Body After Baby (it's true what they say)

It's been over a year since I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy. And what a year it's been. Sometimes I feel so guilty for not posting more to BBF but then I'm reminded that these first few years with my boy is time that I'll never get back. Soon I'll have more time to post... for now my priority is as a mama! But I still love you!

As a follow up to my body just a couple of weeks after baby (yikes!)  and again three months after baby (here), I'm so ready to make my one year report. If you follow me on Instagram, you've seen the photos, and in case you missed it, here's my unmedicated birth story.

Weight

I gained around 40 pounds during my pregnancy and I lost about 30 within the first three or four weeks. While I don't own a scale, I continued to weigh myself at the gym about once a month. I hovered about 10 pounds over my original weight for  5-6 months. It wasn't until the 9 month mark did I feel like my body was back to it's original shape and size. You know what they say, it takes as long to take the weight off as it is to put it on! At a year I'm back to my original weight (plus or minus a pound or two as usual)

Body
I'm fortunate to say that the stretch marks on my tummy have completely faded. It's true what they say though. Perhaps it's mental or perhaps it never will be the same (which is totally worth it btw), but my skin is much looser and my belly button is different. My tummy also has a little bigger pooch to it that doesn't "tone up" as well as it used to. I'm attributing that to the diastisis (aka abdominal separation) that I've been working on. It seems that the more abdominal exercises I do the worse my tummy looks. So frustrating! It continues to slowly improve, but if this is as good as it gets thats a-ok in my book. I did make a human after all. #mombod

Nursing
At 13 months, I'm still nursing 2-3 times a day. My goal was to go a whole year and it just seemed that by the year mark it was easier (and cheaper) to continue to nursing than to wean Christian. He literally nurses for like 5 minutes three times a day so while I've been tempted a few times to give it up, it's comforting to know he's still getting all those antibodies.

It's interesting how my body continues to change with the frequency of nursing. It's true what they say about burning calories! I love food and particularly through pregnancy and nursing I've become obsessed with trail mix and almond butter. While it's a super healthy snack, almonds are highly caloric... I have to watch my extra snacks now that I don't need the extra fuel for breast milk. While before I was stuffing my face because I was ravenous, I have to make sure I'm not just snacking out of habit anymore...Very sneaky stuff!

Workouts

I went back to teaching just 6 weeks postpartum. I continue to teach 6 classes a week and I love it. My workouts are my alone time. They make me appreciate the time with Christian so much more. The fact that I'm doing something that makes me feel and look better is just a bonus to have some time to myself. 

Sleep
So I just read my three month update on sleep and I literally laughed out loud. "Christian is a great sleeper" Um, false. Christian just started sleeping through the night. I mean never not once in a whole year did he sleep for longer than an 8 hour stretch (keeping in mind that he supposedly should go 11-12 hours). At about the 6 month mark (I blame teething!), things took a turn for the worst. He was up every couple of hours and wouldn't sleep with me or on his own. I tried sleep training and while it drastically helped, it just didn't feel right to me to continue to "train" (aka let him cry) my 7 month old to sleep. Alas, we had night after night of 3am nursing and on his one year mark, Christian finally decided to sleep from 7:30pm-6:30am and there have been no interruptions since. He's now on a 7pm-5:30am schedule. We are currently working on a later wake up but... progress!

Me oh my,  I'm so fortunate to have a healthy, happy baby boy but being a mama is no joke. It's true what they say... it's the hardest job in the world. But it's also the most rewarding. I feel beyond blessed to be a mama and we hope to try for number two by the end of the year.... I'll keep ya posted beach babes xx

3 Ways to Hold Your Baby & Protect Your Back

I now know why young moms have the best arms... it's from holding that big baby all time! Man oh man my arms get sore. I always know when Christian has put on a little weight because my shoulders start to hurt... Not to mention my aching back.

To protect my back I've done a little research on the best way to carry my sweet boy. Here are 3 ways to hold your baby & protect your back.

1. Make sure when you lift your baby, SQUAT! Use your legs and not your back and don't bend at the waist, bend at the knees. My squat game is on point these days. I drop down to pick up my boy at least 50x a day... also keep this in mind when cleaning up toys, picking up the stroller etc etc.

2. The car can be especially tricky with a baby. When putting your baby into the car seat, get in the car and sit next to him when you to buckle him in. That way, you won't stay hunched over the seat adding unwanted pressure on your spine.

3. Hip carrying is one of the easiest ways to multitask with a baby, but it's also one of the positions that puts the most strain on our back. So unlike the bad example I'm setting in the photo above, try to carry your baby in front of you to create a much safer and supported environment for your back.

Last but certainly not least, my biggest piece of advice for a healthy spine is a strong CORE. Make sure to try out my 5 Exercises to stregthen your Core and reduce back pain. Also, check out these 5 stretches for nursing mamas! xx

5 Stretches for New Mamas

Hi Babes! I've got a brand new video for you today that I filmed several months ago. I never realized how sore I would be those first few weeks after birth! My neck, back and shoulders were aching from holding and nursing Christian. These 5 stretches were a life saver and are great for all new moms whether you're breastfeeding or not. If you haven't had your baby yet, you might want to practice these a couple of times... trust me you're going to use them in a few weeks!

