Unless you've
been living under a rock, you already know there are many benefits to having a
healthy lifestyle and including exercise as part of your daily routine. Physical activity, moving around and not
being sedentary, leads to improved health and fitness and as a result, a
healthier pregnancy.
Benefits of Exercise
The
benefits of exercise are myriad and well known.
It is used as a means to help in the healing process for such diseases
as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure as well as a tool with which
to deal with stress and even depression.
A good night's sleep is often one of the first noted benefits of exercise
and by expending energy you get it back
many times over. By getting into the
habit of being active and staying that way, your delivery can go faster and
easier and regaining your pre-pregnancy body is much easier as well.
Many Places to Exercise
Joining a
gym isn't necessarily the only way to get into a fitness program while you're
pregnant, but it certainly is one way.
Often fitness centers run programs for pregnant women which take the
physical changes a woman experiences during pregnancy into account. Women's health centers and hospitals also
provide fitness help for women who want to avail themselves of it. But, there are a lot of other things you can
do to be active during your pregnancy.
We're looking for increased physical activity, whatever way works best
for you.
You'd Be Surprised...It's Not All In A Gym
By adopting
a healthier lifestyle by changing your diet to ensure you're not packing on
needless pounds but eating with an eye toward optimal health for yourself and
your baby, and by adding physical activity, you'll not only feel better but you'll
look better as well. Some ideas to stay
active while you're pregnant (and after you've given birth) are things that are
easy to do, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator and if you're
working in an office building, opt to walk the flight of stairs up to the
bathroom on the next floor. Rather than
using email or the phone, take a walk to your co-worker's office. When you're shopping, visiting friends or working,
park further away and walk the distance to your destination. You can catch your bus at the next stop in
the next block by walking there. Rather
than vegging in front of the television, use the time to stretch or do
isometric exercises. Dance, Dance,
Dance. Work in the garden (if you have
one) or help someone who does have a garden.
Learn a new sport that isn't too rough on you, take a class, do some
yoga, play a team sport. Just get in
motion, your health and body will be better for it.
Listen To Your Body
Pay
attention to your body. Listen to the
signals it is giving you and stay within the limits that are both safe yet
challenging enough to give you value.
Pregnancy can be the start of motherhood and a whole new active lifestyle.
