Firstly congratulations.!!!!
If you are reading this you are either pregnant or have just welcomed a new addition to your family. It is a magical time, and your body is either rapidly changing or has, either way what it does is amazing. It goes through so many changes in 9 months to accommodate your baby and then bring it into the world. You deserve to look after yourself in the best way possible, and taking time for yourself to exercise is a great way of doing that.
If you are pregnant, exercising will help prepare your body for the birth and get it through the many challenges a growing bump places on your body. A big one of these is the shifting of your centre of gravity which shifts forward and this can put a lot of strain on your back, so the stronger you are the better you will feel.
If you are in camp New mum, then exercising will help your body recover quicker, reduce risks of postnatal depression, relieve stress, lift your mood and improve your energy levels. It can be daunting becoming a new mum, its a huge responsibility and can feel overwhelming. Taking time for yourself is a must. Happy mum = Happy baby. Babies will pick up if you are stressed and this is a time you should be enjoying. Taking time for you is not selfish, you deserve it.
Eating well is also important in pregnancy, however you are not eating for two! In the first and second trimester you do not need any extra calories and in the third trimester you need 200 calories extra a day. If you are breast feeding you need 500 calories a day extra while you are doing so. The average increase in weight will be roughly 10-12.5KG. This sounds a lot but it accounts for...1.2kg Blood Volume, 0.4kg in breast weight,0.7kg placenta, 1.2kg in body fluids, 3.3kg in baby weight, 4kg in fat storage to protect the baby, 0.8kg in amniotic fluid and 0.9kg of of it is the uterus. I will go through all this with you while training and guide you with your diet and safe exercise.
If you are a new mum, the same applies, I will guide you with your diet and get you safely back to your pre baby weight. Remember a lot has happened in 9 months so enjoy the process and go easy on yourself, as they say it's a marathon and not a sprint.
