What To Expect In the Gym When You’re Expecting

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Note From TG: This is a re-publication (with updated edits/additions) of an article I wrote a few years ago. I figured since I’m currently working with four women at the moment – three in person, and one distance based – who are pregnant, it was something I felt required a little dusting off.

Hope you enjoy it.

Okay, I know what some of you may be thinking: What does someone who has succumbed to male pattern baldness, hates The Notebook1, and pees standing up know about the female body, let alone speaking to something that’s arguably the most precious, magical, and delicate time of a woman’s life?

(insert shrug emoji here)

Close-up pregnant woman doing exercise indoors.

What to Expect (In the Gym) When Expecting

Well, first off: Not for nothing, I took health class in 9th grade, so I know where babies come from Smarty Pants. For those who don’t know, when a man and a woman love one another they place a note in a bottle and throw it into the sea.

Eventually a mermaid reads it, sends her pet seahorse to the Galapagos Islands where he then relays the message to Henry the stork.

And wah-lah…a baby arrives nine months later.

Don’t argue with me, it’s science.

Secondly, in the just over two decades I’ve been a strength coach I’ve worked with and trained a few dozen women through their pregnancies and I thought I’d share some of my own thoughts on the topic because I feel much of the information out there directed towards women is regurgitated, archaic, hogwash.

Admittedly I have a strong viewpoint and recognize that not everyone will agree with me (and that’s cool). But it’s my hope that this post at least opens up the conversation and helps encourage people to think outside the box.

For me there’s a massive dichotomy between what I do and what most (not all) of the research says we should be doing when working with someone who’s pregnant.

Obligatory Disclaimer: Every pregnancy is different; each woman needs to consider her own specific situation. And, to cover your bases, it’s best to consult with your physician. Preferably one that lifts…;0)

No one should be made to feel guilty or lazy if they need to take it easy; the health of the baby and mother are paramount.

While it always comes down to the individual, their comfort level, their ability to listen to their body, as well as their past training history, I find it somewhat disheartening that there are health professionals out there (both primary and tertiary, as well as many of us in the fitness industry), and even more articles, that suggest “training” should orbit around light walking and what mounts to folding laundry.

Close-up photo of woman folding laundry on sofa

For me, when I’m working with someone who’s expecting, it’s about preparing them for something a helluva lot more significant than lifting pink dumbbells (or for that matter anything I’ll ever have to do as a member of the Y chromosome club).

I mean, I think it’s an accomplishment I can grow chest hair, but if you’re able to grow and push a human being out of your body, that’s next level shit.

If that’s the case, you’re also capable of lifting a barbell off the ground.

Repeatedly.

But let me be clear, and this is going to serve as the proverbial umbrella of the entire conversation:

It ALWAYS comes down to the woman’s comfort level.

Regardless of one’s experience in the gym, whether they’re a seasoned veteran or a newbie, I always instruct the women I work with to listen to their body. After a few hundred thousand years of evolution, the human body is pretty smart, resilient, and will let you know when it’s pissed off or doesn’t like something.

Now, I’m not insinuating that every expecting mother out there should go out and try to hit a deadlift PR on a weekly basis or snatch a mack truck over their head. But I’m certainly in the camp that feels we can offer a lot more than simply telling them to “go walk on the treadmill” or what mounts to playing patty cake for shits and giggles.

As an example, here’s one of my former female clients, Whitney, when I was a coach at Cressey Sports Performance performing some heavy(ish) deadlifts at roughly 32 weeks out.

And I say “heavy(ish)” because the weight in this video was no where near her best effort.

 

Because this is a gargantuan topic and because my head is spinning in several different directions – and because it’s something I can’t possibly cover in one simple blog post – I’m just going to shoot from the hip and blurt out some thoughts in random order.

Stuff

1. Before I begin I’d be doing a huge disservice to the discussion if I didn’t point people in the direction of Dr. Laura Latham, Julia Ladewski, and Stacey Schaedler all of whom are three very strong (and very smart) women who have written extensively on women training through their pregnancy.

Likewise, I’d be remiss not to mention Dr. Sarah Duvall’s excellent Pregnancy & Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist Certification – it’s not only THE best resource on the topic of training during pregnancy and postpartum, but, if I’m be honest, its THE best course I’ve ever taken.

