During and after your pregnancy, putting your wellness first by eating nutrient rich foods and staying active is key. To share more insights we talked with Kristin McGee, our favorite 'can't believe how she does it all' Author, Mompreneur and Celebrity Yoga / Pilates Teacher. From day one we knew she would be our go-to resource for soon-to-be and new moms. Check out our interview with her on how to stay nourished, tips for recovery, best yoga positions, and advice on keeping it all balanced.
What advice can you share on how to feed yourself during pregnancy and then while breastfeeding - especially if you want to stay nourished while also starting to think about recovery?
What’s most important is to always listen to your body. It will give you it's true hunger cues. You must also realize that although you're eating for two, or in my case three, that doesn't mean you should just pig out. As a matter of fact pregnancy and breast-feeding is a time when you should be getting the most nutrients. I've recently discovered how amazing bone broth can be via a recent meal delivery from Provenance Meals. The bone broth was an add-on they recommended for me (as well as the granola bars for an extra calorie boost while nursing!). I mentioned on my blog bone broth is especially beneficial for pregnant women to build healthy babies as well as for breastfeeding moms. Bone broth is rich in minerals, gelatin & collagen, aids joints, and is a good source of amino acids (the building blocks of protein). And always opt for high quality proteins like grass fed meat, organic vegetables and fruits, and whole grains throughout your diet. Don’t forget about nut butters, seeds and the occasional splurge :) If my body is craving a brownie, I eat it!
Labor is hard work - aptly called "labor" for a reason! What is one piece of your best advice for moms recovering from labor and birth?
Labor is definitely hard work! I recommend staying in as best shape as you can. My yoga and pilates practice really supported my labor and delivery. It was also key in helping me recover quicker. I had both a natural birth with my first son and a C-section with my twins. I found that staying active has been one of the best things for me. Other advice I can share is to remember to breathe deeply and stay in the moment. If you have a birth plan it's a good idea to try and be flexible with that because you can never guarantee what is going to happen when your baby decides to come. I have been planning on a natural delivery with my twins as well but after I got to 38 weeks and they were both big boys trying to come out of the canal at the same time we decided to do a C-section.
We've seen via your Instagram that you are the queen of getting in a yoga workout no matter where you are or what the situation. What are you favorite exercises/yoga positions during pregnancy or for new moms?
My favorite yoga poses while expecting were definitely hip openers such as pigeon, crescent, lunge, all of the warrior poses, goddess pose, and squats. I also loved practicing modified planks and downward dogs to keep my core strong. I did a lot of pelvic floor work during and after my pregnancy. For new moms I love cat/cow, child's pose, gentle forward bends, straddle forward bends, side bends, and standing postures such as tree and eagle. I also recommend moms lay their babies down on the floor to do yoga with them. Giving little kisses while in down dog or chaturanga as well as holding them in certain warrior poses.
How do you achieve balance as a mom and business woman and wife?
I think it's extremely hard to balance work life and motherhood! Really I just kind of find I’m in survival mode often. I surround myself with really supportive people. I also have an incredible family. Even though they live in Idaho, they come out and help or I go home to visit. I always keep a positive attitude and make sure to have a sense of humor. And no matter what, I make sure I have a healthy breakfast, feed myself well, and move as much as I can. Just these simple acts make me a much happier person - more productive and nicer to be around. At the end of the day, I always put family first and if my boys need to come with me for meetings or projects, they do. Or I try to make my job more around my family now such as writing blog posts about traveling with newborns and a toddler or talking to moms about exercises I can do pre- and post-natal.
Huge thank you from our team and community for sharing your insights Kristin! You are such an inspiration to all of us and excited to continue working with you throughout the year. Make sure to visit us on Instagram on Wednesday April 12 for an awesome giveaway - copy of Kristin's book Chair Yoga: Sit, Stretch, and Strengthen Your Way to a Happier, Healthier You as well as a gift certificate for our 2-Day Whole Food Cleanse!
Kristin McGee is a nationally recognized celebrity yoga and Pilates teacher, speaker, mompreneur, and author of Chair Yoga: Sit, Stretch, and Strengthen Your Way to a Happier, Healthier You (HarperCollins January 17, 2017). Considered a pioneer in the yoga movement, Kristin began her career as yoga teacher in the nineties after graduating from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Her unparalleled knowledge of fitness and health has established Kristin as a sought-after yoga and Pilates trainer with a continuous roster of high profile celebrities including LeAnn Rimes Cibriann, Emilia Clarke, Tina Fey, Bethenny Frankel, Savannah Guthrie, Steve Martin, and Christine Taylor Stiller. Her appeal has always been that she makes fitness fun, cool, and accessible to students of all ages and stages. Learn more at kristinmcgee.com.
She has appeared on Access Hollywood, CNN, Fox, Good Morning America, The Early Show, and the Today Show and has been featured in Fitness, Glamour, Health, InStyle, People, Prevention, Shape, Vogue, and Women’s Health. A contributing editor at Health Magazine, a spokesperson for Power Pilates Gym on HSN, and a brand ambassador for multiple companies, Kristin is a proud mom to three boys: a toddler, Timothy and newborn twins, Robert and William.