Postnatal Fitness : Abdominal Separation

Today I'm getting real about my body post baby. Did you know that over %40 of women suffer from abdominal separation postpartum? Well, I was one of that %40 (I'm blaming the need the demonstrate abdominal exercises during my pregnancy!). Luckily, I've found several ways to correct this condition known as Diastasis Recti and I'm sharing all my tips and tricks with you...

Beach Barre Thighs & Booty (with a Stroller!)

Hi Babes! It's time to work off the weekend with this brand new Beach Babe (stroller) Barre Workout. As you can see, I'm using my stroller as my Barre, which is perfect for mamas. But this exercise isn't just for moms, if you don't have a stroller, you can always use a chair or a wall. Feel the Beach Babe burn as you work the thighs and the booty. It burns so good! x

Beach Babe Video : Pelvic Tucks

Hi Babes! I'm back with a brand new Beach Babe video for you beauties! Pelvic Tucks is one of the very first exercises that I did postpartum and I'm still incorporating it into my daily workout to reignite my lower abdominals.

It's a great exercise for absolutely anyone.  I like to add this in just before the end of my workout to open up the front side of the body and for one final core exercise. It's a safe way to activate your abs while strengthening the back and work your booty all at once!

What's not to love? Try it with me or turn on your favorite song and get to tucking x

Three Months Post Partum

It's been just over three months since I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy. My world (and my body) will never be the same! Motherhood continues to challenge and excite me. Having a child is truly the best gift in the entire world.  Childbirth has made me appreciate my body in ways I never knew possible. Women are incredibly designed creatures!

As a follow up to my postpartum body one and two weeks after baby (you can see that here...eeek!), I'm not quite as self conscious to report my three month mark! AND In case you missed it, here's my unmedicated birth story.

Weight

I gained just about 40 pounds during my pregnancy and I lost about 30 within the first three or four weeks. While I'm not hung up about the number on the scale, I have been hovering around 10 pounds above my pre-pregnancy weight for the past couple of months. I've increased my activity level and have been watching what I eat so I'm a little surprised I haven't lost any more, but I think I'll probably remain where I am until I stop breast feeding.

My body shape is definitely different. My hips are still wider than they were and I've got a faint linea nigra which is weird because I never had one while I was pregnant. Inevitably I did get a few stretch marks on my tummy but they are slowly fading more and more...

Workouts

I feel like my strength has returned about 95%... I'm still fairly weak in my core but I feel myself getting stronger everyday. I returned to teaching six classes a week just six weeks post partum and I incorporate Towel Toning whenever I can. I work it in between naps or I'll take Christian with me to my workouts! The first few weeks he would sleep while I sweat it out, but now he just loves to watch us move! He will kick along to the music and has the best time laughing at us. 

Challenges

At six weeks Christian and I came down with a bad case of Thrush. OMG. If you've ever had thrush I know you feel my pain. It was terrible. Honestly, I'm going to say it was even worse than childbirth. I couldn't feed or even hold Christian for a day and I had to pump for all of his feedings. However, I was determined not to go on antibiotics (In case you haven't figured it out, I'm generally against most western medicine practices!). I went on a strict diet of absolutely zero sugar (including grains and fruits) and I took strong probiotics and other supplements to balance out my system. Since I'm strictly breast feeding, Christian received my same regimen, and I'm happy to say that after two days we were both on the mend... LMK if you need my prescription!

Sleep

Christian is a great sleeper. He takes long naps which lets me get my work done and at night he sleeps in his crib for the first three or four hours. Around one or two o'clock he wakes and I grab him and nurse him in bed until the morning. From there he's up about every couple of hours, but I gotta say, I feel much more rested now that I ever did during my pregnancy! 

Diet 

After my nightmare with thrush, I continued on the same diet of zero sugars as well as my nursing diet. Naturally, the worst part was giving up coffee for a few weeks. But I also didn't eat dairy (except for goat's milk and cheese), grains (including oatmeal, quinoa etc.) legumes (beans), or cruciferous vegetables. Um, yeah. I was pretty intense for a couple of weeks... but a mama's gotta do what a mama's gotta do!

So what did I eat? My sweet hubby spent a lot of time on the BBQ for a couple of weeks grilling up meats and veggies like zucchini! I ate a lot of eggs for protein and almond butter and coconut oil to keep up my energy. It was hard to make sure I was getting enough calories but it's amazing how much more energy I have now. Over the last couple of weeks I've re-incorporated fruits and occasionally grains, but my morning oatmeal routine came to an abrupt stop and I'm only eating sweets on the weekends now... except for my Lily's Coconut Dark Chocolate bars of course!

#bodypop #vimmiaactivewear #fitpregnancy

It's not just genetics

I was visiting with a friend not long ago and she commented on how good I look post pregnancy. She told me, "You're lucky that you have such good genetics."

While I am proud of how I look just two months after giving birth, I worked hard for this body. I had to remind her that I taught fitness classes up until the day I went into labor. As a matter of fact, I was supposed to teach two classes on the day I gave birth! Not only did I maintain a strict workout schedule throughout my pregnancy, but I returned to exercising and teaching as soon as I felt my body was ready (about 3 weeks postpartum).

Again she said "Yeah, it's genetic."

I didn't think much of her statements until my drive home. I realized that I was kind of offended.  Why couldn't my hard work be validated? Yes, my mom and my grandma are both in excellent shape (you can read about them here) but they too workout 5-6 days a week.

