I’m pregnant! Can I work out?

During the first trimester your heart will pump more blood and your blood pressure will decrease. These changes, although seemingly insignificant, can cause dizziness, increase your heart rate and give you the feeling that you can’t catch your breath. Relax, these pregnancy “side-effects” are very common during the first three months.

All of your body’s energy is being used to create the perfect environment for your little one in the following months. Therefore, it’s really important that during this time you pay special attention to the new limits and changes in your body, in order to avoid falls or injuries. Most importantly, before you begin planning your fit pregnancy workout, be sure to get proper clearance from your doctor.

Some of the most frequent questions pregnant women have are if exercising can lead to a miscarriage, what kind of exercise is best and how long should the workout last. First and foremost, exercising doesn’t lead to miscarriages. Doctors actually encourage exercising because it can help to ease muscular pain. As for the type of exercise, a low-impact one is recommended, pregnancy is not the time to exceed your limits and be too intense. Lastly, try to keep a 30 minute workout. You can do this most days of the week in a nice and safe environment.

The most important thing to keep in mind is to have fun. Don’t be too hard on yourself and do something you enjoy like walking your dog, going to a salsa lesson, barre-fit, etc. Any exercise will always be better than no exercise at all!