My husband and I are family planning. Hopefully will be pregnant in the new year.

I see pregnant girls at the gym working out. Is it safe?

Also I'm a runner, is running safe while your pregnant? or should I be sticking to lighter cardio like the stairs and just weights?

ABSOLUTELY exercise while pregnant unless you have some extraordinary risk to your or the baby's health. If you go sedentary during your pregnancy, it is actually to the detriment of your health and ultimately that of the fetus. For the first two trimesters, you don't necessarily have to "lighten up" at all unless you're feeling especially fatigued or nauseous. A power lifter I know was squatting 200 pounds weeks before delivery, although I don't really recommend that :D . The last trimester can be a bit more cumbersome with the new "proportions" and the extra weight, so lowering the intensity (maybe skip the running) and doing weights with whatever you're comfortable doing will be fine, but just make sure you stay active. It will make recovery after the baby is born go faster, keep you in good general health, and keep your body in optimal condition for supporting the baby.

I am pregnant I have not stopped my exercise at all I walk or jog 5 times a week and lift weights 3x a week also I do yoga. I feel great>

I exercised every day that I was pregnant, even the day before delivery. I had to stop running my last trimester because I was so off balance. I also stopped doing crunches my last trimester because I didn't have much room between my belly and legs! :) You can do whatever your body feels up to in my opinion.

Wow thanks guys! I didn't know any of that :)

my gym does offer maternal yoga every other week :) but I guess I'll keep running as long as I can! hehe

thanks for the tips guys!

I would just get the OK for your doctor, I know personally for me exercise was out of the question due to first trimester bleeding, carrying twins and trouble conceiving.

Each person is different, but if you are young and healthy and have been exercising, it may actually be detrimental to you to quit and become a vegetable for nine months!

Absolutely, I'd ask your midwife (or if you need medical care, a doctor) if there is a reason you can't exercise. But, in general, exercise (with some medical conditions as exceptions) is excellent for pregnancy in moderation.