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My Experience

Why I started this blog…

I have always been an active person and have learned that physical health is very much related to your mental health. It is very difficult to have one without the other.

In August of 2019, I took a pregnancy test that turned out to be negative. This was not the first pregnancy test and luckily I had not quite reached discouragement at this point. My husband and I were living in Florida for the summer and would be driving home to Utah soon.

Because of my negative test, I was not looking for any signs of pregnancy. On our drive home, I noticed a few different things that started to make me wonder if my test was incorrect. Now these are not necessarily signs for everyone, however I started noticing I was extremely thirsty, ALL THE TIME. Which, in turn, meant that we had to make frequent stops to the bathroom. I was also extremely hungry. Additionally, I had really bad back cramps. Which I naturally related to being seated for a 38 hour drive. I kind of brushed off those symptoms, because HELLO, my test was negative.

After arriving in Utah, we immediately got back into our workout routine. My husband and I would go to the gym every day. I often did HIIT (high intensity interval training) workouts. Anyone who has done these before knows that they leave you WINDED. After trying to keep up with one of my regular workout routines, I became very winded and tired. I felt like I could not keep up with myself and it was very frustrating. At this point, I knew something was up.

The next day, I took a pregnancy test, and sure enough, it came out POSITIVE. We were ecstatic! Among many other thoughts running through my head, one was about fitness. My whole life I had learned that my mental health has heavily relied on my physical health.

During pregnancy, your body goes through lots of changes that affect your mental and physical. I had worked so hard for the majority of my life to be healthy and it was not going to end here. In fact, I felt it to be more important now than ever, to take care of myself. Not only to keep my baby as happy and healthy as possible, but also to take care of myself. I knew I needed to take responsibility of what I could control during this process. It has been such a positive experience and has become something I am very passionate about. I want to share with others, so here I am!

Not only do I want to help mothers who have similar goals to mine, but I also want to inspire those that may be just starting their fitness journey. I have talked to so many moms who regretted not exercising during their pregnancy. I wanted to create a space of helpful resources and supportive women so that we can all help each other! I encourage you all to set some goals. To hold myself accountable and give you ideas, here are mine:

  1. Fit in some type of movement, every day for 30 min. I have an Apple Watch that helps me track this. 
  2. Do strength/cardio exercises at least three times a week for an hour. 
  3. Drink LOTS of water. 
  4. Take my prenatal supplement every day. 
  5. Eat protein with every meal. 
  6. No soda. 
  7. limited caffeine. 
  8. Do not be afraid to take naps, growing a baby is exhausting. 🙂

PEP TALK!

Okay ladies. Let’s talk about the word FITNESS.

I know we all may have a different relationship to this word. Some of us are in a healthy relationship with this word. Some of us are in a complicated relationship with this word. And some of us have no relationship with this word and, quite frankly, do not have the desire to or the idea scares us to death. If you are thinking of the Facebook relationship statuses while reading this, we are on the same wavelength! 

I want to talk to all types of relationships and give you a pep talk. We got this ladies!

For those of you in a healthy relationship, I am probably preaching to the choir. Healthy relationships have ups and downs, but they never give up one each other. They adjust to the evs and flows of life. You probably already realize the positive consequences of regular fitness. To name a few, those that practice regular fitness tend to sleep better, have more energy throughout the day, see desired results, better health, and more self confidence! Don’t get me wrong, I think the hardest part of any exercise is getting started. Once you get going, it is easier to finish. Those in healthy relationships look at the positives and can overlook petty negatives. Keeping a positive outlook and keeping in mind the “why” of the relationship keeps you going! Keep up the good work. 

For those of you in a complicated relationship, I have been there. I think most people have. Typically a complicated relationship consists of confused purposes and half commitment. If this is you, this is okay! This will not change overnight but if you keep a positive attitude and stay CONSISTENT, things can and will change! Think about your why and remember it. Remember YOU are worth taking care of. YOU are enough and YOU are capable of way more than you think you are. Get rid of negative thoughts and feelings about exercise by eliminating those that trigger those thoughts within you. Make a list of what those are and tell them you do not have room in your life anymore. Get rid of them! 

For those of you who are not in a relationship with fitness, I also have been there. You cannot grow a relationship every night, but a sudden desire and small and simple efforts can get you started. Start with small goals and do not overwhelm yourself. Get to know fitness, what is it for, what types are there, what is a good fit for you. Use and experiment with fitness to figure out what types you like or what types at least motivate you. Write down your goals and desires and start with beginner exercises! Do not overdo it and get discouraged. Go at your own pace but push yourself. 

