It is no secret that exercise is a big part of my life. Doug and I consider Soul-Cycle our home away from home, and my body would be a whole lot worse for wear without some serious yoga a few times a week. Throughout the course of my pregnancy I have been able to pretty much keep up my normal workout routine with a few modifications for my changing body and the little person inside of it. Recently, a few friends and workout buddies have asked me for tips on working out for two so I thought I would share what I have discovered these past few months. I am by no means a fitness professional so if you are pregnant and have any serious questions make sure to ask your doctor or teacher!

Don’t Keep Secrets

It is very, very important to tell your teacher as soon as you know that you are expecting. Don’t worry, they won’t share the news with anyone. It is important that they know so that they do not push you too hard and can help you make any necessary modifications. I did not do this at first and at 10 weeks pregnant the incredibly tuned in Laurie Cole came up to me in the middle of a Soul-Cycle class and asked me if I was preggers. She just knew from looking at my body and the slightly different way I was riding! It was such a relief to have her know! It made her class a completely safe space for me, and she did not tell a soul until I was ready for others to know (which wasn’t until about 20 weeks!).

Keep Cool

When exercising with a baby on board you have to pay extra special attention to make sure you do not get overheated. As soon as you overheat so does your baby and that is not good! As soon as you feel flush, or just too hot, slow it down a bit so your heart rate can lower and recover. A great trick for quickly cooling down your whole system is to pour water on the nape of your neck. It will instantly cool you down!

Don’t Be A Hero

Pregnancy is not the time to push yourself to the limits. As a competitive adrenaline junkie who loves being front and center in any class this one was hard for me to handle. There were a few weeks where not being in the front row at spinning or yoga made me feel a little down. However, I quickly realized that not being upfront allowed me to take it a bit easy and not push myself beyond what was good for my little passenger and me. In yoga, I quickly learned the modifications I would have to make while pregnant. I can no longer lay on my stomach, twist deeply, invert (except with my legs up the wall), or back bend. If you have any questions about modifying your workout ask your teacher. You can also always switch to pre-natal yoga if your regular class stops feeling good.

Don’t Be Afraid to Take a Day Off

If you wake up not feeling great do not be afraid to skip your workout for the day. Pregnancy is not a time to push yourself to your limits or to up your workout routine. Give my doula’s excellent “couch test” a try. If you sit down on the couch for five minutes and your body just does not want to get up, stay there. If you listen to your body you will find it is very smart and will tell you exactly what you need when you need it!

Get Good Gear

Comfortable workout clothes are essential, especially when pregnant. There is nothing worse than a too tight sports bra, or pants that cut into your growing belly. However, there is no need to buy maternity specific workout wear! I find that Lululemon clothes work best for me pregnant or not. The have incredible stretch without losing their shape. In fact, it was only a month or so ago that I had to go up a tank and legging size to accommodate my belly! My all time favorite outfit for both spinning and yoga is the same pregnant or not. I love the cool racerback tank whose longer length covers a growing belly well. On bottom nothing is better than a pair of wunder under crops. Their wide waistband is very belly friendly. To keep the girls in check I wear an all sports bra, which I had to go up a size in almost immediately.

Despite my best efforts my fridge is not always perfectly stocked. Ideally, I try to always have a good supply of greens, raw veggies, fruit and staples such as lemon juice and almond butter on hand. In reality a busy week and no time to get to Whole Foods sometimes leaves my fridge lacking. This has been happening a bit more recently. As I get bigger and more tired a trip to the store sometimes feels like just too much to handle. Putting my feet up and reading is much more appealing! There are many days when I peek inside, ready for a snack, only to find random fruits and vegetables such as one avocado, a red pepper, some pomegranate seeds and a bit of lemon juice. Not quite the perfect lineup for my favorite Pomegranate Guacamole. Well, as they (who they are I don’t know) say necessity is the mother of invention. When an eight month pregnant lady wants a healthy snack, sometimes she just has to invent one!