To rank them:

1. Pregnancy & Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist

2. Lightsaber Self-Defense Against the Dark Arts (and fit-fluencers)

3. CPR.

To quote the Dr. Duvall herself:

“You gotta lift shit to fix shit.”

If you’re a trainer, strength coach, physical therapist, or I don’t know, an Orc – it stands to reason this information applies to 50% of your current/potential client roster…

…you WILL need to know this stuff.

I’d also be remiss not to point to THIS amazing archive on the Girls Gone Strong website – everything from myths about strength training during pregnancy to pelvic floor dysfunction is covered. In addition, HERE is a FREE 5-day course by GGS dedicated to trainers who work with postpartum clients.

(On that same front, if anyone reading has any high-quality websites, blogs, or general information they’d like people to know about PLEASE link to them in the comments section below).

2. Just to give you a little insight into the type of information being regurgitated out there, one of the women I used to train had a friend who told her that when she was pregnant, her physician recommended that a great way to get more protein in her diet was to pound milk shakes.

“I…drink…your…milkshake.”

via GIPHY

Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.

Anyways, back to milkshakes.

Many women fall into the trap of “Well, I’m eating for two now,” and interpret it as a free-pass or opportunity to ramp up their caloric intake. Granted, there’s no doubt the metabolic demands of the body increases when another human being is growing inside of it, but lets not get too carried away here.

Most of the research and material I’ve read says that an increase of 400 kcals per day is more than enough to cover one’s bases, and to ensure adequate fuel for the body and the growing fetus.

Giving that a little perspective, 400 kcals mounts to roughly four (standard) tablespoons of peanut butter.

peanuts butter

That’s it.

No need to go crazy with pizza buffets, a baker’s dozen from Krispy Kreme, or a daily liter of Coke challenge (the drink, not the drug). Don’t try to fool yourself into thinking that just because you’re pregnant, means you can go bonkers with the calories.

I am not saying it’s wrong, and I can attest to the weird food cravings that come about. For instance my wife was obsessed with tacos for a four-week span, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t more than happy to hit up our local taqueria several times per week; it’s not like she had to pull my arm.

However, just take this as a little dose of “tough love” and expectation management.

“Eating for two” is a bit overplayed and overstated.

3.  While the topic of nutrition is HIGHLY individual, when in doubt stress protein. But really, I don’t care what side of the fence you preside on…low carb, Paleo, Vegetarian, Vegan, or whether you only eat foods that start with the letter Q:

The important thing to remember is to provide adequate calories.

Need a little nudge? Check out THIS amazing infographic from Dr. John Berardi of Precision Nutrition.

4. KEEP THINGS SIMPLE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD

But remember…

It all comes down to what THEY’RE comfortable with.

If I’m working with a current client it’s really more a matter of tempering down intensity (load) than it is reneging on any specific exercise. All of the women I am working with currently still deadlift, squat, row, press, etc. As their body changes we’ll of course modify things, but for all intents and purposes it’s business as usual.

I just make sure to check in prior to each session to see how they’re feeling and will make a judgement call on whether or not to adjust a specific session or not.

If I am working with a new client through her first pregnancy I will spend a fair amount of time on proper breathing mechanics and honing in on teaching basic stuff like Goblet Squats, TONS of core stability work (think planks, chops, lifts, Farmer carries, and Pallof Presses), teaching a proper push-up pattern, band resisted hip thrusts (<— video of my wife doing them at 24 weeks), single leg work, and the like.

You’ll notice it’s not that much different than working with a new client who isn’t pregnant, and that’s the point…

…a pregnancy doesn’t automatically mean you’re unable to go to the gym.

The last thing I want is for them to feel like a delicate flower.

Remember: Our job as their coach is to prepare them for something bigger…child birth. Assuming a thorough assessment, taking into consideration any contraindications, using appropriate progressions/regressions, and always checking in on comfort level, a barbell, used in a controlled setting, is no more dangerous than bathing in a tub of seed oils while drinking a diet soda on a yacht full of Paleo CrossFitters.

Likewise, HERE are some thoughts on postpartum considerations for those curious.

