Many women enjoy being pregnant and love the way it makes them feel. However some women can feel the exact opposite. I know I was part of the latter group because I was always so exhausted, stressed out about my excessive weight gain and acne problems, and also my changing body. I decided to be proactive about changing the way I felt, so I started working out. There are three easy workout routines for pregnant women that I did during my pregnancy that really helped me stay on track with not only feeling great but looking fit.

The first workout I did was walking almost every chance I got. I invested in some good walking shoes and got fitted with a bigger size. Pregnancy made my feel swell almost two shoes sizes larger! I started with short walks around my neighborhood for about 10 minutes which gradually led to longer walks to my nearby park. My daughter would ride her scooter, and I would walk as fast as I could to keep up with her. I realized that there was a technique to walking fast to keep up with her. Speed walking is an actual form of exercise, and the arm and hip movements have to be in sync to make speed walking work instead of just making you clumsy. Workout routines for pregnant women don’t have to involve going to the gym, getting a personal trainer, or paying for expensive yoga classes. Speed walking or just walking is free and can be done anywhere.

The second workout I did was swimming at my local community pool. When I was in my second trimester, it was during the hottest time here in Southern California. My daughter and I were miserable being at home all day, so I took her to the local pool, and we would spend hours just playing in the water. Actually, she would play while I did some leg lunges and running in the water. At first, I was hesitant about swimming because I did not want to get in a bathing suit, especially in my third trimester. I didn’t want to pay for an expensive maternity bathing suit either, so I scoured Ross to find a cheap one that was just larger in size. After I got in the pool the first time, all of my insecurities about being in a bathing suit went out with window. I decided not to care and just focus on staying healthy. If swimming isn’t for you or you don’t have access to a pool, there are other workout routines for pregnant women that can be done. Just think about doing something you enjoy.

The final workout I did was based off of Pregnancy Without Pounds by Michelle Moss. There are some obvious examples she gave like walking and swimming, but she introduced me to some stretching exercises that I could do at home. It reminded me of doing yoga or tai chi, but it was easier and just something I could do in the privacy of my own home while my daughter was napping. Workout routines for pregnant women should not be tough or prone to injuring yourself. Walking, swimming, and stretching are low risk and usually doctors suggest these exercises because they are safe to do for most pregnant women. However, you should consult your doctor about doing these exercises if you are at high risk or have complications.

What I also enjoyed from Pregnancy Without Pounds was that it also helped me to eat right while doing these workout routines for pregnant women. It gave me insight into eating the right foods to avoid gaining weight in certain areas. This was a huge plus for me because I did not need the extra pounds on my butt and thighs. Her manual was helpful in so many ways but there were some generic information she gave that I already knew since I was pregnant before.

These three easy workout routines for pregnant women accompanied by eating a balanced diet can really put you in the right track of gaining the normal weight necessary for your growing baby. Workout routines for pregnant women should be enjoyable but also safe at the same time.