Amanda's Pregnancy Workout Journal

[.V.]

It's OK, it'll all be over soon then you get a nice 8 week rest.

After that, GET BACK TO WORKING HARD.

[arbit]

Originally Posted by ajarvis

Thanks SunMedic!

The amazing thing I've found is how different the opinions of doctors can be. There are quite a few women here at work that are pregnant too, and the info we all get from the doctors is ridiculous. Some have been told to only walk. No lifting any form of weight what-so-ever - to light weights are ok. Others have been told NO ab exercises. Period. From pretty much day one. Then there's my doctor who all of a sudden last week decided I should be keeping my HR below 140. Which is next to impossible when you're pregnant and working out. She also did a complete reverse from saying I could continue doing situps to saying I "really shouldn't be on my back too long" and added on "but you can keep doing them until you can't do them anymore".

I find most pregnant women seem to be worried about what they are doing wrong, or what they should or shouldn't be doing, in they're pregnancy. When you have a doctor telling you these things it's real hard to go against that. Since they're suppose to have the answers!

Me, I'm going with what my doctor says combined with what my body tells me. I never push myself too hard. My baby is very healthy, and active lol. So obviously my higher HR hasn't been hurting him. I do the talk test while doing cardio - as long as I can speak two sentences with ease I'm not working too hard.

I'm no doctor, but I find these restrictions extremeley hard to believe. Keep HR below 140 ??? No heavy weights??
Thinking in evolutionary terms, this makes absolutely no sense. 140 HR is not that hard to get to. And moderatly heavy work would have been impossible to avoid in prehistoric times. Bodies are robust, they have been designed to take it.
Birth - now THAT is an ordeal, apparently the skull/bones of the baby gets squished (as in really bent) during delivery. Babies HR is thru the roof. Oxygen is limited.
I find it hard to belive that a baby can be designed to survive a birth, but not a momma HR of 140+
1 rep max - that I can belive (that it is not recommended). But if you can do 10-12 reps at weight x, my brain screames that it would be ok to lift that.

EDIT: With the caveat: So long as you feel comfortable doing stuff. We didnt have HR monitors in cave age - women lifted what they felt comfortable lifing.

[CF-OC_gal]

I can't believe that I agree with the doctors at this point but in general I do. At your point in your pregnancy you shouldn't do sit-ups. You can tear the facia in your abs and it is not reparable (you be left with a big gap instead of a line between your abs.

The other thing is that you have no history of a full term pregnancy yet so there is a lot about how you do in the final stage that is still not known.

A woman's pelvic floor has a lot to do already to keep the weight of baby and extra body tissue up and in place. Pushing heavy weights is not really the added stress they need (we all know how heavy weights engage lots of supporting muscles). I guess at this point it would depend on a woman's priorities whether she pushes heavy or not.

Amanda, I think you have always had the right approach, but I would cut out the situps. Really what are you going to lose? I stopped the crunches mid way through the pregnancy and was still doing full sit-ups within 12 hours of giving birth. The other ladies in the nurse lead fitness recovery session said "no, that is not normal".

Arbit: you would not believe how different it feels to do 10-12 reps with x weight when you are pregnant! All you need to feel is that bearing down pressure on the cervix and you know that is a feeling that should not be tampered with. It has nothing to do with what you "can do" or what you could previously push yourself to do. There are a bunch of muscles women have that are built for carrying weight all day during a pregnancy. They are doing their job 24/7. I certainly would not have liked a prolapsed uterus because I trained like I was not pregnant. You don't have to become a couch potato at this time but you don't need to be an iron addict either to have a healthy baby and mom. I know what you mean though - you are thinking like a bodybuilder and that is what makes the non-pregnant population make gains.

Hi Amanda,

Between now and drop day I think that brisk walking, the Tiger Moves DVRs at light to moderate tension (skipping the ab one), and stretching throughout the day would be good for you. If you need a little more, I'd suggest heavyhands walking with 2-3 lb. dumbells, pumping the dumbells in a variety of challenging movements, the most difficult being overhead presses while walking.

You've got plenty of time to do more and tougher stuff after the baby is born as you chisel back down to your pre-pregnancy condition.

We have something in common. We weigh the same.

I'm still formulating my prediction about your baby's delivery weight. I still have some time before I make my announcement.

Hang in there. And definitely skip the situps.

