness Instructor/Personal Trainer

More from Nikki at www.nikkifitness.com:

- Military Wife Workout DVD
- NikkiBeachBride Destination Wedding Workout
- Nikki on YouTube

Nikki Fitness is a personal trainer, group exercise instructor, writer and publicist living in New York City. She started as a cheerleader at Syracuse University, but became certified in fitness before her beach wedding so that she could get back in shape. Laura, a graduate student, working mom, and military wife, inspired Nikki's Military Wife Workout (MWW) for all military wives. Find more articles by Nikki at her article archive. Learn more at www.nikkifitness.com. For more Nikki Fitness blogs, visit her blog archive.