DOES ANYONE READ/ SUSCRIBE TO FITPREGNACY??

you should wear a heart monitor for your dance class shamma, I read on the website you sent me and someone told me your heart rate should not go above 140

ETS: wear one when you are preggo so if it goes above 140 you can just slow down

The magazine!!!!!!!!!

I am in Wedding and PREGGO MODE!

I do, but turning the pages and LOOKING at all the healthy and fit preggo women is about all the excercise I get these days...

Theresa, you can pick it up at any newsstand.

I read that as well Tammy, thanks for the info, I know how to check my heart rate w/o the monitor.

Susans, do you think it is a good mag to subscribe to? or is it hit or miss???

I've read 3 issues. I really like the magazine. A little bit of everything.

Edited to say that it's probably worth it to subscribe anyway since the subscription price is less than the cover price. When you get preggo chances are there'll be a few issues that you end up buying anyway since in a given month, certain topics may peak your interest. After 3 or 4 issues, you've already paid for a subscription!

I would have saved so much money if I had taken this outlook with my bridal magazines...

I know that I had planned to continue going to the gym once I was pregnant, but unfortunately that wasn’t the case. I would get so nauseous the moment I stepped foot in that place. All those smells were just overwhelming.

I also went on long runs in nearby parks or whatever before I was pregnant… so I thought that I could just do the long runs rather than going to the gym and running. Well, that didn’t happen. I was so drained by the end of the day when I came home from work, the last thing I wanted to do was lace up my sneakers… DH suggested one of those pregnancy tapes… so I got “Fit Mamma.” I did that for about a month or so and got so extremely bored with that… I stopped it.

Right now I cannot wait to get back to the gym! I miss that atmosphere!

Here is some info I found on babycenter


Exercise does wonders for you during pregnancy. It helps prepare you for childbirth by strengthening your muscles and building endurance, and makes getting your body back in shape once the baby's born much easier. Staying active during pregnancy doesn't necessarily mean going for the burn. Your body releases a hormone called relaxin during pregnancy that loosens your joints in preparation for delivery, so it may not make sense to exercise as hard as you did before you became pregnant. It's important to find exercises that won't injure you or harm the baby.

Ideal exercise gets your heart pumping, keeps you limber, manages weight gain, and prepares your muscles for the hard work of labor and delivery — without causing undue physical stress for you or the baby. Many activities such as running and weight training are fine in the beginning, but you may need to modify your regimen as you grow bigger. You'll be better off avoiding activities that could put you at risk for slips and falls, such as bicycling, rollerblading, horseback riding, and skiing.

The following exercises are fairly safe for expectant moms, although some of them may not work for you during the last few months of your pregnancy. To be safe, consult your doctor or midwife before embarking on any of these activities.

Cardiovascular
* Walking
One of the best cardiovascular exercises for pregnant women, walking keeps you fit without jarring your knees and ankles. It also gets you out of the house, which can only help, and is safe throughout the nine months of pregnancy.

* Jogging / Running
Going for a jog is the quickest and most efficient way to work your heart and your body. Plus you can tailor it to your schedule — running 15 minutes one day when that's all you can afford, and 30 the next when you have the time.

* Swimming
Healthcare providers and fitness experts hail swimming as the best and safest exercise for pregnant women. Swimming is ideal because it exercises both large muscle groups (arms and legs), provides good cardiovascular benefits, and allows expectant women to feel weightless despite the extra pounds of pregnancy.

Flexibility and strength
* Yoga and stretches
Good news: Yoga and stretching can help maintain muscle tone and keep you flexible with little if any impact on your joints. But you may have to augment a yoga regimen by walking a few times a week to give your heart a workout.

* Weight Training
If weight training is already part of your exercise routine, there's no reason to stop, although you will need to avoid using heavy weights and assuming certain positions. If you take the necessary precautions and have good technique, weight training is a great way to tone and strengthen your muscles.

Both
* Dance
You can get your heart pumping by dancing to your favorite tunes in the comfort and privacy of your living room, but steer clear of breakdancing or other dance movements that call for you to leap, jump, or twirl. If you sign up for a class, you can lose yourself in music, stay fit, and meet others.

* Low-impact aerobics
One good thing about an aerobics class is that it's a consistent time slot when you know you'll get some exercise. And if you sign up for a class specifically designed for pregnant women, you'll get to enjoy the camaraderie of others just like you, and can feel reassured that each movement has been deemed safe for you and the baby.

