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I am now 16 weeks into my second pregnancy. I struggled with exercise throughout my first pregnancy as I wanted to get out there and conquer the world with my fitness prowess. I was determined to not get flabby, get stretch marks or put on too much weight.

I was extremely active before I gave birth to my daughter. Up until 30 weeks I was walking up hills, going to the gym AND seeing a personal trainer on different days. I was also for a good part of my pregnancy working two jobs, both of them quite physically demanding. I was also very tired...no, I was exhausted most of the time.

I think the key to a balanced 'healthy' pregnancy is exercise in moderation. Listen to your body, know when to quit or when to slow down. By pushing yourself you are robbing yourself of something extremely special (more so if this is your first pregnancy).

Time to yourself.

For me it was extremely difficult to let go of this control of 'go go go', as I was always active. Always testing my limits as to how far I could push. If you have a husband, partner, other children to look after and consider, the exhaustion measure causes extreme problems in your personal life that really does nothing for your stress levels.

If you feel you have to be constantly active during your pregnancy,or even if you haven't done too much exercise in the past but would like to now, consider trying
Aqua aerobics,
Tai chi,
Modified Pilate's or yoga,
Kegel Exercises (I beg you; do not skip these!)
And yes, the good old fashioned walking.
These exercises are effective, gentle and calming on your body and mind.

Exercise is always going to remain beneficial, especially during pregnancy because it

1. Makes you FEEL better both physically and mentally. It can help with backaches, constipation, wear and tear on your joints and can also help you sleep better.
2. Prepares you and your body for the birth by giving you endurance, control over breathing and strong muscles
3. It is a known fact that those who are fit and healthy throughout their pregnancy will regain their old body back sooner.

The other important advice I can give is to always, ALWAYS find time to have a 'granny nap' during the day. Even if it is only for 10 minutes!

You might be sneering at me now saying, 'Uh, huh, a granny nap you say. I don't have time for that'.

Make time for it. I had so many people telling me to have a lie down, have a quick nap and I used to shrug it off and say, 'Are you crazy? I have to go to work, then I have to go the gym, then I have to go

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