Unless keeping a strict workout schedule is genetic, my body is absolutely a product of the work and food that I put into it. Whether it be diet or exercise, my lifestyle dictates my healthy physique.

Do we have a propensity toward the same circumstances as our parents and grandparents?

Absolutely. However, we also have the ability to change that propensity. For instance, if you're family is prone to heart disease, it's extra important to pay attention to your cardiovascular health. If diabetes runs in your family, pay attention to how much sugar is in your diet. Substance abuse, cancer, you name it, we all have someone in our past with some kind of disease or illness.

We are also all given the freedom of choice. You can look at your parents and say "Oh, they're unhealthy so I'm automatically going to be unhealthy too." Or you can change your genetic make-up. 

You can eat healthy, workout, get your behavior in check. You make your priorities, not your parents, not your grandparents. We can make an excuse for absolutely everything.

Yes, I'm fortunate to be a fitness instructor. Since I get paid to workout, I don't really have an excuse to be out of shape or to skip a workout. But never do I think "Oh boy, I'm lucky I have such great genetics!"

It's not luck. It's hard work. And dedication. And commitment to making healthy choices on a daily basis for me and my family. I'm more than genetics. 

Back Extension... Land Swimming!

Hi Babes! I'm so excited to share a brand new Beach Babe workout video! Oh yes. It's been a few months but now that my baby is 8 weeks, I'm feeling confident with my post baby body and I'm sharing an exercise that I did about 3 weeks post pregnancy (part of this postnatal workout).

This back extension exercise (that I like to call land swimming) strengthens the lower back and it's a great workout to open the front side of your body including your hips and chest. I often do this exercise at the end of my workouts following a lot of lunges or squats. To keep the body balanced, we need to make sure that we open the hip flexors and keep our lower back strong. Side note: It's a great stretch for breastfeeding moms!

Enjoy this 3 minute exercise and feel free to modify or advance to your needs! xo

Post Pregnancy & Nursing "Diet"

I hate the words associated with diet. When I say the word I think most people probably think of restrictions or calorie counting or something that has a certain time limit. While I am not against "going on a diet" for reasons like weight loss, to detect allergies or to detox, I don't normally use the word diet in such a way.

However, I'm gonna say it... I am on a diet. There ya have it. While working to get my pre-pregnancy body back and nursing, it's important to limit certain foods and eat more of others. So, to maintain an adequate milk supply and (since I'm not working out) continue to lose weight the healthy way, I'm spilling the details of my "diet."

Firstly, nothing has changed since one of my recent posts, Count Chemicals, Not Calories. I am not counting calories during this time but eating organic, pure foods from the earth and trying to stick to the idea of "Breakfast like a king, Dinner like a pauper." I'm eating probably more calories than usual because nursing burns so many... Even without my workouts, I am ravenous all the time!

Sample Menu:

While the above menu isn't too far off from my normal everyday diet, I've altered things slightly (like resisting guilting pleasures)...

Foods I'm Avoiding:

While foods like cheese, kale and lentils are some of my very favorite foods, I'm not eating dairy (from cows milk), legumes and cruciferous vegetables because they are said to give newborns gas. Wahhh. Sounds crazy but since I cut them out, Christian (my baby boy) has been much happier. 

White bread (I only eat Ezekiel Bread and tortillas) and desserts are always the first to go when I want to shed some pounds. Luckily, since I'm not eating dairy (there goes ice cream and pizza!) it's easier to resist temptation. When I have a sweet tooth I've been treating myself with a piece (or three) of a Lily's Dark Chocolate Bar. 

Foods I'm Adding:

I've been starting every morning with a shot of Apple Cider Vinegar (read more here) and taking these probiotics (2 a day) to make sure my gut stays healthy. A healthy gut for mama equals a healthy gut for baby. I've also continued taking my prenatal vitamins. 

To Maintain milk supply: Nuts, seeds, carrots, oats and beer are all said to boost milk production. I'm not sure if it's true, but it can't hurt!

What do you think? Simple enough, right?  For all you mamas out there, I'd love to hear how your child reacts to your diet... any foods you have to avoid with your newborn?

My First Postnatal Exercise

I got my first workout in yesterday! Yay! Never did I think I'd appreciate my own online videos as much as I do now. Fitting in my workout while Christian sleeps is harder than I thought but... I did it! I realize that if exercise isn't a priority, it really is so tough to get done with a little one.

Let me start by saying that my body is feeling about 90% back to normal. I'm still recovering and taking it easy until I get the OK to return back to my regular exercise schedule but for now, I'm slowly starting to reignite my muscles by doing the following exercises...

I started the day with a 2 mile walk with my hubby and pup. Thank God for my Ergo Baby Carrier , I wouldn't get anything done without it.

To combat the effects of nursing (boy, oh boy that's a workout in it's own) on my body I continued my workout with a back workout including several variations and sets of rows as described in this post.

I also did some of my favorite shoulder stretches like the ones shown below... (I was about 6 months pregnant):

I'm working of getting my hips back to their normal width while getting my booty back in shape so I did one of my favorite booty exercise videos that I filmed when I was first pregnant. Working the outside of the butt, this exercise helps to stabilize the hips while strengthening the outer glutes:

I finished off my workout with pelvic tucks to re-engage my pelvic floor, my abdominals and even the backs of my legs and a few more yoga stretches to open up the front of my body...  I'm planning to post a video next week showing this perfect post-pregnancy exercise.