Putting things into context, Whitney G (from the deadlift video above) had been training with me for three years, and I knew she knew what she was doing – so I felt completely comfortable throwing deadlift and squat variations (and she still did chin-ups!) into her programs.

Speaking of chin-ups here’s my wife, Lisa, using (natural) progressive overload to complete a rest/pause set.

24 weeks pregnant and still getting after it on her chin-ups. Had Lisa perform 1 rep every 30s for 8-10 sets. Using “natural” progressive overload to our advantage…? Once things got too challenging we brought in the band for accommodating assistance. It IS possible to still strength train when pregnant. It all comes down to prior experience and listening to your body.

A video posted by Tony Gentilcore (@tonygentilcore) on

5. Look at Cara, another mom-to-be I worked with a few years ago who was still training and getting after it 34 weeks into her pregnancy.

Here she was deadlifting 200 lbs for eight reps:

 

Cara trained with me at CSP for well over two years prior to becoming pregnant, and, slight humble brag, was coached very well. We had no problems staying on task with her training when she was expecting.

Which is to say…while certain “tweaks” and modifications were made trimester to trimester, we were still able to maintain a significant training effect.

While she’s definitely an exception to the rule, despite being a first-time mom, she never experienced any morning sickness – something she attributed to not flaking on her training.

From Cara herself:

It was hard to find information specific to heavy weight lifting. Most “advice” given about exercise has to do with cardio, probably because that’s what doctors expect most women are doing. In general, there’s an attitude that if you are already fit, you can continue what you are used to. So I made my own decision to continue what I was doing, to the best of my ability, just paying attention to what felt comfortably to me personally. Taking longer breaks, adjusting weights and positions as needed.

Others might think I lift “too much” or let my heart rate get “too high” but I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all limits on what pregnant women should be doing. We’re all accustomed and able to do different things when not pregnant, and I think the same can apply during pregnancy.

6.  By that same token, I don’t want to give the impression that every woman who’s pregnant has to lift heavy things. There are quite a number of other things to pay close attention to.

Shedding some light here are a few thoughts provided by Boston-based trainer Laura DeVincent, who’s Pre/Post Natal Certified through FitForBirth:

The first ten minutes of a session are spent diaphragmatic breathing, which I think is vital for keeping connected with the core. Although kind of awkward to coach, kegals are also important to prevent problems down the road. The next 30-40 minutes are spent on corrective exercise and strength training, and the last 10 minutes are spent interval training.

7.  Expounding a bit further, something else to consider is stretching. Does it have a place? Many women (and fitness professionals) are under the assumption that stretching is an important factor, but I’d actually caution against it in this case.

In fact I’m actually not a huge fan of stretching in general – as most people suck at it, only stretch what they’re good at, and, what’s more, you’re not actually “stretching” anything anyways (only increasing the tolerance to stretching).

But that’s a debate for another time.

As the pregnancy progresses the body produces more of a hormone called Relaxin, which, as the name implies, makes the tendons and ligaments (soft tissue) “relax” or more “pliable” as the body gets closer and closer to the due date.

This can make activities such as running, yoga, and group classes not as much of a better or “safer” alternative as many will have you think.

Pregnant woman in yoga class

Mirroring my thoughts, Laura notes:

In my experience, most women that are used to doing group ex classes feel nervous doing intense plyometric and cardio workouts, so they love the fact that they can get intense with weight training!

What most women deem “intense weight training” can be left to interpretation, but it stands to reason that contrary to popular belief, weight training can be argued to be SAFER than most other options…if for no other reason(s) than it is generally more controlled, can be more easily individualized, and focuses more on improving stability (via strengthening).

8.  Taking it a step even further, and touching on the whole heart rate issue, my good friend Dean Somerset offers his insight as well:

The big cautions come from not wanting to have large blood pressure fluctuations early on in the pregnancy or having too much of an anaerobic load that would cause stress to the fetus. If the muscles are pulling all the oxygen and not enough is going to the fetus, it can cause some issues, so most cardio is best performed beneath anaerobic threshold, or in short bursts where fatigue isn’t a major factor.

