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Pregnancy Training: What I Didn’t Know
An Athlete’s Perspective
It’s a common misconception that you have to stop exercising when you’re pregnant. This is not the case! Here are some of the things I’ve learned from my own personal pregnancy training journey.
The Truth About "Morning Sickness" and Pregnancy Training
The first thing I realized is that "morning sickness" is a misnomer. It can last the whole day and night for the first 2-3 months of your pregnancy. Why do they even call it morning sickness? It should be renamed "All day sickness".
Luckily, I figured out some tricks that helped me feel better and maintain my pregnancy training routine. The more frequently I ate, the better I felt. It was challenging to shift from three big main meals to smaller amounts every 90-120 minutes. Mentally, it was tough to eat even when I wasn't that hungry, but it helped me stay on track with my pregnancy training.
A New Level of Fatigue During Pregnancy Training
The fatigue you experience during pregnancy training is unlike anything I've ever felt before. I've completed several long endurance challenges in my life, but never have I encountered this kind of tiredness. I'd close my eyes for what felt like a few minutes, only to find that two hours had passed.
My "Ultrahuman Ring," which records sleep data, revealed shockingly little deep sleep. Normally, I would average 90 minutes of deep sleep per night, compared to just 10-15 minutes during my first months of pregnancy. No wonder I was knocked out on the sofa all afternoon, making pregnancy training sessions a real challenge.
Balancing Training Intensity and Pregnancy
As an athlete, figuring out training intensity during pregnancy was a real challenge. How hard is too hard when it comes to pregnancy training? I've spent my whole life setting athletic goals and working towards them, so it was difficult to shift my mindset from training with a purpose to just exercising.
But that's not entirely accurate – the purpose of my pregnancy training has simply changed to delivering a healthy baby. Still, that mental shift wasn't easy to make. I love training and pushing myself hard in sessions, and I didn't want to give it all up. It's what I enjoy about pregnancy training, after all.
So, I did some research to set guidelines on what intensity would be okay for my pregnancy training routine. A study on elite athletes who trained during pregnancy suggests that exercise intensity over 90% of maximal heart rate might negatively impact fetal well-being. This became my ceiling – if I get close to 180BPM (which is 90% for me), I ease off and give my body time to calm down.
Final Thoughts
I want to emphasize that this is my personal pregnancy training story, not advice for other mothers-to-be. Do your own research and consult with your healthcare provider about your pregnancy training plan. If you're interested in reading more on this subject, check out this study.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9703311/
Fun - Honesty - Simplicity - Smash Life - MENTAL TOUGHNESS - Hard Work
ENGINE
8 min AMRAPS with some different dance moves for Engine this week!
GYMNASTICS
We will go upside down again, but this time with HSPU, followed by pull-up progressions. We will finish with some strength work.
HYROX
This week, we hit Half a Hyrox broken down into intervals, with rest!
MOBILITY
Mobility is Back! We will improve on the positions we need fixing from end-of-year testing. Simple hip & ankle mobility & glute stability/activation were big. With overhead stability being much needed, we will start to focus on this.
PURE STRENGTH
On Monday in Pure Strength, we have banded deadlifts and some Bulgarian split squats. On Wednesday, we hit the banded bench press and progress the loading on this and the banded row.
WEIGHTLIFTING
This week in Weightlifting we are focused on the Hang Snatch, with some snatch balance, a Heavy Snatch complex and some Pulls.
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Monday Ride
A skills and fitness based ride at the BikeDXB track in Dubai. Some simply structured intervals to enhance cycling ability.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: The Loop Cafe, Bike DXB
Track Tuesday
Our weekly on track speed session! For any level of runner looking to build their run speed, threshold and Vo2max fitness and run with the best running community in Dubai.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Entrance fee: https://isddubai.com/athletics-venuehire/
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/oomJAa31vKy3hQNG6
Wednesday - Brick Session
A brick session consisting of 60mins of cycling with 20 - 30mins of running. Great for all levels of triathlete.