All that nursing, diaper chaining, etc is certainly paying a toll and I'm doing all I can to relieve my body of it's aches and pains!

Thanks so much for being patient while I spend this precious time with my new baby boy. Stay tuned for more Beach Babe videos as well as some of my diet secrets to get my body back xx

PS. If you're post pregnancy and feeling uncomfortable doing any of the above exercises... don't do them!!

Beach Babe After Baby?

Okay, I'm totally nervous sharing these photos with you. I was going to wait a few more weeks (once my body had a little more time to bounce back) until my sister convinced me otherwise. Feeling pretty vulnerable right about now... 

I'm not sure what I had expected to look like post pregnancy. I know I've been shopping for a cute one piece for the first few weeks of summer... but I didn't expect to still look pregnant after I delivered!

I bought two cute new pajamas for the hospital thinking that I'd be nursing in those and wearing another cute outfit home. Little did I know, I'd still have the belly of my second trimester, and I ended up going home in the same dress I wore there. Wah, wahh...

With that being said, everyday my stomach gets a little smaller as I return to my post pregnancy shape. Thank God for nursing... Christian is sucking the fat right off me! Every morning I wake up a little smaller and my babe a little bigger. 

While nursing can burn up to 1,000 calories a day (just one of a million reasons to nurse your baby!), I am looking forward to getting back to my workouts. My bum is gettin' saggy! Which is why I'm kick starting my fitness regime this week with some light exercise. 

A few things I've been doing over the past two weeks to get my belly back to it's original size: 

• Massaging the area from my belly button to my pelvis (aka my uterus)
• Sleeping on my side
• Nursing (duh!)
• Drinking as much water as possible

I'll share the details of my first post pregnancy workout and my post pregnancy diet soon. xx

My Bradley Method Birth Story

Disclaimer: 

This post is totally personal and totally long... 

One week ago today, a little miracle came into my life. I couldn't be happier to say that on May 15th at 10:19pm, my precious son, Christian Sutton Sinclair came into this world at 7lbs 13 oz and 21 inches long. I am so drunk in love and am convinced that there is nothing better in this whole wide world than being a mama. I cry everyday thanking God for this amazing gift.

I've shared much of my pregnancy with all of you and I know many of you are curious to hear my birth story. Early on in my pregnancy I posted about 3 Reasons Why I want a Natural Birth. After 43 hours of labor (most of it being back labor), I delivered Christian at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach without any medication. 

43 hours. For real?! For real. I wrote every detail I could remember so that I never forget these magical days. I figured I'd share them with you. I remember reading someone else's birth story before my delivery and I found it so encouraging. I hope this does the same for you. 

Wednesday, 3:30 am

I awoke feeling a sensation all over my body. Call me crazy but it was kind of an orgasmic feeling... I had my first contraction shortly after. It didn't hurt but was like a wave that came over my body. I like to explain it like when you're swimming in the ocean and you see a large wave approaching in the distance. You find yourself exhilarated and slightly panicked to swim with all your might as you barely make it under the wave and out the other side. My first few hours of contractions felt much like this. Sometimes it was like the wave was catching my feet and almost pulling me under...

I decided not to wake Chad until he started stirring in bed around 7:30am. As soon as he popped open his eyes I said to him "Babe, today is the day." We were so giddy! We ate some breakfast, watched some TV with me on the birthing ball. We decided to get back in bed and suddenly things started getting more intense and I started to feel painful spasms in my back. Laying down was not an option. With each contraction Chad had to massage and put pressure on my lower back... I was not expecting that. It got to the point where I couldn't speak through contractions and I said lets get ready to go to the hospital. I took a shower and even blow dried my hair a little bit, again breathing through contractions and calling out to Chad to massage my aching back. 

Wednesday, 12:00pm (hospital)

By the time we got to the hospital I was in a lot of pain. My breathing was all over the place and I looked at the nurse and said "I'm having a baby." I remember looking at the other women waiting to be seen thinking "Wow, I must be a lot further along than them because they don't look like they're in pain at all." 

When I got into the room, a nurse came by to check me and she said I was only 1 centimeter dilated. She continued to go on about the heat and how sometimes we "think" we are in labor but I'm probably just "dehydrated". Ummm... what?! I remember saying "Okay but then why is my back spasming and hurting so badly?" It really was unlike any other pain I've experienced. She said that the baby might be facing the wrong way (hard skull against my spine vs hard skull pressing on and opening the cervix) Knowing that I wanted an unmedicated birth (thanks to my birth plan), she helped me with my breathing and encouraged me to go home and come back. Chad and I couldn't have agreed more. I barely remember driving to my chiropractor for an adjustment and stopping for food on our way home where I had to wait in the car with "spa" music on and the seat heater... this was the best position for the pain so far.  

Wednesday Afternoon (Home)

When we got home, the situation remained much the same. Every 3-5 minutes I was having contractions that were about one minute. It's amazing how time goes by when you're laboring. Hours feel like minutes. We spent the day trying different laboring positions like squatting, all fours, birthing ball etc. The only position that was bearable was sitting in an upright position. 

