22nd February 2012
Pregnant women who are warming to the idea of swapping their maternity nightwear for some sports gear have been advised not to change their fitness regime drastically just because they are now carrying a child.
Louise Whyte, founder of Penelope Fitstar and a personal trainer specialising in pregnancy and post-natal exercise, explained that mums-to-be who were already exercising before they conceived should carry on with the same activities with a few minor tweaks.
"It is not a time to be pushing yourself, but you can definitely keep a level of fitness," she commented. "If you were a runner previously then running at a slower pace is fine if it feels comfortable. If you are new to exercise you should build up slowly."
The fitness expert pointed out that ideal activities for previous non-exercisers are swimming, power walking and light weight training, which may encourage expectant mums to invest in a maternity swimsuit and head down to their local pool.
But whatever exercise mums-to-be take up, it is vital to look after the body and check to make sure they are not overdoing it.
"You need to keep well hydrated whilst working out and it is a good idea to use an interval approach, allowing yourself short periods of recovery," added Ms Whyte.
Her comments came after research from Mars Petcare found that pregnant women who own dogs are 50 per cent more likely to achieve the recommended half-hour of exercise a day through high levels of brisk walking than those without their own pet pooches.
Dr Carri Westgarth of the University of Liverpool, which was involved in the study, explained that the findings showed expectant mothers feel more motivated to get out in the fresh air and stretch their legs when they have a dog, which could help them monitor their weight gain during pregnancy.
