Disclaimer: Always consult your physician before starting an exercise routine.
It’s a common misconception that you shouldn’t workout while you're pregnant, but I want to assure you that this is anything but true. Exercising during pregnancy has actually been proven to diminish the bad side effects of pregnancy and can even make labor easier. Any previously pregnant or now pregnant woman will tell you that some of the side effects of being pregnant are lethargy, poor sleep quality, increased bloating, constipation, and excess weight gain. They all want or wanted answers on how to prevent these effects and the answer is simple, EXERCISE!
Exercise improves sleep quality and your ability to fall asleep quicker. This happens due to an increase in core temperature during your workout and a later drop in temperature causing you to become drowsy, ultimately facilitating sleep. Exercise has also proven to cause a shift in time spent in deep sleep, the type of sleep that your brain and body need to recover and to feel rejuvenated.
Contrary to what you would think, exercising regularly increases your energy levels and puts you in a better mood. This is due to the release of endorphins in your body, in reaction to physical activity, which we could call the natural “happy drugs” that your body produces. Regular exercise also trains your body to more efficiently pump blood and oxygen to your body parts which decreases the energy needed to do so and therefore helps to diminish feelings of tiredness.
Increased muscle tone, strength, endurance, and prevention of excess weight gain are all positive effects that exercise can have on your body during pregnancy. All these aspects of health can diminish with pregnancy if you decide to be sedentary and eat poorly, like you're initially going to want to do. And for the love of Pete, NO, you will not hurt your unborn fetus by doing resistance training, cardio, or yoga. By exercising you will only be increasing your body's ability to cope with having the extra weight and strain that pregnancy puts on you.
Exercise increases your blood flow, lowers blood pressure, and promotes gut health which in turn reduces bloating, swelling, and constipation caused by pregnancy. Your blood pressure is almost instantly decreased after a workout and It has been proven that after just several weeks of exercise your intestines have healthier microbiome.
Risks of developing gestational diabetes are increased when a woman whom is overweight, obese, and physically inactive becomes pregnant. Exercise helps to diminish insulin resistance, so lower your risk of developing gestational diabetes by exercising and eating right BOTH before you decide to become pregnant and during pregnancy.
I think that the most important benefit of exercising during pregnancy would be the lowered risk of needing a c section and shortened labor. Many studies have proven this to be the case and as time moves forward there are more and more studies and doctors telling you that it is essential to exercise and eat right for a healthy pregnancy.
So, what are you waiting for? Are you ready to combat those nasty side effects of being pregnant? Are you ready to have the easiest and best pregnancy you could possibly have? Are you ready to maintain a killer bod even with that baby bump? If you answered yes to any of these questions then feel free to contact us here or by phone at 210-495-3131 and we’ll set you up with a free fitness consultation today.
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