Chad made me drink water and made me dinner but I couldn't eat. I remember spitting up a bite as I felt a contraction coming on.  Honestly, this part of the day was all kind of hazy as I was in my meditative, zombie, riding the "waves" zone. Still my back was my biggest complaint, with each contraction Chad had to put pressure on my bulging spine. Next thing I knew, I was in our rocker in the nursery where I remained for the rest of the night. Sitting upright, rocking through contractions and reclining to  sleep for who knows how long in between. The worst of them were when Chad dosed off on the floor next to me and I'd have to yell at him to wake up because... "MY BACK!" 

All throughout the night, I remembered one of my favorite mantras from our birthing classes: "this is good, these are strong contractions because I am a strong woman and I am having a strong baby" Chad helped me remember too. Sometimes I felt half asleep, rocking through contractions... 

Thursday, 8am (Hospital)

I knew I could have waited longer, but at that point it had been so long I just wanted to know my progression. If there wasn't any, I needed the option of relief! This time as we arrived at the hospital, I remained in my "zone" as I closed my eyes and had Chad push me in a wheel chair to the same place we arrived less than 24 hours ago. As the nurse checked me, I was so relieved to hear 7 cm! Yes! I was almost there... or so I thought. 

As we walked to our delivery room, I had to fall into Chad several times in the hallways. It was hard to block out the passers by but I had to focus on my breathing and relaxing so that I wouldn't freak out... my back felt like it was going to explode. 

When we got to our delivery room Chad dimmed the lights and set up some of the stuff we brought, like candles. I immediately set the bed upright and dropped the legs so I was in a seated position -- this remained my favorite for the next several hours. We tried different positions, took a shower, and Chad made sure I stayed hydrated and went to the restroom every hour. I remember the most uncomfortable part was having to wear the fetal heart monitor strap around my belly. We kept pulling it off despite the wishes of our doctor.

My nurse and Chad kept telling me how amazing I was doing and at that point I knew there was no way I was going to get the epidural.

8:00 pm

Again, time stopped and before I knew it, a new nurse named Sandy entered the room and introduced herself as my delivery nurse. Knowing that we wanted an unmedicated birth, Sandy told us that she used to be a Lamaze Coach (a natural birth technique) and I immediately trusted her. However, she also came with bad news, saying that I was still only 7 cm dilated. Oh geez.

She put me in some new positions and asked if  I'd be willing to have a doctor break my bag of waters. Knowing that might just be the ticket to getting things to the next level, I agreed. Chad nearly died when the doctor who came in was a man. Ha!

Breaking the bag of waters was such a relief. I couldn't believe how much water there was! If you have to even guess whether yours has broken, it hasn't... you'll know!

From there things progressed... quickly. The next hour was a daze but I remember walking around the room in a zombie like trance. Chad says I was on my feet for the entire hour. During this time I remember saying things like "I can't" and "I'm scared." I remember thinking "screw this, I now know why people don't have kids. I'm never doing this again. I'm adopting my next kid." 

Little did I know during this time that the baby's heart rate was slowing down. I had to breath in while holding an oxygen mask. It actually became a great tool for me to focus on. Chad told me later that he was afraid I was going to have to get a cesarean because during contractions the baby wasn't doing well. I remember knowing innately that everything was okay. I was never scared for my baby's safety.

Suddenly I had the overwhelming desire to push! I told my delivery nurse but she said you can't push yet because you're not fully dilated. "But I have to!" I remember yelling. She checked me and whoa... in only an hour I went from 7cm to 10cm. She called the doctor. As the desire to push became stronger and stronger, my nurse told me I had to wait for the doctor... "Are you f**ing kidding me?"

I stared at her dead in the eyes and said, "You and me. We can do this." Her response, "We probably could. but we have to wait." She gave me a breathing technique to subside my desire to push. This was by far the hardest part of the two days. After telling my body to "open" for the last who knows how many hours, I had to do the opposite. "Where's the f**ing doctor?!" I screamed. 

Despite the way that I thought I would want to deliver (squatting), I found myself trusting my nurse when she told me to lie back with my legs in stirrups. I remember asking that the back of the chair be raised so I was in more of a seated position.... and finally that doctor decided to show up. It was time for me to let my body do what it needed to do to get that baby out!

During all of my Bradley Method classes, we would watch videos and this was the part I was most nervous about...the "ring of fire." Interestingly enough, this was by far the most exciting part of labor for me! It was empowering to push with all my might and feel my body take over. It hurt, but my mind was in a different place... I was an animal. A couple of times the care givers (who were tracking my contractions) would urge me to push and I would say "No I'm not feeling this one." Then a more powerful contraction would come and I had the energy to push that much harder. At one point, they convinced me to lower the back of my bed and again, despite what I had initially learned (use gravity to help get the baby out), I went with it. I just wanted this baby out! 

Each pushing sensation became more intense and the doctor kept saying "Wow, look at all that hair!" She asked if I wanted a mirror and I was like "Uh, no. Definitely not." She said touch your baby's head. So I reached down and felt his squishy hair. It was as soft as a pillow. It made me much more motivated to push... his little head was getting squished! After about 20 minutes of pushing, I remember hearing "Look at your baby." As I looked down, I saw the most beautiful boy in the world...

(there's a whole head of dark hair under that hat!)

Christian Sutton is one week old today and is perfectly healthy. We have had no problems nursing, he's been alert between feedings and naps since birth, and I even get around 6 hours of sleep a night. As hoped, I am recovering quickly. It's been hard to tell myself to "slow down." We've gone on several walks around the neighborhood and look forward to going shoe shopping over the weekend... I'm in a wedding on the 31st! 

