Exercise During Pregnancy: Adapting Training & Diet
We’re delighted to welcome self-confessed fitness fanatic, Laura, back to the Content Team. Having just returned from maternity leave, she reveals how she kept fit and healthy during pregnancy - and how she dealt with juggling fitness with baby feeds…
I’m thrilled to be back on the Content Team at Fitness Superstore. Back from maternity leave and a self-confessed fitness fanatic, I thought I’d share how I kept fit and healthy during pregnancy.
I’ve always had a pretty strict attitude towards my health and fitness - training five times a week without fail, opting for the natural yogurt over the chocolate sundae 95% of the time, and getting my two litres of water every day. So, when I became pregnant at 29, I was determined to continue eating healthily and keep fit, whilst ensuring I adapted my diet and training regime appropriately.
Just because I was pregnant didn’t mean I suddenly had to sit down, put my feet up and eat cake. Contrary to what my mother in law would say (and did say, constantly), I didn’t need to be scared to vacuum the house or lift something heavier than a kettle. Pregnant? OK, bring on the dumbbells! As medics advise, staying fit during pregnancy is a good thing – it makes for a smoother and easier pregnancy and labour, and keeps both you and your unborn baby happy and healthy.
What was my training regime pre-pregnancy?
I had a pretty solid workout programme, exercising religiously five times a week. This included three workouts at the gym, a tough Body Blitz class and training from home one day.
- Monday (1 hour 30 minutes): 30 minute outdoor run plus a 1 hour Body Blitz class, which is my favourite class ever. I started doing Body Blitz in 2008 and it was the first time I was introduced to strength training and using weights. Before that, it was all about cardio, but the instructor Faye taught me the effectiveness of using a combination of weights and my own bodyweight to tone and sculpt. This class blitzed the whole body including squats and lunges with a weighted barbell, plus a range of exercises with dumbbells, resistance bands and kettlebells to work the back, arms (triceps and biceps), glutes, legs and abdominals.
- Tuesday (1 hour 15 minutes): Gym workout – 30 minute interval treadmill run and 45 minutes of strength training (including 25 minutes of abs).
- Wednesday: Rest day
- Thursday (1 hour 15 minutes): Gym workout – 45 minute studio cycling (or spinning) class and 30 minutes of strength training (including 25 minutes of abs).
- Friday: Rest day
- Saturday (1 hour 30 minutes): Home workout – my variation of Body Blitz with a few more exercises to get the heart rate up, including burpees, mountain climbers and high knees.
- Sunday (1hr 15mins): Gym workout – 30-minute treadmill run and 45 minutes of weights and ab training.