Exercising While Pregnant--My Only Sanity!

[Redhead Mommy]

As a mother, I spend every day looking after everyone else's needs: my husband, my son, my mother, my friends, etc. I don't really take very much time for myself. That is just the way it is, and I'm okay with that. But I do take time out of my day to exercise, which is my only sanity. Especially since I'm pregnant, I need it even more. As the hormones in my body are surging and emotions can flair, the exercise gives me focus and purpose in an otherwise unstable emotional environment. My husband is always bragging to his friends about how level headed I am. Oh, don't get me wrong, I do have my moments, but I can only imagine how bad I would be without the exercise.

You see when I exercise, it's for me. It's something I do for myself so that I can take care of everyone else. I get it all out. It's really stress relief with an added benefit. I focus on me and my body, and then when I've sweated all the toxins away, I can go back to my family and be calm and happy. The days that I don't get any exercise are the days that I feel run down, tired, irritable, and pregnant.

And of course, the exercise I do helps my unborn son get an edge up in life. Fitness during pregnancy has been tied to higher intelligence, less allergies and diseases, athleticism, etc. Not only am I helping myself and my family, but I'm helping my son develop in the womb with super powers.

I've been getting alot of compliments lately by other women on how I exercise during pregnancy and what I'm able to do pregnant. Because I was fit before I got pregnant, I'm able to do more than the average woman. Losing that 104 lbs. conditioned my body and gives me stamina that I wouldn't normally have. I can run, jog, do Taebo, Pilates, Yoga, boot camp, etc. And I do a good job of keeping up with the girls that aren't pregnant. Of course, I do stop myself when I am exerting myself too much, but I just keep a solid pace and then dive back into it when I can. The other thing I do is chew gum because it keeps me more hydrated, or at least I feel that way.

For more information on pregnancy, fitness and nutrition, check out Bookieboo. There are several moms on this site that are having fit pregnancies. We've been doing it together and sharing our ups and downs. Pregnancy is tough enough, but a fit pregnancy has it's own challenges.

Have a great week!