This Spicy Sweet Express Guacamole is super fast to make and cannot be messed up. If you don’t have pomegranate seeds you could add some other diced fruit such as pineapple or just omit the fruit altogether. If you are not a spice junky like me feel free to leave out the hot sauce. It will still taste just as good! Hey, even just an avocado mashed up with lemon juice and sea salt is a delicious and incredibly good for you snack! Recently I have been enjoying this guacamole inside of red pepper halves but it also works great as a dip for carrots, celery, romaine leaves or any other other raw vegetable you may have on hand. After all this is snacking and should not be taken too seriously!

Spicy Sweet Express Guacamole

• 1 medium avocado
• 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds (pineapple or other sweet fruit would also work well)
• 2 T fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp sirarcha or other favorite hot sauce ( some brands of sirarcha contain fish sauce, make sure to read the ingredient list before purchasing to get a vegan version)
• sea salt to taste
• liquid stevia to taste

1. In a small bowl mash together the avocado, lemon juice, sirarcha, sea salt and liquid stevia until smooth.
2. Gently fold in the pomegranate seeds.
3. Adjust seasoning to taste.
4. Serve inside red pepper halves or as a dip for raw vegetables.

Pregnancy is an incredible and constantly changing state of being. One day I feel sexy and on top of the world and the next I feel like a manatee that swallowed a basketball. Similar to the end of summer when I can no longer stand to look at my shorts and sun dresses I am getting to a point where I CANNOT WAIT to pack up my maternity clothes and pass them on to an expecting friend or store them in case we decide to have another baby down the road (still very undecided about that).

While growing a baby is indeed a miraculous process it certainly come with its share of surprises. I have been lucky to have had a very easy time these past 34 weeks, but I have certainly not been symptom free. My rib cage aches as if someone is prying me open from the inside out ( I guess they are?!?!). If I do not get at least a 30-minute nap in the afternoon I am useless past 8pm. My ankles and feet are starting to swell if I walk or sit for too long making wearing my beloved heels torture. To get through these last few weeks more comfortably I have been stretching my ribcage as much as possible, grabbing naps when I can, and spending time with my feet elevated (preferably up the wall).

Recently my ankles and feet have also been treated to a new and completely addictive at home spa treatment thanks to the kind folks at me & the girls. Me & the girls is a Beneficial Organic Beauty company that donates a portion of all of it’s proceeds to organizations such as Women for Women International, The White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood and GEMS. The entire me & the girls line is vegan, cruelty free and centered around supremely moisturizing Capuaca Seed Butter. All of their products make your skin look and feel amazing but it is the Lavandula Revive Foot Scrub and Creme that have really won my heart

After hoofing it around NYC all day nothing feels better on my swollen and achy feet than this scrub and creme. The Lavandula Revive Scrub has been called a “Pedicure in a Jar” and I have to agree. It helps perk up my tired feet with infusions of lavender, and fine grain sugar cane. The base of the scrub is a spearmint butter creme which leaves my feet feeling tingly and refreshed . The Lavandula Revive Foot Creme is a heavenly combination of capuscu seed butter and avocado oil blended into a mint moisturizer. I have been applying this creme every night before bed and I wake up with feet that are ready to tote ( haul?) my growing body around for another day

Me & the girls products are wonderful for anyone needing a little extra hydration and pampering in their lives, not just those of moisturizing for two! Their Limonum Sugar Body Scrub is a lovely in shower treat that leaves your whole body super soft and amazing smelling. The Bar Beleza Multi-Use Beauty Bar is a true multitasker that can be used as a non-foaming cleanser and moisturizer. It would be perfect for travel!

If you are in the NYC area and want to try some me & the girls products for yourself be sure to join me on April 4th at the next Beauty Food Supper Club.  Everyone who attends will go home with a deluxe gift bag featuring FULL SIZED me & the girls products along with other natural health and beauty goodies!

Happy first day of spring! I am very into spring cleaning. I hate clutter and always welcome the chance to get rid of anything that is taking up unnecessary space in my life. This year’s round  of spring cleaning chez Mercer was especially intense. On top of the usual purging we also had to transform my former office into a nursery. Needless to say our home has been throughly detoxed in preparation for spring and baby girl’s arrival.

