Tips for the Staying Fit, Fab while with Fetus

I was a hungry pregnant lady. I ate everything, every second of the day. Burger joints and ice cream shops were my favorite stops. Though I secretly wished our baby was born 40, 50, 60 pounds, I took full responsibility for my poor eating and fitness habits. That over nine months, I packed exponentially more than the recommended 25-30 pounds, by eating everything fried and nothing nutritious.

It took considerably more time—about four years—and a whole lotta sweat to finally shed those excessive baby pounds.

So I wonder, given the hunger pangs and the baby bump, Is it possible to stay fit and fabulous during pregnancy? Excluding the irritating-fabulous-celebrity-moms, of course. (I’m talking to you, Heidi Klum).

Answer: Yes.

Watching my sister maneuver through her first pregnancy suggests that it is indeed possible. Entering her third trimester, she looks amazing. She regularly hits the gym, eats the recommended daily calories and gains the required weight.


After getting the green light from her doctor, sis is determined to continue her exercise regimen which includes strength training and her personal favorite cardio—swimming. She obviously has made some necessary adjustments.

Here , I present her...


Tips when exercising while pregnant.

Pack a healthy snack in your gym bag Don’t end your workout on a low note because you experience a hunger attack. Being pregnant = getting hungry + getting hungry fast. So be sure to pack a banana, granola bar, or something with a bit of carbs and sugar to satiate your sudden cravings.

Wear the right clothes Wear comfortable clothes with enough room for your growing baby bump. You don't necessarily have to say goodbye to your cute shorts and tops - just make some slight modifications. There are obviously certain parts of the body that need to be accommodated, like the tummy area, which can be particularly sensitive to some women. Sis prefers wearing spandex shorts versus baggy shorts—to give the tummy some extra breathing room—matched with maternity tanks. I encourage a good sports bra too—for the developing tatas.

Drink plenty of water Pregnant women are advised to drink up to 64 fluid oz per day (6-8 glasses). When exercising, it's recommended to drink an extra 8 fluid oz per every half hour. If you don't like the taste of plain water, simply add a little lemon juice for added flavor.

Monitor your heart rate One question she’s regularly asked at the gym is whether her exercise regimen hurts the baby. Reasonably performed exercise doesn't appear to cause harm. The key is finding a reasonable level, and that depends largely your pre-pregnancy fitness level and current health. So monitor your exertion by monitoring your heart rate. Make sure it doesn’t exceed 140 bpm by checking it manually or using a heart rate monitor.

Swim Healthcare providers and fitness experts hail swimming as the best and safest exercise for pregnant women. Ideal because it’s a good workout as well makes you feel weightless despite the extra pregnancy pounds.

Do you have any tips to keep fit, fab while with fetus? I will continually pester my sis to share her secrets. But till then, Happy Pregnancy!

Sis is the founder of De*Nada Design , an emerging accessories line specializing in handmade knits for women and men. You can follow her on twitter at @denadadesign.

Wordless Wednesday: Scout Revisted

SCOUT from Sebastien Tobler on Vimeo.

Scout is a recent mural by street artist Kelly Towles @kellytowles in his hometown of Washington DC. The short film by Sebastian Tobler @sebastientobler explores a DC neighborhood with a child like sense of exploration. A quick take on what most people should do in their own area of the city.

The film is a personal favorite of mine and stars my very own living inspiration--my daughter. The very talented Towles is also my brother-in-law. Enjoy!

Daughter-In-Law Versus Mother-In-Law: War of the Roses

You’ve probably heard that marriage can be likened to a rose, which blossoms only when tended carefully and lovingly.

And being the tending, loving and caring gardener you are, the roses are blooming—but not without a lot of blood, sweat and tears. When you and the Hubby fight, you diligently work out your differences and learn how to communicate better.

But, what if those heated exchanges aren’t necessarily with the Hubby? But about his family and more exactly his mother?

If marriage is like a rose, then the mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship is surely the thorns.

I’ve recently seen my share of thorny mother-in-law/daughter-in-law stories. His mother is demanding, critical, intrusive. She mopes around and always wants his pity. His wife is cold. She excludes me from functions and minimizes my role.

What always surprises me is not how often the Hubby chooses mother over wife—but that he’s entirely clueless when doing it. Seeing his wife as the stronger and maybe even the more reasonable party, he asks that she give mother some slack. That’s my mother. That’s how she is. Just accept her. Thinking he is protecting his wife by diffusing the situation, he unfortunately leaves the wife feeling terrible for disrespecting the family matriarch. She feels abandoned and rejected without the Hubby’s support.

