Check out these tips to avoid “accidents” in the gym

Have you ever had an embarrassing “oopsie” moment while working out? You know, when you do a jumping jack, squat or other exercise and you end up having to run to the bathroom because you’re scared you’re going to (or maybe you did) pee your pants a little?

If so, you’re in good company: as many as 33 percent of women have this problem – and men experience it, too. I have personal training clients who have told me they occasionally wear protection when they work out so that if they suddenly find themselves “oopsying,” they aren’t embarrassed.

Is pelvic floor weakness inevitable as we age and/or have kids? Not necessarily. However, the “do more kegels” approach doesn’t necessarily work. (What are kegels? Click here.)

There’s more to solving the issue of a weak urinary track, however. Check out this article I wrote for Experience Life Magazine that outlines some ways to help strengthen all of the muscles of your pelvic floor. Look at it this way: the “undercarriage” area is the bottom of your core. We work hard to strengthen our abs, our obliques and our butt/low back/hips, but we can neglect the underpinnings of it all. It’s an important area to include in your regimen.

Bonus: Doing squats as suggested can help not only with your form, but also help you target your glutes. That’s a good thing. 🙂

Wendy Watkins

About Wendy Watkins

Wendy Watkins is a Bangor-based personal trainer, fitness coach, studio owner, and writer/editor. She is the author of The Complete Idiots Guide to Losing 20 Pounds in 2 Months. Visit her website at thrivebangor.com.