Pregnancy is the most wonderful experience in a woman’s life. What is not so wonderful is the extra pounds you put on during pregnancy. It can cause you to feel unattractive and in confident. Do you look at the celebs and their fab pregnancy bodies and wonder how they do it?

Then this blog is just what you have been looking for! Staying and eating healthy during pregnancy is important. However, becoming overweight is not. Not only does it make you feel bad, but it is also harmful for your baby.

Overweight women are more prone to pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia. Obesity is also related to high blood pressure during pregnancy. It is always best to ask your doctor how much weight you can safely gain during pregnancy.

Maintaining a healthy and toned body during pregnancy will help you feel more confident. You are also likely to have an easier pregnancy if you keep yourself toned. Gaining excessive weight during pregnancy is a bad idea. You are also likely to have a more difficult time losing it post pregnancy.

Here are 7 amazing ways you can stay toned during pregnancy. Flaunt that bump in a body that is sure leave others wondering.

7  Tips to Stay Toned during Pregnancy

Eat Moderately and Eat Often

Pregnancy means eating for two. But it doesn’t mean eating like a monster. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need that many extra calories per day to provide nourishment to your baby. Eating small and frequent meals is the key. Moderation helps you feel satiated throughout the day. This way you will be less likely to binge on extra calories.

Choose healthy proteins, vegetables, and fruits to nourish both your baby and yourself. Lean proteins is a good choice. Choose foods that are high on their nutritional value and make you feel satiated. Snacking between meals also needs to be healthy. Having a nutritious snack between meals will curb your need to overeat at meal times.

Include healthy fats, fiber, and proteins in your meals and snacks. Include lots of fruits in your diet. Choose ones that are high in fiber and have good water content. These can help you feel full. They are also effective in keeping constipation away.

Keep Hydrated

Pregnancy causes you to have to urinate frequently. However, this does not mean you will reduce your water intake. Drinking enough water is very important to staying toned during pregnancy. It also has the additional benefit of keeping you feeling full. This way you will be less likely to overeat and add those extra pounds.

Sip water and other healthy beverages throughout the day. It will keep you hydrated and toned. Not enough fluid intake can result in feeling bloated. Light activity during pregnancy along with proper hydration will help keep you toned and active.

Keep a bottle of water at hand at all times when you are pregnant. This way you will be less likely to forget. You can also try to make your water more appealing by adding sliced lemons or lime to it. The added zing will also help make you feel refreshed.

Make your cravings healthier

Cravings and pregnancy go hand in hand. There is no denying that. Sometimes the craving for fried or sweet food can get too overwhelming. No point curbing these. What you can do is make the cravings more healthy. The trick lies in mixing the unhealthy cravings with something healthy.

This way you can avoid piling on unhealthy calories. You can find many interesting recipes on the internet for making unhealthy food healthier. You can try adding granola bars to your bowl of healthy cereals if you are craving something sweet. This way you can limit the amount of sugar you consume.

It is also a good idea to mix cheeses and fries with healthier snacks. Remember to avoid soft cheeses during pregnancy altogether. There are many risks associated with this.

Have complex carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are very effective in helping pregnant women fight morning sickness. They help in preventing nausea. But simple starch makes your blood sugar level spike. It is also not nutritious like while grains. This kind of carbohydrates include pastas, white bread, and rice.

Eating complex carbohydrates is a better choice. They not only provide better nutrition, but also are harder to break down. This keeps you satiated for longer. This helps curb the unhealthy cravings between meals and snacks.

You can try complex carbohydrates present in foods like whole grain pastas and bread, quinoa, and brown rice. There are a lot of delicious and healthy recipies available for you to choose from. Healthy does’t mean not-tasty!

Have a mild exercise regime

Talk to your healthcare provider and check how much is ok for you. Generally walking for a regulated amout of time is the best exercise during pregnancy.  You can start slow and build up the pace steadily. Remember not to over exert yourself.

According to doctors, walking for 30 minutes daily during your entire pregnancy is good enough to help you keep toned. You can slowly build up the pace if you find the idea of walking for thirty minutes at one go daunting. Simple walking will keep you from gaining excessive weight by burning those calories.

You can find other moms-to-be to go on the daily walks with, if walking alone is not your thing. Not only that, but you can also sign up for simple yoga classes for pregnant women. This is also a great way to meet other moms-to-be. This will help keeping you in shape and also save you from getting bored with all the time on hand. Walking and mild exercising is also a good way to prevent the aches and pains associated with pregnancy.

Don’t stop your existing exercises

If you are in the habit of regular exercising before pregnancy, it is usually safe to continue the same during the time also. Unless your regime includes high power workouts such as kick boxing are best avoided.

If you feel unsure of going to the gym during pregnancy, it is fine. You can easily continue in the comfort of your own home. There are many videos of pregnancy-friendly yoga postures and stretches available on the internet. Be sure to consult your doctor for safety of your existing exercise your yoga regime.

Continuing what you were doing before you got pregnant is good for you. This way you do not feel as if your life has completely changed. Be careful of certain physiological changes that occur during this time These include fatigue and a decreased sense of balance. You may also suffer from nausea and muscle pain. It is best to practise in the presence of a trained professional during pregnancy.

Sleep Well

Pregnancy sure is an exciting time. However, lack of sleep is likely to leave you feeling tired and puffy. When you are not well rested you are also more likely to feel fatigued. This can cause you to comfort eat junk. Which in turn adds to your baby weight.

If you want to stay toned during pregnancy, make sure you get enough sleep. Not enough sleep slows down your metabolism. This makes you eat more. Also the lethargy will keep you from getting adequate exercise.

Getting a full night’s sleep during pregnancy is difficult for many women. Sleep is interrupted due to the need to urinate frequently. There are other discomforts to deal with also. Especially during the later stages of the pregnancy. You can make up for the lack of night sleep by taking short naps throughout the day.

Staying toned during pregnancy is a good idea. It will help keep your morale up. It is also helpful for a healthy pregnancy. Having a toned body during pregnancy will make you a confident mummy. No need to hide behind drab and voluminous maternity dresses. It’s time to style the bump and rock pregnancy with pride!