Best Shape of your life! ...and pregnant??

BABY BELLY FIT!!! ...The best shape of your life...and pregnant! What did I just say? Yes... I am starting a movement for women to stop using their pregnancy as a time to become a lethargic garbage disposal and to turn it into a time that reflects their inner and outer beauty, constant changes, and respect for the human body as it produces this precious miracle.

The focus should not be on "how much weight you are gaining" but how are your "fueling" and "feeling" each day.  I am currently 5 months pregnant with my first child. As a Fitness Guru for over 12 years, Holistic Nutrition Coach and "Queen of Before and After" Body Transformations for national and global TV infomercials, I have had my eyes opened to the plight of the pregnant womans' ever changing body. I have seen clients in my practice for years struggle with getting off weight post-baby. Sometimes "baby" is almost a teenager and we are still blaming it on the baby weight. The fears and restrictions all mothers-to-be go through can be overwhelming. Our bodies, hormones, schedules, priorities and responsibilities all change dramatically! But if we can treat our selves with respect and good health during pregnancy we are ahead of the game post-delivery. WE can hit the ground running as good role models for our child with more energy and self-confidence then if we had packed on excessive amounts of weight. Let's stop bashing ourselves and our bodies. We have to go through so much naturally with pregnancy and child birth that adding an environment that fosters depression, self-loathing, shame, and poor habits will just bury us at a time we should instead be soaring.

This blog is about providing practical advice, motivation and a point of view that may make you think twice bout that late night ice cream, pretzel and pickle sundae. This IS NOT about putting pressure on women to remain thin during pregnancy. This is about good health for you AND baby. You only get to grow each child once... care for them in the womb like you will once they arrive home with you.

This is the ultimate time to start listening to your body. Slow down that hectic pace, make time for what's TRULY important in life. If you have never been happy with your body or you are used to being a ultra-fit gym bunny, you can be in your best health while pregnant. How? By eating for fuel and specific purpose not for simply filling up your belly, giving into smells and marketing for unhealthy foods, in order to "fit in" with others while socializing, out of boredom, etc. So many of us are used to eating on the go, not giving thought to our foods, pushing our bodies to exhaustion, not getting quality sleep, piling on mounds to our "to-do" list and never taking a minute to evaluate the quality of life we are speeding through. Pregnancy is a gift...even when your head is in the toilet... still thank your lucky stars for the ability to bring a child of your own into this world.

So... let's begin our journey to healthy baby bellies together... We will focus on:

1) Nutrition - eating for fetal development, out own energy and well-being, to not over  
    gain unnecessary fat, how to eat when you are queasy or having cravings

2) Balancing Fitness: heart health, stamina, strength all balanced with calming, flowing
    activities

3) Getting Sleep!

4) Managing Stress

5) Skin Care/Hair Care

6) Avoiding other pitfalls and toxic hazards

7) Setting up post-delivery plan for healthy you and healthy family!

8) Support - starts here and at home! communicating with your partner (if available),
    reaching our to friends, family, coworkers and your community resources.

Thank you for joining me. I welcome questions, feedback, suggestions, tips, recipes, etc. Please feel free to share below!

Also, please visit www.BrianaMichel.com if you need more individualized attention with nutrition and fitness. I have an office in Wesley Chapel, FL and see individuals clients regularly.