Body by Trimester

We all know that pregnancy comes with weight gain.  It has to, we are growing a baby!  But this doesn't mean we have to gain a large amount of weight just because we are pregnant.  I don't know about you but I want to look good and feel good when pregnant! 

 I found Body by Trimester online and instantly fell in love with the idea!  What first sparked my interest was the fact that she workouts out with you through EVERY trimester!!  She physically does each trimester workout.  I really loved this because when I typically follow prenatal workouts, the instructor isn't always pregnant and/or in the wrong trimester as you.  It was nice to follow along and grow with each workout!  (obviously I wasn't with 2nd or 3rd trimester, but for the sake of the review I did them for fun)

"Body by Trimester is a pregnancy fitness DVD series designed and demonstrated by a pregnant personal trainer. This series includes nine fun, effective, and safe trimester-specific workouts packed into a 3-DVD set. Each trimester of pregnancy is unique for the mind and the body, so each workout is tailored to help you gain strength, energy, and a better sense of well-being-a great gift to give your baby! Each trimester DVD includes two 30-minute interval training workouts, as well as a 15-minute express workout, all utilizing dumbbells and a stability ball. These pregnancy workouts focus on the muscles that get the most wear and tear during pregnancy, and pay extra special attention to the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles. The 3rd trimester even includes special exercises to help you prepare for labor. Each DVD has a separate section on abdominal toning and how to check for diastasis recti. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends, "that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most, if not all days of the week" (ACOG, 2002). These pregnancy workouts will help you do just that, so get moving!"

I love the creative workouts.  I won't lie, she really works you! I am not by any means completely fit, but I do workout weekly 3-5 a week at night while my kids sleep, so I could keep up well.  I simply loved it.  It wasn't overly hard but I could definitely feel the muscles being used, especially my hip area (which is probably the best possible area for me to work!  So I enjoyed the burn.)  I like that most of the DVD is about strength training; squats, lunges, the arms and upper back work. 

I really loved how she understands that not all days are the same.  Some days you will feel amazing and full of energy and the very next day might feel completely exhausted.  Joy tells you to do you best but if you don't feel like 12 reps, do less! It's nice to workout to someone who is physically fit while pregnant but understands that each day is going to be different and that pushing yourself while pregnant is NOT good for you.  This should be a time of maintaining, not loosing weight.  

If you want a workout that really targets the areas most effected by pregnancy this DVD is fantastic!  She looks amazing working out while pregnant so I definitely trust her workout will help keep you motivated, energized, and hopefully less stressed about weight gain!

BUY IT!! Body by Trimester is available online for $44.99.  You can also try Body by Trimester Postnatal Exercise DVD which include 4 workouts that emphasize abdominal recovery for only $19.99!   Get your body back after baby and keep it fit while while pregnant!

 

*I was given a copy of Body by Trimester for FREE to conduct this review.  The opinions are mine.

Please remember to talk to your doctor or midwife before starting any exercise program, especially during pregnancy.  Also, remember that you may not be able to do all the exercises involved and only do what you can without injuring yourself.  Be aware of your body and know what feels okay to do.  As always, listen to your doctor or midwife when it comes to exercise for you and ask them if Body by Trimester is right for you.