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You’re a busy working mom that’s struggling to find time to exercise.

You’re at work for at least eight hours a day.

You’re ecstatic as you recently found out you’re expecting again after trying for some time.

And, you’re finally feeling like yourself again after battling morning sickness for the last few weeks. Now, you’re trying to figure out, how can you fit exercise in your already crazy schedule.

How can I care for my toddler, spend quality time with my also busy husband, take care of our home, continue being a kick-ass executive in my company and get a little exercise in?

PLEASE NOTE: I’m not a doctor or medical professional. Always consult your doctor before you start exercising especially when pregnant.

I’m a Working Mom who experienced the challenge of working a very demanding job during both my pregnancies. I had to figure out how to find time to exercise while pregnant and working a job that demanded a lot of my time.

I’m sharing my story and hope you can take the parts that will help you get your prenatal exercise in while working and caring for your family.

Why Do You Want To Exercise While Pregnant & Working

Let’s start with WHY you want to put your body under additional stress while pregnant. Below are some of the reason’s I moved my body while pregnant and working.

To have a healthy pregnancy and baby.
To stay or get fit and help our bodies adjust to all the changes in housing a growing baby.
Manage our pregnancy weight gain.
To have an easier delivery.
Oh, and to be able to bounce back after the baby is born.
To help us gain more energy so that you can Survive and Thrive each day as a Pregnant Working Mom.Our WHYs for wanting to make time to exercise will vary. What’s your reason? Why do you want to exercise as a busy working mother?I strongly encourage you to write down your whys. These are what will carry you through. There will be days that you don’t “feel like it”. Keep your “whys” close to help you move when you don’t feel like it.

How To Find Time to Exercise While Pregnant & Working

Now let’s figure out HOW you can Find Time to Exercise While Pregnant & Working.

As a working mom, you probably spend at least eight hours at work each day.
You’re either at home, at work, or out while doing life.

GET CREATIVE, MAKE A PLAN & WORK YOUR PLAN

To help you Find Time to Exercise While Pregnant & Working.
You can do this!

As a successful Working Woman, you’ve had to get creative in developing solutions to solve problems at work. Use that same mentality and those skills and processes to find time to Exercise While Pregnant and Working.

It took me two years to get pregnant with my first daughter. I started to work on getting fit during that time. I did bike riding with my husband, walked my dogs all around our neighborhood, and swam.

When I finally got pregnant after trying for almost two years. I stopped the bike riding. I was too scared of having an accident.

FIND YOUR EXERCISE

I stuck to exercise that I felt comfortable and safe doing. Which was walking and swimming?

After consulting your doctor, find the exercise that you like and feel comfortable and safe doing.

I have several friends and colleagues who were runners or did spinning or a form of high-intensity workouts before getting pregnant. They were able to continue their routines (with some moderation).

If you’re working on getting pregnant, it’s a great idea to start developing your routine now. It will be easier to adjust than starting from scratch.

How to Incorporate Time for Exercise While Pregnant & Working

How can you INCORPORATE TIME to Exercise While Pregnant and Working!

AT HOME

Figure out if you can squeeze some time in before or after work or on the weekends. Consistency is the key. Even if you can only exercise for 15 minutes. Make it become a habit.
Get a Personal Trainer if your budget permits. A trainer that is experienced in prenatal exercise. You can have the trainer come to your home at a time that’s convenient.
Work out by yourself. If you’re not sure where to start, utilize technology to help.
- You can find workout videos through your cable and entertainment services such as Netflix and Hulu.
- Google and YouTube are other obvious tools you can use to find exercise videos.
- I may have been living under a rock, however, I did not realize how much information was available on Pinterest! I primarily used Pinterest to find recipes, decorating, organizing and fashion inspiration.
- You should check Pinterest for ideas. You will find information in the form of images and videos. You can save your pins to keep organized and follow other Pinterest’s boards and people who have similar pins. I did not have this resource or know about this resource when I was pregnant. Such great information! As always, use common sense and consult your doctor. Safety is First.

Search for Pregnancy Workouts and you will find an abundance of pins from anything from exercise to avoid when pregnant, pregnancy workout for the gym or at home to different workout plans.

Try not to get overwhelmed by all the information. Pick one thing that works for you. And make a plan of when to put in the time to do it.

AT WORK

We spend most of our weekdays during the daylight at our jobs. We must see how we can incorporate some form of exercise, even if it’s only for a few minutes.

I have a work friend who ran for 30 minutes every day during her lunchtime. This was in Florida where the weather is warm year-round. However, I worked with her during her two pregnancies and she kept up that routine consistently.

We just spoke through a Facebook post where she commented. I told her that I often think of her when I work out now during my lunchtime.

She made a lasting impact on me that has lasted more than eight years.
I saw how healthy she was before, during and after her pregnancies. She looked fantastic and fit with and without her belly.

I didn’t run on my lunchtime as my friend Meg did during my pregnancies. Walking worked better for me.
You don’t need to be like or follow anyone. Use other’s experience to inspire you and Get Creative with Making a Plan that Works for YOU.

HOW I EXERCISED AT WORK

I walked to other departments around campus.
I walked to lunch a few times a week. Even when I brought my own food. I would try and step away from my desk to eat. (I have a bad habit of eating my lunch at my desk.)
I worked in Crystal City, Virginia when I was pregnant with my second daughter. It is such a beautiful city. I truly enjoyed walking, practicing my breathing, and getting sunshine and fresh air that summer.
One of my colleague’s organized group walks a few days during the summer. We would walk to the farmer’s market and to food trucks.

The group got smaller as the summer progressed, however, I stuck with her (or did she stick with me…) and was able to walk a few miles each week.

Get creative, check what resources you already have at work that you can utilize to help you get some form of exercise done while pregnant and working.

You may have a gym in your building that you could go to before work, during lunchtime, or after work.

This picture was taken a few days before my second daughter was born.

GET EXERCISE IN WHILE DOING LIFE

Remember that Exercise is any movement or activity you do with your body. You’re trying to get in some form of physical fitness to help you have a happy and healthy pregnancy and baby.

I don’t remember going to the gym even one time when I was pregnant.

I walked a lot. I walked by myself, with my dogs, with my young daughter, running errands while doing life and with my work colleagues.

I swam a lot when I lived in Florida and had a pool with my first pregnancy.
I took my then toddler to swim classes throughout my second pregnancy. Until I couldn’t manage her and my big belly anymore.

You can make it happen too.

Don’t stress about having long periods of time to workout or go to the gym. Work it into your schedule.

If you’re trying to get pregnant and have a concern about time to exercise – start developing the habit now. I saw my friend Meg doing this and took a page from her book.

Think about the benefits of Making the Time to Exercise While Pregnant versus Not.

Use the same skills you’re using at work to create solutions and make magic happen.

GET CREATIVE. MAKE A PLAN.

AND WORK YOUR PLAN.

I hope this inspires you and give you hope that you can find the time to exercise as a working/career mom.

Please share how you have been able to find time to exercise while pregnant and working.