I couldn't be happier with my birthing experience. I am so thankful to my husband for his support and for Nicole Green, our Bradley Method birth coach at The Birth School. Also a big thanks to my delivery nurse, Sandra Jones. I could not have done it without them. 

Call me crazy, but I'm actually excited for my next birth experience. It was an agonizing, exhilarating adventure. I couldn't imagine not feeling all those sensations... my body is pretty dang amazing!

Coming soon:

 I'm baring my postpartum body (eeeeek!) and sharing my tips and tricks to get myself in a bikini this summer!

Pregnancy Update

Photo taken at 34 Weeks

Weight Gained: 

34 Pounds

Baby Belly: 

My stomach has reached a new level of huge over the past few weeks... It's really taken over! Luckily, baby is still in the right position (head down) and I constantly feel his little kicks in my rib cage and at the top of my stomach. I've learned to feel exactly where his butt and feet are located.

  I can no longer see my feet at all when I look down and instead see a little nubbin' that was once known as my belly button. I feel like he's slowly starting to drop a little bit and at night I wake up having to pee so badly it hurts! 

Christian still kicks and squirms like crazy. Sometimes I'll say to whoever I'm with "Look!" and you can actually see him squirming around in my belly from across the room. It's kind of like in a creepy horror movie... ha! But, It's actually one of the most special things ever. 

Cravings: 

Turkey Sandwiches, Watermelon, Apples, Homemade Strawberry Lemonade (stay tuned for the recipe)

Fitness Level: 

I'm still teaching 6 classes a week with a lot of modifications. Apart from a few leg lifts and pliés, I'm verbal cueing everything. In fact, for the last 15-20 minutes of class I usually just sit on my mat and use my arms for demonstrating. 

I haven't filmed any videos because let's face it, at this point I'm huge and since the camera adds 10 pounds, that's really just depressing. Sorry I'm not sorry for not posting any new videos or workouts recently. 

Symptoms & Comfort Level: 

Heartburn is a bitch! While sometimes I can cure it with some acidophilus (pro-biotics) or papaya enzymes, at this point, indigestion is inevitable. It sometimes keeps me up at night it gets so bad...

I've started to have Braxton Hicks on a daily basis and some of them even hurt a little... contractions perhaps? While I haven't dilated at all (according to my check-up last week), I definitely feel like my body is getting ready for what's about to happen. 

My clothing options have dwindled to about 2 options. 1. Maternity leggings with a loose fitting dress or 2. A loose fitting dress. Anything tight is just uncomfortable and sweats are a nice option to wear absolutely anywhere. 

My Birth: 

Chad and I finish our final Bradley Method birth class next week. After a full 10 week course, I feel like we are more than prepared... got any pregnancy related questions? Hit me up. 

 I am feeling very confident in my decision to have an unmedicated birth at a hospital and I love my OB. However, we did discuss doing a home birth. I was amazed when it was actually Chad's idea! 

While I'm not opposed to having a home birth (after all, I'm not a sick person and the hospital is for sick people), I like the idea of being waited on at the hospital. My concern isn't about emergencies. I'm a healthy, strong woman, who's body was made to birth a baby... but birthing at home seems messy to me. Lamest excuse ever, but I'd be worried about staining the bedding or the carpets! 

Attitude: 

The nursery is all finished, Christian's clothes are all hung and perfectly organized by age, our birth plan is written out, and our bags are getting packed! While I thought that perhaps our baby would come early, with only three weeks left until our due date, he can hang in there for as long as he needs to. 

I love my son so much already and Chad and I can't wait to bring him into the world. We love to talk about what he will look like and which of our traits he is going to inherit. I know one thing for sure, Christian Sutton Sinclair is going to be amazing! 

More Maternity photos by Alex Nicole: 

A Quick Note:

 I'm really starting to feel for people who are overweight. Carrying around this extra 30 pounds is no small feat. If you're overweight, trust me when I say it's much easier to diet and exercise than to haul around this extra load! Get ready to slim down with me post baby :)

Beach Babe: Erica Ziel of Knocked-Up Fitness

I am so excited to introduce you to Erica Ziel of Knocked-Up Fitness. Erica has established a wonderful pre and postnatal program that answers any fitness questions an expecting or new mama might have. Between her blog, her DVD series, and her new book, Erica has been an amazing resource for me over the last few months and I know she will continue to inspire me postpartum. 

I love that Erica has created a workout program designed specifically for moms. Her DVD series is wonderful because you can do it from home (hello first and third trimesters when I'm not going anywhere!). It's a super effective workout that any fitness level can complete. I received her book last week and I think I'm even more obsessed with the book than with the DVD series! She outlines several different workouts based on trimester and answers some pressing questions you may not even knew you had. 

With a degree in Kinesiology and Health and over 10 years of experience teaching Pilates and personal training, it's clear how Erica's passion for fitness can help every mama. With three kids of her own, this babe knows how to maintain her beach babe body through a fit and healthy pregnancy and long after. While I can't wait to get back to my regular fitness routine (pregnancy has been great but I'm ready for some higher intensity), Knocked-Up Fitness continues to focus on us new mamas which is a great asset to any expecting woman. I'm so happy to introduce you to Erica! 

What inspired you to start Knocked-Up Fitness?

