Archive for the 'Uncategorized' Category

Why use an expert?

Because!! I can’t tell you how many times I meet new clients who say “why didn’t anyone tell me”?? And I say, “because to be quite honest, they don’t know!”

Whether it’s about what they can or cannot do during pregnancy or postpartum, there is ALOT of mis-information out there about what is “considered” safe and what actually is. Mind you, most doctors are still waaay to conservative when it comes to exercise during pregnancy but then once the baby is out, they are giving women the green light to do things that they should stay far away from. Not surprising, however. How much does your doctor really know about and exercise and nutrition? Really?? Read the rest of this entry »

Pregnancy is not an illness ladies!!!

Sometime’s I get caught up in my own little world and forget that not everyone else is a personal trainer! DUH. Or that’s probably the wrong wording. Not everyone thinks like me, has the same education or experiences – better.

Every once in a while (more like every week), someone says something or does something that reminds me why I do this job and why I chose to be a voice for women and moms and educate, educate, educate!!

Last week I was doing an assessment on someone who is 16 weeks pregnant and eager to get on top of the ab “situation” that left her with the baby pooch that she never got rid of from her first pregnancy. She was excited about keeping it under control during this pregnancy and not letting it get worse. Now although she was willing to do some modified abdominal exercises, I find out that there was no other exercise in her daily routine and nothing planned in the future. While I am looking at her health questionnaire, I read that the one and only reason she listed for why she should not exercsise, was her pregnancy. And when I asked her why she would write that down, she answered; “My doctor said that pregnancy was no time to start exercising”. Whaaaaaaaa??????? My head did a double take and I looked at her and asked why? Is she high risk? Is there something she’s not telling me?? No. That’s just what her GP said. Read the rest of this entry »

Exactly Why I Do This Job

I received a really wonderful email from an old client of mine the other day. We started training when her baby girl was about 3 months old and we continued until around her first birthday.

Like many sessions, the first few are almost like therapy. Forget about focusing on “working out”. This is an opportunity for moms to connect with another mom and use this hour as best as possible. The client asks alot of questions about motherhood, I answer to the best of my ability and just do alot of listening in general. It’s hard to determine how much is being absorbed or if my opinions make a difference at all as I am also a firm believer that every mom, especially a first timer, has to follow their gut and do what’s best for them. Read the rest of this entry »

Be Careful Post Baby!!

I saw a new client the other day for an assessment of her Mummy Tummy. As I do with every new client, I had her fill out the appropriate forms, consent etc. After reviewing her health questionnaire, I noticed that she had worked with a personal trainer before but only for one session. When I asked her about this, she revealed that their were “too many burpies” and the workout made her feel sick to her stomach. As my jaw dropped to the floor, I then asked her, “so what did that do for your opinion of personal trainers and exercise?” She then said she hadn’t worked out since and that was a year and a half ago. Read the rest of this entry »

What exercises to avoid with Diastasis Recti

So I received a few emails and questions about my last post.

What exercises should you avoid if you have an abdominal separation? Well if a Diastasis is caused by a forward forcefull pressure on your rectus abdominis, any movement that puts your abs in that position, should be avoided. For example, crunches, pilates 100′s, obliques (they are a double wammy), planks etc.

The main function of the rectus is flexion and extension of your spine. Second to that, it acts like a wall to support your organs from your ribs to your hips. If the two sides of the rectus are separated, what sort of support system do you have? It also makes sense that you would be suffering back pain as well, eh? Read the rest of this entry »

Diastasis Rehabilitation

Wow…I’ve certainly been tardy in keeping up with my blog. I can’t believe it’s almost the end of January, 2010!

Well some great news! I just got back from New York and took a pretty intense workshop on Diastasis Recti. Or as many more people know it; when the rectus abdominis splits or seperates during pregnancy. I thought I knew everything there was to know about this condition, but there was definitely more to learn!

For example, did you know that Diastasis Recti is not only limited to pregnant women? That men can also get this condition? Children too! How about the fact that it doesn’t self correct either – most people don’t know they have a seperation, thus making it alot more common than the stats that are available. Read the rest of this entry »

Get Your Holiday Plan Ready!!

Let’s try not to succumb to the endless parties of food, wine and endless cheer! Don’t get me wrong. I love cheer, but when it’s bottled up into 250 calories a glass and paired with 10 grams of delicious artichoke and asiago cheese fat, it’s no wonder the average person gains 5-10 pounds over the holidays. Then the gyms are all rubbing their palms together while people sign up feverishly for memberships so they can once again make a new new years resolution that’s going to “work this time”!! Read the rest of this entry »

Stress and Cortisol

Cortisol is the hormone that is released when you are under stress. Alot of people think stress means physical reactions to situations i.e. heart palpatations, anxiety, sweating etc. But in reality, most of us who live in a fast paced environment, are under stress all the time. We have just adapted to it – or so we think we have.

So what about motherhood? Well I don’t know about you, but since I gave birth to my oldest 8 years ago, my body and emotions have been on a roller coaster ride. Motherhood for me, especially the second time around, has been a wonderfully fullfilling but also almost debilitating (or so it seemed at the time) experience. Ever heard of the saying “One is none; two is ten”? That couldn’t be more bang on! Although some people have even gone so far as to say stress can kill you, stress is something that can’t be ignored. After having my own challenges with stress in the past, I have seen too many women over the years suffer while filling perscriptions to keep them going. Read the rest of this entry »