Fit & Healthy Mommy-To-Be of the Month
January’s Expecting More™ Fit & Healthy Mommy-To-Be of the Month is Sarah Smart!
Happy New Year, and happy Bump Day Hump Day! December was a crazy month full of holiday cheer, so Mommy-To-Be of the Month got a little lost in the mix. To make up for it, I thought I’d start the new year off right and announce January’s Fit Healthy Mommy-To-Be of the Month, Sarah Smart! A California native, Sarah is pregnant with her first child – a baby girl! Sarah is an avid hiker and personal trainer in Arvada, Colorado. She is also pre and post-natal certified, so I’m extremely flattered that she has found Expecting More™ to be useful during her pregnancy.
Here are some of the highlights from my Q&A with fit & healthy expecting mom, Sarah:
What type of workouts did you do before you were pregnant? What have you had to do to modify those workouts during your pregnancy? Do you have a favorite “pregnancy exercise” you’d like to share?
Before pregnancy I did a lot of high intensity interval training, weight training, and hiking. I have opted out of the interval training while pregnant and am sticking with more consistent rates of cardio. In addition, I’ve added prenatal yoga to my routine at least once a week. I still weight train weekly and hike when I can. I even hiked my first 14er (a trail to 14,000 feet) when I was six weeks along. Hiking remains my favorite form of exercise because I love being out in nature and I feel like it is a great bonding experience for me and my baby.
What has the reaction been from others regarding you working out throughout your pregnancy? What has been your reaction to their reaction?
I often get asked the question, “How long into your pregnancy are you going to keep working out?” I always respond by saying that I will exercise up until the day I give birth, if possible. Sometimes people tell me to take it easy or that I should just rest instead of working out. I always keep calm, stay strong, and prove that my exercise routine is what is best for me and my baby. This is not always taken well, but in the end, I know I have to do what is right for me. Every time I hit the gym, I hope that I can inspire other women to stay active during their own pregnancies.
Did you use Expecting More™ during your pregnancy? If so, what did you like most about it? Do you have a favorite Expecting More™ exercise?
I have been using the Expecting More workouts since I was four months pregnant. I try to alternate which workouts I do so that I can benefit from the variety. I love that Expecting More™ workouts actually make me sweat. Some other prenatal workouts are at such a slow pace that I know I do not even get my heart rate up.
With Expecting More™, I sweat and can really feel my muscles working. I love that Sara makes the workouts so much fun, especially in the cardio segments. My favorite is Sweat Sport—the style of the workout is very similar to circuits I would do pre-pregnancy and I love that it is easy to follow.
Do you have any advice or information about pregnancy that you learned through your experience that you wish you had known before you were pregnant?
My biggest piece of advice is to take the advice of others with a grain of salt. Most people have the best intentions with their pregnancy advice, but in the end you need to do what is best for you and your baby. Trust what you feel and trust the advice of your midwife or doctor.
Tell us a little bit about the picture of you.
The picture was taken on December 3, 2012 when I was 22 weeks along. My husband I went for a hike in Golden, Colorado and this is from the top of a peak on the trail. I may climb hills a little slower now, but I never give up. Being surrounded by the beautiful Rocky Mountains with my husband and my baby was a great bonding experience.
If you want to be considered for a Fit & Healthy Mommy-To-Be of the Month, or would like to nominate someone, email why you think you (or your nominee) would be a great candidate to info@sarahaley.com. All mommies-to-be chosen will receive a gift bag with some of Sara’s favorite pregnancy and new mommy items.