Did you just find out you’re pregnant? If so, chances are you are feeling pretty ecstatic about the news. But you may also be wondering what this means for your workout program.
How will you continue? It’s clear your normal gym sessions need to change. But how?
Here are a few great workouts that you can start doing now that you’re pregnant.
Uphill Walking
As your pregnancy progresses along, you may not be able to keep up with the jogging or running you used to. While some women do still perform these workouts, for most, it leaves them feeling quite awkward and uncomfortable.
Uphill walking fills in nicely. It’s a bit more intense than flat walking, but not so intense that it’s unsafe for you during this pregnancy period.
Add the incline, turn on your favorite music, and get going.
Pregnancy Yoga
Pregnancy oriented yoga classes are one of the best ways to stay in shape during your pregnancy period.
The great thing about yoga is that there are so many different poses that you can try, all of which will hit your body differently.
Be sure when joining a yoga class that you are doing one specifically tailored to the pregnant woman’s needs. Certain yoga poses could be downright dangerous for you and your developing baby during this time, so you do want to choose carefully.
A good pregnancy based instructor should know this.
Machine Free Weight Training
If there were ever a time to train with machine weights over free weights, now would be it. While you don’t need to switch your entire workout away from free weights, as your balance will be off now with your tummy developing, having that extra support from the machine can be very helpful.
For instance, the leg press is a smart move than doing full on barbell squats and likewise, the chest press will be a better option than a classic bench press as lying flat on your back as you progress through your pregnancy is also not advised.
Swimming
Finally, don’t overlook swimming. Far too many women completely forget about this workout but it’s a great one for use during pregnancy.
As you won’t have any impact on your joints when swimming, this can give those swollen legs and ankles a rest.
Plus, it’s a great way to add more resistance to your workouts without using actual weights. And even better, you’ll work both the upper and lower body at the same time, so it’s an excellent complete workout session.
So keep these few workouts in mind as you prepare for the next nine months ahead. If you train smartly during this period, you can stay fit and best of all, it’ll all help you bounce back faster to your pre-pregnancy weight once again.