Why exercise is important during pregnancy
Exercise promotes muscle tone, strength, and endurance — three qualities that can help you carry the weight you gain during pregnancy, prepare you for the physical stress of labor, and make it easier to get back into shape after your baby is born. (Unfortunately, there's no evidence that regular exercise shortens labor.) Being active during your pregnancy can also reduce physical discomforts such as backache, constipation, fatigue, and swelling. It can also improve your mood and self-image, and even help you sleep better.

The best forms of exercise for pregnant women
You can't beat walking or swimming for overall fitness during pregnancy. These two activities work your major muscle groups, strengthen your heart, and pose little risk of injury. Depending on your level of fitness, you can most likely participate in a wide range of other sports and activities throughout your entire pregnancy.

Sports to avoid during pregnancy
Sports with a high potential for hard falls or ones where you might be thrown off-balance are strictly off-limits to pregnant women. These include horseback riding, skating, and waterskiing. Additionally, most doctors and midwives recommend giving up bicycling after the second trimester, even if you're an experienced cyclist, because of the potential for falls. Stay on firm ground with safe sports like speed walking or, if you're an advanced athlete, jogging or tennis.

What to do if you've never exercised before
As long as you get the go-ahead from your health care provider, you can safely start an exercise program during pregnancy even if you're been an avid couch potato until now. Stick to low-impact activities such as walking or swimming, and keep workout sessions short (about 30 minutes).

Modify your fitness routine from trimester to trimester
Chances are you'll naturally feel inclined to scale down your exercise routine as your baby and belly grow. Some key things to remember: During the first trimester, it's especially important that you avoid overheating. After the first trimester, you'll probably want to eliminate exercises that are performed while flat on your back or while you're standing in one place for long periods, as both can impair your circulation.

What to do if you're used to a high-intensity workout
If you're in good health, quite fit, and feel up to it, go ahead and continue your routine, but let your doctor or midwife know your plans at your next prenatal appointment. According to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, healthy, well-conditioned women who exercised before pregnancy may continue to do so throughout pregnancy without compromising their baby's health or development. Researchers from the University of Oslo, Norway, studied 42 pregnant women who exercised six times per week at either a high or medium intensity. When the researchers compared the women's length of labor, maternal weight gain, and fetal birth weight, they found no differences between the two groups of exercisers.

Signs you're exercising too much
Stop exercising immediately if you experience dizziness, shortness of breath, faintness, vaginal bleeding, difficulty walking, contractions, or unusual absence of fetal movements (but bear in mind that your baby is often most quiet when you're exercising).

In general, you shouldn't go for the burn or exercise to exhaustion. Make it a practice to monitor your heart rate while you're exercising, checking to be sure that it doesn't exceed 140 beats per minute, although this number may vary depending on your level of fitness. (A good rule of thumb: Slow down if you can't comfortably carry on a conversation while exercising.)

When to consult with your doctor or midwife
Check with your doctor or midwife first before starting or continuing any exercise program. And keep checking in with her as your pregnancy continues to make sure you're modifying your routine as necessary. Sometimes exercise during pregnancy is strictly forbidden to protect the health of the mother, the baby, or both, so don't assume it's okay to keep at it the way you've always done.

The benefits of weight training during pregnancy
Weight training strengthens and tones your muscles and helps you build stamina, which you'll need during labor and delivery. One good way to do that is to perform a set number of exercises using free weights and resistance training machines such as ones you'll find in weight rooms and athletic clubs. But you can also build strength by do some simple weight training exercises at home.

Tips for the first trimester
It's a good idea to go over your exercise regimen with your doctor or midwife first to make sure it's okay for you to continue at your regular pace while you're pregnant. (See more safety guidelines.)

Julie Tupler, registered nurse, certified personal trainer, and co-author of Maternal Fitness, says you should use slow, controlled movements to lift weights to avoid injuring your joints that are loosened during pregnancy. Work with lighter weights than you normally do and to compensate for the lower weight, you can do more repetitions.

Avoid certain postures such as the Valsalva maneuver (forcefully exhaling without actually releasing air, which causes lower abdominal pressure similar to that of a bowel movement) and walking lunges, which could increase your risk of injury to connective tissue in the pelvic area.

Tips for the second and third trimesters
Beginning in the second trimester, you should avoid lifting weights while standing. 'Sit down because you have an increase in blood volume,' says Tupler. 'Blood can pool in your legs, leaving you feeling lightheaded and dizzy.' Avoid lying on a bench to lift weights or assuming any position that leaves your abdomen vulnerable to a falling weight.

Suggested exercises
Military press Sit up straight on the edge of a sturdy chair, knees bent and feet flat on the floor, separated about hip-width apart. Hold a dumbbell (weighing between one and ten pounds) in each hand with palms facing inward, lift above shoulder level, and then back down.