When a relationship ends, it is usually because partners are not on the same page and it ends in heartbreak. Do your part! I promise the relationship will turn out healthy and you will be happier than you have ever been. Of course, as I always say, listen to your body and your doctor. Everyone is different. But I can honestly say that in the times of my life where I have kept my relationship with fitness strong are the times when I have been the healthiest, happiest, most productive and most confident!

Products I Use Daily

During my first trimester of pregnancy, it took me a little while to find products that I love. Since then, I have found a few different products that I use DAILY. Honestly, it is pretty hard to imagine going through pregnancy day-by-day without them. I have linked each product below their description.

Prenatal Vitamins

I do not know about you, but I LOVE gummy vitamins. Anything to help me swallow vitamins and avoid a gross taste or sandy consistency, I will do! I have tried a few different brands during my pregnancy, but my absolute favorite are Olly Essential Prenatal Multivitamin and Prenatal Gummy Vitamins by Nature’s Bounty Optimal Solutions. My doctor told me to look for a prenatal that has the recommended daily dosage of Folic Acid, as not all prenatal vitamins do (at least 400 milligrams). Doctors even recommend taking these BEFORE you get pregnant. So long story short, make sure you find one you like because you will be taking them for quite some time!

https://www.amazon.com/Natures-Bounty-Solutions-Essential-Prenatal/dp/B07BHTVTL2

and

https://www.target.com/p/olly-essential-prenatal-multivitamin-vibrant-dietary-supplement-gummies-citrus-60ct/-/A-16821442?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&fndsrc=tgtao&CPNG=PLA_Health%2BShopping_Local&adgroup=SC_Health&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=c&location=9029671&ds_rl=1246978&ds_rl=1248099&gclid=CjwKCAjw1cX0BRBmEiwAy9tKHrmtLSwRNEQntKuAQjpIvNBuZa5Vb5FVp3yTZvD86bnBDCTi36YFmhoCQqgQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds.

Heat Pad

A heat pad helps with aches and pains that I personally experience most in my third trimester. Typically these are pelvic pains, lightning crotch (nerve pains in the pelvis), lower back pains, and round ligament pain. The worst part is for me, these pains would get worse when I would lay down. To help soothe these, I use my heat pad!

https://www.amazon.com/Sunbeam-King-Size-MicroPlush-Electric-Controller/dp/B00474Z0Q4/ref=zg_bs_3763871_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=W01KADSGB573SW193WKS

Pregnancy Pillow

Once again, this has become more important during my third trimester. Getting comfy at night can be hard! It feels like every little pillow and limb needs to be in the right place before you can sleep. There are many shapes of pregnancy pillows. I have a “C” shape and it has worked great! I have not tried other shapes, but hear that they work just as well.

https://www.amazon.com/PharMeDoc-Pregnancy-Pillow-Jersey-Shaped/dp/B01KIQH2VU?th=1

Natural Calm

This is a natural magnesium supplement that has helped with constipation, sleeping, and aches and pains. The raspberry lemonade flavor is so good! This was recommended to me by my doctor.

https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Vitality-Anti-Stress-Supplement-Raspberry/dp/B00BPUY3W0/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=natural+calm&qid=1586644855&sr=8-5

Cara Loren Pre-workout

My husband got me this for Christmas. Finally a pre-workout that is safe for pregnant and breast-feeding moms! No weird ingredients and all natural caffeine! It also tastes pretty good. Especially during pregnancy, you can feel like a slug. This helped get some pep in my step before working out. I am careful about caffeine in general, so I actually only take about 1/3-1/2 scoop and mix it with a couple cups of water.

https://www.buckedup.com/product/cara-loren-prenatal-pre-workout-supplement

Support Belly Band

Towards the end of pregnancy, your pelvis opens, your baby gets bigger, and you are carrying more fluid than ever – your pelvis is likely to feel a lot of pressure! For me, some days were very painful. I got a belly support band off of Amazon that helps me when I am on my feet. It is not my favorite when I am sitting or laying down because I feel like it pushes my baby into my ribs. However when I am on my feet or working out, it has been great!


