QuestionI am a morbidly obese (383 LBs) female who has started going to the gym about8 months ago. I go three times a week and do the bike as hard as I can, which usually puts my heart rate at about 162-167 (I am 31). Afterwards I also do some fairly heavy weightlifting and situps on an excercise ball. I am newly pregnant with my 6th pregnancy. (1-15 y.o., 4-miscarriages) Should I keep going to the gym?
AnswerYou fall into a gray area.
Because you've been regularly exercising for the last 8 months, you theoretically have enough cardiovascular conditioning to continue. But since you are also morbidly obese, this puts your pregnancy into a high risk category.
Obviously, you want to continue with your active lifestyle as this will provide numerous important health benefits to both you and your developing baby. But you also do not want to engage in possibly risky activities.
Talk to your OBGYN about getting a referral to an specialist for an exercise stress test, as this is really the best way to determine whether or not exercise is indicated.
