Hiring a personal trainer
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Staying fit during pregnancy is important! But is there really a need to hire someone to help you do it? Lisa Stone, an ACE-certified Pre-and Post-Natal Fitness Instructor, has some advice.
Your question
I have never really exercised, but want to make sure I stay fit during this pregnancy. Should I look into hiring a personal trainer? If so, what should I look for in this person?
The expert answers
There are several factors to consider when hiring a personal trainer during pregnancy. First of all, make sure the trainer is certified through a reputable organization such as ACSM or ACE -- there are many organizations that offer personal training certificates without requiring specialized training or examination, so be careful!
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Secondly, you'll want to make sure the trainer has special prenatal training so that he/she knows the types of modifications to make in your workouts as your pregnancy progresses. Thirdly, make sure the trainer is someone with whom you feel comfortable discussing the changes you're experiencing. You'll need to be very up-front about describing any specific physical symptoms that may interfere with your workout on a given day, and you shouldn't be made to feel embarrassed or uncomfortable when you bring up those symptoms.
That said, rather than hiring a personal trainer on your own, see
if you can join a prenatal fitness class or find a couple of
pregnant friends to share the trainer with you in a group
setting. I'd rather see you workout with other women if possible
so that you get the social interaction that is so important to
new moms. If you'd like to e-mail me directly to further discuss this issue, I'd love to hear from you.
