With one week to go until we turn another major pregnancy milestone, I wanted to write about exercise in the second trimester. I mention it each week on my weekly updates, but I re-read my post about exercise in the first trimester, and now I can write about what I actually did the last few months.

As you know from reading my blog, exercise is really important to me. I used to have lots of goals, would wake up early to get in a workout, and always felt better and stronger for keeping up the routine.

It was really important to me to keep up a routine and find what works for me during pregnancy to keep active and fit. I happily re-adjusted my goals and expectations, and have been feeling great while exercising the last few months.

While I am slower on walks and don’t wake up early to exercise, I am still including cardio and light resistance in my weekly routine. I write frequently about the Define Body classes I go to about twice per week, and I mix that with walks or cardio machines in the gym. I really enjoy going to Define, even though I am always the only pregnant person in the classes. I can modify movements, especially core ones, and look forward to continuing these classes to get my core back next Spring and Summer.

I’m not really interested in being challenged too hard or pushing too much, which used to be a mindset I was more into. I just want to enjoy and get a nice stretch for now. This has been the main difference, and why I am glad I gave up CrossFit classes during pregnancy. I am also enjoying this brief time of not waking up early, not having a training plan, and just doing exercise that sounds nice.

Of the movements I do in class or on my own at the gym, I spend a lot of time (and enjoy most) on biceps, triceps, lateral raises or pulldowns, and shoulder presses. I hope to keep my arms strong and toned as much as I can with very light weights! The thigh, glute, and lower body movements have become increasingly harder with more weight on my front. I hope it means strong legs since I’m carrying a bowling ball all the time.

I am also sticking to 4-5 days per week of exercise, and make a point to get something in on those days. On the off days, I really enjoy being lazy in the late afternoon.

For me, I know I found a great way to stay active during pregnancy, but everyone is different. I also know that I am probably at the end of the peak feel-great weeks, and things may get harder and my endurance may decrease again. That’s ok, and I know I’ll return to tough workouts in a few months!

As part of my usual Tuesdays to write about something pregnancy related, I wanted to write about my weekend activities. In our only weekend without travel for the whole month, I planned a few out of ordinary activities for just me.

On Saturday, I signed up for a pregnancy workshop at Define Body, the studio I’ve been talking about for a while. With only four other people, we learned how to modify movements we do in regular classes to help us. Then we had snacks, and then we did a short Mind class, which is all stretching. It was really nice to not be the only pregnant person in the class, and to be the focus of how to modify instead of trying to guess or have to give the instructor a look of “is this safe for me? or “what am I supposed to do here instead?” I also would like to take a mixed Body and Mind class to get a little of each in an hour’s time.

Before that, I walked three miles.  I did another three miles on Friday morning. And the elliptical and light weights on Sunday morning.

Then on Sunday, I scheduled massages for me and for Jeffrey. I did my first pre-natal massage, which I never thought I would like before I got pregnant. I didn’t think I’d like the idea of getting rubbed being so much bigger, but I can tell that different muscles get worn more easily, like legs and hips. They’re holding more weight and getting pulled in different ways.

My massage was a little more wimpy than I expected, but I probably should have expected something very moderate. Better to be careful, but it wasn’t as hard, and more limited on body parts than I expected. Rolling on the foam roller or a hard ball gives me more release than that massage. And I already own that! So I guess I’ll spend more time foam rolling. Who knew that thing would still be coming in handy?

Before I got pregnant, I hoped that exercise would be a big part of my routine still, and I’m glad it is. I hope to be able to continue walking, stretching, and doing light weights until the end, and I really think it helps me stay limber and feeling good. I’m hoping it helps with labor and recovery and I hope I bounce back quickly because I stayed in good shape. I am glad I have found some activities that I enjoy doing and a studio that embraces pregnancy modifications.

So that was my weekend–four workouts between Friday and Sunday, all moderate, nothing really intense, just nice to keep moving and stretching!

A year ago, as the temperatures were getting cooler, I was gearing up for my first half marathon. My weekends included one great run outside around the neighborhood or my favorite park loops. I bought a Garmin, added new distances frequently, and cross trained with intense CrossFit classes. I was in great shape.

This year, it’s quite different! Of course, I’m happy about the reason for the change, but I’m still nostalgic about what I associate with Fall, and know I’ll be back at it maybe next year. This year is about new walking routes, learning to relax and go slower throughout my day, and researching lots of things related to baby. It’s been an adjustment for sure to realize that going slower is probably best for me, but it’s temporary!

I was thinking about some differences in exercise in the past and present, and here’s what I’ve come up with:

Then:

• Weekends included a long run (at least 5-6 miles, and up to 10).
• 3 miles was considered easy or light, 6 was great and a good workout, and more was a challenge.
• 6 days of exercise per week was the goal.
• 2 days of CrossFit per week at 6 a.m. was normal. I loved increasing weights and working really hard to feel strong.
• A walk was considered an easy day.
• Waking up between 5:30 a.m. and 6:15 a.m. four days per week was normal.
• Unfortunately, shin splints and IT Band pain were normal too.