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0113WE0QS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Waterbottle

Drinking water is SO important. A nurse told me once, “Drink water until you feel like you are going to throw up, and then drink a little more!” Now believe me, this is a completely inconvenient task for a pregnant women as you are constantly needing to go to the bathroom anyway. One of my cravings has been ICE. I cannot get enough. So having a fun, big, cup to keep my ice from melting and water cold makes drinking water a little easier. They do not sell my same one anymore, but here is one that is similar.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H63EZBS/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B01H63EZBS&pd_rd_w=ofnKD&pf_rd_p=48d372c1-f7e1-4b8b-9d02-4bd86f5158c5&pd_rd_wg=HwDEP&pf_rd_r=G1TMSY2BC8HFXG25GJ5S&pd_rd_r=1bac1006-cc58-45cc-a95b-c812f20efe63&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFOMEJJUzhOUTBIS0kmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA0MzcyMTUyVVZDRVhQTk5YTVBSJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA2MTE1NzAzQUE0QzlJOThFTEJOJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfZGV0YWlsJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

Candles/Febreeze

Even before pregnancy, I was a smell person. Meaning I LOVE when things/people/places smell good and HATE when they do not. Pregnancy is this on steroids. For some women, certains smells will make you puke and other smells will make you want to eat the candle itself. Get some good smelling candles or sprays for when you may be feeling a little sick. This helped me on my heavier days of nausea. I love Bath and Body Works for candles. I have linked my favorite scent right now.

https://www.bathandbodyworks.com/p/fiji-white-sands-single-wick-candle-024650526.html

Unisom

You should talk to your doctor before trying this but it has been my saving grace. Unisom is an over-the-counter sleep aid. It was first recommended to me by my doctor for nausea and it helped! However now I still take it for insomnia. I only need half a pill but I truly believe this is one of the only reasons I sleep at night during pregnancy discomfort and insomnia.

https://www.amazon.com/Unisom-Sleep-Tabs-Tablets-48-Count/dp/B002CVV1JO/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=unisom&qid=1586645101&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyRDQ3U0lZWTNWQVZOJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMTM1MzgxMkRSVVgyQVJVNjJLVSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMzM1NDU4QllHRDlHNVhTMEQmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

Favorite Foods and Recipes

There is an article I found on Parents.com that talks about 27 pregnancy power foods. It is super important that you maintain a nutritious diet for you and your baby. This gets especially difficult when those cravings kick in! I have found that the best way to overcome cravings, is to eat small meals often and stay satisfied! Here are my favorite items listed in this article to give you some ideas as well as some of my own. Afterwards, I will provide you with some of my favorite meals and a How-To video on my absolute favorite smoothie!

  1. Fortified Breakfast Cereal
  2. Dried Beans and Lentils
  3. Broccoli
  4. Nonfat Milk
  5. Bananas
  6. Lean Meat
  7. Cheese (however, no soft cheese)
  8. Eggs
  9. Oatmeal
  10. Leafy Greens
  11. Whole Grain bread (I will include an amazing whole wheat banana bread recipe at the bottom of this post.)
  12. Oranges (citrus especially has helped me with nausea!)
  13. Nut and Nut Butters
  14. Soy foods
  15. Dried fruit
  16. Pumpkin Seeds
  17. Basil
  18. Red Bell peppers
  19. Sweet potatoes

Article linked here: https://www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-body/nutrition/15-pregnancy-power-foods1/

My own faves:

  1. Salmon
  2. Avocados
  3. Kiwi
  4. Grapefruit
  5. Raw almonds! (Help to curb hunger and are a healthy fat!

Smoothies are a great way to get in lots of nutrients into one filling meal! Additionally, these are typically pretty gentle on the stomach. Another perk to making smoothies is that most ingredients can come from your freezer. No need to keep track of produce, freeze it!! Save your unfrozen produce for yummy salads and snacks.

Here is How-to video of my go-to green smoothie and protein smoothie. Enjoy!

GET YOUR GREENS: Recipe for Kaitlin’s Go-to Green Smoothie:

1 cup of frozen avocado

1 cup of frozen spinach

1 cup of frozen pineapple

1/2-1 cup of Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk (you can add more if needed)

1-2 Tbsp of Honey or Agave to taste

CRAVING SOMETHING SWEET? Recipe for Kaitlin’s Go-to Protein Smoothie:

1 handful of ice cubes

1 cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk

1 banana

1 scoop of favorite chocolate protein. Here is the one I prefer: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003BL6PMM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

2 Tbsp of peanut butter or 2 1/2 Tbsp of PB Fit

1-2 Tbsp of Honey or Agave to taste

CRAVING BAKED GOODS? Recipe for Kaitlin’s favorite Whole Wheat Banana Bread:

My notes and suggestions are in bold.

