Inspiration Mama: A Runner’s Pregnancy Fitness Tips
Today we are lucky to feature an inspirational mama-to-be (she’s 8 months pregnant now, and still racing!) and Atlanta native, as she shares her pregnancy fitness tips with us! Nichole knows the power of effort and commitment, yet her blog is a really fun read. Get a glimpse below…
Keeping Active While Pregnant
Moving my body has always been important to me. I love my workouts. As an avid runner and exercise enthusiast, finding out I was running for two raised a whole new set of challenges.
I am certainly not the first pregnant athlete, hallelujah, but I certainly had some questions about working out while pregnant.
For those mamas-to-be looking to keep active during their pregnancy, I have a few pregnancy workout survival tips for keeping you and the bambino healthy and happy.
Research, read, research. The Internet is your oyster. Pick up a pregnancy fitness magazine or look online at some of your favorite fit websites. There are tons of people sharing their stories, doctors sharing their tips, all with great advice for making sure you are being a mindful mama.
Embrace the attention. People do look at you like you’re crazy sometimes, and even some of my friends and family will question my daily mileage or workouts. The bigger you get, the longer the gapes. Turn those stares into motivation and channel that into energy to make you jog faster, downward-dog stronger, etc.
Be comfortable. You might quickly find your favorite lycra top becoming tighter. Before you stretch out your favorite workout clothes, look around for pregnancy workout outfits. Finding For Two Fitness has been such a lifesaver. I don’t have to sacrifice the comfort I was use to pre-prego. Tops that stay put as you move are so important, and of course you want your bottoms to actually cover your bottom. Extra length on tops is critical, unless you want your belly hanging out in spin class. Shopping is always a great excuse to motivate you to move.
Pay close(r) attention to your body.Other cramps, soreness, or aches I might have pushed through are now things that force me to slow down. If you feel sore, more tired than usual, somebody is literally telling you to take it easy. Remember the majority of your weight is going to ONE area instead of being evenly distributed. Each of our bodies is different, go at your own pace. What works for some might not work for you.
Hydrate and go to the bathroom a bunch.I wish there was a cure to not feeling like you have to go to the bathroom 10 minutes into whatever it is you’re doing. Make sure to go right before and if you’re doing something outdoors have a few routes mapped where you know you’ll be close to a bathroom.
I have found that similar to pre-pregnancy, I have my good and bad days. Give yourself some credit for embracing your new body and keeping you and your baby healthy. Remember to keep trying and don’t worry about taking exercise too seriously. Get out there and have fun! Exercising is a great mood buster for those raging hormones and keeps me energized throughout the day.
Nichole’s motto is to take life, fitness and well-being in stride. Nichole is an overall sports enthusiast with a serious love for running, cycling, triathlons, hiking, skiing, and well, almost anything outdoors. Nichole believes working out and staying fit should be a lifestyle and not “work.” You can check her out on her blog LivefortheRun, or follow along on Twitter @livefortherun.
NOTE: Nichole is an actual For Two Fitness customer, and has not received any compensation or products for her opinion or any post about For Two Fitness on our blog or her own.
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