What was your favorite pregnancy exercise?

[rosetyler]

So far, I've been super sedentary thanks to being knocked out by a supercold/bronchitis for most of December. I really want/need to get some decent exercise going again, as I don't want to turn into an unfit blob.

I wasn't a triathlete to begin with, so there will be no running or CrossFit, but I want to do more than "just" walking.

I have accessible to me three amazing prenatal workout DVDs, an elliptical, walking trails (though it is frigid and horrible here) and various strength training items (exercise balls, medicine ball, 10 lb free weights, resistance bands, etc.).

I'm contemplating joining the nearby community pool. Anyone enjoy swimming while pregnant? Am I missing out on any other great ideas?

[ijack]

yoga. but mainly I did nothing

[rosetyler]

Jan 4, 2013 15:11:39 GMT -5 ijack said:

yoga. but mainly I did nothing

Did you do a class? I did a non-prenatal one last year, and kind of hated it.

Doing nothing is TOO appealing.

[Deleted]

Yoga, and swimming. I should get back to swimming so I can actually do some laps when I get big. My yoga class starts next week. I've let exercise slide because my weight has taken care of itself the last year and a half, but it's not good for my health to sit on my butt all the time.

[ijack]

I did a class. The first time around it was really relaxing and peaceful. The class I took the 2nd time was really hard.
What didn't you like about the class you took last year?

[Deleted]

Eating ice cream.

Sorry. I have not been exercising. I walk as much as possible, and chase my 3 year old around. I also have physical activity as part of my job.

[dcn]

Jan 4, 2013 15:21:25 GMT -5 dbsk8dance said:

Eating ice cream.

Sorry. I have not been exercising. I walk as much as possible, and chase my 3 year old around. I also have physical activity as part of my job.

LOL this is what I was going to say. I did yoga a little, but mostly just walked. And ate lots of ice cream.

[Deleted]

I continued with Zumba and a weight training group I had been with for a couple of years.

I started Pilates (well, I had taken in the past but not recently) and really enjoy the stretching and breathing.

And I won't lie - the best part about any of those classes were the other folks gushing about how great I looked (not!) and how awesome I was for keeping up the workouts - LOL.

[rosetyler]

Jan 4, 2013 15:18:29 GMT -5 ijack said:

I did a class. The first time around it was really relaxing and peaceful. The class I took the 2nd time was really hard.
What didn't you like about the class you took last year?

I swear, it was like 90% downward facing dog. My shit would be shaking after like 45 seconds, she'd move to another pose, then right back into downward facing dog. My arms and abs were in agony for most of the class. Plus I feel like she overbooked the class for the size of the room, I don't like to be close to other people when my ass is in the air.

I think I need a class that is largely relaxing and stretching to ease into it. And no one inches from my ass in the air.

[ijack]

I would do a little research. The first class I went to only had a couple people in it and was SO relaxing that I actually fell asleep in it most days Maybe a small studio would be better?

[anna7602]

I loved swimming while pregnant, especially when I was huge. It was so very nice to feel nearly weightless in the water, plus it helped with swelling.

I took a prenatal aqua aerobics class and I feel like it really helped me build up my stamina for labor.

Prenatal yoga was good, too, but I wanted to respond to the swimming question.

[Brie]

I did CrossFit. It was great until the very end when I became too uncomfortable to do much beyond lay on the couch.

L&D was seriously an endurance event. I am pretty sure I would not have been able to push C out if I hadn't stayed reasonably active throughout pregnancy.

[kangaroo11]

I've been doing prenatal yoga and I really enjoy it. I'd never done it before pregnancy, but I really like both the relaxation of it and being around other pregnant women. It's like hanging out here.

[CloudBee]

My favorite is to get on all 4's and stretch my back. That's pretty much been the extent of it for me.

[Saudade]

Not moving. I had such horrible SPD that it hurt to even walk and it started early. I hope next time it will be less horrible and I can exercise more.

[biscoffcookies]

I took a spin class 1x a week up until about week 38 of my pregnancy, at which point my big baby bump made it difficult to lean over and reach the handles and sometimes got hit by my thighs when pedaling. But it was nice because it was low/no intensity, and I was able to modify it based on how I was feeling (e.g. I stopped standing up near the end because the bump threw my balance off, and I could adjust resistance/speed).

I also jogged regularly up until about week 26, at which point I threw in the towel because every time I jogged my back and hips would KILL for about two days afterward, I'm guessing either because the baby bump threw my balance/gait off or the extra weight I had made running much harder on my joints. After that I switched to the elliptical, which was much more comfortable.

I'm with Brie -- I had to push for almost 3 hours, and I don't know if I would have had the endurance for it if I hadn't exercised regularly.

[HoneySpider]

I need to bookmark this, I have recently turned into a blob and feel horrible. I need to get going on something, I keep using nausea as an excuse. And the fact that I'm only up a pound makes me delusional about it.

[rosetyler]

Ok, I am joining the pool that's two blocks from my house. It's only $225 for both me and H to join for the year, and that includes daily lap time and aqua fitness classes. Yay!

I'll have to look more at the yoga - there are limited options within 15 minutes of me, and I know if it's further away, I won't go. Maybe I can get down with just a DVD.

[hski2349]

The only thing I did was walk. I had always walked the dog everyday before I was pregnant. And then when I was pregnant I continued walking the dog up until the last week. AT that point I was have a ton of braxton hicks contractions and it was July and about 90 degrees out. I also think walking is one thing that helped my weight gain stay thought, and I had a quick recovery and was walking within a week of having DD.

[curbsideprophet]

Exercises I did specifically to prepare for labor/delivery included tailor sitting, squatting, pelvic rocking, kegels and a butterfly exercise that requires a partners help.

[Deleted]

I did a lot of walking and pilates until about 24-25 weeks. Then I needed too many modifications that it didn't seem worth going to the class anymore. I continued to walk as often as I could tolerate, but my hips really started to ache around 30 weeks and walking seemed to aggravate them.

[Deleted]

elliptical machine

[marshmallowhands]

Swimming is seriously heaven- especially in late pregnancy.

[Deleted]

Yoga but I practice yoga regularly outside of pregnancy.

If you are not experienced with yoga I do recommend a class. Try out a few until you find one you like.

Yoga is freaking amazing. I felt like a million bucks after my class yesterday.

[nannersp]

Jan 4, 2013 15:28:48 GMT -5 @gina11 said:

I continued with Zumba and a weight training group I had been with for a couple of years.

I started Pilates (well, I had taken in the past but not recently) and really enjoy the stretching and breathing.

And I won't lie - the best part about any of those classes were the other folks gushing about how great I looked (not!) and how awesome I was for keeping up the workouts - LOL.

Heh. Agreed!

I also kept up with Zumba until we moved out of state around 32 weeks, I think. I was going 3-5 times a week before I got pregnant and was able to keep up about 2-3 times while I was pregnant.

I have some prenatal yoga DVDs but haven't done them yet. Going with a pregnant friend to a class tomorrow a.m.

[MadamePresident]

You are supposed to exercise?

I walked in 100+ degree heat. That's about it, but I'm generally eat well and make small good decisions like taking the stairs vs elevator.

[starlily]

Pilates. I had been doing it for more than a year prior. My instructors made modifications as needed and done of the stretches felt SO good.

I also credit all the "pelvic floor strengthening" from Pilates for my lack of snissing.