Tip: Remember to contract your abdominal muscles and squeeze your shoulder blades together. If you need more support, sit back on the chair seat.

Seated row Using a resistance band (an elastic strap specially designed for exercise), sit erect on the floor, legs extended in front of you, and knees slightly bent. Wrap a resistance band around both your feet and hold one end in each hand. Keep your elbows bent close to your sides with palms facing each other. Pull the resistance toward your waist, using the middle back muscles, until your elbows are just behind you.

Tip: Don't lean forward. If you need to increase resistance 'choke up' on the band.

Check with your doctor or midwife before starting an exercise program
If you've always been active, you can probably continue your exercise regimen while you're pregnant, provided your pregnancy isn't considered high risk. Check with your doctor or midwife to make sure the activities you participate in are still safe for you. And, if you've never been the athletic type, your healthcare provider can give you some helpful tips for getting started. (For more help, see our exercise guide for beginners.)

Exercise regularly
If you're committed to keeping fit, do so on a regular basis. According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, you can safely engage in 30 minutes or more of moderate exercise on most, if not all, days of the week.

Steer clear of dangerous sports
Because your joints are looser than normal, it's best if you avoid any activity that could make you slip or fall, increasing the risk of injury to your abdomen. Horseback riding, downhill skiing, mountain climbing, scuba diving, and most contact sports (football, basketball, and soccer) are off-limits, too. Also avoid racket sports like squash, especially during the second and third trimesters, because the side-to-side movements can be hard on the knees, and the ball — traveling at breakneck speed — could hit your belly. Experts don't always agree about tennis, although most say that it's fine to keep up your game if you've been playing regularly before pregnancy.

Skip outdoor activities when it's hot and humid
Pregnant or not, take it easy when the sun is blazing hot and the air is humid. Weather like this makes you prone to overheating, which may harm your baby. Although there's no proof of a danger to humans, some animal studies suggest that overheating can cause birth defects. According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, your temperature (taken under the arm) should be less than 101 degrees Fahrenheit after exercising. Other signs to look for include clammy hands and hot or cold flashes. Sweating isn't a reliable indicator of overheating.

On particularly hot or humid days, skip your workout or exercise indoors in a well-ventilated room.

Wear loose-fitting, breathable clothing and supportive shoes
Layer on clothes so they're easy to shed or wear outfits specially designed for exercise to avoid overheating while you work up a sweat. Make sure your maternity bra offers enough support and wear athletic shoes that fit your feet properly to help support ligaments and tendons. If your shoe size has changed because of mild swelling, stash away your pre-pregnancy sneakers and buy a new pair that's comfortable.

Drink lots of water before, during, and after exercising
You can get dehydrated if you don't drink plenty of fluids, a condition which can cause contractions and raise your body temperature, sometimes to levels that are dangerous for you and the baby. The American College of Sports Medicine suggests drinking about two glasses of water two hours before you begin exercising. Drink 5 to 12 ounces every 15 to 20 minutes during your workout. Weigh yourself before and after exercise, and drink two more glasses of water for every pound you've lost. Those lost pounds are water weight, not fat, and a sign that you need to replenish your water supply to avoid dehydration.

Warm up before starting your workout
Warm ups do just that — they warm up your muscles and joints to prepare your body for exercise, and help build your heart rate up slowly. If you skip the warm up and jump into strenuous activity before your body is ready, you could strain your ligaments and hurt yourself.

Avoid lying on your back after the first trimester
Besides being uncomfortable, this position can make you dizzy. It puts your uterus square on top of the vena cava, a major vein, diminishing blood flow to your brain and uterus. However, some women are comfortable in this position well into their pregnancies. Pay attention to your body's signals: If you feel uncomfortable, get dizzy or short of breath, sit up on your elbows instead, or lie on your side.

Keep moving
Standing motionless for prolonged stretches, which certain yoga and dance positions call for, can decrease blood flow to the uterus and cause blood to pool in your legs, making you dizzy. Keep moving by switching positions or walking in place.

Avoid overdoing it
Don't go for the burn and don't exercise to exhaustion. You should generally stick to 60 percent of your maximum heart rate while pregnant. Also, your heart rate should not exceed 140 beats per minute. A good rule of thumb: Slow down if you can't comfortably carry on a conversation.

Listen to your body. When something hurts, something's wrong, so stop. You should feel like you're working your body, not punishing it. For more signs of danger, click here.

Get up from the floor slowly and carefully
Your center of gravity shifts during pregnancy. That's why you should take great care when you change positions. Getting up quickly can make you dizzy, and cause you to lose your footing and fall.

Cool down
Walk in place for a few minutes or stretch. It gives your heart rate a chance to gradually return to its normal pace.