Loading tends to have to be decreased over time due to changes in core stability, pelvic dilation, presence of lumbosacral ligamental laxity, and increasing pressure on the bladder and bowels. It’s cool to deadlift in the second trimester, but something to avoid in the third trimester in favour of squatting, moving from a conventional stance to more of a sumo stance as the pregnancy goes on.

I’m not going to sit here and diss on CrossFit – because there is plenty about CrossFit that I like.

All I’ll say is that if you’re someone who’s pregnant and you’re still adamant on going to CrossFit every week (and that’s completely fine), please, please, PLEASE use some common sense and recognize that it’s okay to pump the brakes a bit and not feel like you’re going to cough up a spleen when you train.

9.  Shedding some more light on this topic, here are some sage words from strength coach, John Brooks:

The problem with training pregnant women is no two pregnancies are the same. With our first born my wife hit rep PRs into the early third trimester, did chins, and lots of unilateral leg work deep into the pregnancy. This latest (due in march) had some complications and bleeding early on, so she was on pelvic rest (which means you can pretty much do somewhere between jack and crap) now she’s back up to some basic body part split stuff. Totally different response to training stress in those conditions.

I’ve worked with a couple other women who didn’t have complications and for me the HR monitor was the key, Keep their HR down below threshold, keep a training effect going, and (especially if this is the second+) no movements that abduct the legs either quickly or under load (if you don’t know why ask your mother).

10.  And bringing everything to a nice succinct stopping point, I want to share one of my former distance coaching client’s, Laura, (whom I trained through her second pregnancy), perspective on everything:

I was one of those lucky women Tony trained through a pregnancy. During this time, I also regularly attended kettlebell classes in preparation for my RKC certification, which I passed 7 month after delivery.

With solid programming from Tony that included a lot of heavy compound lifts and modifications where necessary (no barbell glute thrusters), I was fitter at the end of the pregnancy than I had been at the beginning, with a slew of new PRs in my pocket as well – including squats and deadlifts.

My daughter presented in a posterior position (sunny side up), but I only had to go through 20 minutes of pushing — believe me that’s rare. With doctor approval, I was back swinging kettlebells in the gym the day after I was home from the hospital, and I healed like a champ.

Now, I’m not trying to blow sunshine up my own butt, but how many women do you know who are back in the gym a mere day after returning from the hospital? [Pats self on back].

Mind you: This SHOULD NOT be considered a standard goal for everyone.

That said, there’s no way Laura could have done that – let alone even think about doing it – if she had only resorted to yoga classes and basing all of her training sessions around weights that are lighter than the purse she carries around on her shoulder.

11.  Something else to think about is the fact that Laura had a very progressive MD (which is rare, but a breath of fresh air) and midwife, who, according to her, “understood that pregnancy is not an illness or handicap.”

As well, according to her, “I also took a lot of comfort from the wonderful book Exercising Through Your Pregnancy by James Clapp, which examines study after study showing the value of continuing to engage in strenuous exercise during pregnancy.

The book also provides advice for people who go into pregnancy in more of a de-conditioned state.

So there you have it

While not an exhaustive list, and certainly a topic which deserves someone taking a more proactive approach into what’s the right course of action for HER, I feel this post provides a rather unique (and dare I say: anti-status quo) approach to how women should go about exercising through their pregnancy.

I’m in no way saying that my opinion is right or should be considered the gold standard. But it deserves every bit as much consideration as all the other advice being given.

Coming full circle, isn’t it funny how people will often scoff, give double takes (or worse panic) if they see a pregnant woman lifting appreciable weight in the gym, yet fail to recognize that women have been partaking in far superior activities – walking across continents, manually plowing fields, hunting, and gathering – loooooong before barbells existed.

They (and their babies) turned out just fine.

Did what you just read make your day? Ruin it? Either way, you should share it with your friends and/or comment below.

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  1. but looooooooooves Notting Hill

Comments for This Entry

  • Barath

    An important scientific fact that Tony neglects to mention: If you continue squatting and deadlifting through your pregnancy, when the baby is born, it'll try to crawl back into you yelling "GO! RUN! GET TO DA CHOPPA!" Scientists call this the Schwarzenegger Syndrome.

