Here are the top 10 fitness reasons for maintaining regular exercise before and during your pregnancy.
- Starting a regular fitness plan before your pregnancy gets your body in physical shape for carrying a baby in the womb for nine months. Your uterus stretches 500 times its regular size in pregnancy, and having a fit, healthy body before pregnancy will make the next forty weeks easier and less uncomfortable.
- If you want to have an easier delivery, you should be active and exercise at least a few days of the week. Exercise improves your muscle tone, endurance, and strength ““ these three factors contribute to helping you have a faster, smoother childbirth experience.
- Regular exercise lessens the severity of your pregnancy symptoms. Pregnant women who maintain a regular exercise routine typically experience less severe backaches, fatigue, constipation, bloating, swelling, and other uncomfortable symptoms.
- Exercise reduces your stress levels. Stress can make it harder for you to conceive in the first place.
- Sleeping can be a challenge for pregnant women, but did you know that regular aerobic exercise could improve your sleep quality? You shouldn’t exercise right before you go to bed, since this can actually keep you awake, but working out during the morning or afternoon can actually help you sleep better at night.
- Exercising makes you happy. Whether you’re pregnant, or still trying to conceive, working out on a regular basis can improve your overall mood. Physical activity releases endorphins ““ the chemicals in your brain that make you feel happy. What other reason do you need to exercise?
- If you’re trying to conceive, you’ll need to get your weight in check. A healthy weight makes it easier for you to get pregnant. Being overweight or underweight can make it more difficult for you to conceive. Exercising can help you lose weight, thus improving your chances of pregnancy. This has to be one of the top 10 fitness reasons that should motivate you to exercise!
- There’s a growing body of research that links lack of exercise with gestational diabetes (diabetes that develops in pregnancy, and goes away after your baby is born). According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), regular exercise in pregnancy may help prevent or even treat gestational diabetes.
- Self-image issues can be a problem when you’re pregnant. You’re gaining a crazy amount of weight, and you’re bigger than ever before. You may find yourself unattractive, or you just like how “fat” you look. Exercising can actually improve your self-image problems, make you feel fit and attractive. Plus, since exercising improves your chance of gaining the right amount of pregnancy weight, you just feel better in general.
- Another top 10 fitness reason to exercise before and during pregnancy is that regular physical activity helps your body bounce back after giving birth.
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