Pregnancy Fitness: Mind Body Spirit (Health & Fitness) [Paperback]

Fitness Magazine (Author), Ginny Graves (Author)

Book Description

Series: Health & Fitness | Publication Date: August 17, 1999

Pregnancy Fitness, by the experts at Fitness Magazine, provides expectant mothers with all the information they need to exercise safely and effectively throughout their pregnancy.

Whether you're a hard-core triathlete or just starting a fitness program for the first time, proper exercise can ensure a healthier pregnancy, an easier delivery, and a faster recovery. Pregnancy Fitness guides you carefully through every trimester, covering the physical changes and common complaints for each one, from shortness of breath to dizziness to morning sickness. In each section, chapters on Cardiovascular Fitness and Getting Stronger help you develop the aerobic capacity and muscles to carry your growing child with greater comfort and prepare you for labor. Illustrated exercises show you how to enhance flexibility, build strength, and relieve pain as your pregnancy progresses.

Q&As throughout the book cover specific concerns: Can I continue running in the second trimester? Can I lift more than ten pounds? And How to Cope sidebars address common conditions from swollen joints and sleep problems to cravings and gestational diabetes.

Based on the latest medical research and designed for women of every fitness level, Pregnancy Fitness is the ideal and essential exercise resource for every mother-to-be.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Pregnancy Fitness, by the experts at Fitness Magazine, provides expectant mothers with all the information they need to exercise safely and effectively throughout their pregnancy.

Whether you're a hard-core triathlete or just starting a fitness program for the first time, proper exercise can ensure a healthier pregnancy, an easier delivery, and a faster recovery. Pregnancy Fitness guides you carefully through every trimester, covering the physical changes and common complaints for each one, from shortness of breath to dizziness to morning sickness. In each section, chapters on Cardiovascular Fitness and Getting Stronger help you develop the aerobic capacity and muscles to carry your growing child with greater comfort and prepare you for labor. Illustrated exercises show you how to enhance flexibility, build strength, and relieve pain as your pregnancy progresses.

Q&As throughout the book cover specific concerns: Can I continue running in the second trimester? Can I lift more than ten pounds? And How to Cope sidebars address common conditions from swollen joints and sleep problems to cravings and gestational diabetes.

Based on the latest medical research and designed for women of every fitness level, Pregnancy Fitness is the ideal and essential exercise resource for every mother-to-be.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press; 1st edition (August 17, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0609801597
• ISBN-13: 978-0609801598
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 0.6 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,010,941 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not aimed at women who already exercise., July 29, 2004

By 

McKinley Hunter "McKinley" (Athens, Greece) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pregnancy Fitness: Mind Body Spirit (Health & Fitness) (Paperback)

I purchased this book because I want to know how I should work out now that I'm pregnant. It's marginally helpful in that it calls attention to abdominal exercises and indicates when to stop running and when to start up again. Beyond that, it's not very helpful. The exercises are described, but the suggestions for reps or sets are sporadic at best. I saw only a few exercises that gave recommended reps, and none of them talked about sets. There's no way to chart or plan your workout schedule or progress. I realized this book wasn't aimed at women like me when I read that I shouldn't feel bad if I can't do more than 3 or 4 bench presses with a 3-pound weight.

I think this book tries to be too many things: It tries to be a fitness book, and introduction to exercise book, and an overview of pregnancy. It goes into loving detail about how much of your body will be destroyed, and refers to you as a 'breastorant.' I would prefer a book that treated me as a thinking, fit woman who wants to optimize her fitness regimen for carrying, giving birth, and recovering.

If you've never exercised and you want to start during pregnancy, go for it! And maybe this book will be helpful for you, although you'll have to do some additional research to optimize your fitness. If you are already in good shape, or know how to work out, skip this book.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect, straight-forward guide to pregnancy fitness, November 27, 2000

By 

quildahowaloochicoochiwangahoochimongaboyaha - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pregnancy Fitness: Mind Body Spirit (Health & Fitness) (Paperback)

I bought this book as a gift to my wife and she found it to be an excellent, straight-forward exercise guide. She likes the way that the book is split into trimesters and the fact that the exercises are simple to do. We recommend it highly to all expectant mothers.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars All reading and unclear pictures, September 28, 2004

By 

K. Mysko - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pregnancy Fitness: Mind Body Spirit (Health & Fitness) (Paperback)

Usually when I buy an exercise book I expect clear concise directions and maybe a picture to illustrate what exactly the correct form would be. Well, if you are expecting this out of this book you my as well forget it. Although it was very informative, black and white pictures that aren't even shown for all exercises is not going to cut it. For example for a tricep kickback it doesn't really show you the ways that it would be wrong which can lead to an injury. If you are looking for information go for it; but if you want something that will show you the right way with pictures, skip it.