I’m going to be a MOM!!!!!! I FINALLY announced my pregnancy a couple of weeks ago on social media, I was SO excited to finally share this exciting news! I wanted to get through the first trimester and make sure everything looked good and was progressing the way it should before announcing it, which I’m sure many of you mama’s can relate to. This is my first pregnancy and it didn’t come easy by any means for us (a topic for a later blog post) so I was nervous to tell too many people until I felt comfortable. Now I want to scream it from the rooftops & tell everyone I meet lol, I am beyond excited to be a mom! It’s something I’ve always wanted and thought about so the fact that it’s coming true is beyond amazing. I’m excited to share this journey with you & hopefully learn lots of great tips & advice from all of the moms out there. 🙂

First, let me share with you the moment and events that were happening in my life when I found out I was pregnant. For the past couple of years I have wanted to make a serious career change, I started becoming very unhappy in my position and felt I was trapped with nowhere to grow within my organization. My whole thought process was to start my new career at least a year before we started a family so I could get my feet wet and get comfortable, especially since my career change was in the fitness industry. Well, little did I know the timing of it all wasn’t quite what I expected and life definitely threw me for a curveball. Let me just say, I wasn’t prepared for the struggle that came with getting pregnant and after not really knowing when/if it would work, I just told myself I can’t wait around for it to happen. I will make the switch and figure it out later. Come to find out, life has a funny way of testing us and putting things on our plate when we aren’t expecting it. I found out I was pregnant the week I quit my stable 9-5 job!!! Talk about timing right?? I mean these are two huge life events, both ones I whole heartedly wanted, that came at the EXACT same time. WHAT???? I was shocked, excited, nervous, happy, worried, and nauseous all at the same time. I mean seriously??? I wanted both things to happen but in my Type A, planner mind, it wasn’t supposed to happen ALL at the same time. I had my plan to change careers, build up a good resume, and focus on what exactly I wanted to do in the world of fitness.  Obviously, life got in the way and I had to not only figure out my career but now prepare for my first baby and experience all the physical & emotional changes that come with pregnancy. Crazy timing right?

As happy and exited as I was for both events in my life, the beginning of it all was difficult. I loved the freedom of not being stuck at a desk anymore & the fact that I got to be a part of new fitness studio opening was awesome, but the changes going on in my body were all so new. The one thing about fitness (that I of course love) is the physical challenge of it & as an instructor I wanted to be in there teaching, doing the moves with them, and exerting all my energy to motivate them. I did do that but quickly learned my body couldn’t give as much, especially in the first trimester, and that was difficult for me. Within the first week of my new job & after teaching about 25 classes, I went down fast & got a horrible sinus infection that lasted for about 2 and half weeks. Of course being pregnant I couldn’t take anything so I just had to work it out on my own, which I did with the help of my sweet husband and family. On top of that, I was experiencing some issues (don’t want to get to detailed lol) that resulted in my doctor restricting me from working out. Working out was now my job so I really had to take a step back and rely on others to help me get through that rough time. Not only was it hard job-wise but it was hard for me NOT to work out and break a sweat each day. Working out for me is my happy place; it’s my stress relief and my time to myself. Without that release, I was going a little cray cray & then you add hormones on top of that lol!! All I can say is thank god my husband is a patient man.

“I was shocked, excited, nervous, happy, worried, and nauseous all at the same time.”

There was a part of me that thought I made the worst decision ever by switching careers during this time and there are days that those thoughts creep into my head. I have no choice but to move around & be physical even on the days I’m so exhausted. On top of that, I’m trying to motivate others to do the same but you know what, there is never a good time to do anything. I think life tests us sometimes to see how much we can handle & those first few weeks (and even now) were definitely a test and although extremely difficult, I pushed through and did the best I could. I have formed great relationships with the members who are now so excited for me, I’m learning so much about fitness, and I’m able to have more time to do what I love and work on my online fitness business. All of these life changes pushed me in new ways and I’m proud of myself for persevering and continuing on despite the setbacks. This is an important life lesson that I hope to pass on to my kids as they grow up. I firmly believe we can do anything we set our minds to and my mind was set to succeed no matter what was happening. That’s exactly what I did and what I continue to do in this pregnancy & fitness journey I’m on. On the days I get overwhelmed with it all, I just think about how far I’ve come and all of the things I’ve accomplished so far. I share this as a reminder to you that no matter what, you can find a way to succeed and keep going. It’s not easy and some days it may seem impossible but if you set your mind to it, you can persevere. No matter what, follow your heart, work hard, and do the best you can. 🙂

Of course, when in doubt, sweat it out (unless you have a doctor’s note not to!)!!!