Start time: 05:59 am
Location : BOTS - https://goo.gl/maps/6AwtJXW8nA45Cy9H8
Friday - Coffee Run
Our weekly tempo run. This run is currently gearing run fitness towards the incoming half marathons. Sessions are built on an RPE scale and accessible to all levels of runner.
Brief time: 05:54 am
Start time: 05:59 am
Start Location: Common Grounds
Saturday - Long Ride
Saturday long ride is usually 100km long or around 3 - 3.5hrs. It's a ride catered for moderate to advanced cyclists. Please reach out to rf@innerfight.com if you have any questions.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location : BOTS - https://goo.gl/maps/6AwtJXW8nA45Cy9H8
Sunday - DCS Half Marathon
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Monday
Time: 5:59pm
Location: InnerFight
Session: LRC Mobility and Tempo
AM Session:
Please note there is no Morning session this week.
PM Session: This evening we will have our Tempo Run, which will be 8 mins at 7/10 and 3 mins recovery.
x3. Aim to keep a 7/10 effort on each block of work.
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/oomJAa31vKy3hQNG6
Entrance fee: https://isddubai.com/athletics-venuehire/
Session: Track Tuesday
This is your chance to run fast with the wider IFE community and coaches. The session today will be 800m repeats that build in pace.
Wednesday
Time: 5:59am & 5:59pm
Location: InnerFight
Session: LRC Intervals
If you didn't run track, today we have some speed work for you. The session is 100m efforts through the park with a 300m recovery.
Friday
Brief time: 5:54am
Start Time: 5:59am
Location: Common Grounds
Session: The Coffee Run
This week we will be looking to dial into
2mins @ 8RPE, followed 9mins @ 6RPE. Repeating the sequence 3x gives you plenty of opportunity to find your rhythm.
Sunday
Time: 06:00
Session: Dubai Creek
Location: TBC
This week we will be at the DCS 10km and half marathon race. Warm-up location and details will be shared in WhatsApp.
This week at Innerfight, we start working on those overhead squat positions, followed by lunging and rowing in the workout.
On Tuesday, we have some clean and jerk barbell cycling, a pair of short, sharp, classic CrossFit-style workouts, and then some assault
bike intervals. We are back squatting heavily on Wednesday before some tough single leg in the workout. Thursday, we have a nice
gymnastics skill session followed by a partner workout, and on Friday, we finish the week with a Long Therapy WOD!
Monday:
Strength:
Over Head Squats
Conditioning:
Every 4 mins x 5 Complete
10 DB Overhead Alt Reverse Lunges (50/35)
20/15 cal Row
10 DB Overhead Alt Reverse Lunges (50/35)
Tuesday:
Strength:
Complex Power Clean + Push Press + Push Jerk
Conditioning:
15-12-9
Chest to Bar
Power Clean (60/40)
rest 3 mins
21-15-9
Pull Ups
Push Press (45/35kg)
Wednesday:
Strength:
Back Squat
Conditioning:
In a 4 Minute Window with 2mins rest x 4
1 Lap Car Park KB Farmers Carry
10 KB Box Stepovers
15 Burpee to Target
AMRAP
Goblet Squats
Thursday:
Strength:
A) Double Unders
B) Toes to Bar
C) Russian KB Swings
Conditioning:
21 min AMRAP with a Partner
6 Wall walks
30 Deadlift (60/40)
30 Cal Ass bike
30 Cal Ski
Friday:
Strength:
A) Ring Rows
B) Wall Balls + Goblet Wall Sit
Conditioning:
30min AMRAP - 4 movements that when put together make an epic workout!
It’s a common misconception that you have to stop exercising when you’re pregnant. This is not the case! Here are some of the things I’ve learned from my own personal pregnancy training journey.
The Truth About "Morning Sickness" and Pregnancy Training
The first thing I realized is that "morning sickness" is a misnomer. It can last the whole day and night for the first 2-3 months of your pregnancy. Why do they even call it morning sickness? It should be renamed "All day sickness".
