pregnancy

The first trimester of pregnancy is infamous for being a fitness deal-breaker. I can’t tell you how many stories I’ve heard of moms who were training for marathons one week, then stuck in bed drinking ... Continue Reading

I hear pregnant women make statements like this frequently: “I’ve kept up with [insert type of exercise here] through my whole pregnancy, but my [insert body part here] is killing me. Why is this ... Continue Reading

Pregnancy seems at first to have a distinct beginning and a distinct end. You make a baby, you carry a baby, you deliver a baby. Voilà – it all takes ten months max. That’s what I used to think, but ... Continue Reading

So many people are afraid to speak their mind for fear they might be wrong. We don't have that problem here at Breaking Muscle. Our coaches speak their minds, writes their minds, and act their minds on a ... Continue Reading

For many women, becoming a mom can raise new questions about fitness. The Mommy workouts aim to provide safe, effective workouts for moms at all stages of motherhood, from pregnancy to postpartum. ... Continue Reading

Pregnancy and birth can be an overwhelming shift in perspective, particularly for active women who are used to feeling in control of their bodies. Although the “best” way to give birth is a topic of hot ... Continue Reading

Working in the pregnancy and birth field is not all rainbows and sunshine. As a birth worker, you also hear a lot of sad stories. Traumatic birth. Stillbirth. Recurrent miscarriage. Infertility. Women are ... Continue Reading

"Luck? I don't know anything about luck. I've never banked on it and I'm afraid of people who do. Luck to me is something else: Hard work - and realizing what is opportunity and what isn't." - Lucille ... Continue Reading

Proper nutrition is important for expecting mothers. Chief amongst important nutrients is iodine. Iodine is critical for metabolism, and specifically in neurological development. Because of its ... Continue Reading

Everyone wonders how important it is to take a multi-vitamin. It’s for good reason, too; there has been conflicting information on their efficacy. Now throw in pregnancy and the stakes go up for most ... Continue Reading

My belly is popping out now as I’m officially at four months. I wore a festive, clingy outfit on New Year’s Eve and it’s the first time people squealed, “Oh my God! Look at your baby bump!” before putting ... Continue Reading

Often in today’s standard American culture, a woman has a baby and not much thought is given in regards to the postpartum period or the aftermath. That is still the same woman you used to see in your ... Continue Reading

This has been a big week. Relaxin is supposedly peaking in my system, which is a hormone that promotes the stretching or “relaxing” of connective tissue, especially around the pelvis, so it’s easier to ... Continue Reading

I’m so glad I worked out hard last night. After reading the Stop Doing Kegels article on Breaking Muscle a couple weeks ago, I’ve really taken that to heart and started doing way more squats in the hopes ... Continue Reading

EDITOR'S NOTE: Welcome to our newest feature - 12 Reps. In each appearance of 12 Reps, our coaches, writers, and occasional guests will be answering the same twelve questions each time. Go "into the ... Continue Reading

Being woman is hard enough: Will I survive this workout? Did I wear the right shoes? Did I shave my legs? What should I cook for dinner tonight? Can you see through these pants? ... Continue Reading

To my amazement, I still meet people who do not know what a doula is or what a doula does. Almost three years ago, I underwent doula training through a DONA International educator. Since I’ve never been ... Continue Reading

A few years ago I found myself in a bit of a low. I was training with no real purpose or goals. I was eating what the average American considered healthy. And worst of all, I got adjusted only when I ... Continue Reading

During my second pregnancy, I experienced some extreme dietary aversions. I remember being overwhelmed at a concert by the faintest smell of fried onion rings. The mere sight of uncooked poultry made me ... Continue Reading

Much of the excitement of pregnancy revolves around anticipating labor and delivery. Prenatal exercise was one of the first things I did to prepare for my first baby’s birth, long before baby showers were ... Continue Reading

My diet radically changed during my first pregnancy. Although I still had sporadic cravings for not-so-healthy foods (ice cream sandwiches were my biggest temptation), I found that on a more regular basis ... Continue Reading