[arbit]

Originally Posted by Brat

Arbit: you would not believe how different it feels to do 10-12 reps with x weight when you are pregnant! All you need to feel is that bearing down pressure on the cervix and you know that is a feeling that should not be tampered with. It has nothing to do with what you "can do" or what you could previously push yourself to do. There are a bunch of muscles women have that are built for carrying weight all day during a pregnancy. They are doing their job 24/7.

That was my last point , if it feels wrong, dont do it

[ajarvis]

Arbit you're 100% right on the hb. My heartrate gets up to 140 doing my warmups! There are certain weightlifting exercises I would avoid while pregnant, just because I know they would be uncomfortable and probably not a good idea. I keep my reps high with any weightlifting - 15-20 reps - and as long as it doesn't cause discomfort I keep doing it.

Brat - I agree about the situps. I've been told I can continue to do them if I'm on an incline, but it's not comfortable. Just getting out of bed is not comfortable using my abs. I haven't done situps in a while! I've actually been staying away from alot of ab exercises. Right now I just do planks. Cause you're right even doing chest press, or the seated row I have to keep the weight low because otherwise I can feel the muscles straining in my hips - especially since I can't support myself with my chest or stomach anymore lol. Oh and there is no way I could push myself to do what I use to do without doing some serious damage. I'm tired enough as it is!

Pierini - I am definitely going to be cutting back on my workouts. After this week it's very obvious to me that I have to. No more dips. It was quite a strain to be able to do the few I did on Monday. I'm also cutting down the reps I do for squats, and lunges. I have been doing the tiger moves in the evening at light intensity. I like doing it just before bed - it's refreshing.

If you want to guess his weight and due date it's at
www.expectnet.com Julian is the game name Still plenty of time!


At this point I'm hoping the baby is bigger. Like at least 8lbs. That way I have less to lose lol. My mom seems to think I'm going to go early cause I'm "so huge" - thanks mom!

[ajarvis]

May 30th

25min on stationary bike. Don't remember how far, but it was a light workout.
No workout May 31st, but I did enough walking that day to count it as one. In the heat too. I was miserable lol. DH got to hear me whine.

June 2nd

5 min warm up on stationary bike
50 walking lunges
1:00 plank
15 deadlift with 2kg medicine ball - can't bend very far over, but I held a 2 second contraction at top of movement and could really feel it.
8 DVR standing hamstring curls each leg - max intensity
1:15 wall sit
50 furey squats - with toes pointing outwards
20 abductor machine - 50lbs
20 adductor machine - 50lbs
20 abductor machine - 50lbs
20 adductor machine - 50lbs
Lower body stretching

[.V.]

Hey Amanda, it looks like you are still working hard. You are getting really close now. Closer than you think. It's going to happen July 2, 2006 at 01:34am. You will have a 6lb 8oz baby boy.

good to see you are working as hard as you are, but not overdoing it.

[CF-OC_gal]

At this point I'm hoping the baby is bigger. Like at least 8lbs. That way I have less to lose lol.

LOL! Oh dear, this really is your first one I'd suffer through a few more pounds to lose in exchange for less,... a-hem..., (TMI) sutures. 7lb something is a breeze.

You are doing so impressively well. I admire your dedication. :

[arbit]

I hear women crap during birth

[.V.]

Originally Posted by arbit

I hear women crap during birth

Generally speaking - no, they don't.

[ajarvis]

Well I certainly hope not - your body is "suppose" to ahem clear you out, before you go into labour lol.

[ajarvis]

June 13th

Warmup - stationary bike
Spent 10 min on the bike first 5 were nice and easy til' I got warmed up, and then the last 5 I kept my HR up at about 150.

Eliptical - full body interval training program - 15 min. - involves pushing, pulling, pedalling forward, and backward

Lower body stretching

15 pushups
16 Assisted pullups - 120lbs assistance
10 Assisted Dips - 30lbs assistance
Stretching

Plus my usual walk this morning as well. 2.1miles.

I haven't been doing alot of "workouts" lately, but I have walked at least 1hr every day. Saturday we were out for about 2hrs walking, and Sunday about the same. Yesterday was about the same, but broken up throughout the day. I also do the tiger moves in the evening - not including the ab one, or the squat - at light intensity. I am getting very uncomfortable!!

Weight - 183lbs!

[JDR3]

Great job! It would be so easy for so many to just stop working out at this point. All I can really say is I'm very impressed.

[.V.]

Umm you are walking an hour a day carrying around Amanda, Julian, amniotic fluid, extra blood volume - 183 pounds total - in summertime...I'd call that a workout.