Pregnant | Two workout DVD's you can't afford to go without

When people ask me how I'm feeling, I can most days say that I'm feeling great and normal. You know, except for the fact that I'm carrying a beach ball in front of me and have to pee every 15 minutes. The reason for this has everything to do with these two DVD's that I want to share with you. If you're pregnant, I hope you'll pick them up and make them a part of your routine.

10 Minute Solution: Prenatal Pilates

If you want a workout that molds to any schedule, is easily mixed up for variety, is modified pilates, won't baby your pregnant body, but you can be sure won't be too intense, and has great variety, then this is your video.

Things I love about it: 

1. The Pilates for Flexibility segment is great for lower back pain.

2. The Total Body Pilates segment really works the arms.

3. The way I can pick and choose which segments I want to do that day. I've also noticed that it's way easier to motivate myself to workout if I can just do 10 minutes. Without fail, if I do one 10 minute segment, I'm energized to do more.

4. Because this video isn't terribly intense, I find it easier to do on days when I'm tired or not feeling great.

Suzanne Bowen's Long and Lean Prenatal Workout

This workout is divided into one 20 minute standing workout, one 20 minute mat workout, and the most incredible 10 minute stretch and relax segment. It is so intense, yet simple and relaxing at the same time.

Things I love about it:

1. All you need is yourself and a mat. There are no pillows or weights needed.

2. None of the moves require you to lie on your back, even in the mat segment.

3. This workout kicked my butt before I got pregnant. If you want something that will continue to challenge your whole body, while still being safe for your baby, this is it.

4. The whole video is relaxing and simple, making your workout a restful time.

5. This video should be among every pregnant woman's arsenal if for no other reason than for the 10 minute stretch and relax segment. It stretches your hips so well. I can't even describe to you how great I feel after doing this segment. Most of my tightness and pain is in the hips when I'm pregnant, and this segment has brought me so much relief. I'm actually sleeping now! Well, except for the 4+ trips I take to the bathroom every night.

With these two DVD's I have sufficient variety to my workouts and often mix and match the two videos based on how I'm feeling each day. I hope you're convinced that you need to buy these DVD's like yesterday.

Fitness | Suzanne Bowen

I'm slightly obsessed with fitness expert Suzanne Bowen.

Oh how things change. The first time I did one of her videos, I was about 1.5 months postpartum. It was a 10 minute Solutions "Flat Belly Fast" segment at the end of my prenatal pilates dvd, and I turned it off in disgust. I remember thinking, "They really expect women who just had babies to do this?" She seemed so perfect and went through the moves with such ease, that all I could think was... robot. Needless to say, I didn't give that video, or Suzanne Bowen, another thought. Until, that is, I realized that my mom tummy wasn't going away by magic. I did some research on some good ab workout dvds, and finally pulled out that supposedly horrid 10 minute Suzanne Bowen workout. It was hard at first, but not as terrible as I remember. After-baby hormones and lack of sleep had probably played a significant role in my disdain for this woman.

Since then, I've bought her 10 Minute Solutions Blast Off Belly Fat dvd, and absolutely love it. Do I have flat abs? No, no, and no. But that's my fault. It is a fabulous compilation of workouts, though, and great for busy (and tired) moms since you can mix and match, or do just 10 minutes at a time.

Right now, I'm wishing I lived in Nashville so that I could attend her BarreAmped class.

Do have a fitness expert that you always turn to? In college, I was all about Denise Austin. I became a little disillusioned with her during my pregnancy, though. Her dvd was not that great, and definitely not intense enough.

Happy Thursday!

P.S. I'd love to know what you guys do for physical activity. Check out Suzanne's website and blog!

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