Along with external detoxing, spring is the perfect time to do a little internal housekeeping! After a long, cold winter the body naturally wants to cleanse itself in preparation for a new season. One of the easiest ways to do this is by eating detox friendly foods. Don’t know where to start? Well, if you are in NYC on April 4th join me for another delicious Beauty Food Supper Club  at Sun In Bloom. This month’s dinner is all about beauty foods to gently detox and get you gorgeous and glowing for the warm weather ahead. You will also be treated to beauty, health and wellness tips from me, Rebecca and Jolene and leave with an exclusive gift bag full of get-you-gorgeous goodies! I hope to see you there!

My apologies for the recent radio silence. Last week took an unexpected turn with a health scare in the family (not me and baby girl) that kept me in and out of doctors offices and the hospital most of the week. Everyone is home and doing much better now but it was a rough week to say the least. Very glad it is behind us!

Before the insanity that last week became I had the chance to participate in a very fun and unexpected event. Most people would not naturally pair green smoothies with shopping and cocktails so when Shecky’s asked me take part in their popular Girls Night Out I was confused to say the least. I don’t sell clothing or jewelry nor do I have a line of cocktail mixers so where would I possibly fit in?  Well, noticing the desire for a little health and wellness alongside all the indulgence this year Shecky’s launched a workshop series featuring various health, beauty and lifestyle experts. Curated by The Flirt Expert Rachel DeAlto the workshops varied from relationship and dating help, to green beauty (led by my pals Britta Aragon and Rebecca Casciano), to green smoothie lessons with me. Although it was a far cry from my usual audience I had a blast teaching the ladies how to make quick and easy nutrient dense smoothies!

Unlike my husband who cannot go to sleep without a cup, I have never been a big tea drinker. Save a few Alice in Wonderland themed birthday parties growing up my tea consumption has been limited. I find that by the time I drink all of the water and green juice I need to in a day there is little time left for other beverages such as tea.

Early into my pregnancy my friend and acupuncturist  asked me if I had started drinking “the tea” yet. I promptly asked “what tea”? She then gave me a recipe that contained a lot of loose herbs I didn’t know how to source. The recipe went into my purse and that was that. A few weeks later she asked me again about the tea and I confessed that I had not even looked at the recipe! After some urging and explanation on her part I agreed to make this special tea and drink it for the rest of my pregnancy and during the time that I am nursing.

This Pregnancy Nourishment Tea is actually quite easy to make. I ordered all of the bulk loose herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs for about $20. All you have to do is mix all the herbs in the right proportions in a big jar or other sealed container and then you can brew your tea as you want it. I like to make a jar full at a time as that makes enough to last two days or so. You could certainly brew your tea by the cupful as well if that is easier for you. Drinking this tea everyday during your pregnancy and post-partum will help with uterine toning (essential for labor), balance your nutrient levels, and aid in milk supply once it is time for that. Plus, as I am learning a cup of tea can be a great bedtime ritual. Especially for those of us that have a hard time shutting down at the end of the day!

Pregnancy Tea

• 2 parts Red Raspberry Leaf
• 2 parts Nettle
• 1 part Oatstraw
• 1/2 part Alfalfa
• 1/2 part Rose Hips
• 1/4 Red Clover
• 1/4 part Spearmint Leaf

1. Place 1/4 cup of mixture in a sealable 1 quart jar ( I use a Ball Jar).
2. Fill jar with boiling water.
3. Steep for 30 mins.
4. Store jar in fridge and drink 1-2 cups per day.

I love to have a bite (or several) of something sweet at the end of the night. I am not one for cakes, cookies, candy, and ice cream but somehow my evening does not seem complete without a little dark chocolate or one of my own healthy dessert creations. While I have had no major cravings during my pregnancy, my desire for sweet treats has certainly not gone away.

