| For expecting mothers who are wondering about | | | | I have to admit I was giving in to my food |
| the benefits of exercise during pregnancy, maybe | | | | cravings a little too much and taking the "eating |
| my story can help to answer your questions | | | | for two" theory a little too seriously. So I decided |
| about exercise during pregnancy. | | | | I needed to better manage my diet during |
| When I became pregnant with my first child I | | | | pregnancy too. |
| was over-joyed. My husband and I had a little | | | | So here is what I did to help control my weight |
| difficulty conceiving so when it finally happened it | | | | and stay in shape while I was pregnant: |
| was the biggest thrill of my life. A couple months | | | | I Started a Pregnancy Diet Plan: I learned that |
| into my pregnancy I was becoming a little | | | | pregnant women only have to take in an |
| concerned with my growing baby bump. | | | | additional 300 calories or so to support the |
| Now don't get me wrong, I was still very happy | | | | nutritional needs of their growing baby. I also |
| to be pregnant, I was just a little concerned about | | | | learned that a variety of foods along with a good |
| the weight I was putting on. All my life I had | | | | prenatal vitamin is the best way to get all the |
| worked at trying to look skinnier, be skinnier, | | | | nutritional requirements my baby and I needed. So |
| even think skinnier. I spent a lot of time in the | | | | I curbed my cravings and controlled my portions. |
| gym, in aerobics classes, on the bike trails. I put in | | | | It turns out that "eating for two" is not |
| a lot of work trying to look good and be healthy. | | | | necessarily true. |
| Now it seemed all my hard work was going to go | | | | I Started Exercising During Pregnancy: I did a little |
| bye bye. | | | | research and found out which exercises were |
| I was putting on weight at an uncomfortable rate. | | | | safe during pregnancy. It turns out most any |
| My mind was racing with questions. What if I | | | | exercise that is not overly strenuous is ok. I built |
| wasn't going to be able to lose the weight after | | | | myself an exercise plan around the exercises that |
| the baby came? Was I going to lose my shape | | | | were safe during pregnancy. |
| forever? Just how big was my growing baby | | | | Between my exercise and diet program I felt and |
| bump going to get? Can you exercise during | | | | looked great during the remainder of my |
| pregnancy? | | | | pregnancy and actually learned to love my |
| It finally dawned on me that after I became | | | | growing baby bump. I did not do it on my own. I |
| pregnant I was so excited and so busy making | | | | consulted with my doctor and followed an |
| plans for the delivery that I had stopped | | | | excellent pregnancy fitness program that gave |
| exercising. I guess there was a part of me that | | | | me details on proper diet and exercise. The best |
| thought it would be dangerous to exercise during | | | | news was that by staying in shape during |
| pregnancy, maybe all the jostling and movement | | | | pregnancy I quickly returned to my |
| would somehow hurt my baby. But I talked to | | | | pre-pregnancy shape after my son was born. For |
| my doctor and found out it not only is safe to | | | | me, there were so many benefits of exercise |
| exercise during pregnancy, it is actually | | | | during pregnancy. |
| recommended. | | | | |