Work It Out Baby! Have a Stress-free & Healthy Pregnancy!
by SusieQ Wong-Benjamin
OMG! You just got knocked up and found out that your FitLife is about to change! At least that’s how the Armed Celebrity Fitness Trainer, SusieQ felt when she realized that she had become a pregnant newlywed towards the time of her mother’s death. It is common for a woman to be in slight fear of major body changes ahead! Learn how to gain a healthy growing baby and belly without losing your head! And still Work It Out, Baby!
Yes, many things are changing in your life through pregnancy and your body needs a proper balance of nutrition, exercise and rest. Above all else it is important to keep your mind right. Morning sickness can soon become a daily reality for some women and many may not experience any sickness at all. In my case, I had the pleasure of experiencing all day nausea during the first trimester. Proper and balanced nutrition is vital because your baby is eating everything that you eat. Eating frequently is essential and there are specific foods to avoid:
- Raw/Undercooked poultry, meat & eggs
- Sushi/Seafood – certain fish & shellfish contain high levels of mercury
- Unpasteurized foods
- Caffeine – less than 200 milligrams a day
- Alcohol
- Unwashed fruits — due to dangers of pesticides and bacteria
One thing to keep in mind is that you are in full control of your actions and attitude. Continue to keep your body active if you already had a fitness regimen in place. If you are a new Mama-to-be who is not physically active, always contact your physician to ensure the safety of you and your baby! Working out four to five times a week is a realistic goal. Activities such as dancing, walking, swimming, cycling, stretching, yoga and pilates should not be frowned upon. Strenuous workouts are not required as you want to watch the level of your heart rate and stick to lower impact exercises to keep your baby and yourself safe from unnecessary injuries. If you are a professional weight lifting mommy and choose to continue, than knock yourself out; but, put your baby first.
Rest is the final phase for you and your baby! Try not to demand too much of yourself and feel guilt-free about getting the necessary rest that you and your body needs. Create a schedule that works well for you such as having a cat nap schedule in place. Your body will thank you later for conditioning your body for rest just as regularly as you take your prenatal vitamins. Let it become second nature to relax your body and your mind. You are a mother to be and as you surround yourself with stress-free people, always remain in control of your decisions. Everyone will have suggestions, advice and tips for you (especially if you are a first time mom) but carefully choose what feels right for you and baby! When you are well-rested and have a clear mind, you will naturally begin to feel happy throughout the entire term of your pregnancy.
During the second and third trimester of pregnancy, you may find that you will gain extra spurts of energy. Use all of your energy wisely, as you will need it to prepare your nutritious snacks in advance, along with staying active and scheduling your points of rest!
When you are a healthy mommy, you will produce a healthy and happy baby! Keep on smiling and “Get a FitLife!”
SusieQ Wong-Benjamin, your Armed Celebrity Fitness Trainer, is a certified fitness personal trainer and owner of SusieQFitLife and Work It Out Baby.
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