She scuba-dived while a student at Kamehameha Schools, skied the slopes of Tahoe's Kirkwood resort in college, and she's been surfing all her life. KHNL weekend news anchorwoman Diane Ako has always sought physical activities that offer a sense of excitement.

"I don't really seek out things to keep me fit. I don't have body image issues like that," Ako said. "I just wanted something to do, something to try, like an adventure."

But now that she is 6 1/2 months pregnant, Ako's raison d'exercise has changed. She has created a regular fitness routine to help with her changing body. Her regimen includes mostly daily walking, cardio and light weight lifting at the Honolulu Club, and a weekly Pilates session.

She began Pilates after talking to several women who "swore by it," she said. She immediately noticed that the exercise, performed on an apparatus called a Reformer, helped promote core stability, strength and balance.

The discipline had another benefit. "I have scoliosis, which is a curvature of the spine," Ako said. "So I like that Pilates helps stretch me out and gives me a little bit of balance."

Scoliosis is a side-to-side curve in the spine that causes unevenness in the shoulders and sometimes the waist. While the asymmetry can't be reversed, Ako said Pilates at least gives her a sense of symmetry in her body. It also strengthens her back muscles, which, in turn, she says helps lessen pain caused by her spine's curvature.

"I've been doing Pilates for a year-and-a-half. I'm pretty proud of myself for that. It's the only activity that I've actually stuck with for a long time," Ako said, joking about her "short attention span."

Ako, who also did a short stint as a triathlete, has never been "hard-core committed" to any one sport or physical activity. Of all the activities Ako has done, though, she says skiing brings her the most excitement.

"I love it. It's my favorite sport, and I don't know why. I don't like speed, so it's not about going fast. It's just beautiful and challenging," she said.

With the baby on the way, Ako admits that getting back on the slopes isn't something she'll be able to do immediately. But she'd like to someday.

"If I can find someone to watch the baby and if I can afford it," Ako said.

And as much as Ako loves playing in fresh powder, she says her next real adventure will be her new baby. She knows that her life will change but isn't sure how yet.

"I'm kind of scared because I love to sleep," she said, laughing. "I can sleep like 10 hours. We'll see what happens."

She does want to get in one last thrill before giving birth. Later this month, she plans to take a dip in a shark cage with a couple of her pals.

"It'll be fun," she said.