Luckily, I figured out some tricks that helped me feel better and maintain my pregnancy training routine. The more frequently I ate, the better I felt. It was challenging to shift from three big main meals to smaller amounts every 90-120 minutes. Mentally, it was tough to eat even when I wasn't that hungry, but it helped me stay on track with my pregnancy training.
A New Level of Fatigue During Pregnancy Training
The fatigue you experience during pregnancy training is unlike anything I've ever felt before. I've completed several long endurance challenges in my life, but never have I encountered this kind of tiredness. I'd close my eyes for what felt like a few minutes, only to find that two hours had passed.
My "Ultrahuman Ring," which records sleep data, revealed shockingly little deep sleep. Normally, I would average 90 minutes of deep sleep per night, compared to just 10-15 minutes during my first months of pregnancy. No wonder I was knocked out on the sofa all afternoon, making pregnancy training sessions a real challenge.
Balancing Training Intensity and Pregnancy
As an athlete, figuring out training intensity during pregnancy was a real challenge. How hard is too hard when it comes to pregnancy training? I've spent my whole life setting athletic goals and working towards them, so it was difficult to shift my mindset from training with a purpose to just exercising.
But that's not entirely accurate – the purpose of my pregnancy training has simply changed to delivering a healthy baby. Still, that mental shift wasn't easy to make. I love training and pushing myself hard in sessions, and I didn't want to give it all up. It's what I enjoy about pregnancy training, after all.
So, I did some research to set guidelines on what intensity would be okay for my pregnancy training routine. A study on elite athletes who trained during pregnancy suggests that exercise intensity over 90% of maximal heart rate might negatively impact fetal well-being. This became my ceiling – if I get close to 180BPM (which is 90% for me), I ease off and give my body time to calm down.
Final Thoughts
I want to emphasize that this is my personal pregnancy training story, not advice for other mothers-to-be. Do your own research and consult with your healthcare provider about your pregnancy training plan. If you're interested in reading more on this subject, check out this study.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9703311/
Fun - Honesty - Simplicity - Smash Life - MENTAL TOUGHNESS - Hard Work
Monday Ride
A skills and fitness based ride at the BikeDXB track in Dubai. Some simply structured intervals to enhance cycling ability.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: The Loop Cafe, Bike DXB
Track Tuesday
Our weekly on track speed session! For any level of runner looking to build their run speed, threshold and Vo2max fitness and run with the best running community in Dubai.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Entrance fee: https://isddubai.com/athletics-venuehire/
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/oomJAa31vKy3hQNG6
Wednesday - Brick Session
A brick session consisting of 60mins of cycling with 20 - 30mins of running. Great for all levels of triathlete.
Start time: 05:59 am
Location : BOTS - https://goo.gl/maps/6AwtJXW8nA45Cy9H8
Friday - Coffee Run
Our weekly tempo run. This run is currently gearing run fitness towards the incoming half marathons. Sessions are built on an RPE scale and accessible to all levels of runner.
Brief time: 05:54 am
Start time: 05:59 am
Start Location: Common Grounds
Saturday - Long Ride
Saturday long ride is usually 100km long or around 3 - 3.5hrs. It's a ride catered for moderate to advanced cyclists. Please reach out to rf@innerfight.com if you have any questions.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location : BOTS - https://goo.gl/maps/6AwtJXW8nA45Cy9H8
Sunday - DCS Half Marathon
Monday
Time: 5:59pm
Location: InnerFight
Session: LRC Mobility and Tempo
AM Session:
Please note there is no Morning session this week.
PM Session: This evening we will have our Tempo Run, which will be 8 mins at 7/10 and 3 mins recovery.
x3. Aim to keep a 7/10 effort on each block of work.
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/oomJAa31vKy3hQNG6
Entrance fee: https://isddubai.com/athletics-venuehire/
Session: Track Tuesday
This is your chance to run fast with the wider IFE community and coaches. The session today will be 800m repeats that build in pace.
