Let me take you back to April 2020. I had been furloughed from my Lead Personal Trainer position at the gym, we were told to stay home as much as possible, and my world seemed to change overnight due to Covid-19. Like many people, I fell off my usual health and wellness routine that consisted of working out daily, eating healthy, and being the active person I was. Instead, I traded that lifestyle for hours of TV, sleep, and fast food, ultimately leading to weight gain.

 But in July 2020, my husband and I got the news that changed our lives forever. I took a home pregnancy test that came out positive, and we found out we were going to be parents! There were tears of joy and excitement, but then thoughts started flooding my mind like oh my gosh when was the last time I had a drink of alcohol? Are we ready to be parents? Am I capable of being a good mother? What nutrition changes do I need to make? Can I keep working out like I usually did pre-Covid? I've already gained weight, so how will that affect my baby and the remainder of my pregnancy?

Shortly after my first doctor appointment, I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes, and I was in shock. I never had any health issues in the past, and I went into panic mode because all I could think of was, how will this affect my baby? I wanted to be the healthiest version of me for myself and my baby, and that's when I sprang into action by eating healthier and working out more consistently, but then I came to another roadblock. I didn't know how to work out safely during pregnancy or fuel my body correctly, now housing two people. So from that moment on, there was a lot of fear and anxiety around my health because I felt like I didn't have the tools to do it efficiently.

 I went through the remainder of my pregnancy doing all different types of pregnancy-safe workouts, but I always felt like I could do more, I wanted more challenging workouts, but I feared hurting my baby. I did my best with nutrition, but I knew there was much to learn about nutrition and pregnancy. After I gave birth to a healthy baby boy named, Makiri, I started researching and found that I could have continued Strength Training like I was used to with modifications since there were no complications or risks to my or my baby's health during my pregnancy. I started wondering how many other women were there like me that enjoyed Strength Training workouts pre-pregnancy but then did not know how to continue that lifestyle safely during pregnancy.

That's when I started working with active prenatal women struggling with the fear of hurting their babies during exercise. I teach them how to continue exercising safely and how to fuel their bodies and minds properly to maintain their fit lifestyle while preparing for labor and beyond. For me, it was struggling with the fear of not knowing how to exercise safely during pregnancy. For you, it might be the fear of excessive weight gain, unsure what foods are safe to eat during pregnancy, or mentally struggling with how you will juggle pregnancy and everyday life. Of course, we all have concerns about pregnancy, but I've made it my mission to help women navigate this life-changing experience. My goal is to help 1000 women confidently live a fit and healthy lifestyle during pregnancy by 2026.

Twelve months after my first son was born, we found out we were expecting another blessing. In a few short months, I will have had two babies in less than two years, and I can assure you my second pregnancy has been much healthier than the first, not only physically but mentally and emotionally. I was not diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes, and there was no fear or anxiety surrounding my pregnancy because I was able to educate myself about the essential building blocks to a fit and healthy pregnancy and put them into practice. Becoming a mom is one of the greatest gifts, and you deserve a pregnancy filled with joy and happiness. I would love to partner with you during one of the most exciting times of your life!