10 Commandments of Pregnancy Exercise

For those busy moms who are expecting their first baby, second or other #, and love to and can exercise, here are 10 handful tenets worth warding.

10 Commandments of Pregnancy Exercise by Erika Lenkert, The Real Deal Guide to Pregnancy

1. Talk with your practitioner about suitable exercise;
2. Aim for 30 minutes of activity several times per week;
3. Stretch before and afterward;
4. Be careful;
5. Hydrate;
6. Dress for success;
7. Follow your body's cues;
8. Don't focus on your fat;
9. Stop the second something doesn't feel right;
10. Remember that the goal is never to lose weight.

According to The Real Deal Guide to Pregnancy, the following were the favorites physical activities of moms-to-be during pregnancy:

• Walking: 59%
• Yoga or prenatal yoga: 32%
• Doing absolutely nothing from the get-go or early on: 16%
• Swimming: 11%
• Chasing toddlers around: 10%
• Bike riding (stationary/recumbent/spin classes): 9%
• Water aerobics, water walking or weight training: 6%
• Elliptical machine or Stairmaster: 4%
• Hiking or Pilates: 3%
• Everything else: 1%

To read more about the benefits of breaking a sweat and the 10 commandments of pregnancy exercise during pregnancy in a fun, enjoyable and witty reading, get The Real Deal Guide for Pregnancy by Erika Lenkert or better yet, enter the Expectant Moms Giveaway to win a free book by clicking the image below or simply go here.

-The Moms Buzz

Comments

[Amy Lippmann]

I enjoyed this post because I am 30 weeks into my first pregnancy and have been staying active. I work with clients on food and exercise, so this is obviously an important subject for me.

Some tips I've picked up:
- Focus on maintaining strength, rather than building.
- You don't need to be afraid to exercise, just be smart about it.
- Use the "talk test" instead of your heart rate. This means that you should be able to talk while exercising, without too much difficulty.