Fit Pregnancy-Related Blogs

Back in February a friend of mine asked me about fit pregnancy-related blogs and resources through Facebook! Now, there are few topicss that will get me giddy, talking for days. One of those topics just so happens to be fit pregnancy & fit mommy bloggers!

I quickly sent her a reply with a few of my favorite fit pregnancy & mommy bloggers; however, I too told her that the quick list was not exhaustive. Granted, this list that I am providing is not an exhaustive list of all fit pregnancy and mommy bloggers, it is my staple for these topics. And since I put the list together, I figure I should share my resources with you as well!

Now, the following list of bloggers are women that I have followed for an extensive period of time. You know, I like to be prepared for these life changes, so I have been following some of these women on blogland for a number of years!

I should also note that there are a few other bloggers who have shared about their pregnancies all while staying fit, however, these bloggers have focused their content on fit pregnancies!

Here are the six fit pregnancy & fit mommy bloggers that I adore! (Listed in alphabetical order)

Carrots 'N' Cake:: Are you a runner or CrossFit enthusiast? Then Tina's blog is the one you should follow. A little under a year ago she gave birth to her first son, Quinn, who is so stinking cute. And, she is a pug & food enthusiast! I loved following her CrossFit pregnancy journey, and she most recently ran the Boston Marathon! I referred to her recommendations for CrossFit accommodations while pregnant. Now I follow her as an example of staying fit while raising a small one! Visit her "Fit Pregnancy" page if you are interested in her previous posts that she wrote while pregnant! She too has many stroller exercises that I am anxious to try out in a few months!

Diary of a Fit Mommy:: I recently stumbled across Sia's blog, and am happy that I did! Sia not only provides a wealth of home exercise programs but also specific posts about clean eating! She has a few posts about IIFYM (It It Fits Your Macros) dieting, which is something I want to revisit post-baby. She has a ROCKING body, and perky personality. She is the mommy to Greyson, 15 months, but openly shares that she longs for baby #2 sometime soon! I look forward to following her fit pregnancy, though I will not be pregnant when she shares her journey.

Fit Foodie Le:: Now if I had to pick only one of these bloggers to be BFFs with, it would most certainly be Le. I would LOVE to live in Houston, so we could be besties! Le and her husband, Sonny, have two boys and are the owners of 6 Pack USA! In another life, I desire to compete in a fitness competition! Well, Le and her husband train people nationwide to do just that, and much more. Le specializes in prenatal and postnatal fitness. She shares some of the BEST recipes around, including macro-nutrient information, and just random life happenings of a mommy to two boys!

The Fitnesssista::I believe I have been following Gina the longest! AND, she is currently pregnant with Baby #2, which she recently announced. If you are desiring to follow a pregnant momma, then I would highly recommend Gina. I also recommend Gina if you enjoy yoga, Zumba, HIIT fitness, and/or Body Pump style workouts as she is a group fitness instructor for all these styles and much more! I sometimes wonder how she teachers so many different styles! She too is a military wife so her family has moved a few times, which I can relate to.

Fit To Be Pregnant:: Of course I could not forget Deanna over at Fit To Be Pregnant! She has a wealth of information and updates that one could peruse, providing specific workouts for each trimester and post-partum! She too shares all kinds of articles to help/support expecting moms! What I love most about her blog? The Fit Pregnancy Profiles features, especially since I was featured a few weeks ago. You can also read her personal posts about getting back into shape that were written after her most recent pregnancy!

Workout Mama:: Tamara's posts have become a little sporadic, however, she has not given word that she is closing down the blog. Tamara is mommy to two and wife to a firefighter! I followed her most recent pregnancy, and she more recently has shared about her experiences with post-partum depression which have been very interesting to me. If you are looking for a fitness-inspired blogger who also loves Christ, then Tamara is a good blogger to follow.

Michelyn Cynthia

Questions of the day: What topic(s) can you talk endlessly about?

What fit pregnancy and mommy bloggers do you follow?

Blog Facelift Edition 2.0

Back in May of 2012, this blog saw it's first facelift which included a name change from Brains & Beauty to it's current name. Well, here we are in 2014, and another facelift has arisen.

May 2012 - August 2014

I am pretty pleased with my facelift, and so happy that Coach Kemp put in the hours to make my vision a reality! Coach Kemp has spent many years developing recruiting materials, and is a self-taught Adobe PhotoShop Genius!

What are your thoughts?

Overall, I felt like the blog was a little too youthful with so much lavender and the polka dots; and figured a white background would mature it overall. Coach Kemp also would not hear my thoughts of ridding the caricature. He may be more attached than I, lol.

Do you see any new additions? Yes, that is Prince sitting on the stack of books vying for some love and attention - which he is obviously lacking.

Go Bobcats!

Michelyn

Currently seeking college and high school  football or basketball wives (including fiances & girlfriends) that would like to be featured in Game Day Attire posts. Please contact me at michelyncynthiaATgmail.com

Liebster Award

It is not everyday that one is honored with an award, but about two weeks ago, I was nominated for the Liebster Award. So, what is a Liebster? Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome. I would like to believe that I encompass all those adjectives; thank you very much!

This award is given to bloggers who have under 500 followers, and are “up and coming”. In doing a Google search I too found some that noted under 200, and even 100 followers. The person who nominated me, going to get to her in a minute, indicated 500; therefore, I used that criteria.