From: https://cookieandkate.com/healthy-banana-bread-recipe/#tasty-recipes-23985

Healthy banana bread recipe—you're only a few simple ingredients and one bowl away from the best banana bread ever! cookieandkate.com

Healthy Banana Bread

  • Author: Cookie and Kate
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 55 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 loaf 1x

INGREDIENTS

  • ⅓ cup melted coconut oil or extra-virgin olive oil or high quality vegetable oil – I use coconut oil
  • ½ cup honey or maple syrup – I use maple syrup
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 ½ medium or 2 large bananas) – I used about 3 ripe bananas and added in chopped fresh banana at the end.
  • ¼ cup milk of choice or water – I like to use Almond Milk
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda (NOT baking powder; they aren’t the same!)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more to swirl on top
  • 1 ¾ cups white whole wheat flour or regular whole wheat flour
  • Totally optional: ½ cup mix-ins like chopped walnuts or pecans, chocolate chips, raisins, chopped dried fruit, fresh banana slices… – I add fresh banana slices and a little bit of semisweet chocolate chips

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (165 degrees Celsius) and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
  2. In a large bowl, beat the oil and honey together with a whisk. Add the eggs and beat well, then whisk in the mashed bananas and milk. (If your coconut oil solidifies on contact with cold ingredients, simply let the bowl rest in a warm place for a few minutes, like on top of your stove, or warm it for about 10 seconds in the microwave.)
  3. Add the baking soda, vanilla, salt and cinnamon, and whisk to blend. Lastly, switch to a big spoon and stir in the flour, just until combined. Some lumps are ok! If you’re adding any additional mix-ins, gently fold them in now.
  4. Pour the batter into your greased loaf pan and sprinkle lightly with cinnamon. If you’d like a pretty swirled effect, run the tip of a knife across the batter in a zig-zag pattern.
  5. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (typically, if I haven’t added any mix-ins, my bread is done at 55 minutes; if I have added mix-ins, it needs closer to 60 minutes). Let the bread cool in the loaf pan for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes before slicing. – Mine takes about 63 minutes, I double the recipe and cook two loaves at once

Pregnancy Workout Modifications and HIGH FITNESS

As I always say, talk to your doctor about your body and exercising. Everybody is different and LISTEN TO YOUR BODY in each trimester. Every pregnancy is different and there are many opinions. I found a YouTube video that I really like explaining some pregnancy modifications that you will want to take into account. I have outlined her main points below.

  1. You can do what did before pregnancy, but with some modifications. Do not try something completely new. You can continue with what you did before, but with a few changes.
  2. Each trimester is different and all of us are different. You need to listen to your gut on what your body should be doing. Take into account nausea, fatigue, and your body’s behavior. Work your exercise into your symptoms.
  3. You need to reassess your intensity. Your reasoning of exercise may need to change. The goal of exercise during pregnancy is not to lose weight. Maintaining good health and taking care of yourself and baby should be the goal. Do not stress about looking good in a swimsuit. An idea is to bring your intensity down to a 75%. Bring down weight, bring down reps, take longer breaks, etc. Do not injure yourself.
  4. ABS. We are no longer training for abs. We are training for a strong pelvic floor. Breath from your stomach. Breathe in during the easy part of the workout, breathe out during the difficult part. For example, breathe in when you go into a squat and breathe out when you come up from your squat. Plank is not the best position. Side planks are a more natural position and holding your abs when doing compound movements.
  5. If you are worried, talk to your OB and workout instructors. Get advice and guidance.

One type of cardio exercise that I specifically enjoy is High Fitness. Contrary to the video listed above, this was a new exercise I started doing when I was pregnant. However, my body was already trained to do high intensity cardio, and so the movement, pace, and intensity was not something foreign to my body. Normally, I attended my local gym classes for High Fitness. Because of COVID-19, I have been staying home plus the gyms are closed. There is a High Fitness channel on YouTube that was released so you can do it at home! 

Here is the link: 

Following the advice from the first video I shared on this post, you can modify this workout. Additionally, there is a girl in the High Fitness videos who does modifications for each movement. Follow her! In the link above, she is wearing the leopard leggings. Luckily, there are usually girls in the live classes as well that do modifications. Even if you are the only one, own it! But I can almost promise you that you will never be the only one. Those that may be huffing and puffing will appreciate someone else doing the modifications with them. 😉 We all need to take it down a notch every once in a while.

