Hello! I'm Kara, an affiliate owner in Benicia, CA with my husband, Spencer, at CrossFit 707, and we are expecting our first baby the first week of May 2012!!

I've been CrossFitting for over 3 1/2 years now, but this whole pregnancy thing makes me feel brand new to CrossFit!

I'll admit, it's been really hard to scale down the WODs. I am naturally competitive, and don't want to lose everything I've worked towards. However, with that said, I'd rather have the baby than another PR!!

My husband is extremely protective, though, and I'm wondering how the rest of you strong women dealt with your significant others. He bought me a heart rate monitor and insists I wear it for every WOD, and won't allow me to go over 140 bpm. I've been a big weightlifter, as well, but am currently only going to about 50% of my max lifts. My husband still insists, though, that I shouldn't be lifting that much. My doctor has encouraged me to continue doing what I've been doing, and is very supportive of my CrossFitting, and simply said to stay away from max lifts, and make sure I can talk the entire time, which I do. So, really, it's my husband that is my biggest challenge in all this, hahaha! I know he just loves me and wants the best for me and our baby, but no matter what I do, I can't seem to make him understand that I'm okay.

Is 140 bpm really the maximum heart rate we want to watch out for when exercising??? It just seems so low, and I feel like I'm walking through the WODs at that rate.

Anyway, I'm going to be starting the CF Mom WODs this week, and I'm excited!! So glad we have this!!

Thanks!!

It is near impossible to work out and keep your heart rate at 140. This is because you now have double your blood volume. The talk test really is best. The Mayo Clinic and other respected sources advise this now, especially if you have been regularly exercising for years. Have your hubby check it out if will make him feel better. What you are doing is exactly right and you should continue. Your baby will be much more healthy if you are lifting safely and getting your heart rate up. The benefits YOU get from CrossFit when you're not pregnant, are the same benefits BABY is getting when you are. Hopefully that helps.

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Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved. -Helen Keller