I'm really Inactive/sedentary, please help!

[hopeful0913]

I've been inactive/sedentary for about 6 years now. I don't work, have no kids. I stay at home all day, I don't drive. I just stay at home, watch TV, cook and that's about it. Just go out with hubby over weekends. I don't exercise or have no hobby. So, we're TTC since last month and I can't help but think that I'm going to have a hard pregnancy. I'm 28 and also about 30 lbs overweight. I really don't have any motivation to do anything, I'm just too lazy! Does anyone have experience with being sedentary and having a good/bad pregnancy? I'm also scared I'll gain too much weight during preg and have a risky preg. Please help me. I can't do much now, can I?

[LacePrincess]

Welcome to GD!

I was pretty much sedentary with all 3 pregnancies. I didn't have difficult pregnancies or births, but the last trimester in my third pregnancy really wrecked my ligaments and hips. Not sure if that was thanks to not being fit before getting pregnant, just getting a bit older, or the fact that it was #3. More likely all 3!

Anyways, didn't have much issue recovering with the first two but weight stuck hard with #3. Which is when I started getting in shape and lost all the pregnancy weight and much more. I'm currently at 33 in the best shape and lowest adult weight of my life.

So no, being sedentary doesn't automatically equate with having hard pregnancies or births. But of course it's better for the pregnancy and recovery to be in good shape.

It's never too late to do something. Sure you're not going to take up marathon running, but anything is better then nothing. There's so much you can do - anything from going on a daily walk, to dance or Zumba, or fitness classes, or a million other things. The wealth of workout dvd's out there is immense and provide tonnes of variety, and all stuff you can do right in your living room.

Santa's big present to the family this year, for example, is an Xbox 360 Kinect system. I'm really looking forward to not only gaming with the kids but being able to have fun and be active indoors over the winter. Sure something like this costs money, but there's lots of things you can do for free.

It's not all or nothing - even a short walk everyday will get you started.

[hopeful0913]

Thank you so much. It really makes me feel better to hear that. I'm not sure if I'm lazy or just depressed to do anything. Hubby has offered many things, hobbies, gym, driving lessons, etc, but I just don't want to move. I just want everything to fall in place without any effort. I don't know if it's laziness or depression. Hubby is a gem, no complaints from his side. So, I don't know what it is

[Violet_]

It's not too late to get fit or increase your fitness. Some kind of exercise will probably help your fertility and make you feel good due to the endorphins. Also try to eat lots of healthy foods, fresh vegies, fruits, salads. Perhaps start an activity or join a fitness group. Something you enjoy.

[Violet_]

Sometimes it's just about getting started. I often don't feel like exercising but once I've put my joggers on and force myself to get going, I enjoy it.

[LacePrincess]

Well that's it, you have to just do it, as the Nike slogan says. It's often harder to GET going then it is to stay going. I always say it's much harder work to get fit then to keep fit.

Once you get started you'll love the high you get from it. We're also getting to that gloomy time of year when it's easy to get blue and depressed. Sometimes it's just making yourself get off the couch that's the hardest part. I understand how hard it is to get out of the house sometimes, but that's why I mostly do dvd's now! In my jammies even.

Exercise doesn't have to be treadmill and weights and suffering. I hate when tv makes it sound like exercise is something you suffer through because it's 'good for you' like some horrid tasting vitamin. You just have to find something you LOVE. I love my dorky step aerobics and dance aerobic vids! Yes it's cheesy and embarrassing, but the ones I have are tough, fun, dancey, and addictive. And a great workout.

You don't have to love what I love, but there's a lot of options out there for the home exerciser, you just have to find something you enjoy. Maybe Zumba if you like to groove!

[Atsaukina1]

def. try to take that first step and get out. if it is depression then exercise will def. help with that. how about taking walks w/ hub after dinner or whenever you can get out? taking him up on the gym and finding some fun classes? have any girlfriends to hang with? how about vit d supps good for depression- green pastures(don't take fi you want to sway pink though)

[Cinss]

Taking it easy would be ideal for a pregnancy. you are lucky in your situation because you dont have other kids to run after or have stress from work, so i wouldn't worry about having a difficult pregnancy due to being sedentary. You would normally gain around 15kgs (im not sure but i think that is 33lbs) by the end of it, and you may need to talk with your doctor about your concerns with that. Also ask your doctor about the depression thing and how pregnancy may affect that.

[hopeful0913]

Thanks for your replies everyone! I really appreciate it. I do take a walk with hubby around the block but never more than half an hour and with the weather getting cooler, it's been days since I've done that also. I'm not depressed-depressed, just gloomy all the time. And I don't think it has to do with the weather coz I'm like that in 100 degree weather as well I have the DVD's and everything for exercise, it's just that I have no motivation or something. I just look at the DVD's and think about it while the time runs out

[LacePrincess]

Sometimes you just gotta make yourself start, yk? Like a household chore. You don't want to do dishes but you do them because you have to. Just hold yourself accountable for the first few weeks and put it on your schedule/calendar. It won't feel like you want to, but the body likes inertia even when it's not good for you.

Ask your DH or a friend to hold you accountable. Sometimes you just gotta have some willpower to get going. Once you get going it comes a lot easier. It does take awhile for things to become a habit, but you'll seriously wonder how you did without it once you're in the groove.

You sound rather gloomy and I suspect the weather and shorter days have a LOT to do with it. I know it affects me greatly. There's nothing like getting active to keep the blues at bay and to manage depression.