Aches and Pains and Stretches, oh my!

During your pregnancy,  it is normal and expected to feel discomfort. For Heaven’s sake, you have another human growing inside of you! As your uterus expands, your organs are pressed in different directions. As your baby grows, you grow.  A woman of average weight before pregnancy, gains  25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy. Some of this weight is extra blood and fluids (a woman’s blood and fluid volume increases by 50%! This is to help support the uterus.), fat (your body stores fat to produce breast milk), and also the baby itself (typically reaching up to 7-9 lbs by 40 weeks). Although a woman’s body is built to do this, it can still be uncomfortable. It is so important to listen to your body during your pregnancy.

During my pregnancy, I have felt the most discomfort and pain in my lower back (specifically in my sciatic nerve), abdomen, and pelvis. There are stretches that have helped me with this. Side note, I also have a pregnancy pillow and heat pad to help me sleep with any discomfort I may be having! Additionally, I have incorporated a stability ball to help with even more stretches. I will talk about stability ball exercising in a future post.

In the video linked at the beginning of this post, it shows some of my favorite stretches. This routine leaves you feeling opened and centered. You will want to grab a yoga mat and follow along! As it states in the video, please consult with your doctor before doing any exercise. If not, you shall acknowledge that you are practicing at your own risk. Pay attention to your breath. Breath deeply to open up your body.

I have outlined the video below:

Chest Opener (go to 0:55): Good for indigestion. 

Side Stretch (go to 1:10): Back and belly release. 

Wide-legged Forward Bend (go to 2:14): Hamstring and Back stretch. 

Modified Peaceful Warrior Pose with Straight Leg (go to 2:57): Front body and belly stretch. 

Extended Triangle Pose (go to 3:17): Back and hamstring stretch.

Downward Dog (go to 4:24): Arm, back and hamstrings.

Child’s Pose (go to 4:35): Spinal stretch. MY FAVORITE!

Cat/Cow (go to 5:06): Back tension release.

Hip Circles (go to 5:55): Lower back release.

Side Stretch (go to 6:06): Side body stretch.

Threading the Needle (go to 6:54): Upper back opening. 

Extended Puppy Pose (go to 7:27): Deep upper back stretch. This is AMAZING.

Modified Head to Knee Pose (go to 8:11): Hamstring and Back

Butterfly Pose (go to 9:04): Opening inner thighs.

Hope you enjoyed this! I am trying to do these each night.

Here is an additional video specific for sciatic nerve pain (PURE GOLD):Sciatica Stretches & Exercises – Ask Doctor Jo (Links to an external site.)

One more video specific to Hip and Pelvic area exercises:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPbxi5biFCU (Links to an external site.)

Product links:

Here is the link to my stability ball: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07S4GQRY1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (Links to an external site.)

Here is the link to my pregnancy pillow: https://www.amazon.com/Full-Body-Pregnancy-Pillow-Hypoallergenic/dp/B01MQVHYDU/ref=zg_bs_382727011_31?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=M3ARQK7GFWX0CM7V3WPH (Links to an external site.) 

Here is the link to my hot pad: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00474Z0Q4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The Nine-Month Wardrobe – Worth the money?

When I found out I was pregnant, one of the thoughts that ran through my mind was, “I am so excited to wear maternity clothes!” One thing that most people do not tell you, is that maternity clothes can be super expensive! I had no idea. It can be tempting to buy a whole new wardrobe. Trust me, wearing the same pants five days of the week can get super old. Is it worth putting money into pregnancy clothing?

In my opinion, it is worth some money, but not as much as you may think/want. Not only will you be able to wear these clothes for only nine months (actually less considering you are growing all of the time), but by the time you get pregnant again (if you want more kids), styles will probably have changed! I do believe in feeling good about yourself and that when you look good, you feel good. However, there is a healthy balance to all things. Here are some ways that I have been able to still buy clothes that fit me without spending a fortune. 