So if I could offer simple tips on building healthier mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationships, I would say:

Hubbies, Prune baby Prune.
Encourage roses to bloom by attentively trimming those sickly shoots and letting healthier ones grow. What works beautifully in my marriage is when the Hubby listens to my concerns, complaints and hurt feelings without having to agree or endorse them. And vice-versa, delicately drawing boundaries with his mother on what is acceptable criticism and behavior.

Mother-in-laws, Lay down a THICK layer of mulch over those weeds.
Being mother-in-law sadly doesn’t include the same freedoms as being a mother. So step back, abstain from unsolicited advice, and quite simply bite your tongue.

Daughter-in laws: Offer A LOT of sunshine.
Let mama shine by upping the respect to the 1000th degree. Remember, she raised this fabulous man you call Hubby. So be (overly) attentive, gracious and inclusive.

Building Beauty, From the Inside Out

Biting into a plate of food, I suddenly feel a strange snap inside my mouth. I place my finger on a tooth and abruptly it falls out. I make my way across my gums and, one by one, teeth crumble. I panic as I frantically try piecing together the white porcelain shards in my palm. I suddenly wake up from this nightmare.

A reoccurring dream of mine, I ponder its possible meaning. By this weekend, its significance is painfully clear.

On Saturday morning, I feel an incredible pain in my molar—a throbbing menace that moves through my sinuses, head and ears. Monday morning, the tooth/headache is unbearable. By Tuesday morning, I am dialing dentists, desperately trying to book an appointment.

The final diagnosis: tooth decay, two root canals.

Bedridden for several days, I am fuming over the astronomical dental bill, frustrated that the meds aren't working, sad that I can't be with my daughter. More so, I feel guilt.

These root canals are completely preventable. Yes, I admit, I am a sugar addict. I also hate going to the dentist. I put off important tasks. But these are simply symptoms of a larger, underlying ailment.

Dreams of teeth falling out are quite common. Some dream interpreters believe teeth represent one’s attractiveness, beauty and self-confidence. Caring about how we appear is apparently quite normal and creates a certain amount of anxiety.

But what happens when the pursuit of perfection becomes an compulsion that rots you from the inside out? When you chronically coat your teeth with high-calorie, high-carbohydrate foods and then bath them in hydrochloric stomach acid? When you yet again must confront the unimaginable damage of self-inflicted abuse.

As I work towards rebuilding my teeth, I am reminded of a painful past, battling a very personal, very shameful body image problem. Sad little shards of insecurity and self-hatred that I now hold in the palm of my hand. Though I've come to treat my harmful habits, I still pay an enormous price for my actions, which I hope to one day settle. But that's ok, 'cause I am worth every penny.

Motivational Monday: Reclaiming a Marriage After an Unplanned Pregnancy

This past week, our daughter spent some time with her grandparents. She played with her cousins, consumed massive amounts of sweets, and stayed up late watching her beloved Disney movies. Basically, she had a blast. Just as importantly, the Hubby and I had some much-needed alone time.

By mharvey 75 using the Creative Commons License

Our daughter—as much as we love her—was a surprise. Dating for several years, we planned to marry and start a family eventually. But mother nature inevitably took charge and we couldn’t procrastinate any longer. Glaring down a positive pregnancy test and barely visible baby bump, we suddenly found ourselves with an enormous responsibility at hand. To grow up quickly, to become the responsible nine-to-fiver, that buys insurance and pension plans, owns a family car and home. The whole nine yards in merely nine months. And yes, add getting married at six-months pregnant into the mix.

Like my hormones, our relationship went through a whirlwind. We never experienced marriage minus the kids, or even a honeymoon. But we regarded all previous years being just a couple the vacation—which now seemed like a distant memory.

During our week alone, we made several references to those missing marital years: Well, this must be what being married feels like! We had dinners alone. Deep conversations over wine. Long walks holding hands. A marriage uninterrupted.

Yet, at times I would glance behind me and notice an empty carseat, toddler bed, toys scattered across the living room floor. As much as we wanted to relive our carefree years through these date nights, we weren’t young anymore, nor single or childless.

We are a family.

Reuniting with my daughter again brought so much joy. She is the heart of all our hard work, our marriage and our life. She is not a burden, or the symbol of a single life lost. She is the product of our strength, perseverance, and faith that love conquers all.

If being away from my daughter confirmed my desire for family, it also exemplified our imminent future—of plenty more alone time. For all our hard work and love will finally come to fruition when our daughter ultimately claims her independence. And rather than wishing for some much-needed alone time, I will be desperately grasping to hold her in my arms again.

By Miss Kim Marie, using the Creative Commons License 

But, maybe by then, the Hubby and I would have already repaired age-old wounds, built deeper connections, and renewed spirits—so we can too frolic the sandy beaches of some distant island, like a newly married couple, looking onward to the horizon.