You know the funny thing about pregnancy?
No matter how much you work out, you know you won’t improve. You’ll get slower, bigger, less coordinated – all the opposite things that normally happen when you stick to a workout regime. Sometimes it feels like you’re moving backwards.
Working out while pregnant definitely requires a different mindset. You’re not working out to lose weight. You’re not working out to achieve a certain physique. You’re working out to be as fit and healthy as you can. (But shouldn’t that always be our goal?)
This became especially apparent yesterday morning. I set out for my morning walk with the Mini Athlete determined to walk my 1.85 mile route faster than I have been. It usually takes me a little more than 35 minutes. I set my goal on finishing in less than 30 minutes. I started speed walking like nobody’s business. I even tried jogging a few times. I felt fine for the most part – except a nagging discomfort in my right hip. I wouldn’t call it pain – but something definitely didn’t feel right.
I finished the route in 30:30 – almost my goal time! But at what cost?
Do I feel more fit and healthy than I did before that walk? Well, yes, I’m sure my cardiovascular system got a better workout than it has for a while. But my hip definitely suffered. If I weren’t pregnant, I might try to push through it. But I am pregnant. And since I had some serious hip pain with my last pregnancy…let’s just say it’s something I’d like to avoid this time around.
So where does that leave me? I won’t be giving up my morning walk – I know that exercise while pregnant reaps huge benefits. But I won’t be focusing on my time anymore. It’s not a race.
It’s about maintaining fitness. Being healthy.
And for now, that means walking a little more slowly than I’d like.
Have you ever had to scale back your workouts for the sake of your health?
thewannabeathlete@gmail.com
Do you walk everyday? Many stick to a long walk one day and a shorter one another day!
Excellent way to think about it. You got that walk in, and even if it means you’ll be slowing down as this pregnancy goes on, you’re still moving and doing what’s best for you!
Hi there..
I just stumbled upon your blog via the CFL Bloggers conference site..
Love your blog!! Looking forward to follow along! Hope you stop by and say hello at my blog!
I think if you are being active and you keep moving you will always be going forward. Success is all relative. How many pregnant women even walk. Don’t loss your motivation. The mini athlete needs his morning mommy time.
I swam during my pregnancy – it sure feels good to be weightless in the pool!
I haven’t necessarily scaled back workouts for the sake of my physical health, but definitely for my MENTAL health! I’m actually in one of these periods now – I was feeling super burnt out aftre months/years of back-to-back training sessions for various events & every workout was a chore and mentally draining. So I’ve completely backed off from workouts & instead focused on my eating habits. I’m starting to “come back” now and feel more refreshed and excited about workouts than I have in a long time.
I think it’s definitely smart of you to really listen to the cues your body is giving you during your pregnancy (just like you did last time!). Just being out there and moving, no matter how fast or slow, is more than many women do & it’ll pay off for you and your little girl no matter what!
((())) It’s maintaining that energy so pushing isn’t a marathon, just a half- marathon.
Callie you are SUCH an inspiration. You hit the nail on the head with so many issues! Thank you for sharing … I think your words will resonate with any woman who IS or HAS been pregnant. Keep up the good work mama!
This is all so true. I went into a bit of a depression in the middle of pregnancy when I started gaining weight and feeling gross (and this was my third child, so you think I would be over it). I had worked soo hard in between pregnancies to get back in shape and for a while I was sad that it felt like I was reversing my efforts. But eventually I realized that I needed to slow it down and take care of my body in a way that made sense. I had to stop working out all together at 37 weeks because of hip/ sciatica pain, which was hard for me to do. Now I am back at the getting in shape journey and reading your post reminded me that I am doing the best I can and that I need to remember being healthy is not just about how I look. Great Post!
You are so right. I just wrote an article for another site about exercising during pregnancy and I pointed out that it’s not the time to set any records!