I will give fair warning that what I am about to write about will cause controversy. Be warned readers…..
Recently on my social media I posted a couple pictures of myself weight lifting. While normally this wouldn’t cause someone to even think twice about, I was 36 weeks pregnant at the time. It has only been a couple weeks since this picture and I am still pregnant… Oh and just so you know I am still completely healthy.
Most of the feed back was encouraging and kind, I have also received concern from others. I will specify I am no expert on weight lifting, pregnancy, or pretty much any other topic out there. My only expertise lies in my own body and what it tells me. I am writing this post because I can’t seem to get it off my mind about why some people would have such a problem with me weight lifting. To me it is part of my normal day and life. So why would I stop, simply because I am pregnant?
To answer this you may need some background on me. Not enough to encourage any creepos out there just enough for you to get the big picture here. This is my second pregnancy. My first pregnancy was not an experience I want to have over. I was sick almost the whole time, I had weird pains and aches, I was VERY swollen and had a hard time exercising. I had hardly any energy and quite honestly hated the experience. It was not a magical, wonderful time of change, it was a miserable time. I couldn’t wait till I was done with it, even when I was only a few months along. The only exercising I did was swimming and riding an elliptical machine. I didn’t do them very often because I had no energy to go. I had times when it was hard to just get out of bed to use the restroom. Who wants to live like that for 9 months? I didn’t but I didn’t know how to make it any better.
When it was time for me to give birth I had a good experience with labor. It was the delivery and recovery that was so horrible. I will not put too many details on here but just for an idea… I hated and hurt so much from my recovery I never wanted to have another child. I could barely move and get around, let alone get up to get the baby. This experience is one I would never wish on anyone, ever.
Fast forward to 5 months after I had my little girl. We moved to the big city from a tiny little town and we decided we wanted to join some kind of gym. We didn’t have that luxury where we use to live so we wanted to take advantage of it. I remember a friend of mine saying she did CrossFit. So we looked into a couple boxes near us. Only one responded to us and on a whim we joined. That choice has made all the difference to us. This was back in 2012. We have never once regretted paying someone to make us sweat and hurt in wonderful ways.
Rewind now to August 2014. I found out we would be expecting another baby. I was terrified to say the least. I did not and would not have the same experience I did the first time around. Soon after I found out I informed my Coach. I knew there would be modifications I would have to make and even though I hadn’t seen my OB yet I knew I needed to inform the coach. It’s a funny thing being pregnant and working out 5 days a week, with mostly the same people. I believe I was only 5 or 6 weeks along when the other women started noticing some of the modifications I was making. It was hard to keep it a secret. Around week 9 the “morning sickness” kicked in and lasted about 7-8 weeks. During that time I only went to the gym a handful of times. It was as horrible as I remembered it being. I thought for sure I was in for round 2 and I would for sure call it quits after this baby.
Thankfully, my body is stronger and healthier this go around. After the sickness subsided I was able to start working out again and getting back to feeling like myself. I still used the proper modifications after I came back from my “time off.” I listened to my body and did things I was capable of but didn’t do others that didn’t feel right. Throughout this pregnancy I utilized three things I didn’t with my first. First is CrossFit, which has been my sanity and release during the week. Second is chiropractic care, which has kept my body in alignment and feeling good. Third is DoTerra essential oils. These things have made all the difference in how this pregnancy has gone. When I went in for my appointment at 37 weeks I was honestly able to say I felt great. I haven’t had the major swelling or aches and pains. I haven’t felt that my pregnancy has gotten in the way of my life in too many ways.
Ok so now we have come full circle to why I am writing this post. Wight lifting during pregnancy. I had no idea it was such a big deal to some people. I have always felt that exercise is exercise. Both of my OBs told me to continue doing any form of exercise I have been as long as I feel good. I made sure my current OB knew I did CrossFit and she gave me the ok to keep doing it. She has had other patients who have also done CrossFit too so she is familiar with it. I have read and heard this line and love it, “There is nothing wrong with you, you are just pregnant.” I don’t remember who said it but it is true for most pregnant women.
I have not chosen to be selfish and work out just because I can’t stop myself, I have chosen to be healthy and do good things for my baby and my body. There is not a one size fits all for pregnant women. We are all different and therefore it is essentially up to us to decide how we should take care of ourselves. I know what I am doing has benefitted me because of how I feel. There is no ego or pride involved.
When I posted these pictures:
I was not doing it with the intention to have anyone feel that I was doing something wrong or bad. I posted them because I am amazed at what our bodies are capable of. Shouldn’t a pregnant women be preparing for child birth? Shouldn’t she be making herself healthy and strong to handle what the body goes through? Shouldn’t she be able to decide for herself, without harsh judgement, what form of exercise is right for her? People fear what they don’t understand. Those who have never experienced real weight lifting tend to be the most harsh critics of it. Wouldn’t it be better if we said, “I may not understand what you are doing but I can respect you enough to trust your personal choice?”
I would never say to someone to start any form of high intensity exercise when they are pregnant. I have been doing CrossFit for 2 1/2 years, it’s not a new thing for me or my body. I take the precautions I need to and scale and modify where needed. I have a great coach who knows what I should and shouldn’t be doing. Most importantly though I know my body well enough to listen to what it tells me.
So for the critics out there and the worriers, I appreciate the concern. We all have to live our own lives and make our own choices. I don’t critique a women on choosing to use pregnancy as the reason to not work out, that is her choice and I don’t know her health or reasons. What I do know is that it is not my place to judge but to be encouraging to others and myself. What is right for you doesn’t make it right for me. I am writing this post to encourage others. To let them know that their body is far more capable than what you think, or what others may try to make you think.
Emulating Pearl 