6 weeks pregnant, high bmi, can I still go gym ?

[EstherBP]

I am 6 weeks pregnant with my first and I have a high Bmi , feeling very cautious and worried at the moment, as I really want this baby. I an concerned about all the weight related risks I have read online and wondering if it is safe for me to me to carry on exercising while pregnant? I was going to the gym before but I do not want to risk causing a miscarriage or any other complications now I know I am pregnant but at the sane time I would like to stay healthy . Any. Advise would help ?

[Kempton]

It's best to stick to low intensity exercises so swimming, walking, yoga, stretches. That kind of thing. Try and eat a balanced diet (to be honest all I could manage in the first trimester was fruit!).

[EstherBP in reply to Kempton]

Thank you, I will look into taking up swimming and Yoga to stay healthy. I will be making sure I eat as healthy as possible. Fortunately for me, my appetite is still the same and I have only suffered from a very small amount of nausea so far.

[Cedrada]

Talk to your gp and or midwife...

That said, I kept on running till I was about 23 weeks and refused to shell out for a new sports bra....

[EstherBP in reply to Cedrada]

I have first go appointment this week, so I will make sure to ask

It would be ideal if I can still use machines like the cross trainer at my gym. Plus I am in locked in to my gym membership contract until October, so it would be good if I can still utilise most of the gym.

[Cedrada in reply to EstherBP]

Normally, they recommend you can carry on as you have been, if you've not started recently. Obviously, listen to your body and don't over do it!

[Kata89]

It’s good to keep up exercising, I danced until I was 37 weeks (last class at 36 weeks) was too tired at 37 weeks and my section was booked for 38 weeks or I’d probably have carried on. I was recommended to not do anything high impact or start anything new but you’re better off continuing with some excercise if you can

[EstherBP]

That is good to hear, because I think it would be better to keep fit as long as possible and it will help me ensure that I do not gain too much weight.

I tend to do classses and the cardio machines at the gym. I hadn’t really gotten into the weights side of things.

Where you tired or did you find working out uncomfortable at any point during the 36 weeks or did you feel perfectly fine throughout ?

[Nin21996]

I’ve also got a high BMI, and was advised by my consultant to continue with any exercise I was already doing, but not suddenly increase or add to that regime. I have been really sick with hyperemesis so lost a lot of weight in the first two trimesters anyway, but now that I’m feeling slightly better I try and go for a walk or swim and do some pregnancy yoga at home. I’d say if you’ve got the energy to do it then go for it, just avoid high intensity work outs, and keep an eye on your health outside the gym, some common pregnancy side effects are palpitations and low blood pressure, which can make you feel faint, which I can imagine wouldn’t be fun in the gym x

[Yzzi130]

It's absolutely fine for you to go to the gym, just be careful of any active stretches that require you to twist your torso, also, be mindful of the way your abs are working, I actively avoided anything this that was an out and down muscle contraction, so things like sit ups were out, but planks, as you are pulling the muscles up and in, are fine. So on the cross trainer just be aware of how you are using those muscles.

I carried on (pole) dancing until I was 7 months, and a friend of mine carried on teaching spin classes until 3 weeks before her due date.

[EstherBP]

Thank you for the advice ladies, I feel much better about keeping active during my pregnancy, I will be mindful not to add anything new or very intense but sounds like I am okay to keep working out xx