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

by Fitness Magazine (Author), Ginny Graves (Author) "Just when you're starting to get your mind around the fact that you really are pregnant, your body suddenly takes on a life of its..." (more)
Key Phrases: pregnancy fitness, hard exertion, thighs form, Rate of Perceived Exertion, The Seven Commandments of Pregnancy Fitness (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
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.

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: 9.1 x 7.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #100,726 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 39 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

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.

14 of 14 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

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.

37 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "You're all Baby!"ÿ, December 8, 1999

By	Jami Graves (Indiana) - See all my reviews

What a compliment it is to here that your friends think you have not gained much weight during your pregnancy so far. I truely believe that Ginny's book along with walking helped me stay in control. I found it helpful that each trimester had it's own section. Not only does each section explain the importance of your health, but the importance of your unborn child's health. I also found that the excercises helped relieve stress and make it less difficult to move around. It's important to stay flexible since your bones and muscles are changing in ways they have never changed before. I highly recommend Pregnancy Fitness not only for the helpful advice through the first three trimesters, but for the last section Recovering your Body. It will take time, lots of time to get back your body. I think I will be reading this chapter often, very often!