And now a drum roll for one of my favorite bloggers and pageant friends…Ashley from If You Give A Girl A Ring nominated me! Ashley has guest blogged for me regarding the differences between the Miss American Organization and Miss USA pageant systems, she has been a great asset as I improve my blog, and is such a wonderful person. I so enjoy visiting her blog and her YouTube channel. Honestly, follow her!

Ashley blogs about running/fitness, style, food, make-up, travel, and the list goes on! Are you in need of a laugh? Her YouTube videos are absolutely hysterical (and informative). This girl has everything! Some time ago she did a show about the things in her purse, see it here! Who the heck has one of those home suitcase scales? Of course Ashley does! I was on the floor rolling while watching her taste test her Nature Box & Graze monthly subscriptions. Have you tried either? Check out her unboxing videos here.

Liebster Award Rules
1. Link back to the blogger who nominated you.
2. State 11 interesting facts about yourself.
3. Answer the 11 questions asked by the blogger who nominated you.
4. Nominate 11 bloggers with less than 500 followers.
5. Create 11 questions for the bloggers to answer.

11 Facts About Me:

1. I was once very, very shy. I was asked to walk in two weddings as the flower girl. In both weddings, I did not walk down the aisle because I was too timid. Instead, I cried and clung to my father (my mother stood in both weddings). I did, however, smile beautifully for the pictures! Ok, not too much has changed.

2. I am an only child. But NOT spoiled, just well taken for.

3. I have known my husband and his family since I was a baby. Like in womb baby!

4. I have never changed a baby’s diaper.

5. My first job was a receptionist at a bank, while in middle school. I then became a dance instructor at 16 years of age. I continued both through college. I did get promoted to a bank teller and it’s why I am such a crazy person about the “family budget.”

6. I won the very first pageant I competed in, Miss Florida American Coed, in the Teen Division. I then went on to place 4th runner-up at nationals.

7. I, however, competed in 13 preliminary pageants before actually wining a preliminary title to vie for the title of Miss Florida (MAO).

8. I entered University of Florida as a Business major but then switched to Psychology after my sophomore year.

9. I took only a semester off from my graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to fulfill my reign as Miss WI USA 2008 and prepare for the Miss USA pageant. To say it was a little stressful is an understatement.

10. I never imagined myself obtaining a PhD; the opportunity kind of “fell in my lap.” With that said, I am glad that I did continue my education as my career opportunities are endless!

11. My dream job would be to be a wedding/event planner (same as Ashley) or private investigator. If you knew me in college, you would chuckle at the PI role.

What’s your favorite thing about blogging?

I love the outlet for my thoughts and rants. My blog is about a whole lot, kind of a hodgepodge of my life – fitness, health, pageantry, coach’s wife. But, also about nothing just lots of rambling and "stuff!" I enjoy having a place to document what is going on for Team Kemp, my latest fitness journey, and life in general.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you travel and why?

Bora Bora, but I would take any tropical destination to be honest. 

What’s a talent you wish you had?

This is easy! Being creative and artistic, like those DIY bloggers I follow. I just lack in the ability to execute anything with paint, a hammer, needle/thread; you get the picture. I too am not that great with interior decorating, unless you count buying the showcase floor!

What is your favorite movie?

I am weird, and do not have a favorite movie.

Your most treasured possession.

I am not hugely sentimental. I do treasure a ring that my mother recently gifted me. It previously belonged to my maternal grandmother who passed during childbirth (to my own mother).

What’s your favorite thing to cook?
Well in my bachelorette days, it was salad! In general I try to cook healthy meals, and love Pinterest for inspiration. I often make my turkey mash, turkey meatballs, and many chicken dishes. Coach Kemp too enjoys cooking, or rather, grilling, so I get him to do that as much as possible. 

If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it?

Save it! LoL, so not my pageant response. I would first give money to my parents and in-laws so they could officially retire and move in with Coach Kemp and I. That would mean we would need to buy a new house, and then I would save all the rest J. Yes, Coach Kemp, you would still have to work!

What’s your ideal Saturday?
Shopping, lunch and/or dinner out, and begin it all with a quick workout at CrossFit SEO. 

What are your hobbies?

Working out, blogging, volunteering (and shopping).

Advice you’d give a new blogger?

Don’t let the fact that you have a minimum number of followers deter you from blogging. This is something that I remind myself of frequently. Decide why you chose to begin blogging, and stay on that train. If others find you interesting and worth following; they will find you. So this also means to be yourself!

What’s your favorite quote?

Cheeky: "You can never be overdressed or overeducated." Oscar Wilde

Serious: "Think positive and positive things will happen."

My 11 Nominees

All Dressed Up In Love
And One Love
Brains of the Outfit
Curtis Family

From Miss USA to MBA
Hello Stripes
Julie’s Running Blog
Married to the Coach
Mom’s Little Running Buddy
Pug Plus One

The Chance Clan

 11 Questions for My Nominees

1. If you were stranded on a deserted island, what 3 things would be essential for your survival?
2. Why did you start blogging?
3. What are you wearing right now?
4. If you could take a magic pill for the perfect body and health, would you take it? Why or why not?
5. What is on your Christmas or Birthday list?
6. At what age would you want to live for eternity?
7. Where do you live, and what is great about that city?
8. Name an important quality you look for in a friend/partner.
9. What is your favorite dessert?
10. Your best and worst quality.
11. Your favorite holiday is, and why?

Michelyn