Connect with us

Fitness

I’m a pregnant fitness trainer — the best exercises for easier childbirth, bladder control and preventing ab separation

Published

on

I’m a pregnant fitness trainer — the best exercises for easier childbirth, bladder control and preventing ab separation

They say that maintaining a healthy diet, getting lots of sleep and practicing breathing exercises can all make giving birth go a little smoother.

And while that may be good advice, Alissa Mosca, 33, a USA Weightlifting coach and a Planet Fitness trainer who is six months pregnant with her first child, says there are plenty of traditional exercises that can make bearing children a little easier to — well, bear.

“Exercises that engage your core, open the hips and activate the pelvic floor are all great for supporting childbirth,” Mosca told The Post.

Pregnant fitness trainer Alissa Mosca shares which exercises are safe and beneficial to do with a baby bump. Courtesy of Planet Fitness

Squat low

That means everyone’s favorite exercise — squats.

“Squats are an amazing exercise to continue throughout pregnancy,” she said, recommending bodyweight squats or using dumbbells or kettlebells for the versatility and range of motion.

Advertisement

“However, to get the full benefit, a full depth squat does need to be achieved,” she said. “This helps to open the hips, activate the adductor muscles and provide control over the pelvic floor.”

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that provide crucial support to your bladder, womb and bowel.

Having a strong pelvic floor means you’ll be more prepared to push when the time comes — and it’ll provide some cushion for your growing baby while preventing incontinence issues.

“Hip thrusts and glute bridges are two other great exercises to engage the pelvic floor.” Getty Images

Hip thrusts and glute bridges

That’s why two more exercises are also important exercises for expectant moms.

“Hip thrusts and glute bridges are two other great exercises to engage the pelvic floor,” Mosca said. “This helps to control the bladder as well, as it often gets more difficult to hold it the further along someone is or even through the night.”

Advertisement

Plank it out

For moms worried about the dreaded diastasis recti — which is when the abs stretch and separate due to pressure that your expanding uterus places on your abdominal muscles — Mosca recommends planking — as long as it feels comfortable.

“Keeping the core engaged will help prevent the separation of the abs that a lot of woman experience during childbirth or at least make it easier to rebuild afterward,” she said. “Often, the separation occurs due to a weak core.”

Having a strong core can help prevent the ab separation that sometimes occurs during pregnancy. Getty Images

Ab work with a bump

Oblique side bends also make the list of pregnancy-safe core moves.

“Oblique side bends are another great exercise as it doesn’t put a lot of pressure on the center where the baby sits, but it helps support the outer abs (obliques),” she said.

And, last but not least, why not give reverse crunches — in which you lift your legs and hips into your chest — a try?

Advertisement

“To add a focus on the lower abs, reverse crunches are great, with added support under the glutes, as it activates the transverse abdominis — lower part of the abs that are much deeper inside — that support the stability of the baby bump,” she said.

It’s normal to be a little nervous about working out while pregnant — even Mosca wasn’t fully at ease with the idea at the start.

“In the first trimester, I wasn’t as comfortable doing things on the ground or contracting my stomach — more nerves than anything — but when I took the time to really listen to my body and try modifications, I was much more comfortable,” she previously told The Post.

“During the second trimester, I am more aware of my growing body, but I can still do things like burpees, pullups, push-ups, etc. I just need to take it a bit slower.”

These exercises will help you stay strong and hopefully pave the way for a smoother ride during labor and recovery — because childbirth really is the ultimate workout.

Advertisement

Fitness

Study shows the antioxidants in this tea improve exercise recovery

Published

on

Study shows the antioxidants in this tea improve exercise recovery

I love many different herbal teas just as much as I enjoy a good old-fashioned British cup of PG tips, Earl Grey, or Glengettie — a Welsh favorite from the rolling valleys where I was born. In an interesting study, researchers explored whether drinking green or matcha tea can improve sports performance and exercise recovery, and the results might have you reaching for a vibrant green drink. If you want to get straight to the results, the short answer is that drinking green and matcha tea can support hydration, body fat control, and exercise recovery. Still, it definitely won’t be a game-changer when it comes to your performance in the gym, on the court, or on the field.