    February 19, 2013 at 7:27 pm | Reply to this comment

  • Jen Brice

    This is very interesting and makes me re-assured that pregnancy shouldn't hinder my love and need for exercise. If those pregnant chicks can lift super crazy heavy weights, I know for sure I'll be able to continue my simple push ups and other body weight exercises that I do. :)

    February 19, 2013 at 10:46 pm | Reply to this comment

    • TonyGentilcore

      Jen - I'm really happy to hear that you enjoyed the articles and got a lot out of it. Keep doing what you're doing! As I said: it ALWAYS comes down to what YOU'RE comfortable with. Good luck with everything!

      February 20, 2013 at 9:27 am | Reply to this comment

  • Health/Fitness Links To Get You Through The Day «

    [...] What to Expect (in the gym) When You’re Expecting (Tony Gentilcore) – As you may know, Tony Gentilcore is one of my favorite trainers and is so knowledgeable. Must read even if you’re not expecting! [...]

    February 20, 2013 at 7:07 am | Reply to this comment

  • Mary Claire

    Fantastic article and very re-assuring. I should carry a copy around for busybodies now that I'm in the middle of my third pregnancy . The issue for me (and I suspect, a lot of women) is not the training which I'm happy to continue with as long as I feel well, but that you become public property when you're pregnant and the amount of crap I get from trainers and people in the weight room and changing room for training as normal whilst pregnant is hard to deal with. I'm pretty tough and care little for what others think usually, but when you have hormonal days having someone insinuate that you're the most Irresponsible Mother in The World can really hit hard.

    February 20, 2013 at 8:23 am | Reply to this comment

    • TonyGentilcore

      Mary - Cara (one of the women I featured in the blog) had the same sentiments when her and I were talking a few weeks ago. She mentioned that on more than one occasion she'd be training and some random person would approach her and ask her what she doing. As if she had three heads. In Cara's words: I also have raw eggs (she's a baker, so she has to taste test a lot of stuff), drink caffeine (albeit limited), and yes, I lift weights. Eggs, caffeine, and weights have been around longer than donuts.....sooooooo" Just know that there are others out there who feel the same way as you. Keep doing what you're doing and serving as a role model for other mother's to be out there!

      February 20, 2013 at 9:31 am | Reply to this comment

    • Amy Smith

      Love love love this article and also the comments, especially yours, Mary Claire. Sometimes I wonder if I'm the only person who realises that labour is called labour because it is damn hard labour.

      January 18, 2014 at 7:40 am | Reply to this comment

  • Danielle D

    loved this! if i ever get pregnant, i intend on not becoming a sloth and expect i will continue to be present (modified of course) in the weight room if i can.

    February 20, 2013 at 9:53 am | Reply to this comment

  • chris

    great article Tony. As someone who is training two woman who are both 24 weeks in, I can speak for everything on that list. Hard part was actually talking to them and getting them to understand that training WILL help them have an easier pregnancy. One of them was so happy to have only gained 4 pounds so far and she PR'd on DB chest press (shoulder issues so I don't have her use a BB) last week!

    February 20, 2013 at 2:53 pm | Reply to this comment

  • Kellie Davis

    This is FABULOUS, Tony! And congrats to Whitney!!! She a rock star (as is Cara).

    February 20, 2013 at 7:50 pm | Reply to this comment

  • Laura DeVincent

    Quoted on Tony's blog? Best. Day. Ever. Awesome stuff Tony! Couldn't agree more.

    February 20, 2013 at 8:08 pm | Reply to this comment

  • Kris

    Hey Tony. Thank you for sharing pertinent and current information about exercise and pregnancy. I trained hard thru both of my pregnancies. I found that after my 6th month, strength training was the only exercise that felt good..cardio just made my legs burn. Both boys were born uneventfully and are growing up as strong and lean athletes. I'd like to think that all of my training and good eating played a role in having healthy babies. Kudos to your female clients for setting a good example for other women about how pregnancy and training can co-exist.

