5 Things that training through pregnancy has taught me
Like everything else, you can read about, you can learn about it. but when you experience it first hand you truly understand it.
I qualified as a pre and post natal coach in the January of 2021, but now having experience pregnancy myself , I can truely say I understand and can more effectively then ever before. Now, with a lot of people reading these that have no attachment to pregnancy I will write this blog post in terms of what training through pregnancy has taught me that will apply to the regular gym goer.
1) Training for mental and physical health benefits is far superior then training for aesthetics and even performance.
Training whilst pregnant kept me feeling good, boosted my mood and made me feel like I was looking after myself during this period of so much uncertainty and changes. I was in no way training to the same intensity, frequency or even training in the same way I was prior to being pregnant, but regardless it had the same effect of making me feel good and giving me a boost of energy and endorphins (even during the times I was finding pregnancy tougher).
2) Actually listening to my body
I always said I listened to my body, and then I fell pregnant and really had to listen to my body. Despite being physically capable of a lot more, I knew that even if I can doesn’t mean I shouldn’t for long term effects. For example, despite being physically capable to lift a lot more weight and probaly keep doing things like pull ups; the pressure it was putting on my core would have resulted in a harder postpartum recovery.
I see this in people who are still pushing their body despite it being injured or fatigued. I see this in people who feel like they can’t take days or weeks off despite not feeling like training. I see this in people who train a certain way to achieve x results but don’t actually enjoy that training anymore.
Learning to listen to your body is an important part of having a healthy mindset when it comes to exercise, nutrition and life. Listening to your body helps you to know when to push harder, when to rest, and when you might need to make changes to your nutrition.You have one life and one body. Listen to what it needs, look after it and in the long term you’ll get to keep moving how you want to move for longer.
3) Embrace the season you are in
“Setbacks” will happen. Whether its pregnancy, injury, surgery, work, personal commitments, things will get in the way of training. Whilst these may be setbacks, I don’t see them that way. I see them as a short period in a long life where you need to change and adapt your training to meet your current needs. I understand when you are very active that these short term sacarfices can be incredible frustrating…but they are exactly that: Short Term. I am missing my more intense training but I have also appreciated a more relaxed training regime and will embrace the new challenges postpartum to eventually come back stronger even if it will without a doubt be different.
4) Mobility is so important.
Mobility is important because it affects your ability to move freely throughout your daily activities without pain and strain, even outside of strenuous movements like squatting. The ease of daily activities like putting a box up on a shelf, picking up a baby or stepping over a puddle are all related to mobility. I did a lot more mobility towards the end of the pregnancy and I will be doing a lot more now.
5) Exercise in general is so important.
My birth went really well and my recovery seems to be going super well and I truly believe it was because I kept activity in my routine the whole way through. I know I was and am fortunate to own a gym which therefore lifted the barrier of getting to a gym, even on the days I really didn’t want to. However, having exercises my whole life and knowing how much it has helped keep me healthy over the years, fight of illness etc…I do believe I would have been consistent regardless of whether I was in a gym everyday.
Being physically active can improve your brain health, help manage weight, reduce the risk of disease, strengthen bones and muscles, and improve your ability to do everyday activities. Adults who sit less and do any amount of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity gain some health benefits. We are likely to encounters something whether it be pregnancy, injuries, illness’s that may force us to be less active. However, the more fit and active you are prior to these things happening the higher chance you having less severe side effects or an easier recovery. From walks, to strength training, to mobility…doing something will always be superior to doing nothing.
Exercise to me is the best preventive medicin you can do…so if you aren’t yet exercising…use this as your kickstart to get yourself moving in a way you enjoy.
