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Working out while pregnant

Posted at 4:44 PM, May 25, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-25 19:04:14-04

Sherri Velasco doesn't let much get in the way of her workout, even being 31 weeks pregnant.

"The challenge is to be mindful that you can't do as much as you want to but you still have to challenge yourself," she says.

Sherri takes on everything from lifting weights to gripping and ripping on the rowing machine.

"It's harder honestly, you don't have as much energy, you want to do more. You can't compete with yourself as much as you have been," Sherri says.

Yet, she keeps up with many people doing the same workout.

"Yeah, it leaves you with no excuses for yourself when you're doing these workouts," says Hard Exercise Works owner Shannon Ruest.

The coaches at Hard Exercise Works modify her movements to make sure she and her baby stay safe.

One of the coaches is also her husband.

"I get kind of in daddy mode, like looking out for her like, 'should she be lifting that much? Should she lift less?' and she's doing a really good job at that," says Sherri's husband Wolf Velasco.

Sherri's not the first at this gym in her situation.

"We've probably had about 12 pregnant females in the gym over the five years we've been here," Ruest says.

While many people are supportive of Sherri's regimen, some people are not.

"There is the flip side where some people are like, 'you shouldn't do that.' I have a lot of people telling me I shouldn't lift my own groceries," Sherri says.

Sherri's midwife, Kathy Philbin, says these intense workouts are safe for her and her baby.

Sherri's been doing these workouts for years.

For moms who haven't been doing these workouts, they should start slower.

"What we recommend is you start slow, you don't just jump right into a heavy exercise routine," Philbin says.

Sherri expects to give birth to a baby daughter in July, until then you'll find her in the gym carrying her unique workout partner.

"Right after the workout she'll be kicking and punching for sure...so I think she's excited like, 'yeah let's do that again!'  I'm like, 'no,' " Sherri says.