Hydrating with tea

In a study published in Nutrition and Food Technology, researchers reviewed existing studies of athletes and active adults that focused solely on drinking tea — no pills or extracts. They revealed that green or matcha tea can help hydrate the body when consumed in normal amounts. Tea counts toward your daily water intake.

Antioxidants and recovery

The research highlighted how the widely-studied antioxidants in green and matcha tea can improve exercise recovery and help protect your cells from the stress associated with intense exercise. That said, the research shows that drinking tea won’t lead to faster or better strength gains, so it’s no silver bullet for helping you achieve your fitness goals. However, they also concluded that low-caffeine green tea could even improve sleep quality, which I would argue could potentially help you power through that workout if you’re getting better sleep the night before.

Linked to lower body fat

Interestingly, the study authors also concluded that drinking around two or three cups of green or matcha tea per day was associated with slightly lower body fat and improved body composition and fat burning. While the effects weren’t overly significant, they were noted in the research. Cup of tea, anyone?

Continue Reading

Fitness

Taylor Swift’s fitness strategy that made 632 days long Eras Tour possible: Her exercise routine to stay energized

Published

on

Taylor Swift’s fitness strategy that made 632 days long Eras Tour possible: Her exercise routine to stay energized
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour was a feat few artists could imagine. Spanning 632 days from March 2023 to December 2024, the tour included 149 shows across five continents and became the highest-grossing tour in history. Behind the glittering performances, Swift relied on an intense and meticulously planned exercise routine to sustain the stamina required for her marathon three-and-a-half-hour concerts.

Preparing for a Physical Marathon

Before the tour began, Swift recognized the physical challenge she was about to face. “I never would’ve believed you if you told me we were doing a three-and-a-half-hour show. Saying it is one thing, doing it is another,” she admitted in the Disney+ docuseries The End of an Era. For comparison, her longest previous show had lasted just two hours and 15 minutes.

To meet these demands, Swift began training six months ahead of her first rehearsal. Her daily treadmill sessions mirrored the tempo of the songs she would perform live, with faster tracks prompting running and slower songs calling for brisk walks or light jogging. “You just don’t want them to see you panting,” she explained to TIME.

Strength and Conditioning Regimen

While cardio built endurance, strength training ensured she could perform high-energy choreography without fatigue. Under the guidance of longtime trainer Kirk Myers, Swift tackled exercises such as battle ropes, medicine ball throws, assisted pull-ups, sledgehammer workouts, leg raises, and Russian twists. Myers described her as “the most resilient person I have ever met,” highlighting her ability to persevere through challenging workouts.

Swift’s humor surfaced even during difficult exercises. “In no way do I ever apply this … at any point in the show, I just want to flag that as I do every time I have to do pull-ups. Strong dislike. Two thumbs down,” she said, referring to resistance band-assisted pull-ups. She jokingly attributed her increasing strength to “all the pent-up rage and resentment” she felt toward the moves.

Advertisement

Dance Training and On-Stage Precision

Beyond the gym, Swift committed three months to dance rehearsals with choreographer Mandy Moore to ensure every move was second nature. “I wanted to be so over-rehearsed that I could be silly with the fans, and not lose my train of thought,” she shared with TIME. The precision extended to rapid costume changes, often completed in under 1 minute and 15 seconds, with the fastest taking just 39 seconds.

Swift ran an estimated eight miles per show while performing over 40 songs that spanned her musical eras. High-cardio sections, including the 1989 and Reputation sets, were particularly demanding. Yet she described the physical challenge as secondary to the personal purpose the tour provided, especially during a period marked by two breakups.

Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Fitness

I’ve been doing this standing exercise for six months and it’s transformed my core strength

Published

on

I’ve been doing this standing exercise for six months and it’s transformed my core strength

I’ve been working out for years and I can do sit-ups in my sleep—but I still struggle to activate my core.

I’ve always found it difficult to build strength in this area, until a trainer recommended trying a standing exercise called the Pallof press.

Continue Reading

Trending