Doing sports when you are pregnant? It is possible! More than possible, it is even essential! As we all know, pregnancy for a woman is not necessarily the easiest time to live both physically and mentally. But what better way to remedy this than through sport? You probably ask yourself questions like “Isn’t it dangerous for the baby?” or “Will I have enough physical resources to make it? And this is quite normal, every pregnant woman faces at one time or another doubts or fears about this pregnancy situation, whether she is more or less mentally prepared for the event. Through this article, the Spinbreak team will share with you the 3 guidelines to adopt in order to combine pregnancy and sport without apprehension!
I. Choose the right sport First of all, it is important not to do any sport in any way. A sport that is not adapted or of too high an intensity could be bad for the health of the mother-to-be. First of all, bad news for those who love sliding sports or combat sports, and all sports involving risks of falls or all kinds of impacts on the belly are obviously to be banned from the start! Other activities that should not be practiced during pregnancy are those that involve carrying heavy loads or so-called extreme activities such as diving or skydiving. So what activities are recommended?
Swimming is the most recommended sport for pregnant women. The idea is obviously not to beat a speed record, but swimming or simply walking in the water has important benefits on the morale of the pregnant woman who will come out relaxed and relieved. This practice is also recommended for its draining benefits and to relieve back pain. Walking, yoga, pilates, or gentle gymnastics are also practices that respect the body and are therefore healthy for a pregnant woman. Cycling (only indoors to avoid the risk of falling) is also a good way to get in shape because of its draining and euphoric effect.
II. Forget about the performance aspect For those who are used to intensive sports sessions and the most competitive among us, this is perhaps the most difficult point to accept… But life is like that and we can’t change it, being in the expectation of a happy event necessarily implies a good number of physiological changes and therefore a decrease in physical and sports capacities. During this period of pregnancy, your body is not at its maximum capacity, which is why it is important to also adapt the intensity of your sports activities. Never exceed the limits set by your body, never go to the point of being out of breath. An important point of reference is that you must always be able to talk during the whole session. Spinbreak offers a range of indoor cycling sessions of different intensities.
The lift cycling and endurance sessions are particularly well suited for expectant mothers. But whatever the session, it is up to you to gauge the intensity. The practice of sports during pregnancy is not based on achievement but essentially on well-being! Keeping in shape, relaxing, thinking about something other than the approaching baby, doing something good for your morale, that’s the idea! III. Think about yourself! In this particular period, that’s the most complicated, think about yourself from time to time! And not permanently to the future baby. As explained in the previous points, it is important to get used to the idea that practicing a sport activity during pregnancy, if it is well adapted to your current physical capacities and respectful of your body as a pregnant woman, will not be in any case harmful for the fetus.
We all know that deep feeling of well-being felt after a good sports session. So imagine what this feeling could be like when you are pregnant. Don’t you want to spend a beautiful and relaxing night in a deep sleep? Even better! Imagine your hot bath at the end the day! Wouldn’t it be even more pleasant than it already is after a good workout? So ladies, now that all this information is in your hands, don’t hesitate! Sandrine, our founder of Spinbreak, mother of two beautiful children, would be delighted to share her experience with you! Enjoy it!
We know we feel better after spinning. If we are regular, we start seeing the changes in our body. But why?
Well, to understand it better, we decided to share with you a little of the science behind it all.
Aghhh… science??! Don’t worry, it is really interesting, and I promise, the next time you are on the bike, you will want to crank it up a little more !
Starting with the basics
When we push hard and work our muscles, they break down. The body reacts to this process by rebuilding them bigger and stronger than they were before.
If we want to get better at a sport or improve our training, we need to build more efficient muscles. To do this, we need to push them harder than they are used to working… in other words, we ‘overload’ them beyond their comfort zones.
The post-spinning ‘recovery’ period
The body requires a lot of energy to rebuild the muscles. After a big Spinbreak workout, our body will work harder than normal for a couple of days- burning more calories as it refuels and repairs. This is why consistent spinning will help to increase your normal rate of metabolism.
But why do we feel we get more out of spinning than other sports?
It is simple- the muscles we work during a cycling program are the largest in the body. We also work multiple ones at the same time.
The bigger the muscles worked, and the more muscle groups used, the larger the effect on the metabolism. That leads to the good news: the more calories burned! Not just during the workout, but in the hours and days after it… Remember: the body takes time to repair and build new muscle.
What muscles are we using?
The main muscle groups used are: the quads, the gluts, the calves, and the core: these are amongst the largest and strongest muscles in the body. Add to this the hamstrings and our core stabilizers, and you have a very active workout.
I want one more layer of detail!
Good! Remember that we “overload” muscles to build them. Spinning takes it a step further than the average sport, because it manages this overload in a very dynamic way: each class is full of different moves and sequences which consistently work lots of different muscles.
For example, during a super-slow, you crank up the resistance for a long, steep climb during which you move to a more anaerobic heart rate, and your fast-twitch muscles fibres (those quick to get tired) get a special workout- which helps you develop fast action advantage- important if you suddenly need to sprint.
Once at the top of the ‘hill’, you release the resistance and pedal faster. At this point, you drop back into an aerobic-level heart rate, and your slow-twitch muscle fibers (those which are slower to get tired) get developed, which helps develop your endurance, allowing you to go further without getting so tired.
