Getting body fat checked at Curves while pregnant?
I belong to Curves (the gym, if you're not familiar with it). I just found out that I am pregnant two days ago, HOORAY!! This was our second month of trying and I'm pretty excited! I went to the gym and was weighed and measured before the workout. Part of the weight/measurement check is a body-fat test, which I did without a second thought because I do it every month. After I was finished, I saw the sign on the wall that says people who should not get their body fat checked are: -- People with pace makers -- People who are pregnant I am hesitant to tell the employees at the gym yet because of the history of miscarriage in my family; my husband and I aren't telling anyone until we are 12-14 weeks in. They know several of my friends and co-workers (we're a big family) and I don't want them to blab! So, I have a minor concern as I am about 2-3 weeks pregnant... why shouldn't I have gotten that checked and what could it have done (if anything)?
Public Comments
- How do they check it? It just be electric or something if they say 'no pacemakers'. I would check into it. Could it use radiation or something? Find out why.
- i dont think you'll have extra body fat at this early stage but you need to let them know because the work out may not be suitable for pregnant women. good luck <3
- I had to tell the people at my gym that I was pregnant. They reworked my whole workout so it would be more pregnant friendly. You can ask them not to tell they should keep it confidential but you really shouldn't get the body fat test done while you are pregnant. I'm not sure what it will do but if it says not to while pregnant listen. If you still don't feel comfortable telling the people at the gym then just skip the test and if they ask why your not doing it make something up.
- the body fat analizer has electrical pulses that go through your body. I would be on the safe side and don't do the body fat. Just let them know u have a medical issue and dr says can't do this test. Also make sure you keep your heartrate at 50%. Good Luck to you!!! And Congrats!! :)
- Most body fat meters, especially those that you find at a health club work on the principal of bioelectric impedance. You probably touch, or stand on two electrodes (could be a metal scale, metal bar, etc). These electrodes pass a small current through your body and measure the electrical resistance. Since fat conducts differently than everything else in your body it can calculate a rough number for your body fat. The electric current they pass through you is harmless, however, if you have a pacemaker installed it could potentially damage your pacemaker. I cannot think of any reason why this minor current could be dangerous to a fetus and I believe bioelectric impedance is sometimes used to calculate fetus weight. I think it is probably just your gym covering its ass. I doubt you have done anything to harm your child. That being said, we don't really understand electricity in he human body all that well, and especially not its results on a fetus. I would strongly recommend not doing it again until after you have resolved the child. Moreover, women who are pregnant tend to retain water and the addition of a fetus really screws with your electrical conductivity. Conclusion. No harm done, but don't do it again. There is an off-chance it could be harmful, and it certainly won't be accurate. Congratulations and good luck
