FitSugar

Is Running While Pregnant Safe?

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:00:52 PDT

It's not every day that you see a pregnant woman going for a run, like Miss Kourtney Kardashian here. On her hour-long jog, I'm sure she got some stares and whispers. Not just because she's famous, but because she's got a big bun in the oven. They're probably wondering, is this safe for her baby, and safe for mom?

Regular exercise is encouraged by doctors for those expecting, because it can help a woman stay healthy, and alleviate some of the discomforts like stiffness, back pain, leg cramping, or constipation. Working out can also prevent unnecessary weight gain, relieve stress, and get a woman ready to endure the physical challenges of labor.

With that said, there are some guidelines a pregnant woman should follow when working out.

Don't make any big changes to your exercise program once you become pregnant. If you were running regularly before you conceived, then it's safe to keep it up, as long as it feels good and you don't overdo it. If you want to start a new type of exercise, talk to your doc first.
Be OK with modifying your routine, especially as your pregnancy progresses. If you used to run four miles a day, you may find that you'll need to cut down in the beginning of your pregnancy. And once you're in the end of your second trimester, or third, walking may be best.
Don't do any types of exercise that put you or the baby at risk, like extreme sports that require balance, speed, or could result in you falling. Your doctor will probably recommend you save the surfing, skiing, horseback riding, biking outdoors, and rock climbing for after delivery.

For the rest keep reading

DVD Review: Erin O'Brien's Prenatal Fitness Fix

FitSugar — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 03:30:00 PDT

It feels like baby fever over here on the Sugar Network. Many of our favorite celebrities along with our very own BabySugar are expecting so I've decided to dive into the world of keeping healthy while pregnant in my Fit Momma series.

Having already experienced the joys of pregnancy myself, it's been a few years, so I recruited a pregnant pal to try Prenatal Fitness Fix with Erin O'Brien. My friend was a frequent gym goer, but recently she can't stomach the smell of my gym - if you're pregnant, you understand - so she happily joined me. We were both thinking it was going to be a walk in the park since it was after all, a prenatal fitness DVD. To find out if we were right, just

read more. The instructor, Erin O'Brien, is calm, cool, and collected. She's motivating, but not too peppy and it was the mix of both that kept us going through the entire 40 minutes. (Side note: Did you know she is James Denton's wife?) The music was a little slower than I normally workout to, but it was not unpleasant. Much to our surprise, it's actually pretty strenuous. There is no heavy cardio or weights, but there is a lot of body weight resistance work that left my quads pretty darn sore. I love that Erin takes pauses for water and potty breaks - essentials for any pregnant woman. She also uses household items (couches, coffee tables, chairs) for the exercises, so there's no extra equipment needed. Overall I would highly recommend this DVD for anyone who's expecting and had a pretty good level of fitness before her pregnancy. If you haven't exercised in years, then you may want to consider something a little more beginner at first. Fit's Tip: Pregnancy does amazing (and crazy) things to your body, and keeping it healthy is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your baby. DVDs are a great option to keep moving at home, but you should check with your OB/GYN before starting any exercise program while pregnant.

Exercise Beneficial for Mom, and Baby

FitSugar — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:00:00 PDT

We always put all this stress on how exercising while pregnant is really great for the mom, and makes it easier for her to get back to her pre-baby weight. However new research sort of brings us back down to earth on the most important benefit of exercising while pregnant: it's generally good for the baby too. Here are details from Dr. Linda E. May of Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences:

"When the mom exercises during pregnancy, the unborn baby gets the same type of training effect that you would see in an adult - so you see the lower heart rate and also improved heart rate variability, which is evidence of improvements in the nervous system of the heart. Maternal exercise may be the earliest intervention to improve the heart of children and possibly the best," May concluded.

So if you're expecting like Jessica Alba or plan to be in the future, don't just exercise for yourself, do it for your baby.

Bauer Griffin Online

Ali Landry Doesn't Deprive Herself of Those Doritos

FitSugar — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 07:30:00 PST

Ali Landry, who will always be the Doritos girl in my eyes, had a baby girl about six months ago and she is looking fantastic these days. She credits getting back into prebaby shape to having a very healthy pregnancy as well as working out through the whole thing. She told OK! that she thought she'd be back on the treadmill in no time, but things did not quite go according to plan.

To find out how she did it, just

Courtney Thorne-Smith's Fit Pregnancy

FitSugar — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:30:00 PST

From her super-skinny Ally McBeal days to now, where she has learned to accept and love her body even with the extra pregnancy weight, Courtney Thorne-Smith has come full circle and she looks fabulous. Fit Pregnancy magazine sat down with Courtney and got the scoop on her pregnancy workout and more.

Here are highlights:

FP: Have you been working out?
CTS: Well, I used to be a compulsive exerciser, but I’m over that. For the past several years, I’ve been walking 40 minutes and doing Pilates and yoga stretches at home, so that’s what I’m doing now. I used to run 8 miles a day, then go to the gym, do weights and then yoga, until I realized that I was so hungry and tired all the time. I feel so much freedom now: I don’t have to stay in a hotel with a gym and I’m never so hungry that I panic.

FP: I know you struggled with body image for years; how are you feeling about your body now?
CTS: I feel great: I wanted this so badly. One day I was with one of my friends, and I was rubbing my belly, and she asked me, "How does it feel?" I told her, "It feels really good." And she said, "Great, I hope that you keep rubbing your belly with love even after the baby is born." And that was so powerful because my belly has always been the spot I obsess over. I have come to appreciate my body so much - and I think that's why I was able to get pregnant. Now, the baby is kicking and it's all working. It's a miracle what the body can do.

