This post brought to you by Nutrimom. The content and opinions expressed below are my own.
You guys – I need you to know that on the day that I wrote this post, I literally had four pieces of Little Caesar’s pizza and two pieces of crazy bread for lunch. Yyyyyyyeah. Point being: when I say the struggle to stay fit and to make healthy choices during pregnancy is real, I mean that it’s real for ME, and that I’m speaking from personal experience. There are those girls out there – those pregnancy unicorns – that seem to carry on with their standard, ridiculously healthy habits during their pregnancies and every part of their bodies besides their cute little pregnant basketball bellies stays thin and toned throughout the whole darn thing. I am not this girl. With Jack, I’m embarrassed to say that the moment I found out I was pregnant, it was like all inclinations or motivation to make healthy choices went out the window – at least as far as how it would effect the way I looked was concerned. I wanted to make healthy choices for the sake of my baby, but again –this was often trumped by my urges to eat… and eat everything. Seconds of dessert? Yes please. Thirds? Why not? Pizza three times per week and eating out the nights we don’t have pizza? Sounds like a plan! I’m even more embarrassed to admit that so far, this pregnancy hasn’t been all that different from the first. That’s why I was genuinely stoked when I learned about Nutrimom – an app and nutrition program designed to help mamas and mamas-to-be make healthy choices during and after their pregnancies. Nutrimom subscribers are partnered with a coach, who is a registered dietician and a mom herself. Through your personal coach and through the use of the Nutrimom app, mama is to be supported and motivated throughout her pregnancy to make healthy choices – both for her and for the health of her baby. I’ve only just begun the program, but here’s what I’ve experienced so far…
- Had my initial call with my coach, where I explained to her that my motivation to eat clean and even to exercise takes a serious dip when I’m knocked up. We set some really small, doable goals together. I told her how often I wanted her to check in on me based on what I felt would be most helpful for me.
- Via the Nutrimom app, my coach has checked in on me every day since our conversation (per my request – I need a lot of motivation and accountability).
- Since beginning the program, I honestly can’t say that my nutrition has improved all that much (hello – four pieces of pizza for lunch), BUT I have been more conscious of it and I’ve definitely felt more motivated to make healthier choices.
- Having someone who I know is going to be checking in on me and who I’ll have some accountability with has been super helpful as well. My coach (Katie is her name) has made me feel like I can contact her as often as I need to. She may regret telling me that.
- And one small win: I DID workout last night! That’s another weird area for me during pregnancy. With Jack, I actually did pretty darn well with working out throughout the 40 weeks. But again, the motivation to get my bum into the gym with this pregnancy has waned and I’ve been averaging about once a week lately (embarrassing). But last night – last night I WENT! Huzzah.
So there you have it – the beginnings of a journey that I’m going to tell you allllllll about as I go through it. I am SO the person who needs this kind of help, so I’m going to keep it real with you guys and let you know if it actually had an impact so that if there’s anyone else out there who can relate to my type of pregnancy, you’ll know that Nutrimom is at your disposal. Stay tuned!
And to that point you guys, can I ask you:
What are YOUR fitness/health struggles pre and post pregnancy?
I reeeeeally wanna know. This is going to be an ongoing topic on the blog for a bit, so I’d really love to know what you’d be interested in hearing about. Lemme know!
Have a Friggin Awesome Friday!
My parents are in town this weekend and we’re headed to Carmel/Monterey. Woooot! Nothing better than having your parents around. Hope you have fun weekend plans!
Thanks so much for reading!
xoxo
So for me, right now at 8 weeks finding things that sound good annnd are healthy is a challenge. Luckily, I haven’t been having too hard a time with this (cucumbers + ranch dip cravings anyone?!) but the biggest difficulty is just being consistent with eating. Before I got pregnant I would NEVER eat breakfast and rarely would lunch be all that big of a deal either, so now finding time to make food that I can gag down & coming up with ideas for things to eat is like, draining every last ounce of energy I’ve got.
Oh man!!!! This is so me! Both of my pregnancies it was like all normal healthy eating and exercise went out the window! Hello 40 lb weight gain, and get this…60 with my son! Heaven help me. Anyways, this next time (not pregnant yet) my goal is to not completely fall off the wagon. Indulge and enjoy my pregnancy, but not make every meal a feast!
You’re singing my song. I gained 50 lbs with my first, and at 6 months along with #2 I am already at the weight I maxed out at with #1. Though I did start off this pregnancy with an additional 30 lbs from my last pregnancy. So not only do I gain a lot of weight because I am ravenous for carbs and sugar, but I also lose NO weight while I breastfeed. In fact, I think I continue to gain because I am just so hungry. And working out? Ha. Even at my most fit, I don’t actually LOSE weight from working out. It just feels nice to be active.
This is why I love your blog – you’re real about The Struggle. (Even though it doesn’t LOOK like you struggle with this. Truly.) it’s just nice to know that other women gain more than 13 lbs and go up a jean size, and then leave the hospital in the pre prego jeans. So, solidarity.
Tara! I don’t lose weight when I breastfeed either!!! That part is almost the hardest part of ALL! I feel you girl. You’re SO NOT ALONE! So lemme ask you: for the rest of these ‘staying fit during and after pregnancy’ posts, is there anything you’d be interested in hearing about, particularly? Would love to tailor these posts to things you guys would find helpful. Lemme know! xoxo
I think I would like tips on being active WITHOUT a gym and/or personal trainer. Especially post partum, sleep-deprived, and with multiple your kids. What works for people? Walking? Home DVD workouts? What exercises can I do that actually stimulate energy, because that is what I lack in a major way. And what time of day do women have the most success doing this?
I need lessons on self control, because when it comes down to it I just eat too much. I wish there were a simple solution to not being hungry all. the. time. It consumes my thoughts all day. Diets are an ineffective “quick fix” that never lasts. Plus I have to make meals for my family, and OF COURSE I have a rail-thin husband. I know there are so many other women in this position – what do they do that actually works long-term? (Again, I think the answer is “self control!” and yeah, I agree).
Hahaha, I love this post because it’s so real! When I found out I was pregnant I told myself I’m only gaining the baby weight! HAHAHA and then I ate my way through 9 whole months of pregnancy, but I don’t regret a thing! Loving your blog.
-Heather
http://heatherinreallife.com/