Healthy Hollywood: Wellness Wednesday – Prep For Motherhood Like Natalie Portman!

“I hope I’ll get to lie in bed and eat popcorn and watch TV for the rest of it,” Natalie jokes to People magazine on how she’d like to spend the rest of her days during her pregnancy.

Yet, the busy “Black Swan” star will likely be caught up in award show fever up until the Oscars. So, she’s keeping up her stamina by swimming regularly and indulging a few of her favorite pregnancy cravings, pickles and ketchup. YUM!

The 29-year-old isn’t the only mommy-to-be juggling a busy sked and a growing bump. Kate Hudson, Jane Krakowski, and Alicia Silverstone are all expecting – not to mention the thousands of hardworking ‘civilian’ moms-to-be.

So, what’s the best way to stay active and energized during your pregnancy?

The first step is accept and embrace your expanding waistline, says mommy expert and founder of Rosie Pope Maternity, Rosie Pope. “Putting on a healthy amount of weight (25 – 35 pounds for most women) is a good thing when you’re pregnant. The sooner pregnant women get their heads around this the better they will feel physically and emotionally.” Pope also adds, “If you are constantly battling the scale and not embracing your new curves, it’s going to be a miserable pregnancy.”

That’s not to say pig out and indulge all your food cravings. Eat wholesome and avoid too many processed foods – especially fast foods, hot dogs and deli meat.

It’s also imperative to exercise (unless your doctor notes otherwise). As if we didn’t all know that! “My best advice is to try and maintain the exercise routine you kept prior to pregnancy, don’t increase it,” advises Pope. “However, you may have to change up the type of exercise you are doing so that you feel comfortable, especially as you head closer to your third trimester.”

Try walking up hill instead of running – as running is likely to be uncomfortable as your belly gets bigger. Swimming is also a pregnancy-friendly workout, Pope suggests, adding, “It isn’t weight bearing exercise and so doesn’t get more difficult as you pack on the pounds, but allows you to keep your heart strong, muscles toned, and flexibility good.”

For more information on Rosie and her pregnancy tips and style suggestions, head to www.rosiepope.com.

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