All this, while at the same time, pushing your cardio vascular system to healthy new levels!
A couple of classes a week will guarantee you results in terms of fat loss and will increase your leg and core strength… as well as help you see huge improvements in your levels of cardio.
Indoor Cycling at Spinbreak isn’t just about having a fun time; now you know PART of the reason you feel so great! Book your next session- and crank it up each time you come J
We are regularly asked about how much calories we loose during an indoor cycling session. Even thought the answer is quite impressive (between 500 et 800 calories), how can you know if you’re closer from 500 or 800 and also why is the such a gap between the results ?
Well, it depends on several factors such as your hearth rate will resting, your weight, your metabolism and the duration and the type of session you’re following. But what it really means is that everyone is different and it mostly depends on your personnal effort during the workout.
If you give 85/95% of yourself, you can burn up to 600 or 700 calories during a session. But you have work hard for it which means putting enough resistance.
However, the amount of calories you burn shouldn’t be your main concern. If you follow the coachs’ advices a mecanism in your body will start after the workout. It is called « Excessive Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption » or EPOC.
EPOC just means our body requires more oxygene than it usually does in a normal day. As a consequence, our metabolism goes faster and this is when real results appear.
So, even if you « only » burnt 400 calories during the session, this number can easily double during the day. So if you keep following the coachs’ advices results will appear for sure.
Indoor Cycling stays one of the funiest and the most effective methods. The benefits of indoor cycling don’t only depends on the number of calories you burn. The well being feeling after the workout, the mental and physical strenght you build and the energy you’re filled up with when you leave are the most important benefits.
When we start on our goal of getting healthy, its great to create a regular time to do sport. It’s like a date with your body: you know you are going to do it each week at a certain time. Regularity helps build healthy routines.
Benefits of practicing regularly:
When you start practicing Indoor Cycling, you start feeling a lot of positive changes. One of the first is a better sleep, happier mood and a more focused mind. But this is just the beginning!
How often and for what results?
If you’re not used to exercising, you should start by creating the time/space to practice once a week. After a few days you will notice that you start feeling better. Your cardio and your mood will both get better.
When you have established your routine, and you start seeing your results, add an extra workout to your week. As soon as you do this, the benefits will multiply exponentially. You will see changes upon your body, your motivation and your health. At 3 workouts per week, you won’t recognize yourself! There’s a reason why successful professionals include daily workouts into their routines; the results on the body, mind and productivity speak for themselves!
Benefits on your Mind:
Have a mental clear out! Sport helps you create a space where you get away from the day-to-day stresses and pressures. By focusing on the effort, you are get out of the mental, which gives you a much needed break, and provides time to replenish and get creative.
In addition, group fitness classes like indoor cycling, helps build your self-confidence and enjoyment of the group social environment. It clearly works in Spinbreak classes! There is a fantastic energy when everyone is pedaling on the rhythm to fun music, fully in the physical effort, releasing a whoop and a shout when you are pushing yourself through an effort.
Next time, try it yourself! Don’t be shy, your coaches will join in with you too !
Benefits on your health:
The power of regular indoor cycling is most visible in the long-term.
Besides not having impact on your joints, indoor cycling increases your bone resistance and helps preventing diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. You also greatly develop your lung capacity, and your cardio levels will keep improving- to the point where effort and recovery are fully under your control.
As a result you will enjoy Spinbreak even more as you will be able to focus on and enjoy the music !
To summarise :
Exercising on a daily basis brings some kind of ritual to your life and makes it easier to modify your habits, your body and your mind. Spinbreak also offers you the opportunity to combine work and sport. After a session with us, you’ll go back to work FULL of energy!
No excuses, improve your routine and start your change now!
Food is fuel that’s why it’s vital for you to make the most of your workout at Spinbreak. But what are the best snacks to have before your class?
Carbohydrates are what the body needs to fuel your muscles to perform. Carbs will keep you going like a pro through every class.
Here goes our top 6 snacks
Fruit. Apples, bananas, berries… Any fruit is good before any workout as they are all rich in carbs. You can also have them with some peanut butter or a small handful of nuts
Yogurt.Natural yogurt is better for a pre-workout as it is higher in carbs unlike Greek yogurt, which is mostly protein.
Cereal.Stay away from sugary options such as Frosties and Coco Pops as well as high in fiber cereals. Best options are whole-grain variety like Cheerios or Weetabix. Just a small bowl with some milk will do
Pasta. A small bowl with some cooked veggies has just enough carbs to carry you through your workout. You can vary with rice and quinoa – whole type is always the best!
Oatmeal.A cup of oatmeal, maybe with some sliced fruit or nuts on top should do the trick.
Our Pasteleion Power bars: 100% natural, they bring just the amount of energy you need with very little calories. Full of organic almonds, dry fruit, chocolate, or honey, you can eat them 10 minutes before your workout.
It’s best to eat 30 minutes before you workout. That will give you enough time to digest, and for the carbs to be absorbed into your bloodstream.
As for what to avoid before your workout, stay away from foods with a lot of fat, refined sugars, high in fiber and high in protein. Food can slow you down so try not to have too much!
Discover more about what our coaches eat by visiting: What should you eat before & after a workout ?
