Jogging And Pregnancy

Keeping Fit in Pregnancy

The first trimester you are tired. So very, very tired. So tired in fact that you find yourself falling asleep in the toilets at work and going to bed at 7pm. The second trimester you have more energy but you are so consumed with eating everything in sight that the last thing on your mind is running round the block. Unless the block in question happens to be a block of ice cream and ‘running’ is a synonym for ‘licking’. By the time the third trimester comes about, you are waddling around like a fat duck and just putting your shoes on gets you out of breath.  Exercise?! Who are we kidding? That’s the last thing on your mind.

The trouble is that you need to stay reasonably fit if you are going to cope well with the birth. You might be happy to hear that you shouldn’t suddenly start a new exercise regime like spinning if you aren’t used to it, and you need to be careful to avoid high impact exercise or putting strain on your core muscles. But before you get your sick notes out, as long as you go easy and stay hydrated, there are several safe, gentle ways to keep up a reasonable level of fitness in pregnancy. Giving birth has been likened to running a marathon. You can be sure that very few people run a marathon when all they have done for the last few months is sit on their bums eating toast. Whilst no one is suggesting that you start training as though you were about to jog for 26 miles, it is a good idea to try and do…well, something. If nothing else, when the time comes, it will make the labour a lot easier.  

Firstly, you don’t need to run. Try walking. We’re not talking ambling here though, we’re talking brisk walking for a decent length of time. This is a great way to achieve a solid base level of fitness and if you can find the time to walk for at least half an hour every day, you will be surprised at how effective it can be.

If you don’t fancy the idea of puffing your way down the high street to amused onlookers, fearing all the while that you might just trip over and land flat on your bump, take yourself to one of the gyms in London. Walking or gentle jogging on the treadmill is much easier than walking or jogging outside. You have no pavements or uneven surfaces to contend with,
which makes it much safer for someone whose centre of balance is…well, a little off, let’s just say. If you can make it to the gyms in London out of peak hours, you may just find that you have the place to yourself, too.

Swimming is another very effective, gentle way of staying fit. It also gives you a chance to feel weightless, which is the best feeling in the world if you are used to lugging around one and a half people. If you are put off the idea of your local pool because you fear being bombed by over excited kids or worse, getting a mouthful of their pee, try instead one of the
gyms in London which have swimming pools. Chances are you will find it a much more sedate experience.

Lastly, many of the gyms in London run yoga classes, specifically for pregnant ladies. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to have rubber limbs to do yoga. You can just take it at your own pace and do what feels comfortable for you. Pregnancy-specific classes are designed to ensure the exercises are safe and comfortable. They also give you the chance to relax, too – most sessions end with glorious mat time, which mostly consists for lying
still for a while. Just try not to nod off. Most pregnant women snore, you know.

About the Author

If you want to visit gyms in London on a pay-as-you-go basis, go to www.payasugym.com.

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