Wednesday
Time: 5:59am & 5:59pm
Location: InnerFight
Session: LRC Intervals
If you didn't run track, today we have some speed work for you. The session is 100m efforts through the park with a 300m recovery.
Friday
Brief time: 5:54am
Start Time: 5:59am
Location: Common Grounds
Session: The Coffee Run
This week we will be looking to dial into
2mins @ 8RPE, followed 9mins @ 6RPE. Repeating the sequence 3x gives you plenty of opportunity to find your rhythm.
Sunday
Time: 06:00
Session: Dubai Creek
Location: TBC
This week we will be at the DCS 10km and half marathon race. Warm-up location and details will be shared in WhatsApp.
This week at Innerfight, we start working on those overhead squat positions, followed by lunging and rowing in the workout.
On Tuesday, we have some clean and jerk barbell cycling, a pair of short, sharp, classic CrossFit-style workouts, and then some assault
bike intervals. We are back squatting heavily on Wednesday before some tough single leg in the workout. Thursday, we have a nice
gymnastics skill session followed by a partner workout, and on Friday, we finish the week with a Long Therapy WOD!
Monday:
Strength:
Over Head Squats
Conditioning:
Every 4 mins x 5 Complete
10 DB Overhead Alt Reverse Lunges (50/35)
20/15 cal Row
10 DB Overhead Alt Reverse Lunges (50/35)
Tuesday:
Strength:
Complex Power Clean + Push Press + Push Jerk
Conditioning:
15-12-9
Chest to Bar
Power Clean (60/40)
rest 3 mins
21-15-9
Pull Ups
Push Press (45/35kg)
Wednesday:
Strength:
Back Squat
Conditioning:
In a 4 Minute Window with 2mins rest x 4
1 Lap Car Park KB Farmers Carry
10 KB Box Stepovers
15 Burpee to Target
AMRAP
Goblet Squats
Thursday:
Strength:
A) Double Unders
B) Toes to Bar
C) Russian KB Swings
Conditioning:
21 min AMRAP with a Partner
6 Wall walks
30 Deadlift (60/40)
30 Cal Ass bike
30 Cal Ski
Friday:
Strength:
A) Ring Rows
B) Wall Balls + Goblet Wall Sit
Conditioning:
30min AMRAP - 4 movements that when put together make an epic workout!
ENGINE
8 min AMRAPS with some different dance moves for Engine this week!
GYMNASTICS
We will go upside down again, but this time with HSPU, followed by pull-up progressions. We will finish with some strength work.
HYROX
This week, we hit Half a Hyrox broken down into intervals, with rest!
MOBILITY
Mobility is Back! We will improve on the positions we need fixing from end-of-year testing. Simple hip & ankle mobility & glute stability/activation were big. With overhead stability being much needed, we will start to focus on this.
PURE STRENGTH
On Monday in Pure Strength, we have banded deadlifts and some Bulgarian split squats. On Wednesday, we hit the banded bench press and progress the loading on this and the banded row.
WEIGHTLIFTING
This week in Weightlifting we are focused on the Hang Snatch, with some snatch balance, a Heavy Snatch complex and some Pulls.
It’s a common misconception that you have to stop exercising when you’re pregnant. This is not the case! Here are some of the things I’ve learned from my own personal pregnancy training journey.
The Truth About "Morning Sickness" and Pregnancy Training
The first thing I realized is that "morning sickness" is a misnomer. It can last the whole day and night for the first 2-3 months of your pregnancy. Why do they even call it morning sickness? It should be renamed "All day sickness".
Luckily, I figured out some tricks that helped me feel better and maintain my pregnancy training routine. The more frequently I ate, the better I felt. It was challenging to shift from three big main meals to smaller amounts every 90-120 minutes. Mentally, it was tough to eat even when I wasn't that hungry, but it helped me stay on track with my pregnancy training.
