Before, I became pregnant I was under the impression that morning sickness was just as it sounds – sickness in the morning. I thought you would have your “sickness” whatever that meant, then be able to go about your day, your week in a normal manner.
Morning sickness for me would have been more appropriately named “All-day, All-Night Constant Sickness & Nausea with Frequent Vomiting”. While this may not be true for every pregnant woman, it was certainly the truth for me. If you think I’m over exaggerating, I’m not. It genuinely felt like an all day constant hangover where you’re really nauseas and know you should eat but the thought of eating just makes you more nauseas.
I remember thinking to myself, if I’m too nauseas to eat how the hell am I supposed to even move let alone exercise. As bad as the sickness was, I made myself exercise at least 3 days week. Throughout my entire workout, I would still continue to feel nauseas and if it was a particularly bad day I would even start to gag mid workout. Trust me, I know how bad that sounds, but after my workout I would feel AMAZING. It’s like exercise fights off the nausea and lets you be a real person for the rest of the day. On the days that I would exercise, I would even be able to eat and not just nibble a handful of crackers I’d be able to eat meals. If my work/commute schedule wasn’t as crazy as it was (9 hour work day with 3 hours of commuting) I probably would have made it a point to exercise everyday just for the sake of having an appetite and being able to eat.
While I was in my morning sickness phase, I would do lightly strenuous workouts. Just enough to get my heart rate slightly elevated and get a good sweat going. This was accomplished by riding my spin bike for 30 minutes, taking the dog for a walk, or doing some circuit-style weight training. (I’ll have a separate post where I go over exercise routines that I did and exercises that are great to do especially if your pregnant).
If you’re like me, and dealing with that unbearable morning sickness my advice to you would be to start to do some light activity and eventually work your way up. It will get better the morning sickness (typically) does not last throughout your entire pregnancy – there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
What was your morning sickness experience like? Did it hinder your fitness goals while pregnant? What did you do that worked? Share your experience below!
I always thought morning sickness was just in the morning too! This is really great advice! Thank you!
You’re welcome!
Oh man, morning sickness was terrible with my son. I got sick often and even when there was nothing left in my stomach, I would still dry heave.
With my daughter it wasn’t as bad. I felt sick, but never threw up, thank goodness.
It sounds like we had similar pregnancies with our sons! It really was the worst to be that nauseas all the time!
My morning sickness was horrendous lasted all nine months and never gave me a single break I am so happy to be able to smell onions now and not feel like I am going to die.
LOL I can relate – morning sickness was the worst but worth it 🙂
I suffered horrible morning sickness when I was pregnant for my daughter! I wish I would have done this sooner!
Doing light exercise really did help the appetite come back and most of the nausea for the day go away!
I had 4 kids and with 3 of them I had nausea all day every day and with one nothing at all!
It’s so weird how our bodies work sometimes!
I wish that I could say that I worked out. LOL. My children are adults now, but my son (the oldest) gave me the trouble. I experienced nausea all day. Sometimes, I couldn’t hold down water. The smell of Walmart was crazy. I shopped with shopping bags. He was born so healthy and continues to eat plenty of vegetables. I think it’s because I couldn’t eat anything else. LOL
The nausea all day is the worst! I always thought people were exaggerating until I lived through it myself. Light exercise really helped my appetite rev up and did ease some of the nausea I was experiencing!
I have never been pregnant but this sounds awful! My sister-in-law is pregnant right now and does swimming to keep in shape through her horrible nausea.
Awesome, I’m glad the swimming helps her!
Who knew working out helps with morning sickness?! Glad you find this method to help your pregnancy and probably helped a lot of moms by sharing this!
Thank you 🙂
I had a really easy pregnancy and never experienced morning sickness but its true and it can hit any time of the day and night. I have some friends whose would hit in the early evenings.
It hit me all day everyday lol! But I think they should change the name to something other than morning sickness
That doesn’t sound like a pleasant experience. Good job on staying motivated and keeping up with your fitness routine. I have definitely put of exercising for less
Thank you!
Thanks for sharing! I was fortunate enough to only have a light case of morning sickness during both pregnancies but know people who have had a really hard time with it.
It was really rough, it was like the hangover that never ended lol!
Well, I have never been pregnant so I don’t know the morning sickness feeling. Sounds intense, lucky for you, you had someone by your side.
Always helps to have someone by your side through things!
It’s scary to know that morning sickness doesn’t automatically mean sickness only in the morning. You work a lot. I don’t think I could do it. I work 8 hours and about 1 and a half or 2 hours on the road to get and come home from work, and I fell like it’s too much for me. You are a hero. To work so much and be pregnant at the same time.
It was really rough most days !! Gatorade really helped make all of is possible lol
i know some friends has horrible morning sickness and others that did not. and my mom says that with me she didnt but with my brother she did and i wonder if it varies or what it depends on. interesting how staying active can help, my mom did say she was active with me the entire time. but with my brother was a bit tired.
From what I’ve heard it seems that people are more sick with boys than girls! Every pregnancy and every person is different though!
I never had morning sickness, but I did have chronic fatigue, thank god I didn’t have to work because I wouldn’t have made it. I was sleeping legit 20 hours a day. Hubs and I would go out and he would run into the store to grab something and I’d fall asleep in the car!
Wow, I had fatigue but not that bad!
So the working out didn’t affect your morning sickness? I don’t have kids yet but I know so many people who suffered from bad morning sickness I dont think they would of had the energy to work out!
It really did help relieve some of the nausea and stimulate my appetite. Even if I just went for a quick walk, it really did help!
Whoever named “morning sickness” such must’ve never been pregnant yet. Ha ha. Thanks for all this advice. I will remember these when the time comes.
LOL, you’re welcome 🙂
I was never pregnant but this doesn’t sound good at all. I know a friend who had wish I knew telling her to stay active would help. Great post you sound amazing working through this.
Thank you!
I am not a fan of morning sickness, too. Good thing it only happens on the first three months. I tend to be real picky with what I eat because I always end up vomiting and feel dizzy.
It’s the worst!
I took a full month off for morning sickness and only 3 weeks maternity leave 🙁
Morning sickness is so rough! I tried my hardest to save all of my time for after our son came.
Morning sickness was the worst with my first pregnancy! I had to take many days off, but my boss was forgiving–she knew the feeling! This was a wonderful post, lovely advice. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
You were so lucky to have such a forgiving boss! Thank you 🙂