Being 8 months pregnant isn’t easy! I’d love to tell everyone that my energy is off the charts and my workouts are amazing…but I would be lying. I feel incredible most days and, luckily, feel like I have just enough energy each day to get at least some form of a workout in. That doesn’t mean I am killing it in the gym every time – it just means I’m getting myself up and MOVING!
My second trimester was the rock star trimester – energy was high, my body felt good and workouts were still pretty impressive for a pregnant lady. Now that I am more than halfway through my third trimester, things are getting a little sluggish around here. My belly is big and in the way, exhaustion is in full force, aches and pains feel more like injuries, sleep is dismal and trying to stay stress and anxiety free as the date approaches feels like a workout in itself!
Ladies, when you get to this point, it is so important that you do what you can—even if it is just a 20-minute walk. The key is to MOVE and do something, because it is better than nothing!
I have been keeping up with my prenatal yoga classes and, when I can’t make it, I make an effort to do some light yoga for 10-15 minutes at home.
More than anything, I am so grateful to have my husband who has compassion for what my body is going through and KNOWS that my head and heart desperately want to workout, but my body is glued to the couch and sometimes needs to be peeled off and dragged. So, that’s exactly what he does! He fills up my water bottle and chuckles while I struggle to bend over and put on my running shoes, but we both make it out the door together to get moving.
It doesn’t have to be a big, preplanned workout—just get outside or to the gym and start moving.
Living in Arizona, we start celebrating the weather right when everyone else is mourning the end of summer and dusting off their scarves, leggings and Uggs. Summer is our off-season from the insanely hot temperatures so, when Fall hits, we throw our tank tops on and finally start enjoying the outdoors again!
This week, we went outside for a walk and stopped at the park down the street from our house for a quick full-body workout before turning around and walking back.
What is so great about this is that we will still be able to do this once the baby arrives…and long after, when our kids are playing at the very same park. Park workouts never get old, and you can do them with or without your kiddos!
So, grab your workout partner. Or, have your workout partner come peel you off the couch and get that beautiful pregnant body moving!
The Workout:
Your legs will be nice and warmed up from the walk to the park, so find a bench or table and get started!
Partner Lunges
You can do these up and down any hill or flat surface.
4 sets of 30 reps total (15 on each leg)
Partner Bodyweight Squats
Depending on how far along you are, you may want to take a sumo stance here like I’m doing to make sure you give your belly enough room.
4 sets of 20 reps
Partner Step-ups
You’ll want to step your working foot toward the outside a bit more than you were used to prior to becoming pregnant. Place your arms wherever is most comfortable and helps you counterbalance the extra weight you have in the front.
4 sets of 30 step-ups total (15 on each leg)
Partner Triceps Dips
4 sets of 15-20 reps
Partner Push-ups
If you can still comfortably do regular floor push-ups, go for it!
4 sets of 12-15 reps
Cool down
Walk home!
