Pregnancy Fitness and Weight Gain

Pregnancy fitness and weight are two of the most common concerns for pregnant women. No matter the shape or size of your body, how much weight gain is healthy is a question that frequently gets asked. During pregnancy, rather than worrying about weight, focusing on healthy habits and fitness is the safest route.

Every woman's body is different, as is every pregnancy. During the typical pregnancy, a woman may gain 2-4 pounds (1-2 kilos) during the first three months. After that, pregnancy weight gain is about 2-4 pounds (1-2 kilos) each month. However, not every woman will have the typical weight gain. For many, healthy may be less or more than this number. This is especially true when carrying multiples.

Rather than focusing on numbers, pregnant women should pay attention to eating well and maintaining pregnancy fitness. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables, low in fats, and low in sugars is the healthy choice for every woman. Whether pregnant or not, a woman can benefit from reducing unhealthy fats, oils, and sugars.

Daily, light fitness is also important for staying healthy during pregnancy. There are many exercises that pregnant women can do to stay fit. Walking, swimming, yoga, and bicycle riding are all great options for pregnancy fitness. Be sure to talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise routine, and always stop if you feel pain or ill when exercising.

Though some women begin a pregnancy overweight, pregnancy is not a time to consider losing weight. Rather than worry about numbers on a scale, put more emphasis on making healthy food choices. Strict diets, food fads, and other common dieting tricks can cause more harm than good during pregnancy. Skipping meals, or depriving oneself of food, can cause developmental problems for your growing child. A simple, balanced healthy diet is much healthier in the long run.

If a woman and her doctor feel that she is gaining too much weight during pregnancy, adding additional exercise can be a way to slow the pregnancy weight gain without actually losing weight. Many gyms offer prenatal exercise classes to help women maintain their pregnancy fitness.

Pregnancy means a changing time for women's bodies, and many worry that the weight gain of pregnancy can hurt their overall fitness. With a healthy diet, and light exercise, you can be healthy throughout your entire pregnancy.