    February 20, 2013 at 9:06 pm | Reply to this comment

  • Amanda @ Sistas of Strength

    Well said...you know, for a dude. :) I wrote quite a bit about my training when I was pregnant on my blog and for the most part I highlighted a lot of the same things. There were certain things that made me feel uncomfortable when I was pregnant (like running...), but other things that felt perfectly fine (like training with kettlebells). I always tell clients that listening to their bodies is most important and obviously the baby is priority #1, but I do feel that if you have an uncomplicated pregnancy training should absolutely continue through the entire pregnancy if possible. http://www.sistasofstrength.com

    February 21, 2013 at 8:04 pm | Reply to this comment

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  • Sheila

    I'm really happy I found this article. There really isn't a lot of info on training hard, even on body building sights. I'm 20 weeks pregnant and have no intentions of modifying. I am listening to my body and I will continue to do so and modify if I have to. These girls are amazing and its my goal to be doing the same over 30 weeks in. Sheila

    March 11, 2013 at 2:34 pm | Reply to this comment

    • TonyGentilcore

      Sheila - First off: CONGRATS! Secondly: I'm really glad you found the article useful, and that it gave you the confidence needed to continue training. As you noted: LISTEN to your body, and please keep your physician in the loop. Better to err on the side of caution....;o)

      March 12, 2013 at 11:05 am | Reply to this comment

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    March 13, 2013 at 6:12 pm | Reply to this comment

  • debh

    Thanks for the article Tony! Great advice and interesting reading. I'm 21 weeks pregnant with my 4th baby and still training (including Crossfit heh heh). I get a LOT of strange looks and comments from other concerned gym-goers who think I'm "pushing it too hard" or "doing too much". I've been training for a few years now and think I know my own body and limitations pretty well! I stop if I get too breathless, and scale back the weights if I feel they're too difficult. I don't want to sit on my butt and do nothing - I did for my first 3 pregnancies and put on 20kgs and then struggled to lose it again with each. I also want to retain as much strength as I possibly can so that I'm not wasting all of the hard work I've put in over the last few years. And yes Barath - I've been told this baby will come out swinging KBs LOL!

    April 16, 2013 at 7:55 am | Reply to this comment

    • TonyGentilcore

      Fantastic stuff debh. I always laugh when people bring up the whole "be careful, you're doing too much" argument, because if that truly was the case, and it was that "easy" to place the body in peril, we would have died off as a human race looooooooong ago.

      April 17, 2013 at 3:54 pm | Reply to this comment

  • B-Grrrrl

    Hey Tony I just wanted to drop you a line to say thank you for this article. I train as the only girl in a gym full of meatheads (seriously...there is more talking shit and throwing weights on the floor than I can bear somedays LOL!) and I have no trainer or knowledgeable gym employee to turn to for advice so your blog is invaluable to me for correcting my form and trying new exercises out. Anyway....I came across this article a few months ago as me and the hubby decided we weren't getting any younger, and if we were going to set about making mini-me's we needed to crack on, but I wanted to know if I could still lift heavy stuff if I got preggo. So fast forward to today...I'm 14 weeks pregnant and spent yesterday evening slinging 16kg and 20kg kettlebells around the gym and enjoying it immensely knowing I am setting my body up for it's biggest challenge in around 6 months time =) I've got to say from around week 6 I didn't feel comfortable deadlifting or squatting under the bar - I'm not sure what it was but there was something in the back of my mind saying 'leave it for now' so I listened to that voice and I've worked on perfecting single leg versions of these exercises instead. And I am determined to keep on top of my chin ups for as long as possible. I'd really like to be able to bust at LEAST one rep out the week before I give birth but we'll see how that goes. So to reiterate - thank you so much for the article and the links to Cassandra and Julia - they are an excellent resource and a great inspiration.

    August 7, 2013 at 9:05 am | Reply to this comment

  • Christine Smith

    this is really important!

    August 22, 2013 at 1:38 am | Reply to this comment

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    […] Want to stay active during your pregnancy? Tony Gentilcore shared what to expect in the gym when you’re expecting. […]

    October 21, 2016 at 3:47 am | Reply to this comment

  • Fall Is Here And I Have Lots To Share :) - Stacey Schaedler Strength

    […] Therapist After Giving Birth Should Be Our “New Normal”– MAMA On The Mend What To Expect In The Gym When You’re  Expecting– Tony Gentilcore  To Roll And Stretch Or Not To Roll And Stretch– Tony Gentilcore […]

    October 23, 2016 at 12:43 pm | Reply to this comment

  • Fitness and Nutrition Articles of the Week – 10/23/2016

    […] “What to Expect in the Gym When You Are Expecting” — Tony Gentilcore […]

