Amber Bruseke, founder of Biceps After Babies, discusses nutrition and exercise during pregnancy. She emphasizes the importance of exercise during pregnancy and challenges the notion that pregnant women are fragile. She shares her own fitness journey and the normalization of exercise during pregnancy in her upbringing. Amber recommends starting with 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week and incorporating resistance training. She also highlights the significance of protein intake and the challenges for vegan or vegetarian diets. Amber discusses the benefits of prenatal vitamins, particularly folate, and the importance of a diverse diet. She also touches on the use of macro counting as an educational tool during pregnancy. In this conversation, Amber Bruseke discusses the importance of counting macros for awareness of food intake and adjusting it for different goals. She also emphasizes the benefits of cardio and weightlifting during pregnancy to prepare the body for the physical demands of pregnancy and delivery. Amber explains the importance of waiting until the postpartum period to engage in intense exercise and the need for patience and grace in the healing journey. She also addresses the safety of rapid weight loss methods during pregnancy and postpartum. Amber encourages women to embrace their unique journeys and release expectations of what postpartum should look like.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction and Background of Amber Bruseke

06:05 Exercise Recommendations During Pregnancy

10:51 Preparation for Pregnancy: Exercise and Nutrition

15:17 The Importance of Prenatal Vitamins and a Diverse Diet

22:28 Using Macro Counting as an Educational Tool During Pregnancy

24:43 Counting Macros and Food Awareness

25:38 The Importance of Cardio and Weightlifting During Pregnancy

31:06 Exercise as a Tool for Labor Induction and Early Stages of Labor

33:44 Approaching Postpartum Exercise with Patience and Grace

36:36 The Safety of Rapid Weight Loss Methods During Pregnancy and Postpartum

41:18 Embracing the Uniqueness of Your Postpartum Journey

RESOURCES

Pregnancy Belt