I’ve always had an interest in prenatal fitness, which grew once I became pregnant with my first. I started Knocked-Up Fitness just after having my second. It started as a blog and personal training for pregnant and new moms. I got the idea to do the Prenatal Pilates-Infused Workouts when I was pregnant with my third, and the After Baby Pilates-Infused Functional Workouts after having her.

What do you think is the hardest part of being pregnant and having a baby?

The exhaustion! (<< oh yes!)

From sleepiness and weight gain to food cravings, do you have any tips to help a women gain control over her body and appetite while pregnant?

Everything in moderation. Enjoy those not-so-healthy treats on occasion, but try to keep a healthy diet for the majority of the time. Exercise can help balance your life/hormones to control those cravings. And of course, drink lots of water!

What's the biggest myth when it comes to exercise and pregnancy?

The biggest myth is that it isn’t safe for pregnant women to exercise. Exercise is so great for you and baby during pregnancy and beyond. More and more studies are showing the positive benefits prenatal fitness has on mom and baby.

What are the most important exercises that a woman should focus on while pregnant?

Exercises that activate your deep core including your pelvic floor. There are many exercises that are important during pregnancy, but some key ones are squats, squats with rotation, forward rolls and kegels.

How mindful should I be when it comes to gaining weight while pregnant? Any tips to staying within the recommended amount without worrying about the number on the scale?

First off, don’t focus on the number on the scale. Your body will gain what it needs to be healthy while carrying baby. Stay active and eat healthy on a regular basis, but allow yourself to indulge in cravings in small amounts. Staying well hydrated and get plenty of rest.

Was it harder to loose the baby weight after your second child? What about the third? Why or why not?

For me personally it was the hardest with baby number 3. It can be more challenging with each baby due to lack of sleep, finding the time to workout, and the fact that your skin has stretched more. With each pregnancy your hips stretch sooner and your belly pops out quicker. Your body takes on that “pregnancy shape” earlier. Therefore, it can take longer with each pregnancy to get your hips and skin to return to your former pre-baby glory.

I've heard women say "pregnancy ruined my body" or "my body has never been the same after having kids." What would you say to encourage those women?

You can’t compare your pre-baby and after baby bodies because your body has endured a major life change. I try to help women feel their best through healthy eating habits and exercising regularly, including functional strengthening exercises. Having a strong body helps you function better in your daily life as a mom and helps you feel better. By focusing on you and your well being as a mom, centering yourself and taking care of yourself as you did pre-baby, you will gradually start to feel better in your own skin. Be patient and break down your goals into smaller baby steps that you can manage as a mom.

Realistically, how long does it take to lose the baby weight?
Most fit women will lose the baby weight within 3-6 months postpartum, but it could take 9 months to a year for your hips, skin and body composition to be back to your previous size/state. Focus on how you feel and how your clothes are fitting as opposed to a number on the scale... throw the scale out! Remember, muscle is more dense than fat. So you could actually end up weighing more while being thinner if you’re exercising and strength training regularly.

Check out Erica's Knocked-Up Fitness program here. From tips and workout challenges to free workout videos, Erica has every resource new and expecting mama's could want. And stay tuned for a little collab from the two of us! Thanks Erica! xo

Leg Lifts With Momtastic

Hi Babes! Today I'm bringing you another video presented via Momtastic. At nearly 34 weeks pregnant, it's nearly impossible to show you anything new that's not also safe for expecting mamas. That doesn't mean this exercise isn't good for everyone... we all want a better butt, yes?

These leg lifts target the outside of your booty (the gluteus medius) to strengthen the pelvis. Not only will this exercise help to reduce pain in your hips and lower back, but it will help to slim the hips. I hope you enjoy this short (but painful!) exercise. It burns so good!

Click here to view this exercise via Momtastic. 

PS. Can't wait to bring you some booty spankin' new moves in just a couple of months!

The Icky Truth About Stretch Marks

Why thank you, but no, this is not me -- source

I have stretch marks. There, I said it. I've had them since I was a teen...ah, puberty. Fortunately, they are in places viewed  by only a lucky few. But, since I'm prone to stretch marks, at 33 weeks pregnant, I have been so nervous to get them on my stomach. Literally every mark from my clothing or bed sheets I think, "there they are... here they come..."

While I don't normally moisturize everyday,  I've been applying Mother's Special Blend every night before bed. I love the slight scent of chocolate that comes from the blend of almond oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter and vitamin E (that's it -- no additives!) and guess what? No stretch marks.

With just a few weeks left, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that those squiggly dark lines won't show up during or after my pregnancy. And yet, these bad boys can show up anytime -- pregnant or not. While there's no proven way to prevent them (you can thank your parents), I've done a little research and found 3 ways I believe will help keep them from appearing:

• Gain and Lose Weight Gradually: While we can't control that beautiful growing belly, we can control our diet. Just because we are pregnant does not mean we should shove our mouth full of whatever we want. Same goes for post pregnancy, it's not the time to crash diet. Keep your meals healthy and proportionate and you'll have a better chance at gaining and losing the weight over time. 

• Moisturize: This goes for the inside and the outside. Not only can you use a moisturizer (this one is my absolute favorite), but make sure you're staying hydrated by drinking at least half your body weight in ounces a day of water. This will help to keep your skins elasticity.