While pregnant I have been focusing extra hard on eating as much nutrient dense, plant based food as possible. Growing a person is hard work and she and I both need the best nutrition we can get. The general full feeling I walk around with everyday thanks to my little passenger sometimes makes it hard to eat food in any significant volume, so I try and make every single bite count- even dessert. Recently I have switched out my dark chocolate and other healthy yet not nutritionally necessary desserts for sweet bites that serve a purpose! Since healthy fats and protein are even more important than usual during pregnancy, I have been trying to load up on them whenever I can in the form of nuts, nut butters, avocados etc. These Cookie Dough Bites are a recent creation that fit the bill of a sweet treat combined with a nutrient dense bite. I can reach for a few after dinner knowing they are not only satisfying my sweet tooth but are helping my baby as well!! I like to make a double batch and keep them on hand in the freezer so they are always at the ready. Yum!

Cookies Dough Bites

I just got back from a wonderful week in Aspen, CO with my family. While I was unable to ski (skiing at 7 months preggers kind of not recommended) I did spend a lot of quality time with my dad and sister, took many great yoga classes, got scrubbed and rubbed at the spa, and did a little shopping. A week away from home was exactly what I needed and I now feel ready to face all of my pre-baby projects.

Before leaving for my trip I was quite nervous about the flight itself. I am not a fan of air travel, as it tends to dehydrate, bloat and give me a generally “icky” feeling. Couple that with being pregnant and I knew I would have to try extra hard to make it through feeling good (ish). Here are a few tricks I discovered that made flying for two much, much better. These travel tips are not limited to those with a baby on board- anyone could benefit from them!

Water, Water, Water

Flying is super dehydrating, as is pregnancy. Pair the two together and you have a lethal combination! There is no way to get enough water from what they provide you on an airplane so this is one time I am ok with shelling out the money for bottled water. Lots and lots of bottled water! Even though it felt like I spent the entire flight drinking water and occupying the lavatory, it was well worth it.

Not Just For Nurses

You won’t see compression socks in any fashion magazines. However, aesthetics aside they can be quite useful. Designed to keep your blood from pooling in your legs and ankles, compression socks help prevent swelling and also give some relief to tired legs and feet. There is nothing worse than taking your shoes off at the beginning of a flight (highly recommended) and not being able to put them back on upon landing. With compression socks you can reduce and almost prevent uncomfortable swelling, arriving at your destination able to see your ankles and fit into your shoes! While most drug stores sell compression socks, they tend to look like part of a nursing uniform (white or nude opaque), so instead I ordered these slightly more discrete ones from the aptly named Preggers.

Snack Time

I always pack my own snacks when I travel. My travel cooler is usually full of frozen green juice, fruit, sliced veggies, and protein powder such as Vega in case I am caught in a pinch and need some quick nutrition. On this trip I also included some packets of Justin’s Almond Butter to have with celery sticks. Almond butter is a great way to get a quick dose of healthy fat and protein and these single serving packets are perfect for travel!

Feed Your Skin

Airplanes are not only drying for your insides, they can also be incredibly dehydrating on your skin. With a baby on board dry skin can become even more of an issue.  To combat dry airplane air I keep a bottle of Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence in my carry on. A spritz or two every hour or so helps me arrive at my destination glowy and dewy!

This week has been a bit of a trying one. While everything I have going on is exciting and I am grateful for it all I am finishing this week exhausted and with a cold to boot. I rarely if ever get sick, and when I do it is almost always stress induced. With that said my apologies that I have been light on the posting this week!

Tomorrow Doug and I head off on vacation with my family to Aspen, CO and I could not be more excited (despite my cold). I have to admit I am a bit nervous about the flight. Flying when pregnant is not the most fun activity but I have a few tips and tricks to try that I will be sure to report back on.

I love the mountains and spent much of my childhood and teen years vacationing in Aspen. I am a huge skier but given my current “condition” will not be hitting the slopes this trip. Instead I plan on spending the week doing yoga, going to the spa, walking around town with my dad and sister (also not skiing) and eating good food. I know a week of relaxation in the mountain air will be just what I need.

Have a great week and I will be back in March!