Total Mommy Fitness founder Tatum Rebelle tells her pregnant clients to draw their abs in tight when doing her prenatal workouts.
"What abs?" you might ask. Rest assured. They're still there, Rebelle promises. She specializes in drawing out the warriors in mamas-to-be.
"It's really safe for women to exercise and they and their babies are better off if they do," she said.
Total Mommy Fitness has been spreading that message for five years. Prenatal workouts just need a few modifications to make way for the belly. Using medicine balls and doing wall-supported exercises are good examples. With the right precautions, even push-ups and crunches become preggers-friendly.
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Mommy Fitness
News 8's Heidi Zhou is now nine months pregnant, and proves that if she can do it, other mamas-to-be can too.
 
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Who would have thought? Apparently not even Rebelle at first, until experience taught her otherwise.
"My first pregnant client, I was so scared because I heard you can't get their heart rate over 140. You can't sweat because the baby might overheat. I heard all these scary myths that had been stated as fact before any research had been done," she said.
Pregnant exercisers should be careful when it comes to balance and lose joints, but ultimately there's only one rule.
"You're doing what your body says is okay," Rebelle said.
Feeling a little burn again isn't just okay, it's liberating.
"To be working out at nine months pregnant, you are a rock star," Rebelle said.
Yes, a rock star,not a fragile teacup. Get that straight and pregnancy suddenly feels powerful.
Total Mommy Fitness trains out of Castle Hill Fitness in downtown Austin. To find out more about the sessions, visit TotalMommyFitness.com.