A New Level of Fatigue During Pregnancy Training
The fatigue you experience during pregnancy training is unlike anything I've ever felt before. I've completed several long endurance challenges in my life, but never have I encountered this kind of tiredness. I'd close my eyes for what felt like a few minutes, only to find that two hours had passed.
My "Ultrahuman Ring," which records sleep data, revealed shockingly little deep sleep. Normally, I would average 90 minutes of deep sleep per night, compared to just 10-15 minutes during my first months of pregnancy. No wonder I was knocked out on the sofa all afternoon, making pregnancy training sessions a real challenge.
Balancing Training Intensity and Pregnancy
As an athlete, figuring out training intensity during pregnancy was a real challenge. How hard is too hard when it comes to pregnancy training? I've spent my whole life setting athletic goals and working towards them, so it was difficult to shift my mindset from training with a purpose to just exercising.
But that's not entirely accurate – the purpose of my pregnancy training has simply changed to delivering a healthy baby. Still, that mental shift wasn't easy to make. I love training and pushing myself hard in sessions, and I didn't want to give it all up. It's what I enjoy about pregnancy training, after all.
So, I did some research to set guidelines on what intensity would be okay for my pregnancy training routine. A study on elite athletes who trained during pregnancy suggests that exercise intensity over 90% of maximal heart rate might negatively impact fetal well-being. This became my ceiling – if I get close to 180BPM (which is 90% for me), I ease off and give my body time to calm down.
Final Thoughts
I want to emphasize that this is my personal pregnancy training story, not advice for other mothers-to-be. Do your own research and consult with your healthcare provider about your pregnancy training plan. If you're interested in reading more on this subject, check out this study.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9703311/
Fun - Honesty - Simplicity - Smash Life - MENTAL TOUGHNESS - Hard Work
Monday
Time: 5:59pm
Location: InnerFight
Session: LRC Mobility and Tempo
AM Session:
Please note there is no Morning session this week.
PM Session: This evening we will have our Tempo Run, which will be 8 mins at 7/10 and 3 mins recovery.
x3. Aim to keep a 7/10 effort on each block of work.
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/oomJAa31vKy3hQNG6
Entrance fee: https://isddubai.com/athletics-venuehire/
Session: Track Tuesday
This is your chance to run fast with the wider IFE community and coaches. The session today will be 800m repeats that build in pace.
Wednesday
Time: 5:59am & 5:59pm
Location: InnerFight
Session: LRC Intervals
If you didn't run track, today we have some speed work for you. The session is 100m efforts through the park with a 300m recovery.
Friday
Brief time: 5:54am
Start Time: 5:59am
Location: Common Grounds
Session: The Coffee Run
This week we will be looking to dial into
2mins @ 8RPE, followed 9mins @ 6RPE. Repeating the sequence 3x gives you plenty of opportunity to find your rhythm.
Sunday
Time: 06:00
Session: Dubai Creek
Location: TBC
This week we will be at the DCS 10km and half marathon race. Warm-up location and details will be shared in WhatsApp.
This week at Innerfight, we start working on those overhead squat positions, followed by lunging and rowing in the workout.
On Tuesday, we have some clean and jerk barbell cycling, a pair of short, sharp, classic CrossFit-style workouts, and then some assault
bike intervals. We are back squatting heavily on Wednesday before some tough single leg in the workout. Thursday, we have a nice
gymnastics skill session followed by a partner workout, and on Friday, we finish the week with a Long Therapy WOD!