    October 23, 2016 at 2:13 pm | Reply to this comment

  • Paige Mead

    I loved this post. I am not pregnant (and actively avoiding becoming pregnant any time soon). But I am someone who is in the gym lifting/doing cardio two times a day, and it is very reassuring to hear this side of the 'working out when pregnant' argument. I especially loved when you quoted "pregnancy is not an illness or handicap," as I believe a lot of people who look at pregnant women assume that they are fragile due to their pregnancy. I have worked in many different gyms over the last five years, and I have seen trainers that will refuse to train female clients who are pregnant (or in some cases, even trying to get pregnant). To me this always seemed extremely backwards. While I understand the issue of not wanting to train someone whose 32 weeks pregnant and has never lifted a day in her life before, I do not understand refusing to help pregnant women stay fit through their pregnancy. I don't think a pregnant woman should go into the gym and attempt to power lift for the first time ever during her pregnancy, but if she has been lifting and knows what she is doing, I very strongly believe there are more benefits to continuing to stay fit (for both yourself, and your baby) during the whole duration of your pregnancy. With that being said, like you mentioned, I also believe that it is dependent on your own personal situation. Not every woman is going to have an easy, stress-free pregnancy, and each woman should listen to their bodies before/during/and after any lifting session. I found another article on bodybuilding.com that also supports the idea of weight training while pregnant and gives a list of reasons to support their position. http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/drobson10.htm

    October 24, 2016 at 1:37 pm | Reply to this comment

    • TonyGentilcore

      Thanks for the kind words Paige and I couldn't agree more with everything you had to say. Of course, you were just agreeing with me, and I'm just agreeing with your agreement. Either way, INTERNET HIGH FIVE!

      October 25, 2016 at 10:14 am | Reply to this comment

  • Fran

    Hi Tony, Thank you for all the valuable info, links and testimonials! I have a specific question about your suggestion to consider taking Athletic Greens...do you still recommend this during pregnancy, even if you only started taking it a few weeks before trying to conceive? Also, any special considerations for taking it if undergoing fertility treatments? I know you will say to check with the doc, but they are not very progressive so I imagine will just say to stop taking it. I ask bc as I understand it, Athletic Greens, and many other "greens" powders, can be detoxifying, which is the last thing you want to do when trying to conceive and/or growing a baby. Appreciate your thoughts! Thanks :)

    July 11, 2017 at 12:59 pm | Reply to this comment

    • Tony Author

      Fran - thanks for the kind words and I am happy to hear the post resonated with you. To be honest: I think it would be best to defer this question to your OB or doctor. I think Athletic Greens is a great product with high-quality (non-detoxifying, whatever that means....?) elements, but it's best to ask them and follow their lead with regards to your health and ability to conceive. Good luck by the way!

      July 12, 2017 at 4:44 pm | Reply to this comment

  • nicole

    Hello there! I just finished reading your insightful blog post. I couldn't agree more with your valuable advice and guidance for pregnant women. As a fellow personal trainer, I appreciate the way you address the unique challenges and considerations that come with exercising during pregnancy. I must admit, during my own prior pregnancies, I faced similar uncertainties and questions about staying active in the gym. It's reassuring to see you providing clarity and support to expecting moms who want to maintain their fitness routines safely. In fact, I recently wrote an article titled 'Postpartum Weight Lifting: When Is It Safe? How Should I Start?' on my blog, which further explores the topic of returning to weightlifting after giving birth. I believe it would be a great resource for your readers as they transition into the postpartum phase and navigate their fitness journeys. Thank you for sharing such valuable information and fostering a supportive community for expectant mothers. Your dedication to helping women embrace fitness during this special time is truly inspiring. Keep up the fantastic work!

    June 20, 2023 at 8:58 am | Reply to this comment

  • Malick

    I highly appreciate you for discussing the training for pregnant women, emphasizing the importance of individualized approaches and listening to one's body. I also agree with you that strength training can be continued during pregnancy with proper modifications and progressions. Those who are looking for the exercise-related products can pay a visit here.

    June 24, 2023 at 5:58 am | Reply to this comment

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