During the first trimester, staying fit and eating healthy can be a real challenge due to all of the hormonal changes occurring in your body. Two of the biggest challenges can be morning sickness and food aversions. Both of which make you want to just lay on the couch and watch trashy TV rather than focus on getting outside for a walk or a run or eat those nice big salads that you once did. However, did you know that actually making an effort to workout can combat fatigue and morning sickness? I wish someone had told me this during my first trimester! I went from training for a half marathon to the couch full time before finally convincing myself that I needed to make an effort to be somewhat active again. Not only is it good for me but it’s good for this growing baby inside of me. It took me until the later stages of my first trimester (around week 10) to really start to get back to being active. But when I did, I noticed how much better I felt. My morning (all day) sickness was nowhere near as extreme which made me more interested in foods that I had been avoiding due to nausea.
Once the second trimester rolls around you will probably notice a change for the better in how you are feeling and you will find you have more energy. The second trimester is really the perfect time to get yourself on track with your fitness to make sure that you have the healthiest, happiest pregnancy possible. With the return of energy, start to make time in your day to focus on staying fit.
You may notice that your favorite fitness activities just don’t feel as comfortable to you now so look at trying something new (before starting any new activities or workout plans be sure to consult your prenatal care provider). I was a runner before my pregnancy and I had hoped to be a pregnant runner but my morning sickness hit me hard in my first trimester and being pregnant in the winter in the northeast didn’t make it very conducive to getting outside for runs. I decided to focus on trying something new; I picked up a few different prenatal workout DVD’s, joined a prenatal yoga class and when the weather was nice made an effort to get outside for walks. Over time I went from 1-2 workouts per week in my first trimester to 3-4 in the first half of my second trimester to 5-6 workouts per week in the second half of my second trimester and throughout my third trimester.
The third trimester can start of with you feeling pretty well but you may find yourself more tired, more achey and back to experiencing some food aversions. However, if you have created a consistent workout routine already you will notice how much it helps to combat these things and how much better you feel at the end of the day. As the trimester progresses and the baby drops workouts may become more challenging but all that means is you need to slow down and make any necessary changes to your workouts so that you don’t overdo it. However, slowing doesn’t mean you have to stop and any prenatal care provider will tell you that staying active through labor is extremely beneficial for you to do.
