Creating a baby is truly such a magical thing that women get to experience for 9 months. At the same time, it can be exhausting and uncomfortable as your body grows and shifts to make room for the sweet little angel. You get bloating, constipation, and sometimes nausea that can last for days, sometimes weeks.
The absolute last thing you ever want to do is move your body from the bed, chair, or couch.
It’s challenging and mentally exhausting because you have your family, friends, strangers on the internet, and books telling you all the different ways you “should” be handling your pregnancy. In my limited experience with pregnancy, still in my first trimester, the two biggest pieces that are talked and asked about are: “What are you eating?” and “Are you exercising?” There is also the famous “How are you feeling?”
I understand why the questions are asked because we, as women, are the sole carriers of our sweet babies. What we eat, they eat. When we move, they move. When we move our bodies, even the smallest amount, can make a world of difference in how we feel during the pregnancy in the long run.
Trust me, I know how hard it can be at times to get up and moving. I’m in it with you! That’s why I have 10 small and effective tips to hopefully help get you motivated while pregnant. First and foremost, always consult your OB, midwife, or physician before starting any workout programs.
1. Start slow. Break your workouts down into three 10-minute sessions.
2. For the first 10 minutes try to just go on a walk in the morning.
3. For the second 10 minutes session, try it around lunchtime and do arm exercises with no weight, a kitchen towel, lightweight, bands, or water bottles.
4. You could do the the third 10-minute session before dinner and make it about legs with squats, standing kickbacks, side kick-outs with a chair, and stationary lunges.
5. By breaking it up into three sessions, it doesn’t feel so daunting to have to get it done all at once. If you can only get the first 10 minutes in because morning sickness kicked in for the rest of the day, that’s ok.
6. Pick workouts, moves, and equipment that you already know how to do.
7. Stay hydrated during your workout. Try using the Yes.Fit 32 oz wide mouth water bottle or the Yes.Fit fruit infused water bottle to keep you hydrated.
8. Make it fun. YouTube has a ton of pregnancy workouts all ranging from 10 minutes to 20 minutes to 30 minutes with a variety of workouts like yoga, cardio, or full body.
9. Also, keep your eyes open for a few pregnancy workout series that Yes.Fit has coming your way. (wink, wink)
10. Finally, if you’re looking for fun workouts or races you can run, swim, bike or walk and don’t mind a discount, then try Yes.Fit’s Virtual Races.
The biggest thing to all of this is to listen to your body. You and only you know your body the best. If there are days you need to take it easy, then take it easy. If some days you want to take on a full 30-minute workout then go for it. Our bodies are amazing and will let us know what we need to do.
Know that we are all in this together and that we’re here cheering you on the whole way.