• Take your Vitamins: Taking a daily supplement as well as essential fatty oils (my daily regimen, including prenatal vitamins, can be found here and here) help every organ in your body, including the largest organ... your skin. 

Unfortunately, once stretch marks have reared their ugly faces, there isn't much you can do to get rid of them. Studies show that Retin-A and Glycolic acid creams tend to reduce their appearance, but you absolutely cannot use either of these products while you're pregnant or nursing. 

The Good News: If you've got dark stretch marks, they should fade within 6 months to a year. Also, while maybe every time you look in the mirror all you can see are those ugly lines, nobody else will notice. And if they do, who cares? Stretch marks are a reminder of who you are and what you're body has gone through. Whether through childbirth or weight loss, don't let your battle wounds get you down. Nobody will notice a few little lines if you've got a bangin' body... am I right?

Squat it Out with Momtastic

I'm presenting this week's workout via Momtastic, an amazing website for mamas and moms-to-be where I've had the opportunity to contribute over the past few weeks  (click here to go straight to the workout).  Your exercise for this week is all about the squat. Whether you're expecting or not, we all need work on our squat. When we were young it was a natural position for us, but squatting has become a position of the past, although it has so many benefits... especially for expecting mom's like me!

Not only does the squat tighten and tone the derriere like nobody's business, but it's the best exercise we can do to prepare our bodies for delivery(Yes, in my opinion even better than the kegel!). The squat position shifts our pelvis forward and opens the hips for an easy exit for baby. It's also one of the only exercises that will stretch out the pelvic floor and perineum area. I think we can all agree that avoiding an episiotomy (or tear) is a major priority... so, better get squatting!

For these reasons and so many more, let's squat it out! 

Click here to view your squat workout via Momtastic.

Pregnancy Update

Weight Gained: 

28 pounds 

(hoping to keep it below 40 with 2 months left... eek!)

Baby Belly: 

I officially have an outie and my belly continues to grow bigger every day but still no linea nigra or stretch marks (lucky me!). I can tell Christian is getting more crowded as sometimes his little feet will get me in the ribcage. I find myself saying "Okay Baby you need to move a little bit because that's not a good position." In my mind, he knows exactly what I'm saying. When his Daddy speaks to him and kisses my belly, Christian always acknowledges him with a little movement. It's crazy to watch my tummy undulate from one side to the next. Sometimes I can feel his leg or his arm and last night it was as if we were holding hands as  (I think) I could feel his little hand and fingers. My Doctor has confirmed that Christian is head down... the right position for delivery, yay!

Cravings: 

Apples, Watermelon, Oranges, Potatoes, Ice Cream

Fitness Level: 

I'm teaching six classes a week and I plan to keep this schedule up until I deliver. I've been telling all of my students, "If I don't show up one day, it's probably because I had my baby!" Call me crazy, but labor and delivery will be the most physically strenuous hours of my life. To stop working out during my last few weeks of pregnancy would be like to stop training the month of a marathon. Just doesn't make sense to me. While I've had to modify or completely stop doing a lot of my favorite exercises and my energy level is quickly dwindling, I've been practicing my squat in hopes that baby will fall right out (more on the squat, tomorrow)! 

Symptoms & Comfort Level:

While I can still fall asleep and get what seems to be a decent nights rest, waking up every 2-3 hours to pee has become quite a nuisance. I'm also having crazy, wild, vivid dreams... including that I don't know who the baby daddy is or that I'm drunk... um, nightmare! 

Over the last few weeks I've also developed a bad case of indigestion. Luckily I heard that Papaya Enzymes will help with my heartburn so I picked some up yesterday. I gotta say, it was much better! Fingers crossed, I've found a cure.

Birth Classes: 

Chad and I started our classes with The Birth School 3 weeks ago. We are learning The Bradley Method, which means that Chad will be my "coach" throughout labor. I am learning so much in every class and the more I learn, the more in awe of my body I become. I told Chad that in early labor I want to take the dog for a walk on the beach to start relaxing and meditating. Did you know labor can last for days?! While we plan to deliver at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, I hope to labor for a majority of time at home and have a birth without any interventions (including pain meds). You can read more about my decision here.

Attitude: 

My sister and best friend threw me a gorgeous shower a few weeks ago (you may have seen a couple of photos via Insta) and I received so many wonderful gifts. At this point, Christian's nursery is stocked with everything from a crib and a month of honest company diapers to books and toys... While I still need a few finishing touches, we are ready for you, my boy!  

I feel beyond blessed to become a mother. I can say with my whole heart that I have never been happier in my life. I wouldn't trade my life for anything in the world... my reality exceeds my dreams. 

Photo By: 

Alex Nicole Photography

Prenatal Workout with Julia Schwier

In Part II, following last week's prenatal interview (click here if you missed it), Julia leads me through a great prenatal workout. All Mama's-to-be follow me as Julia shows us some great exercises to help with pelvic floor stability and safely strengthen the abdominals and gluteus. All us pregnant ladies should work on the following exercises throughout pregnancy and especially into our second and third trimesters.

While Julia does an excellent job of explaining (and you can see me demonstrating) each exercise, I've broken down the sets and repetitions so that you can do it on your own. Put your favorite playlist on and enjoy your prenatal workout, mama!

Julia currently conducts private Pilates sessions at Living Fitness in Newport Coast, CA. For more information, including a full bio, please click here.