Opinions needed, please

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-27-2003
Opinions needed, please
8
Tue, 04-05-2005 - 10:58am

Okay, I've been lifting heavy, or moderate to heavy for almost two years, and for a year or so before getting pg with ds. So, I've never lifted light. I am having a hard time deciding what to do. My goal is to keep my body as "tight" as possible considering the changes it will be going through. I can't lift heavy because doctor said no more than 20 pounds, which is a crock, but I said I would keep it lighter. Plus, I don't want to wear down my body because it is already working so hard. I also want to lift so I can stay strong and healthy for both health and delivery reasons.

Any ideas about what works for ya'll that lift lighter weights. I can't do circuits because people at the gym don't really respect that, so you get whatever machine or bench is available.

Anyway, thanks,
Paula

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-01-2003
Tue, 04-05-2005 - 11:04am
I hated that part too. I felt like I was just playing around in the weight room rather than working. I decided to do classes. They helped keep the boredom at bay. Light free weights were no fun. If you don't want to do sculpting classes, you can try lunges, squats, push-ups, etc using your own body weight. I didn't mind doing those types of exercises because they were still challenging even without weights.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 04-05-2005 - 12:06pm

Have you considered lifting free weights during circuits rather than waiting/hoping for machines?

You can do many things without weights too. For legs you can do squats and lunges. For upper body you have push-ups, pull-ups, dips. Then you add in some dumbbells and you can get a great workout.

I'm thinking that you can do the circuit training if you want without having to worry about muscle heads. You just have to be creative.

when I did the leg circuit I would hope to time it right to get the machines, but saved squats and lunges as stand by for the times I didn't. It worked out well.

~K~

~Kiervin~

Co-author of:  MONSTER'S INK HORROR ANTHOLOGY By Cyber-Pulp Press

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Tue, 04-05-2005 - 12:15pm
Do you like your doctor that you want to stay with him/her?





iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 04-05-2005 - 12:40pm

You have good advice on alternatives here. The doctor may have a concern more with bp going up than the actual lifting of weights. So...that might be why the doc is being cautious. It is better to be safe than sorry at this point. You can make up for lost time after baby is born and your body will respond quickly because you are in good shape.

Good luck....

Grace

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Tue, 04-05-2005 - 1:05pm

That's the smart advice.






Avatar for tkd_jo
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Tue, 04-05-2005 - 2:53pm

I just thought I would comment that while I was pregnant, I lifted weights the entire pregnancy. I don't know if I was lifting heavy but I definitely wasn't lifting really light weights. Basically, I decided that if I could do 15 reps without being pushed to total exhaustion then I was ok. It is more about your heart rate than the weight in my opinion. You also have to be careful about the loose joints if you are doing anything involving squatting, which is not really recommended. But other than cutting out squats and bench press, laying flat on the bench, I didn't really change anything about my weight lifting. Doctors are always going to tell you not to lift more than 20 pounds because they don't know for sure what you did before you got pregnant or if you have the personality that is going to take unnecessary risks. I decided to do my own research and find out what I could and could not do and I had no problems whatsoever.

Jody

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Tue, 04-05-2005 - 4:59pm
That's what I did, too.





iVillage Member
Registered: 10-27-2003
Tue, 04-05-2005 - 10:18pm

I love my doc, and she only told me I had to restrict the weight because I was having issues with blood sugar and she was afraid that I would over due it. Last time she told me to do what felt good, just not to strain. I also am concerned with injuries because of the loose ligament issue of pregnancy.

I can't afford a personal trainer, nor are any of the trainers at the gym qualified to train anybody whether they are pregnant or not. They actually have come to me for advice.

Thanks for the input everybody, I'm really getting some ideas. I'm still not sure what I want to do.

Paula