When I found out I was pregnant, I wanted to make sure that I had the healthiest pregnancy possible. I was no means a rock star when it came to staying on top of my goals; however, I do think that I managed to make it through my entire pregnancy healthy and made sure anything I did was in moderation.
Through my first trimester, I learn a lot about listening to my body, not skipping meals (which I'm really bad at doing), and keeping active. It truly is hard as your body changes, you are tired, and you are sore in all new places. Growing a healthy baby is obviously important, but it is also hard not to give into the American message that being pregnant means you can eat whatever, whenever. My major go-to treat was chocolate ice cream cones from Dairy Queen; however, I still limited myself (so I would not end up there daily) and managed to "treat" myself when I felt like it was necessary (which sometimes felt like it should be every day). At the end of my pregnancy, a nightly walk through the neighborhood seemed like a daunting chore, but I stuck through it and love that I was able to continue through my entire 40 weeks healthy.
There are three major things that kept me going through my pregnancy that helped me stay fit. I cannot wait to be cleared for normal activity again now that Ollie is here, but until then, I wanted to share these items with you!
Your water intake is an important part of your life, regardless of a pregnancy or not. However, it is super important during your pregnancy. There is a very clear difference in my daily water intake from the days that I have my CamelBak by my side and those days that I do not. I have this thing by my side at all times and it really helped me stay on track during my pregnancy. Keeping hydrated also helped me feel better about myself, more alert, and more likely to be active in general.
2. Great Maternity Active Wear
I am not sure I would have gotten through my pregnancy with some great active tops. I found all of my tops from Old Navy on clearance in the fall and I am still rocking them post-birth! They are so soft, flowy, and worked great when nothing else fit! I also love them now because they are not tight on my stomach and are easy to nurse in this summer.
I also lived in my Fabletics Salar Capris up until my last month of pregnancy. I could not believe how long they fit me while my belly grew! If you have not tried Fabletics active gear yet, you should definitely try them out! They are the best material, super soft and high quality. You also can try your first outfit for only $25! Not only does this get you an entire workout outfit, but it also gives you VIP member access with exclusive access to sales, discounts, and special deals!
I had sciatic nerve pain since the very beginning of my pregnancy. Simply walking sometimes was a huge pain, especially at the beginning. I wasn't really prepared for this so early! I found BaoBei Belly Sport Band on Instagram through a Tone It Up gal who loved hers. The more I read about it, I knew I had to get one. It is designed for both pregnancy support and post-pregnancy care. This band supports the abdominals, take pressure off the low back, and eases many common discomforts of pregnancy including sciatic pain. I was nervous that I would not use it much, but I ended up wearing this band almost every day regardless if I was active or not. It grew with me and helped me carry the weight of my belly towards the end of my pregnancy. I also wore it for the first week I was home from the hospital as my belly shrunk a bit each day. It was perfect to help keep my stomach in places where it should be instead of sagging down.
Here is how my BaoBei fit at 24 weeks!
It really helped keep the life of my favorite Fabletics workout pants and winter active top.
Here is how my BaoBei fit at 31 weeks!
Here is how my BaoBei fit at 39 weeks!
I could not believe how my Old Navy running shorts still fit underneath my belly, but I really needed some support. My belly band acted like a sports bra for my belly, helping hold it up!
Do you have any pregnancy fitness secrets or tips??
