Exercise and Pregnancy-YES!

Do you want to have a healthy baby? Then you need to be the healthiest YOU that you can be!!

Here is one of my online clients who is a prime example! She has continued to workout throughout her entire term---you rock girl!! And I am so excited for the baby to get here!! We need pics!! 

1. When did you start your training and why did you decide to try out online training? 

I started my online training with Jackie in May 2010.  I had a knee surgery in January 2010 and was really struggling to maintain my weight and health after the surgery.  I could see my body changing (and not for the better!) and I was worried that if I didn't take a chance, I would end up on the heavier side of life.  I had never really enjoyed working out but I realized that I needed to do something and it needed to happen quickly.  I went to high school with Jackie and her younger sister married my younger brother so I had heard about the things that she had done and figured I might as well take a chance.

Carrie before starting her training (on right)

Carrie down 20lbs, right before she found out the baby was on the way! 

2. When you found out you were pregnant what kind of results had you seen from training? 

When I found out that I was pregnant, I was only 5 pounds from my "goal" weight.  Talk about a bummer!  Haha!  I would say that I was in the best form of my life.  Like I said, I had never really enjoyed working out and that is mostly because I had never really seen any progress before. I had tried lots of different diets and work outs but nothing ever worked so I would give up after a few weeks of trying.  But the workouts that Jackie sent me worked and I became addicted in all sense of the word!  My muscles had toned up, my stomach was flatter, I was stronger and I felt better about myself.  That was probably the best result, feeling like I was capable and taking controll of my situation.  I found out I was pregnant at the end of August so I was able to follow my online training for about 3 1/2 months and during that time my body changed from:

before weight - 185, after weight - 165

before hip - 40.5, after hip - 37

before waist - 34, after waist - 32

3. What made you decide to continue training after you found out you were pregnant? 

I knew that if I could continue to workout during my pregnancy that it would be better for my own body and health as well as for the health of my baby.  Plus, I was addicted!  I had worked so hard the previous 3 months and I was feeling so good about my progress that it was almost frustrating to know that I would have to let my body start putting on weight again!  I also knew that my knee would need the strength training if I was going to carry extra weight on my body again. I had also gotten my husband an online training program with Jackie and that made the decision a ton easier. It was and still is nice to have someone here to encourage me and support me in my choices. He has been great and I am not sure if I would have been able to accomplish so much without his support - both before I got pregnant and now through my pregnancy.  Continuing was just the logical choice. 

4. How has training/diet affected your pregnancy and how has pregnancy affected your training/diet. 

The biggest problem I have struggled with in pregnancy is being extremely tired (because of a low thyroid) so training has helped with giving me just a little extra energy.  Unfortunately, the tired also made it hard to get started.  There were many days where a workout that should have taken me 30-40 minutes, would end up taking me over an hour because my body was so tired.  And some days, I just couldn't get my energy going to start the workout.  I definitely feel that training and a good diet are essential and have helped me to feel better during my pregnancy.  Plus, my weight gain has been right where it should be.  I have put on 22lbs so far and have 2 weeks left.  That isn't to say that I haven't eaten my fair share of treats along the way but I have been wiser about my choices and more importantly my portion size than I would have been if I hadn't started my online training with Jackie.  

Eating "clean" was a lot harder for a variety of reasons.  I loved eating as close to paleo as possible before I got pregnant and I have always loved fruits and veggies.  I live in Norway so selection and availability can be difficult when it comes to fresh produce but I was still able to follow the diet Jackie had given me.  After I got pregnant, I couldn't seem to eat any form for veggies.  No salad, no steamed veggies, no cooked veggies, no raw veggies.  After a few weeks, I could eat soups with veggies that were finely chopped.  So, pregnancy changed my diet because I had to start eating things that would fall into the "unclean" category.  But I tried to make good choices.  If I had a sandwich, I would use a cracker or just a half piece of bread.  I would try to sneak veggies in where ever I could and I tried to eat fruits instead of other treats.  Basically, the training I did before I got pregnant made me more aware of what I could do to take care of my body and the pregnancy has forced me to find a happy middle for the time being. 

5. Are there any exercises that you cannot do now that you are pregnant that you really miss doing? 

I am not sure if I want to answer this questions considering I will be starting to work out again soon!  Haha!  Let's see...I have missed doing abs and legs.  Hip raises were something that I enjoyed before and I can tell that my hips are going to take a beating when I start to work out at a normal level again.  I miss doing good leg exercises.  Due to the surgery and the pregnancy, it has been hard to feel that I have really worked my thighs for months.  I liked that I had made progress with renegade rows and I am sure it will be brutal to get back to where I was.  I guess what I am trying to say is that as the pregnancy has advanced, it has been easy to see that my strength has changed and that it is going to be intense to get back to where I was! 

6. Whats your favorite exercise move to do with a bun in the oven? 

I have liked the side bends and twists because I can tell that I still have reasonably strong stomach muscles.  I was always amazed that leg lifts could burn as much as they did, especially as my belly got bigger!  I still really enjoy doing dead lifts and crab walks were enjoyable until a few weeks ago.  I am not sure if I have a favorite but the ones I named are a lot easier to do than some of the other exercises I was given :)

7. You are right around the corner from your due date, and your last email to me was asking about how soon you can begin training after the baby, I love it, so eager! Haha!! What makes you want to jump right back in? 

I want to get started again because I was seeing such great progress before I got pregnant and I had goals that I was so close to reaching that it is motivating to get started again.  Plus, it is nice knowing I was able to do all those things at home and that makes it "easier" for me to accomplish even though I will have a little baby to take care of.  I know I am capable of succeeding and that is why I want to get started again.  I have a feeling that the work outs are going to be brutal though!  I have become accustomed to my pregnancy work outs!  Haha!  If I wait too long, I may never get the courage to start again!  

 Carrie worked hard during her pregnancy to stay healthy and she did a great job!! She is just days away from that baby being born!! Thanks for being a great example Carrie!