Monday:
Strength:
Over Head Squats
Conditioning:
Every 4 mins x 5 Complete
10 DB Overhead Alt Reverse Lunges (50/35)
20/15 cal Row
10 DB Overhead Alt Reverse Lunges (50/35)
Tuesday:
Strength:
Complex Power Clean + Push Press + Push Jerk
Conditioning:
15-12-9
Chest to Bar
Power Clean (60/40)
rest 3 mins
21-15-9
Pull Ups
Push Press (45/35kg)
Wednesday:
Strength:
Back Squat
Conditioning:
In a 4 Minute Window with 2mins rest x 4
1 Lap Car Park KB Farmers Carry
10 KB Box Stepovers
15 Burpee to Target
AMRAP
Goblet Squats
Thursday:
Strength:
A) Double Unders
B) Toes to Bar
C) Russian KB Swings
Conditioning:
21 min AMRAP with a Partner
6 Wall walks
30 Deadlift (60/40)
30 Cal Ass bike
30 Cal Ski
Friday:
Strength:
A) Ring Rows
B) Wall Balls + Goblet Wall Sit
Conditioning:
30min AMRAP - 4 movements that when put together make an epic workout!
ENGINE
8 min AMRAPS with some different dance moves for Engine this week!
GYMNASTICS
We will go upside down again, but this time with HSPU, followed by pull-up progressions. We will finish with some strength work.
HYROX
This week, we hit Half a Hyrox broken down into intervals, with rest!
MOBILITY
Mobility is Back! We will improve on the positions we need fixing from end-of-year testing. Simple hip & ankle mobility & glute stability/activation were big. With overhead stability being much needed, we will start to focus on this.
PURE STRENGTH
On Monday in Pure Strength, we have banded deadlifts and some Bulgarian split squats. On Wednesday, we hit the banded bench press and progress the loading on this and the banded row.
WEIGHTLIFTING
This week in Weightlifting we are focused on the Hang Snatch, with some snatch balance, a Heavy Snatch complex and some Pulls.
Monday Ride
A skills and fitness based ride at the BikeDXB track in Dubai. Some simply structured intervals to enhance cycling ability.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: The Loop Cafe, Bike DXB
Track Tuesday
Our weekly on track speed session! For any level of runner looking to build their run speed, threshold and Vo2max fitness and run with the best running community in Dubai.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Entrance fee: https://isddubai.com/athletics-venuehire/
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/oomJAa31vKy3hQNG6
Wednesday - Brick Session
A brick session consisting of 60mins of cycling with 20 - 30mins of running. Great for all levels of triathlete.
Start time: 05:59 am
Location : BOTS - https://goo.gl/maps/6AwtJXW8nA45Cy9H8
Friday - Coffee Run
Our weekly tempo run. This run is currently gearing run fitness towards the incoming half marathons. Sessions are built on an RPE scale and accessible to all levels of runner.
Brief time: 05:54 am
Start time: 05:59 am
Start Location: Common Grounds
Saturday - Long Ride
Saturday long ride is usually 100km long or around 3 - 3.5hrs. It's a ride catered for moderate to advanced cyclists. Please reach out to rf@innerfight.com if you have any questions.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location : BOTS - https://goo.gl/maps/6AwtJXW8nA45Cy9H8
Sunday - DCS Half Marathon
It’s a common misconception that you have to stop exercising when you’re pregnant. This is not the case! Here are some of the things I’ve learned from my own personal pregnancy training journey.
The Truth About "Morning Sickness" and Pregnancy Training
The first thing I realized is that "morning sickness" is a misnomer. It can last the whole day and night for the first 2-3 months of your pregnancy. Why do they even call it morning sickness? It should be renamed "All day sickness".
Luckily, I figured out some tricks that helped me feel better and maintain my pregnancy training routine. The more frequently I ate, the better I felt. It was challenging to shift from three big main meals to smaller amounts every 90-120 minutes. Mentally, it was tough to eat even when I wasn't that hungry, but it helped me stay on track with my pregnancy training.
A New Level of Fatigue During Pregnancy Training
The fatigue you experience during pregnancy training is unlike anything I've ever felt before. I've completed several long endurance challenges in my life, but never have I encountered this kind of tiredness. I'd close my eyes for what felt like a few minutes, only to find that two hours had passed.
