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A belly-only pregnancy is where you gain mostly belly, and the limited recommended weight. This involves water weight, and some fat that is necessary for breast milk production. A belly-only pregnancy is a super fit pregnancy, where you maintain muscle mass, eat healthy, and ultimately look all belly! I LOVED working out during pregnancy. It made me one million times happier as a pregnant mama. I was able to stay much more energetic, as well as keep up with my two toddler boys while pregnant with my third. A belly-only pregnancy is a fit and healthy pregnancy, and it is completely possible. Here are three simple steps to a belly-only pregnancy to keep you fit, happy and healthy. This will also make losing the baby weight so much easier and faster!
Start With Protein and Fiber:
I don’t want to be general here and tell you to just have a clean diet. That is obvious, and I have a great clean-eating challenge that is free for pregnant mamas. BUT, the key to feeling full and satisfied is high-fiber carbs and protein. Your baby uses carbs and protein as the main source of energy, so you want to eat both, but you don’t want empty carbs. Those just make you eat and eat. High-fiber fruits and vegetables are ideal, and I go more in-depth on this in my program. I personally love a my complete protein powder, which has all the amino acids you need, and is perfectly safe for both you and baby! Making a protein shake in the morning, or for dessert with delicious frozen fruit and the powder is so yummy and filling!! I have some recipes in my program, and I highly recommend this for all my pregnant mamas looking to stay nourished and FULL!
I do have a prenatal protein powder out now, called Bump Dust. It is the protein powder I love, and the sister product to my amazing Milk Dust. I can’t tell you how simple protein powder makes nutrition. It really helps me get in those fruits and veggies without having to make a salad or do a lot of prep.
For me, when I am pregnant, healthy salads and food is less appealing. I LOVE french friens and chips. I could live off of them all day, but I KNOW that doesn’t work, and that it isn’t good for baby. Our nutrition, as mothers during pregnancy, plays a vital role in fetal genetic development, so good nutrition is so much more than just not gaining too much weight. It is really important for baby as well. That’s where I’ve found protein shakes to be a super helpful, yummy way to get in a lot of nutrition.
The Belly-Only pregnancy fitness program is a specific program for pregnant mamas looking to stay as fit and healthy as possible while pregnant. This program is also designed to prepare you for labor, as well as protect your core and pelvic floor for after baby. I’ve had three babies, and I wish I did a program like this! I was able to gain minimal weight during all three of my pregnancies, and lose it all within a few months because of my diet, but I didn’t focus on the repair work my muscles needed to recover and heal! That is why I first created my postpartum program, The Postpartum Cure. After popular demand, and many requests for a pregnancy program, I now created this program for mamas wanting to do some prep-work, eat clean and gain minimal weight while pregnant!
I have a very specific pregnancy diet plan that is actually super simple, yet the key to gaining minimal weight while pregnant. As a certified Pre/Post Natal Exercise Specialist, I studied the massive benefits of nutrition during pregnancy for both mamas and babies. I included lots of recipes in this program to help you feel motivated and full of ideas to eat healthy.
Exercise 6 Days A Week:
I am serious on this one! There is a lot of prep work you need to do to make labor easier, and your body needs exercise even when you are pregnant. In my program, I have specific workouts to protect your core from Diastasis Recti (or watch this video on 5 moves you can do NOW!) as well as workouts to strengthen your pelvic floor, and plans for each trimester. These involve strength workouts and walking as your cardio. I prescribe walking 5-6 days a week if you are fit-enough to handle it. My goal is to get a minimum of 10,000 steps every day. Even without working out, I can do this by playing with my kids, cleaning and going on walks. Walking is amazing because you can safely work your heart while walking with extra weight. This makes it an amazing cardio workout, and if you were a jogger before you got pregnant – keep jogging! Working out during pregnancy involves using a special method to determine your exertion level, not heart rate. I also explain this in the program too. Basically, in order to have a belly-only pregnancy, you need to do strength exercises and cardio 5-6 days a week. Your strength days can be about 3 days a week, and your cardio or walking, 5-6. If you have access to a gym or machines at home, getting your steps in should be no problem. I also have free workouts here you can do at home!
First Trimester Fat-Burning Cardio Workout At Home
Drink A Lot:
I hate that this concept is almost over-talked-about, but it is because it is super important. You just need more water as a pregnant mama, and you will be less swollen if you drink and flush your body with a lot of water. Water can also help with headaches and cravings. If you fill up on water, you won’t be able to eat as much at once, so you can help yourself not binge on all the nachos (did anyone else love nachos while pregnant like me??!!). I am adamant about this one, so please get yourself a huge water bottle, and guzzle it down all day. Also, just be prepared to use the bathroom all the time. It is one of the consequences of drinking a lot even when not pregnant. This will also help you if you are working out regularly and sweating. I get so annoyed with how much water I have to drink when I am running and working out, then with pregnancy on top of that, I might as well have a camel back on at all times. Anyways, this one is the least fun, but still very important.
Every snack should have protein and fiber:
You’re probably not surprised I am saying this again, but I want every snack to be a fruit or veggie with a protein. By keeping it just this simple, you are going to be fueling your body, and nourishing baby! Her are some snack ideas:
Just The Bump Snack Ideas:
- Carrots and hummus (or peppers, cucumbers, etc.)
- Turkey and avocado (good deli turkey, wrapped around avocado)
- Apples and peanut butter
- Berries and non-fat greek yogurt
- Protein shake
- Hard-boiled egg with fruit
- Low-fat Cottage cheese and fruit
- Simple salad
- Lettuce wraps with ground turkey or tuna
There are so many ways to combine fiber and protein, and it really is the most filling and nutritious way to nourish youself without gaining a lot of weight.
My basics for having a belly-only pregnancy are fiber, protein, water and exercise. It is actually amazing how far you can get just by focusing on those things. If every snack and meal is clean, full of fiber and protein, with a lot of water, you can’t eat too much at once. If you are working out too, then you are feeling great and taking good care of your body too!
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