My first piece of advice is to focus on staple and timeless pieces. Think of the clothes that you normally wear the most. For many women, this can be a black pair of leggings, jeans, a coat, t-shirts, a neutral colored dress, a jean skirt, etc. Consider getting these items in maternity clothes. My favorite and most-worm maternity clothes are my skinny jeans, black leggings, t-shirts and simple t-shirt dresses. These are items I can dress up or down and do not cost me a fortune. On top of that, these are items that will most likely still be in style when my next pregnancy comes around. If you are lucky, you may be able to wear some of your normal baggier pre-pregnancy clothes. Occasionally you will buy some clothes during your pregnancy that you can wear during and after pregnancy, do not pass these up if the price is good.

The second piece of advice is to shop for sales. No need to pay full price for maternity clothes. My favorite store for maternity clothes is ASOS.com. They always have maternity clothes on sale and their return policy rocks! Amazon is also a great place and not always the first place that comes to mind when you think of buying clothes.

The third piece of advice is to really think about what you need and have a budget. Needs and wants can be hard to differentiate when buying clothes, I totally get it. But you want to think about the things you will really need and put your budget money in those areas. If you are planning on exercising, buy the maternity leggings! If you work and need to look professional, buy the dress over the sweats! If you are deciding between a cute pair of heels and some comfy slip-on tennis shoes, trust me, during month eight of your pregnancy, you will want the slip-on tennis shoes! Your back will thank you. If your current sweatshirts already fit, no need to buy more! Be sure to shop around as well. Many stores sell similar items, so do some price comparisons!

Lastly, know that your body is changing and accept it in the beautiful state it is in. Clothes are not going to fit you the same, period. And that is okay, enjoy it and show off the bump! You want to dress well and take care of yourself during your pregnancy, but do not let that be the only factor determining your self worth. Be the confident momma that you want your child to learn from. Take care of yourself and dress up, but remember that clothing does not determine your worth! 

HELP! I Need Exercise Ideas!

Why You May Be Frustrated with Prenatal Exercise (Reason #1 of 5)

#1. HELP! I Need Exercise Ideas!

Regarding exercise, you will probably fall into one of the three following categories:

1. This may be your first time really getting into exercise. (Good for you! And welcome!)

2. You may have taken a long break and are looking to get back into it. (You got this, you have done it before!)

3. Exercise may be a big part of your life already. (Keep up the great work!)

Whichever category you fall into, you probably need ideas on how to exercise in your new, growing, changing, beautiful body! While including your doctor’s personalized recommendations and instructions, there have been a couple different social media influencers that I have received my exercise ideas from. And they all have FREE videos!

Before we get to my list of influencers, please please PLEASE, listen to your body ladies! Although there are MANY health benefits to both mom and baby while exercising during your pregnancy, everyone’s pregnancies are different. Do not be afraid to push yourself (afterall, exercising can be difficult!), but also listen to your body and what it needs. Do not be afraid to ask your doctor/nurse/midwife questions, they are able to tell you what is normal and what is unhealthy, especially for YOUR situation.

Okay, let’s cut to the chase!

My top 3 favorite Instagram Influencers:

@allisonholker – Allison Holker. Although this is her Instagram handle, I have found it easier to find her exercise videos on Youtube, she has five different videos. These are all filmed in her third trimester. She is a professional dancer and married Stephen (tWitch) Boss! Both have been on So You Think You Can Dance. The two have some freaking cute dance videos together before, DURING, and after her pregnancy!

@annecraig – Anne is a certified personal trainer and certified nutritionist. On top of that, she has three beautiful girls and her twins just turned one! She is very real, raw, and talks about motherhood on a level that will make your eyes water. She has dealt with infertility and is very relatable. If you go back and look at her workout videos from when she has been pregnant, you are bound to get some great ideas! Plus she has great eating tips. 

@momstrongutah – Mother of two (almost three), Meg is a personal trainer, registered nurse, and nutritionist. Her workouts are easy to follow and can be done in the comfort of your own home. Her videos include workouts for pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, and postpartum. She gives great advice on how to keep yourself healthy and  moving throughout each trimester. She recently started documenting a weekly pregnancy journal (which she shows in posts) to share her journey with you. It is so great to feel that we are not alone! 

I hope you can find some ideas from these wonderful ladies. I truly believe in creating an Instagram feed to lift and inspire, we all want social media to have a positive impact on us, right? These ladies have definitely helped me create a feed of connection, relation, inspiration, and motivation. 

Other great Instagram Influencers to check out:

@fitmamametta

@leavittfitness

@cleansimpleeatsfit

@pregnancyfitness

 Check these out and hit that save button on the posts you love! You will want to come back to those when it is time to sweat!

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