My "Ultrahuman Ring," which records sleep data, revealed shockingly little deep sleep. Normally, I would average 90 minutes of deep sleep per night, compared to just 10-15 minutes during my first months of pregnancy. No wonder I was knocked out on the sofa all afternoon, making pregnancy training sessions a real challenge.
Balancing Training Intensity and Pregnancy
As an athlete, figuring out training intensity during pregnancy was a real challenge. How hard is too hard when it comes to pregnancy training? I've spent my whole life setting athletic goals and working towards them, so it was difficult to shift my mindset from training with a purpose to just exercising.
But that's not entirely accurate – the purpose of my pregnancy training has simply changed to delivering a healthy baby. Still, that mental shift wasn't easy to make. I love training and pushing myself hard in sessions, and I didn't want to give it all up. It's what I enjoy about pregnancy training, after all.
So, I did some research to set guidelines on what intensity would be okay for my pregnancy training routine. A study on elite athletes who trained during pregnancy suggests that exercise intensity over 90% of maximal heart rate might negatively impact fetal well-being. This became my ceiling – if I get close to 180BPM (which is 90% for me), I ease off and give my body time to calm down.
Final Thoughts
I want to emphasize that this is my personal pregnancy training story, not advice for other mothers-to-be. Do your own research and consult with your healthcare provider about your pregnancy training plan. If you're interested in reading more on this subject, check out this study.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9703311/
Fun - Honesty - Simplicity - Smash Life - MENTAL TOUGHNESS - Hard Work
It’s a common misconception that you have to stop exercising when you’re pregnant. This is not the case! Here are some of the things I’ve learned from my own personal pregnancy training journey.
The Truth About "Morning Sickness" and Pregnancy Training
The first thing I realized is that "morning sickness" is a misnomer. It can last the whole day and night for the first 2-3 months of your pregnancy. Why do they even call it morning sickness? It should be renamed "All day sickness".
Luckily, I figured out some tricks that helped me feel better and maintain my pregnancy training routine. The more frequently I ate, the better I felt. It was challenging to shift from three big main meals to smaller amounts every 90-120 minutes. Mentally, it was tough to eat even when I wasn't that hungry, but it helped me stay on track with my pregnancy training.
A New Level of Fatigue During Pregnancy Training
The fatigue you experience during pregnancy training is unlike anything I've ever felt before. I've completed several long endurance challenges in my life, but never have I encountered this kind of tiredness. I'd close my eyes for what felt like a few minutes, only to find that two hours had passed.
My "Ultrahuman Ring," which records sleep data, revealed shockingly little deep sleep. Normally, I would average 90 minutes of deep sleep per night, compared to just 10-15 minutes during my first months of pregnancy. No wonder I was knocked out on the sofa all afternoon, making pregnancy training sessions a real challenge.
Balancing Training Intensity and Pregnancy
As an athlete, figuring out training intensity during pregnancy was a real challenge. How hard is too hard when it comes to pregnancy training? I've spent my whole life setting athletic goals and working towards them, so it was difficult to shift my mindset from training with a purpose to just exercising.
But that's not entirely accurate – the purpose of my pregnancy training has simply changed to delivering a healthy baby. Still, that mental shift wasn't easy to make. I love training and pushing myself hard in sessions, and I didn't want to give it all up. It's what I enjoy about pregnancy training, after all.
So, I did some research to set guidelines on what intensity would be okay for my pregnancy training routine. A study on elite athletes who trained during pregnancy suggests that exercise intensity over 90% of maximal heart rate might negatively impact fetal well-being. This became my ceiling – if I get close to 180BPM (which is 90% for me), I ease off and give my body time to calm down.
Final Thoughts
I want to emphasize that this is my personal pregnancy training story, not advice for other mothers-to-be. Do your own research and consult with your healthcare provider about your pregnancy training plan. If you're interested in reading more on this subject, check out this study.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9703311/
Fun - Honesty - Simplicity - Smash Life - MENTAL TOUGHNESS - Hard Work
One-Hour Workout: Revving Your Swim Engine
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