Pregnancy: Exercise & My Advice

I’ve been watching pregnant women keep fit on Instagram and girls you are my hero!

Being pregnant for 34 weeks, feels like an age, but what happens when you can’t actually exercise? How are those women able to work out – I wish it was me!

I know some knowledgeable people in the fitness industry and as you do when you find out you’re pregnant, you go to your best sources to get the best advice. However, I haven’t been able to put anything in to practice that I had access to in terms of exercises. It’s all been walking since 8 weeks and I have missed Hiit sessions and weightlifting greatly. But with all the pain and sickness, it’s been out of the question.

The last time I ran, it was a 10-miler a couple of days before I found out I was pregnant! I have actually felt guilty, have you felt that?

Does it mean I’m neglecting the baby if I’m unable to ‘keep fit’? It’s all in the mind isn’t it, because actually, we HAVE to listen to our bodies. You can read all the advice there is until you’re blue in the face, but it’s down to what you are capable of.

This is what I have been able to do throughout this pregnancy:

1. Walking up to a max of 4 miles (1-3 times a week – sickness depending)

2. Bodyweight squats in sets of 10 (not very often)

3. Cleaning – this has felt like exercise!

So, how am I going to get back to fitness when the baby arrives in approx. 4-6 weeks?

We have decided, like so many in lockdown, to set up our own home gym. This doesn’t mean copious amounts of equipment or a whole room dedicated to it. It means:

1. 3 x medicine balls

2. 1 x set of dumbbells

3. 1 x kettlebell

4. 1 x mat

5. 1 x foam roller

6. Skipping rope – on the list

7. Outdoor patio area

And that’s our gym! I’m re-training for my 2022 London Marathon spot as soon as I’m recovered enough, so we will add to the above:

1. Jogging the local countryside

2. Sprints on the local playing field

3. Hill sprints

4. Walking with the baby in a carrier (adding to our own body weight)

During my marathon training for the postponed 2020 event, I failed to add in hill sprints to my training and I suffered. Any hill I met was a psychological nightmare and I would go all floppy and annoyed it was hard!

So, any woman who can work out during pregnancy, I applaud you. The rest of us, it’s just a matter of rest and recovery before the work begins again. And this time, let’s make an effort to enjoy it. There’s so much pressure!

Good Luck!

Victoria x

Victoria McKennaFebruary 9, 2021