Bridget Moynahan Gets Fit While Pregnant

FitSugar — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 11:00:00 PDT

Bridget Moynahan is staying very active even in her final days of pregnancy -- She is due to give birth this Friday to a baby boy and ex-boyfriend Tom Brady is the father. Hopefully Bridget is not pushing it too hard and you can pretty much bet that she is going to join the club of celeb moms who slim down quick after giving birth.

In case you're like Bridget and have a bun in the oven, use these tips for exercising safely while pregnant:

Pregnant women can participate in low-impact aerobic activity three times per week, or even as often as every other day, but be sure to get clearance from your physician first.
Walking is a great way to get in some low impact exercise that most pregnant women can engage in.

For more tips and to see more pics of Bridget working out while very pregnant just

Swimming is another great, low impact option for expecting moms. A lot of gyms offer water classes specifically for pregnant women, so be sure to check with your gym for availability.
Watch the heat. Temperatures greater than 102.6 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius) could cause problems with the developing fetus - especially in the first trimester. So if it's hot out, hit the air conditioned gym instead.
Don't push it; if you're feeling exhausted, don't try to exercise. Plain and simple.
Move it at home. There are lots and lots of workout DVDs for pregnant women such as Patrea's Prenatal Fitness for the Entire Body ($14.99).
When strength training, go for lower resistance with higher reps. Pregnancy is not the time to test your strength, you'll have plenty of time to do that when you're getting fit after giving birth. Also, it is a good idea to avoid weight training (and sit-ups as well) after the first trimester.
Think about hiring a personal trainer who specializes in working with pregnant women. She would be able to create a program specifically to meet your needs.

View 7 Photos ›

Good luck Bridget! Can't wait to see the beautiful baby boy! Flynet

Flattering Fitness Tops That Hide a Pooch

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:17:25 PST

Whether you overdid it with late-night snacking, or you're in the awkward early weeks of pregnancy where it just looks like you did, slipping on a skintight exercise top doesn't inspire. If a softer middle makes you feel self-conscious, here are eight fashionable options to keep your belly hidden.

Lil Links: Postpartum Sex Tips For New Dads

Rebecca M Gruber — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:32:50 PST

A dad's guide to postpregnancy sex - Parenting
5 things not to say to divorced moms - The Stir
Bobbi Kristina was Whitney Houston's pride and joy - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Lily Aldridge debuts her baby bump - Celebrity Baby Blog
3 simple exercise routines to get expectant mamas going in the morning - FitPregnancy
Mom gets fired for asking to pump at work - The Bump
Can you cheat at potty training? - Momformation
New Barbie wears your face on her stomach - Yahoo! Shine
7 creative birthday party ideas for under $7 per guest - LearnVest
Former Spice Girl Emma Bunton is inspired by her kids for a children's fashion line – Child Mode

Fat-Proof Your Life

Health — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:06:06 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site.

By Maridel Reyes

It's true that there are certain times in your life when extra poundage seems to appear out of nowhere . . . and settle on you. In fact, experts have honed in on the exact moments when you're most vulnerable to weight gain.

"Life transitions, having a baby, and going through menopause cause many women to pile on pounds," says Susan Albers, PsyD, author of But I Deserve This Chocolate!: The 50 Most Common Diet-Derailing Excuses and How to Outwit Them. "But with planning and prep, you can stay thin."

We asked top experts for their strategies to help you ward off weight creep - and even shed pounds - at these tricky stages. Solutions ahead.

Getting married

Heavier ever after? It can be the flip side of wedded bliss: "Six out of 10 of my clients come back heavier after the honeymoon," says celebrity fitness and wellness guru David Kirsch.

Health.com: 25 Diet-Busting Foods You Should Never Eat

Young newlyweds pack on an extra six to nine pounds in the five years after getting hitched compared to singletons, according to research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. And most of that gain happens in the first year of marriage.

"Couples start to mirror each other's eating habits," explains Albers. "You might be matching him calorie for calorie without realizing it."

Learn how to keep the pounds down postmarriage and in the mommy years, after the break.

Hilary Duff's High-Energy Prenatal Piloxing Workout

Self — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:39:32 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar!

Some women may take it easy during their last trimester, but Hilary Duff isn't the type to let her workouts slide just because she's eating for two. The singer-actress may be seven months pregnant, but according to her trainer of eight years, Vivica Jensen, she's still staying fit with biweekly Piloxing sessions. "Piloxing is the first fitness program that blends the best of Pilates, boxing, and dance into a high-energy, hour-long interval workout," says Jensen, who created the hybrid class. "I put a lot of focus into balance and alignment, which can be thrown off when you're pregnant. You also get a great cardio workout, and the boxing element tones your arms and legs."

Although Jensen has tweaked Duff's workouts to accommodate her pregnancy, she's quick to point out that the mom-to-be is no slouch in the gym. "Since Hilary was already in good shape, she's able to do everything but at her own pace with a few modifications like taking more breaks to drink water and catch her breath when her heart rate goes up and not doing advanced ab exercises," says Jensen.

As her due date draws near, the former Lizzie McGuire star is also preparing her body for the hardships of labor. That means plenty of arm, leg, chest, and core exercises. "For now, I'm focusing on her core muscles because I want those muscles intact so she has an easier delivery," says Jensen. Just don't expect Mrs. Comrie to stay bedridden for very long since "Hilary loves being healthy and has always been very active. Once she gets the OK from her doctor, we're really going to kick it up a notch," says Jensen. "She's tough with amazing form, so I'm able to work her hard and really kick her butt!"

Want to stay fit throughout all nine months of your pregnancy (or even if you're not eating for two!)? Incorporate four moves into your regular workout routine to get buff like Duff. Read on for the moves.