Guest blog by Sophia Smith, a beauty blogger, eco-lifestyle lover, graphic designer and food enthusiast.
We’ve all heard about the benefits of exercise for keeping us toned and healthy. It’s something every doctor will recommend, and we all know that staying physically active is the key element to living longer and taking care of your wellbeing. But what about our fertility? In the chaos of attempting to conceive, a lot of women become terrified of perfectly mundane activities that they used to enjoy, and working out seems to be one of the things we’re the most nervous about.
Luckily, exercising is not only perfectly safe, but absolutely encouraged as an aid to your reproductive health. If you’re interested in how it can help you, how you can do it safely, and how to introduce it into your lifestyle, we’re here to shed some light on the situation.
Debunking the “falling uterus” myth
From riding a train to doing sports, old myths would have us thinking that any sort of physical activity more strenuous than a slow walk would cause a woman’s uterus to dramatically fall out of her body and splatter all over the ground, rendering her infertile within seconds. While modern-day science helped us move past these silly myths, the fear still persists and a lot of ladies are simply too afraid to be overly active. However, all our organs, and especially our reproductive organs, are well-protected and insulated within our body. You cannot damage them, and you shouldn’t ever feel guilty about engaging in your favorite physical activities.
Better cardiovascular health
We all know that exercise is great for our heart health, but the added cardiovascular benefits are actually good for the uterus too. Better circulation and lowered blood pressure mean that your reproductive organs will be getting a better supply of oxygen and nutrients, and this will not only keep you in top shape right now, but will actually be great for the baby once you do get pregnant.
No more stress
Stress is one of the worst things to deal with when you’re trying to conceive. If you’ve been trying for a long while, going month after month with no success, you might be out of your mind with frustrated desperation. Stress really contributes to infertility even further, but exercise is one of the things that can help keep you sane. Regular physical activity releases endorphins into our blood and lifts our mood, and going for a workout when you’re feeling particularly tense could easily relieve your anxiety and bring the much-needed relief.
Confidence when you most need it
Of course, a better mood works perfectly when combined with the fact that you’ll grow stronger, healthier, and more confident in your own body. It’s all about creating a fun little me-time ritual, a moment within a day where you’re focused on yourself. Make a delicious protein shake and put on something cute—some slim black leggings and a pair of comfy Nike shoes to protect your posture and maybe a sexy crop top to make you feel pretty. Play some fast-paced uplifting music and let yourself focus on the way your body moves. This is the time for you, the future mom of a lovely baby. Allow yourself to become completely aware of your body, of your womb, of the potential inside it. Learn to love every last bit of yourself and you’ll gain more confidence and a new perspective on this whole journey.
Staying mindful during times of chaos
This works the best when paired with meditation practices. Simulate your mind and body and use exercise and meditation to find your focus, to remain calm and mindful during this process. Trying and failing to conceive is not an easy thing to handle, so the most important thing to do is to care for both your mental and physical health and never let yourself be discouraged. You can do this, but the key is to nurture your spirit and tap into that inner strength to help you out and heal you.
Exercise + good diet = winning combination
Good nutrition can really aid fertility, and combining it with exercise is the key to full wellness. It’s very important for a future mom to not only work out regularly, but to eat well. This isn’t the time for harsh diets and starvation, this is the time to fill up on nutrients and vitamins through veggies, lean meat, fruit, whole grains, and other delicious things. Listen to your body and what it craves, and then make sure to provide everything that it needs. While you do need to maintain a healthy weight, you shouldn’t have any severe calorie restrictions that might drain you of energy and make you feel sick.
Avoid one dangerous pitfall
The one and only time exercise can be dangerous to a woman is when she’s overdoing it. Working out to the point of exhaustion every day and not supplying your body with enough calories to give it all the necessary nutrients so it could maintain itself could lead to a decrease in fertility. This is something that’s dangerous for everyone, but it’s especially bad for women who are trying to conceive. However, rather than working out itself, the problem is actually in energy deficiency. The issues aren’t permanent, and as long as you balance out your activity with a healthy diet you’ll be completely safe.
Find a workout that you like. Be it dance classes, brisk walks, or stationary bike at home, exercising will feel good and make it easier to build up your energy and your health. Make your body strong and soon you’ll be welcoming a little baby into your home!
Sophia Smith is beauty blogger, eco-lifestyle lover, graphic designer and food enthusiast. She is very passionate about natural skincare, yoga and mindful living. Sophia writes mostly about lifestyle-related topics in her articles. She loves sharing meaningful content that inspires women. Sophia has contributed to a number of publications including: Urban Naturale, Secret Garden, Savant Magazine, Carousel, Cause Artist, Life Goals Mag, Bon Vita Style and Art of Healthy Living. You can find out more about her writing by following her on: Facebook Twitter Google +
Faye says
I gave birth to my twins 2,5 years ago, at age 42, after seven IVF cycles (including the ones that were cancelled, due to poor ovarian performance). Needless to say, I had tried practically everything out there. Fertility diets, supplements, fertility yoga, meditation, visualisation, acupuncture etc. My conclusion is mindfulness and good shape, no matter how one can achieve it, is probably your best help in this journey. If you are fortunate enough like I was to have a companion who is loving and supportive, take advantage of it and nourish yourself. Your inner and outer balance makes everything so much smoother, it makes a huge difference. Added bonus; if, or rather when you get pregnant or you become a mother in any other way, you are going to need all the strength and balance you have managed to acquire. If not, unavoidable depression or at least mild sadness is much easier coped with if you are well. Believe me, I know this process can be terribly stressful (and frankly, I haven’t managed to put all those memories behind me), but your No.1 obligation is to take care of yourself. Best of luck to all of you, brave ladies out there.