Best Fitness Blog

...By Karli Taylor

There was a time when we thought of pregnancy as a “condition” that gave women a free pass from exercise. We once thought that working out while pregnant was unhealthy and dangerous for the baby. As we learn more about the effects that exercise has on the human body, we now know that these beliefs were not backed by science. Despite the differences in your body during pregnancy, exercise is still important to maintain your health and wellness. Not only is it ok to exercise, studies have suggested that exercise during pregnancy will help with an easier and shorter labor and birth, fewer cesarean surgeries, a quicker recovery postpartum, a quicker return to your pre-pregnancy weight, and an overall a healthier feeling pregnancy!

That being said, if you did not exercise before your pregnancy, it is not the best time to start an exercise program. If you had been sedentary for over a year prior to becoming pregnant, limit your exercise routing to walking and light stretching. Your doctor will tell you if you have any specific limitations when it comes to your own personal exercise routine, but there are some general guidelines for everyone to follow.

• Most importantly- listen to your body. Simple things will be harder than you think, so take it slowly.
• Wear a heart rate monitor and keep your heart rate below 70% of you max to stay on the safe side.
• Do not exercise while lying on your back
• Avoid intense stretching

If you follow all of these guidelines, you will find that exercising during pregnancy will improve your mood, your sleeping patterns and even your digestion. You will suffer from fewer aches and pains than someone who does not work out, AND your body will more easily return to normal after delivery.

Visit one of our Best Fitness Clubs to learn even more about this topic. We have locations in Albany,NY, Tonawanda, NY, Schenectady, NY, Erie, PA, Nashua, NH, Chelmsford, MA, and Drum Hill, MA.

... By Karli Taylor

One of the most important, yet overlooked, aspects of any exercise or training program is the recovery phase, or time spent resting. It is all too common a thought that rest time is a period of doing no work which will result in no result or even worse, a negative result. The truth is quite the opposite.

Though it is true that while you are resting you are not actually doing any physical work, your body is working on the inside to repair itself to become stronger in preparation for the next exercise stress placed upon it during the next workout. Believe it or not, you do not get stronger or more fit while you are lifting weights or running on a treadmill, it is during your rest that the body actually changes!

How many days off do you take each week? I mean completely free of organized exercise- no group exercise classes, no miles logged and no weights lifted? If you are trying to workout out 6 or 7 days a week you are doing your fitness level and your body a big disservice. You’re not alone. I’ve even been there, trying to train 7 days a week and wondering why I was burnt out, tired all the time, not performing well, and gaining bodyfat.

Learn from my mistakes and take a look at your current training schedule, how many days are you training, how many days do you have off? I recommend that everyone, and this is true from the beginning exerciser to the elite athlete have at least one day completely off from training. That’s the minimum.

I know that those of you who don’t already do that are starting to block me out right now. I’m sure that you don’t believe me, but try it for the next 2 weeks. Cut back your training days and increasing how many days you rest and recover. I am willing to bet that the days you do train will be stronger, your motivation and attitude will be better, and more importantly, your results will be easier to achieve! Iif you don’t freshen up and start to get more enthusiastic about the days you are in the gym